128
Selected Messages Book 2
that serveth Him not. For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an
oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble:
and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts,
that it shall leave them neither root nor branch” (
Malachi 3:16
to
4:1
).
Here are the people that in the world are judged to be greatly
favored; but there comes a time when the children of God are distin-
guished as those who are honored of God because they have honored
Him.
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us,
that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth
us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of
God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that,
when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as
He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself,
even as He is pure” (
1 John 3:1-3
).
The Better Way
While temporal honor and riches and power are the great objects
of ambition with the men of this world, the Lord points out something
more worthy of our highest aspirations:
[139]
“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man
glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he
understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise
lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in
these things I delight, saith the Lord. Behold, the days come, saith
the Lord, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the
uncircumcised” (
Jeremiah 9:23-25
).
“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in
Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on
Him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He
is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the
builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a
stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble
at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a