Appeal to Youth
239
Let those men and women who are satisfied with their dwarfed,
crippled condition in divine things be suddenly transported to heaven
and for an instant witness the high, the holy state of perfection that ever
abides there,—every soul filled with love; every countenance beaming
with joy; enchanting music in melodious strains rising in honor of
God and the Lamb; and ceaseless streams of light flowing upon the
saints from the face of Him who sitteth upon the throne, and from the
Lamb; and let them realize that there is higher and greater joy yet to
experience, for the more they receive of the enjoyment of God, the
more is their capacity increased to rise higher in eternal enjoyment, and
thus continue to receive new and greater supplies from the ceaseless
sources of glory and bliss inexpressible,—could such persons, I ask,
mingle with the heavenly throng, participate in their songs, and endure
the pure, exalted, transporting glory that emanates from God and the
Lamb? Oh, no! their probation was lengthened for years that they
might learn the language of heaven, that they might become “partakers
of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust.”
2 Peter 1:4
. But they had a selfish business of their
own to engage the powers of their minds and the energies of their
beings. They could not afford to serve God unreservedly and make
this a business. Worldly enterprises must come first and take the best
of their powers, and a transient thought is devoted to God. Are such
to be transformed after the final decision: “He that is holy, let him be
holy still,” “he which is filthy, let him be filthy still”? Such a time is
coming.
Those who have trained the mind to delight in spiritual exercises
are the ones who can be translated and not be overwhelmed with
the purity and transcendent glory of heaven. You may have a good
knowledge of the arts, you may have an acquaintance with the sciences,
you may excel in music and in penmanship, your manners may please
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your associates, but what have these things to do with a preparation
for heaven? What have they to do to prepare you to stand before the
tribunal of God
275
Testimonies for the Church 2:266, 267