Youthful Zeal and Courage Needed Chap. 276

"I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." 1 John 2:14. {OHC 282.1} "The work of God is in need of youthful ardor, zeal, and courage. Mental and physical vigor are essential for the advancement of the cause of God. To plan with clear mind and execute with courageous hand demand fresh and uncrippled energies. In order that the work may be forwarded in all its branches, God calls for youthful ardor. Young men and young women are invited to give Him the strength of their youth, that through the exercise of their God-given powers, through healthful thought and vigorous action, they may bring glory to God and salvation to men. God calls upon you, young men, to make the most of the powers entrusted to you. Cultivate the habit of doing your best in everything you undertake. God is your Master, and you are His employed servants.... {OHC 282.2} You are ever to be learning in the school of Christ; you are to bring your entrusted capital of physical and mental energy into your work. ... Mental effort will become easier and more satisfactory as you put yourselves to the task of understanding the deep things of God.... {OHC 282.3} You can rally the mind's best powers, and with a sense of your accountability to God, you can do your best, and you will not cease to advance, and to conquer difficulties. Do not settle down in slothful ease, making no special effort to accomplish your work. Make a choice of some part in the large vineyard of the Master, and do a work that will require the exercise of tact and talent. {OHC 282.4} I make an appeal to the youthful disciples of Christ to arouse, no longer to indulge in pleasure seeking, in self-love and ease; no longer be controlled by inclination, and by the lusts of the carnal heart.... {OHC 282.5} My prayer to God is that the converting power of His Holy Spirit may come upon our youth, that they may become working agents to win scores of youth to Jesus Christ, that they may be among the number who shall be accounted wise, who shall "shine as the brightness of the firmament," and "as the stars for ever and ever." Daniel 12:3. {OHC 282.6}

The Better Part Chap. 275

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10:41, 42. {OHC 281.1} This reproof of Christ comes to many Marthas in our time. They lose much spiritual and divine knowledge that would make them wise unto salvation, through their bustling activity to do so much in temporal things, to shower favors upon those whom they love. If they would preserve simplicity in all their preparations, and improve their precious opportunities to obtain a better knowledge of God's will and be doers of His words, they would save much irritability and would drink of the perpetual Fountain of life.... {OHC 281.2} Martha . . . was so anxious for all due honor to be given to Christ that in her active preparations in provision of food, she lost the most precious, golden moments of listening to instruction from His divine lips. Mary sat at His feet to catch every word. She regarded this of highest importance. This offended Martha, and she asked the Lord Jesus if He did not care that she served alone, while Mary shunned these responsibilities. Said Jesus, Martha, Mary hath chosen the better part, which shall never be taken from her. What was that better part? To learn of Jesus, to appreciate His words. In giving attention to the words which fell from His lips, she was showing her love for her Saviour.... {OHC 281.3} Every word from the lips of Jesus was precious. It was joy to Him to see Mary appreciate His instruction. The more frequently the words of Christ are heard the more deeply do they influence the mind, the better they are understood, and the more easily and perfectly are they obeyed. {OHC 281.4} This spirit that is ever ready to make great outward display for our friends is a device of the enemy.... {OHC 281.5} He [Christ] requires His followers--the purchase of His blood--to leave all the follies and vanities and tainting corruptions of the world out of their lives.... Let the impression, "Lo, God is here," solemnize every mind and make glad every soul." {OHC 281.6}

Walking with God in a Corrupt World Chap. 272

Walking with God in a Corrupt World "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." Genesis 5:24. {OHC 278.1} "Enoch's life and character, which were so holy that he was translated to heaven without seeing death, represent what the lives and characters of all must be, if, like Enoch, they are to be translated when Christ shall come. His life was what the life of every individual may be if he closely connects with God. We should remember that Enoch was surrounded with influences so depraved that God brought a flood of waters on the world to destroy its inhabitants for their corruption.... {OHC 278.2} When Christ shall come, our vile bodies are to be changed, and made like His glorious body; but the vile character will not be made holy then. The transformation of character must take place before His coming. Our natures must be pure and holy; we must have the mind of Christ, that He may behold with pleasure His image reflected upon our souls. . . . {OHC 278.3} Joseph preserved his integrity when surrounded by idolaters in Egypt, in the midst of sin and blasphemy and corrupting influences. When tempted to turn from the path of virtue, his answer was, "How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" Genesis 39:9. Enoch, Joseph, and Daniel depended upon a strength that was infinite. This is the only course of safety for Christians to pursue in our day. . . . {OHC 278.4} The lives of these marked men were hid with Christ in God. They were loyal to God amidst infidelity, pure amidst depravity, devout and fervent when brought in contact with atheism and idolatry. By faith they gathered to themselves only those properties which are favorable to the development of pure and holy characters. Thus may it be with us; whatever our position, however repulsive or fascinating our surroundings, faith can reach above it all and find the Holy Spirit. {OHC 278.5} The spirit which Enoch, Joseph, and Daniel possessed, we may have. We may draw from the same source of strength, and realize the same power of self-control; and the same graces may shine out in our lives." {OHC 278.6}

Be Careful What You Read Chap. 270

"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly." Proverbs 2:6, 7. {OHC 276.1} "Age after age the curiosity of men has led them to seek for the tree of knowledge; and often they think they are plucking fruit most essential, when, like Solomon in his research, they find it altogether vanity and nothingness in comparison with the science of true holiness. {OHC 276.2} Books from the pens of infidels should have no place in the libraries of those who would serve God. They will make better kindling material for your stove than food for the mind. Infidel books have been a cause of ruin to many souls. Men have studied these books of Satan's inspiration, and they have become confused in regard to what was truth. Satan stands at the side of him who opens an infidel book, and he will educate the mind that peruses such literature, and so bewitch the soul that it will be almost impossible to break the infatuation. Let no believer flatter himself that his mountain standeth sure, and that he will never be moved away from his position of faith. {OHC 276.3} We are surrounded by unbelief. The very atmosphere seems charged with it; and only by constant effort can we resist its power. Those who value their soul's salvation should shun infidel writings as they would shun the leprosy. {OHC 276.4} To the youth I would say, Be careful what you read. So long as the mind is directed into wrong channels by an improper course of reading, it is impossible for you to make the truth of God the constant subject of meditation. If there was ever a time when a knowledge of the Scriptures was more important than at any other, that time is the present. I appeal to old and young, Make the Bible your textbook. Here you will find the true standard of character. {OHC 276.5} Do not devote the precious talent of sight to reading that which ... will not benefit you.... The powers of mind and soul and body are to be sanctified to the Lord Jesus, who has bought you with His blood." {OHC 276.6}

Something I wrote inspired by doing a timeline of events that are ahead of us...

by Kellye Richard. "What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation?...When the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity." 5T 216 Conversely, when the decree goes forth, another class from this group of people are sealed in their experience. At the passing of the decree, probation is closed on God's denominated people. Those "perculiar" ones, who were raised up, and called to give the trumpet a certain sound. Those who were to be different from the rest, those who were not to CONFORM TO THIS WORLD but were to be TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING OF THEIR MIND, those THAT PROVED WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD (Rom 12:2). But some will not have perfected their characters by THAT time, they will not receive the seal of God, and no additional time will be given them to do so...a different seal, more like a mark will be given. The needed time and revelations to be fitted for the work of God just before them was given already, but not improved...not valued. Many will wake up at that time, but it will be TOO LATE then. God is on a time schedule, but it's His time schedule, not ours. Now is the time of preparation, "then" will not be the time to try and buy oil like the foolish virgins of Matt 25. Go and read about what happened to them...the same things will happen again...they will get to the door, but it will be shut! At the passing of the decree, the loud cry to "come out of her My people" is to go forth from a tried, purified, and made white people. AT THAT TIME those who never knew such glorious truths, were not of this fold, they get the opportunity to come in and take the place of the ones who did not believe themselves worthy of everlasting life. God bless,

Muy Importante!

The next eight post explain why we as human beings living in this our day need to be focused on a lifestyle that is in harmony with Gods Word and His Law.  We are living in a time of judgment and our deeds are being seen by the God of the Universe, our Creator, and everything we do and say is being evaluated as to whether it is good or bad according to His Word, and His Law.  These factors will determine where we spend eternity, be it in Heaven or eternal damnation, consumed in the fires of the last days which the Bible states were prepared only for the devil and his angels.
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The Charm of Simplicity Chap. 266

     "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 1 John 2:16.  {OHC 272.1}
     Pride of dress is not a small matter, but a serious evil. It causes time, thought, and money to be spent in the decoration of the body, while the culture of the heavenly graces is neglected. Precious hours that our Saviour has exhorted us to devote to prayer and the study of the Scriptures are given to an unnecessary preparation of apparel for outward display.  {OHC 272.2}
     Satan stands in the background, devising the fashions which lead to extravagance in the outlay of means. In forming the fashions of the day, he has a fixed purpose. He knows that time and money which are devoted to meet the demands of fashion will not be used for higher, holier objects. Precious time is wasted in keeping pace with ever-changing and never-satisfying fashions. No sooner is one style introduced than new styles are devised, and then, in order for fashionable persons to remain fashionable, the dress must be remodeled. Thus professing Christians, with divided hearts, waste their time, giving to the world nearly all their energies....  {OHC 272.3}
     Correct taste in dress is not to be despised or condemned. . . . Nothing is gained in trying to save means by purchasing cheap fabrics. Let the clothing be plain and neat, without extravagance or display.  {OHC 272.4}
     Young ladies who break away from slavery to fashion will be ornaments in society. The one who is simple and unpretending in her dress and in her manners shows that she understands that a true lady is characterized by moral worth. How charming, how interesting, is simplicity in dress, which in its comeliness can be compared with the flowers of the field! ...  {OHC 272.5}
     Those who practice simplicity in dress have time to visit the afflicted, and are better prepared to pray with and for them. On every Christian man and woman rests the solemn duty of regulating and contracting personal expenses, that by so doing they may be able to help the needy, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked."  {OHC 272.6}