Page 170 - That I May Know Him (1964)

Reaching the Stature of Christ, June 5
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of
the fulness of Christ. Ephesians 4:13.
The tremendous issues of eternity demand of us something more than
an imaginary religion. A stately form of worship and high devotional
ceremonies do not constitute a light to the world, and yet truth that is
looked upon and admired in the same way as a beautiful picture or lovely
flower, and not brought into the inner sanctuary of the soul, is thought by
many to be all that is required in a worshiper....
We shall be saved eternally when we enter in through the gates into the
city. Then we may rejoice that we are saved, eternally saved. But until then
we need to heed the injunction of the apostle, and to “fear, lest, a promise
being left us of entering into his rest, any of us should seem to come short
of it” (Hebrews 4:1). Having a knowledge of Canaan, singing the songs
of Canaan, rejoicing in the prospect of entering into Canaan, did not bring
the children of Israel into the vineyards and olive groves of the Promised
Land. They could make it theirs in truth only by occupation, by complying
with the conditions, by exercising living faith in God, by appropriating His
promises to themselves....
Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, and when we yield to His
hand we shall steadily grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord
and Saviour. We shall make progress until we reach the full stature of
men and women in Christ. Faith works by love, and purifies the soul,
expelling the love of sin that leads to rebellion against, and transgression
of, the law of God.... Through the agency of the Holy Spirit the character
is transformed and the mind and will of the human agent are brought into
perfect conformity to the divine will, and this is conformity to the divine
standard of righteousness. To those who are thus transformed Christ will
say, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have
right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city”
(Revelation 22:14).6 [163]
6 The Youth’s Instructor, February 17, 1898.
166