Preparation for Christ’s Coming
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An honest man, according to Christ’s measurement, is one who will
manifest unbending integrity. Deceitful weights and false balances,
with which many seek to advance their interests in the world, are
abomination in the sight of God. Yet many who profess to keep
the commandments of God are dealing with false weights and false
balances. When a man is indeed connected with God, and is keeping
His law in truth, his life will reveal the fact; for all his actions will be
in harmony with the teachings of Christ. He will not sell his honor for
gain. His principles are built upon the sure foundation, and his conduct
in worldly matters is a transcript of his principles. Firm integrity
shines forth as gold amid the dross and rubbish of the world. Deceit,
falsehood, and unfaithfulness may be glossed over and hidden from
the eyes of man, but not from the eyes of God. The angels of God, who
watch the development of character and weigh moral worth, record in
the books of heaven these minor transactions which reveal character.
If a workman in the daily vocations of life is unfaithful and slights his
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work, the world will not judge incorrectly if they estimate his standard
in religion according to his standard in business.
“He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much:
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” It is not the
magnitude of the matter that makes it fair or unfair. As a man deals
with his fellow men, so will he deal with God. He that is unfaithful
in the mammon of unrighteousness, will never be entrusted with the
true riches. The children of God should not fail to remember that in
all their business transactions they are being proved, weighed in the
balances of the sanctuary.
Christ has said: “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither
can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” “Wherefore by their fruits ye
shall know them.” The deeds of a man’s life are the fruit he bears. If
he is unfaithful and dishonest in temporal matters he is bringing forth
briers and thorns; he will be unfaithful in the religious life and will
rob God in tithes and offerings.
The Bible condemns in the strongest terms all falsehood, false
dealing, and dishonesty. Right and wrong are plainly stated. But I
was shown that God’s people have placed themselves on the enemy’s
ground; they have yielded to his temptations and followed his devices
until their sensibilities have become fearfully blunted. A slight devi-
ation from truth, a little variation from the requirements of God, is