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Jesus Desires that We Become One with Him, October 16
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 2:5
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Jesus desires to efface the image of the earthly from the minds of His followers,
and to impress upon them the image of the heavenly, that they may become one
with Himself, reflecting His character, and showing forth the praises of Him who
hath called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. If you have been
permitted to stand in the presence of the Sun of Righteousness, it is not that you
may absorb and conceal the bright beams of Christ’s righteousness, but that you
may become a light to others.... There are persons who have received the precious
light of the righteousness of Christ, but they do not act upon it.... They prefer the
sophistry of the enemy rather than the plain, “Thus saith the Lord.” ...
The character we cultivate, the attitude we assume today, is fixing our future
destiny. We are all making a choice, either to be with the blessed, inside the City
of Light, or to be with the wicked, outside the city. The principles which govern
our actions on earth are known in heaven, and our deeds are faithfully chronicled
in the books of record. It is there known whether our characters are after the order
of Christ.... Are we wise virgins? ... This is the question which we are deciding
today by our character and attitude....
To be pardoned in the way that Christ pardons is not only to be forgiven,
but to be renewed in the spirit of our mind. The Lord says, “A new heart will I
give unto thee.” The image of Christ is to be stamped upon the very mind, and
heart, and soul. The apostle says, “And we have the mind of Christ.” Without the
transforming process which can come alone through divine power, the original
propensities to sin are left in the heart in all their strength, to forge new chains, to
impose a slavery that can never be broken by human power....
When Christ comes, the balances of heaven will weigh the character, and
decide whether it is pure, sanctified, and holy....
Happiness is the result of holiness, and conformity to the will of God. Those
who would be saints in heaven, must first be saints upon the earth; for when we
leave this earth, we shall take our character with us, and this will be simply taking
with us some of the elements of heaven imparted to us through the righteousness
of Christ....
The experience that follows complete surrender to God, is righteousness,
peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.—
The Review and Herald, August 19, 1890
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