his only gift

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HIS ONLY GIFTA testimony

INTRODUCTION

Many religions today offer a way to salvation. Some propose a method of workingone's way to the kingdom of God. Others propose that the way is by learning how not tosin. Still, others are just waiting around to see what will happen. They believe that whenthe Messiah comes He will get the worldly "mess" all straightened out. This book is theproposition that God has already straightened it out.

The coming of Christ, many centuries ago, provided the human race with a mostwonderful gift. There are those who have received this gift through the centuries. Thereare many who do live the life He provided. Today, some are calling this gift the"spurious gift" and, in so doing, lose their own way as well as the way of all those whoenter into their doubt.

Christ has given us something. He did not give us "trying" or "falling on occasion." No,He gave us victory and His own perfect obedience to His Father. I would like to invitethe reader to enter into the pages of this book without resistance and objection. As youread this book, consider that this may be something you would like to consider. "Let itbe" for the few hours it takes to read and digest the contents.

If you have considered that it may be dangerous to read this book, I would like toassure you that it is very dangerous. It may very well serve to destroy all the false ideasand dangerous heresies you have accepted through the years. It may very well liberateyou from the pain and suffering with which you have so long lived. For those who lovefailure and sin, this book is not recommended. For those who would like to come intothe light of Christ's own experience, this book will greatly benefit you.

The "spurious gift", in reality, is living in failure and sin on occasion. The "spuriousgift" is the one that does not give you the life of Jesus, but only a life of trying andrepenting while never fully realizing the power provided by a loving Savior. If you were

hungry, would you like a wax apple or the genuine article? Many, today, provide a waxsavior. Whenever these individuals taste to see if He is good, they cannot enjoy Him.Those who have tasted of this good gift "the genuine article" have no doubt that He isgood. Come! Taste and see!

HIS ONLY GIFT

Chapter One


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For thousands of years nothing has changed upon planet earth but the facade. Iremember, as a young boy, looking forward to the future with so much hope. I imaginedthe wonderful things the future might bring. The flowers were so pungent and the blueskies excited my soul to the very depths. Simply lying on the grass watching the fluffy,white clouds pass overhead brought such ecstasy to me that I wondered how anythingcould be better. So it is and has been for generations that nature so easily pleasesyoung return to those earlier carefree days. We long for the time when it was easier,before the light went out of those quiet, sensitive minds.

What is it that seems new and different as we hear of wars and rumors of wars? It isonly new to us, for the battle fields were filled with the blood of generations long beforeour young heads came upon the scene. We grow up listening to the stories of greattroubles and trials, disasters and conflicts which remain only the things of story books--until the day we feel the pain that tells us something is wrong indeed. "I hurt," and sodeeply we do hurt. What is this thing that makes the scent of flower and field drift intothe past in a distant memory never more to be quite as wonderful as those early days?

As disappointments come and suffering takes its toll upon our senses, we look forways in which we might return to those earlier carefree days. We long for the time when

it was easier, before the light went out of those quiet sensitive times. Indeed, for some,those times of joy may have never existed, for their suffering began from the beginning.With others it seems the light never did go out. But in the quiet of their closet they knowall things are not right within. Their hope is still that they might find something. The ironyis that we have made the world as it is and humans work to guarantee a world such asthis. Men even hire preachers to preach this kind of world to them. "The prophetsprophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have itso: and what will ye do in the end thereof?" (Jeremiah 5:31.)

THE WORLD LOVES TO FIGHT

The world belies the hope of peace. Whoever listens to the news or opens anewspaper cannot help but see the truth regarding the condition of the earthly mind. It isas if suffering were the goal. It seems some view suffering as their purpose and if theycould only suffer then their life would be worthwhile. Why is it we worship the disaster ofman to such a degree? Why is it the human family loves to talk and read of disasterseemingly hoping for its appearance? In fact, they put forth every effort to insure itshappening. Why is it men speak of getting better and hoping to get better but, in reality,never move a muscle to accomplish the fact? Yes, it seems this is the condition of thenatural man. He is always hoping, always trying and ever slipping further into theculmination of his own destruction.

Mankind continues to build castles that someday, perhaps in the future or a future life,they will get better. Others see themselves as God working out karma and when that isover then things will be better. Still others cease thinking of these things as they burythemselves in parties, drugs, alcohol or other emotion-altering mechanisms to escapetheir reality. Anyone who must alter his emotions with some device gives evidence hislife is not working and the "happiness" story is only a story. When people are unhappyand their lives cannot produce that peace they desire, they opt for the illusion as secondbest to cope until things get better. Humanity seems to try so hard for earthly glory.They hold this up as their badge of worth. The irony is that when these pass from thescene their bodies lie naked and dead as the man who had no glory and lies naked and


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dead. Death--the great equalizer. All men are made equal once the worms begin tomake work of the carcass. Great wealth and honor are only imagined for a moment oftime, for all men return to the dust with no more in their hand than that with which theycame. The final blow to the human ego is that when we leave the scene of action fewremember us on any practical level. They may look through the pictures one day, orremember that we were once on the scene, but it is only a fleeting memory. Think for amoment, do those who have passed from this earth really take that much of your dailythought? Does not the world go on much as it did before? Does the world really care?

GOD HAS GIVEN A GIFT

God has seen our woes that we have made for ourselves on this celestial ball andgiven us a gift far too precious to put into words. Anything that could be said would nottell the whole truth of His sacrifice and intercession for us. Truly all those pains,sufferings and failures have been dealt with in this gift of heaven. His only gift is the giftof His own life. This subject may be far too wonderful for any of us to comprehend fully,but if we will but take a moment and look, we may see far more than we could havepreviously imagined. This is the purpose of this book. As you understand His only giftyou will see the purpose of your past life and the glory of your future.

Men have tried religion for generations to make things seem better but, at last, merereligion is the culprit and designer of the destruction of man. The gift of God transcendsthe works of men in their religious pomp and ceremony. To some, the greatest thing thatcan be said of their religion is that they go to church. Going to church has been thegreat counterfeit of the age. Some suppose that this is the extent of religious experience.I want to assure you that the gift of God is not only more than that--it is different thanthat.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whosoeverbelieveth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16. When I started

going to church as a young boy this was the first verse I learned from the Bible. Thiswas the most often quoted verse I heard for many years, but I did not know what itmeant for a generation. How is it that what has been called Christianity has done suchan efficient job of making this verse so meaningless?

The only hope for earthly men is to understand and claim the truth of this verse forthemselves. The only way we will ever give ourselves the meaning of life we want is tomake the truth of this verse a reality in our own experience. Only then will we find theanswer to the beauty of nature and the joy of life once again. Life may not be as it waswhen we were children, but when we understand this verse, it will be better than it was.There is an answer to all our heart's desires, but it can be seen that the world's methods

of attaining these desires do not work. Money cannot attain it, neither can war finallyend all of life's threats. But these lessons are never learned by earthly-minded men, forthey go on building engines of their own destruction just as before. Never before in thehistory of the world have men had such destructive capability. If history proves anything,it is that man never learns the lessons of his own futility, but goes on as if bigger bombswere the answer. Mankind thinks the reason bombs didn't work to end all war before isthat our bombs were too small. Man cannot see that the end of it all is to destroy everyliving being. Some imagine they would survive and be the undisputed rulers of theplanet. The only problem with that is, the survivors would once again make enemies ofeach other and would battle until there would only be one lonely soul who would commit


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suicide as a result of his loneliness. It is true that the problem would be solved but, then,there would be no reason now to have the problem solved. Is it not much better to loveone's brother whatever his nationality? This is only possible with God's only gift.

GOD LOVES

"For God so loved the world...." Surely everyone must have heard that from theearliest times of his life. Someone must have said that to us at some time or other, butnot one who builds bombs to destroy humanity knows that. Not one who yells at his wifeor her husband knows that. No one who loses patience with their young children knowsthat. No one who has ill feelings against his employer for some supposed mistreatmentunderstands that God loves the world. "For God so loved the world...." There is only aremnant of human beings who believe this in any practical way. If one would take anhour each day and contemplate that he is truly loved by God, it would significantlychange his ideas as to the nature of his own persecution. He would also find thestrength to treat others in a far different way than he does. Being loved is the answer toloving.

HIS ONLY BORN SON"He gave His own begotten Son." God's Son is His only gift. This Son speaks of

Himself in Proverbs 8:22-26: "The Lord made me in the beginning of His way, beforeHis works of old; I was poured out from ages past, from the beginning, before the earthwas. When there were no depths, I was born; when there were no springs abundantlyflowing; before the mountains settled down. I was brought forth before the hills; whenthe earth and the field were yet unmade as well as the first dust particles of the world."(RBV). Obviously, this birth was not an earthly one according to His own words. TheSon speaks of being born before anything created. Even the particles of dust came afterthis great happening. This Son, born of the family of God, inherited a better name (God).

This Son of God had many names in Scripture, one of which is Wisdom. (1 Cor. 1:24).This Wisdom of God (His Son) tells of the love of the world that He has. "My fruit isbetter than gold, even fine gold, and my increase than choice silver. In the way ofrighteousness I walk firmly in the midst of the paths of justice, in order to bestow realsubstance upon those loving me, and I will fill their treasuries." Proverbs 8:19-21 (RBV).His great work is to bring salvation and abundance to the children of men. This onlybegotten (born) Son of God has riches in His hands and loving kindness to bestow uponall those who will receive it. It will not be the destroyers of the earth who receive this gift.It will not be those who strive to be the greatest till all lie dead upon the earth. It will bethose who submit to the loving rule of the Son--God's only begotten gift of God.

WHOEVER BELIEVES

"That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."Proverbs 8:32-36 goes on to bring to light the benefits of this everlasting life. "Thereforenow, O sons, listen to me; for happy are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction, bewise, and do not refuse it. Happy is the man listening to me, watching daily at my gates,keeping watch at my doorposts. For the one finding me finds life, and wins approvalfrom the Lord. But the one missing me does violence to his own soul; all those hatingme love death." The only ones who can truly love life are those who love the Son. This


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One born of God is the great gift sought after by many but found by few. The massessimply hope and look for something better one day. God's only Son (His only gift) ispresented to us as the only life there is. This life, this eternal life has been offered to usas a gift. It cannot be worked up, it cannot be tried, no one can go to church for it. It hasto be received. There is no other way. When it is received we live the very life of theSon of God. While living this life a man cannot sin, he cannot fall, he cannot fail, forvictory is His only gift.

The discouragement of man and the falling of man has been felt with keen sensitivityby the Son. Our welfare has been the great object of His attention. Since we had failedin this life and polluted this planet with our own designs, He came to save us and deliverus. Almost two thousand years ago this Son was born again into earthly flesh. He wasborn of woman with the human nature we all are born with. He had come to conquer theevil that beset our race. This gift of God given for us would provide the necessities ofhumanity. He would give us His own victory. If Jesus would have wanted a mereworship of Himself as God, He would have come in glory, but that would not have givenus salvation. It would have merely created an assent to Him.

WAS JESUS REALLY LIKE US?

The Son took the name Jesus, "For He shall save His people from their sins." Matt.1:21. Jesus (Savior) came to bring us back to the harmony of God's perfect universe.There are those who say Jesus was not born like us but, instead, He had a special body.(They say His body was a kind of super body and this idea Scripture defines asantichrist. See 2 John 7). Yes, Jesus came in the flesh. He came to gain the victory inour flesh and give that victory to us so that we might live His life in the flesh. Jesus didnot give us the victory that a man with a super body has or the victory a god has, but thevictory a man has while living in the flesh trusting in God. God's own everlasting life isgiven to all who receive it. This is not part-time life. It is not part life. No, this is God'sown life and His only gift to us. If we receive that, believe in that, trust in that, then it is

ours.

God has seen our trials and He has seen the only solution. The solution to our trialsand suffering is not a political one. It will not come if we get the right leader ingovernment. It will not come if we join the right church. Neither will it come if we passthe right laws. The biggest bomb will not secure it. This joy and peace will only comewith His life. It will only come with His gift. It will only come in our being restored toharmony with the laws of God. These laws are the very nature of God and these lawsare the Wisdom of God. There is provision for all life's sorrows and difficulties. Thechoice belongs to man alone, for the Gift has already been provided.

Yes, we lose some of the newness of nature we may have had as a young child. Weare not as aware of the smells and colors of those early years, but the gift of God givesus a far greater appreciation in far more meaningful ways. I have received this gift and Iwant to share with you that these are no idle tales. God is who He said He is and Hisgift is what He said it was. God has given us His only born Son and His Son has givenHis everlasting life to all who will receive it.


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HIS ONLY GIFT

HIS GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Chapter Two

The gift of righteousness is not separated from the gift of the Son. Righteousness isin God's only gift. For generations, in religious circles, men have tried to get better.

These have, at least, tried to appear better. All, from the least to the greatest, are insome way trying to accomplish this.

I remember back into my young life how this happened. When a child begins torealize he has peers, he finds himself concerned as to how he looks in their eyes. Aswith the common animal we find ourselves adjusting to the "pecking order." Youngpeople try each other to see who will be the leader. Strangely, this does not end withyouth. Adults continue this practice in one form or another.

Outside my window I keep a hummingbird feeder. As I watch them I see the traits ofmany human beings. They compete for the feeder, one chasing off the other and

spending so much time at it that the one chasing cannot get much of the nectar himself.It seems that the bird who can spread his tail feathers the farthest chases off the othersmost successfully. Then, again, those with the red throat do even better. Most of thischasing and struggling is all a big show from my vantage point. They cannot see that ifthey would all take their turn, there would be enough for everyone. There are threeholes in the feeder, but they will only let one feed at a time and, most often, even thatone gets chased off. There is provision for all, but these little creatures will not for amoment realize this.

So it is with the human population. These have wars and struggle and fight not for amoment realizing that there is enough for everyone. The greatest business in the world

is in military weapons. We will do anything "even so much as to destroy the earth toprotect our nectar" and in so doing we will find that we will not get any either.

When Christ came to bring His love to this earth and offer His salvation, He brought anew spirit. "But the Spirit's fruition is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, generosity,fidelity, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22-23.) Those who receive the gift of Christ'srighteousness are receiving this Spirit and none of the traits of this Spirit are missing.Since Christ is perfect, perfection is what those receive who receive Him. How can therebe anything greater than that?


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FREE FROM SIN

I remember back to that day when I found this great gift. I was reading the Bible in myliving room and I read, "But now, free from sin and made slaves of God, the good youderive leads to holiness and the consequence is eternal life." (Romans 6:22.)

This was disturbing to me. I was a Sunday school teacher in a popular protestantchurch but I still sinned. I saw myself even liking some of it. But the Bible said Christianswere freed from sin. I also read, "So sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are notunder the law, but under grace." (Romans 6:14) I had always believed that being undergrace meant we could sin and it was okay. Now I was reading that those who are undergrace do not have that desire. I began to understand that those who are under the laware those who still sin. Sin has no power over the true Christian. As I read this I becamedeeply perplexed. I was unsettled and convicted that I had been believing a lie. I nowhad a choice. Was I willing to give up my sinning for a Savior? Was I willing to give Himmy slime for His righteousness? I had no little battle over this one. I looked at mypossessions. I knew immediately that a strong wind could carry them all away in amoment. I looked at my life and I saw myself wretched and miserable. It is true, I had asmall business and I was respected in my work. It is true, I had a nice family and twocars in the driveway, but freedom from sin I did not have. I saw that I was like ahummingbird always trying to chase the others off to get the nectar for myself. I saw thatI was concerned as to how I appeared to others.

NOT FROM HUMAN LIPS

God was very close to me for I had not heard words like these from human lips. Myminister had no such idea. The religious leaders would have thought that myunderstanding was nonsense. Whoever heard of being free from sin's dominion?"Everybody sins sometime." With not one person to help me understand, I turned to the

Biblical Interpreter. I knelt down by my bed and asked the Lord to save me or let me die.This wrestling lasted three days, and at the end of my prayers, I knew I had receivedeternal life. I knew I had been freed.

This religion of Christ, which so few have come to know, is that "I have set the Lordalways before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." (Psalm 16:8.)The religion of Jesus is the religion of always doing those things that please Him. Whentrials and temptations come, victory over them is always assured. The Christian willnever move from this most basic thought. "Dear children, no one should deceive you.He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He Himself is righteous." (1 John 3:7)"...God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin

in the flesh: that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not afterthe flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:3-4.)

I remember the day when I first received the gift of God. I had been in prayer askingfor salvation because I had a terrible knowledge of my corrupt state. This great need,which was precipitated by the knowledge that Christians do not sin, drove me to theplace of perfect peace and that place was Jesus. Christians have Christ's life. Readingthis from Scripture shocked and dismayed me. Who then could be saved? I read, "Noone who abides in Him sins; no one who sins has either seen Him or known Him...Noone born of God commits sin; for God's nature abides in him, and he cannot sin


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because he is born of God." (1 John 3:6, 9.) As I wrestled with God asking for this gift, Ifound the answer to all the difficulties that had perplexed me, for God gave me His ownlife. God had freed me from the dominion of sin. Sin no longer had its chains on me. Inow knew what the cross had provided me. I now was in possession of Hisrighteousness. I now knew the meaning of the words of Paul, "For as many as are ledby the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:14.)

When one receives this gift of God he is given a new Spirit. "A new heart, too, I will

give you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart offlesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shallobserve My ordinances and do them." (Ezekiel 11:19-20.) More specifically we havealready read what that new Spirit gives: "...love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness,generosity, fidelity, gentleness, self-control. There is no law against these." When onereceives Christ his attitude changes. He may not possess all knowledge, but he willpossess this attitude of Christ with the knowledge he has. Not one of these traits ofattitude will be missing in one who has received this new heart. This is a wonderfultrade. God gives us His Spirit and we give Him ours.

Our fleshly nature has with it all the curses of life. The apostle describes the source of

this curse. "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, such as immorality, impurity,sensuality, idolatry, magic arts, animosities, strife, jealousy, bad temper, outbreaks ofselfishness, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousings and everything of thekind, of which I warn you as I did previously, that those who practice such things will notinherit the kingdom of God." (Galations 5:19-21.) In my own mind I could now see thatthose who do these things do not find the kingdom of God, heaven, paradise or anysuch place. This attitude is death to all who possess it. On the other hand, there is nocondemnation and no law against those who have the gift of God. This gift is for all whoask for it.

Some will acknowledge that Christians live good lives most of the time, but lose their

temper or exhibit impatience on occasion. We have heard that the life of Christ is thegoal but, in reality, no one actually lives that way in the real world. I want to stress thepoint that the life of Jesus is not the goal it is the possession of all who know Him. TheChristian does not sin less and less. Christian growth is the development ofrighteousness, not less and less sin. We grow and in that growth we do not corruptourselves along the way. We need also to observe that this life is continual and notsporadic as some may suppose. We have read where we are given everlasting life andnot temporary life. If we choose to dwell in this life we will never fall or fail. Whoeverchooses to be separate from this life will only fail and fall continually. Some feel thatthey do well most of the time, but only under extreme pressure they give in. Theseimagine that they are standing in eternal life between falls. If one would only look at this

experience, he would have to acknowledge that the seeds of falling were there all along.If a man is honest he can see further than the occasional fall. He will see that the truthof it is that he is dissatisfied and his heart is woefully unhappy continually.

THE NATURAL MAN

You may have heard that Paul had some sin problems in his life and so do we. Youmay have heard Romans 7:19-21 quoted. "For the good that I would I do not: but theevil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, butsin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with


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me." This is the continual state of the man who is searching for the gift of God. Paulwent on to say, "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of thisdeath?" (Romans 7:24.) Paul was saying he did nothing good. He went on to say he didonly evil. In Romans, chapter 8, we see what happens when one receives this victory ofGod. Although he still has with him his flesh, he no longer lives after that flesh. The newman in Christ now lives after the Spirit. "There is therefore now no condemnation tothem which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit...For asmany as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Romans 8:1, 14.)

I can remember in my religious training of being instructed as to the Advocate. I wastaught that when I sin I was to go to the Advocate and receive forgiveness each time Isinned so that my record would be clean. Jesus was a kind of heavenly confessor. I canremember confessing my sins each day. I also remember getting up from those prayersnot experiencing forgiveness. I remained guilty; but I had misunderstood the Advocate."My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, wehave an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1.) Those whouse this text to remain in sin but stay confessed-up, miss some very importantstatements that surround this portion of Scripture. In verse 9 of the preceding chapterwe read, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to

cleanse us from all unrighteousness." How is it that we are still sinning if we have beencleansed from all unrighteousness? In Chapter 2, verses 3 and 4, there is more light."And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He thatsaith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not inhim." If one is a Christian keeping all God's commandments, then how is it that he isusing the Advocate for confession because he has not been keeping thecommandments?

If one will but spend a little time with the Word of God, he will not be confused. TheAdvocate is never intended for our willful sins. When any man sins we have anAdvocate. Any man can come to Him and God will cleanse that man from all

unrighteousness. If a Christian has not had light on a given truth and finds that he hasbeen in violation of a spiritual principle unknowingly, he may also come to the Advocateand he will be cleansed from that previous error. But in no case is the Advocate forthose who retain their corrupt heart but need a confessor for the sins of that heart. Is itnot true that those who confess this way still leave the place of confession bearing themarks of their burden? Are not those who repent in this way simply repenting to repentagain? This kind of repentance needs to be repented of.

HE FREES US

The Advocate is He who finds us in our sins. He draws us away from them with His

intercession so that we sin not. He "cleanses us from all unrighteousness." We are"freed from sin's control" forever. That is the gospel. This is the "good news" of thekingdom. "Sin shall have no dominion over you." By this we can know if we areChristians. If sin still has control over us, we can know we are not the children of God. Isthat bad news? No! We have something wonderful to look forward to. We can acceptChrist and be freed from this monster. We can look forward to the gift of God and Hisrighteousness where love and obedience will continually dwell. We shall never fall withthis gift. We shall never fail with this gift. What a joy this will be for all those who acceptit.


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In each of our lives we find times when something breaks. We look for the cause ofthat breakage. If our gardens don't grow, we look for the reason they don't grow. If acrack appears in the wall of our house, we check to see if the foundation is insecure.Why is it that one does not do that with his religious experience? If one finds that hisspiritual house is falling in, why is it he does not look at the cause of it? Jesus gave usthe explanation and solution to the problem of one's falling. If one wonders why it is hecontinues to yield to evil influences, he has only to look at the secret of life. "A good treecannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." (Matthew 7:17.) The problem

with our lives is not the fruit; it's the tree. Most religious people spend time trying tomake their fruit better. These spend time polishing and washing and spraying, but theproblem is the tree. Your works are not the problem. Your deeds are not the problem.Your heart is the problem if you are bearing evil fruit. One's intention determines thecondition of the heart. The Holy Spirit will always be in the heart that intends for that tohappen.

THE HOUSE ON THE ROCK

Another secret to righteousness and victory is found in the place we build our lives."Every one, then, who listens to these sayings of Mine and puts them into practice willbe like a thoughtful man who built his house on the rock. The rains came down, thefloods rose, the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it never collapsed, for it wasbased on the rock." (Matthew 7:24.) Notice that this house never collapsed. Never! Nowthat is good news. Who is it that would not like to have his house never fall? This is thegift of God to every believer. The believer will never fall. This is because he "listens tothese sayings of mine and puts them into practice."

But what about the bad fruit? This is described in verse 26. "And every one whohears these sayings of Mine and fails to practice them will be like a foolish man whobuilt his house on the sand. The rains came down, the floods rose, the winds blew andbeat upon that house and it collapsed. And the wreck of it was complete." All one need

do is fail to practice the sayings of Jesus and he will fall and his fall will be complete.The evil tree can only completely fall and the good tree can only completely stand. Weall have those storms to face. We all have great temptations and trials. Even so, thosewho build their houses on the word of God will not be blown down. When the weather isgood and there are no storms it is difficult to tell whether a house is built on the sand orrock. But when the storm of temptation comes there is no more question. The man thatfalls can know where his house is built and so it is with the man who stands.

I AM THE WAY

What a simple lesson this righteousness of Jesus is. "...I am the way the truth and thelife: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14:6.) Jesus gave us the truth ofHis life to be the truth of our lives and no one will come to the Father without the life ofJesus. Did Jesus fall on occasion? Did He sin now and then? This life, that will alwaysstay true under any circumstances, is the life that Jesus offers us. This is what Jesusprovided on the cross at Calvary.

Jesus' own life "His own righteousness" is the gift of heaven. This is the Christianexperience. At no time did Jesus ever yield to the flesh, even though He went throughdark times and discouraging experiences. He suffered hunger and thirst and there were


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times He could not see what was to come yet, in all this, He never yielded up His trust inHis Father. He always obeyed His Father's commands even against the rage of Hispersecutors. He faithfully stood against the advice of His family. This will ever be His giftto humanity. No man or woman will ever come to the Father without this determination.Is not this a most wonderful gift? Have we not always desired the peace and love of theFather? Who is it that does not want joy and rejoicing? This is all in the gift of Hisrighteousness.

This life is available to all, but one must count the cost. Jesus called this lifeexperience "the kingdom". He said, "...the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid ina field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth andselleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto amerchant man, seeking goodly pearls: who, when he had found one pearl of great price,went and sold all that he had and bought it." (Matthew 13:44-46.) "He that loveth father ormother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more thanme is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:37.) These are the conditions for receiving thekingdom of God. Nothing less can be accepted. When one bows before the Lord, askingfor this gift, he is in effect saying, I give all that I have. I give my job, my family, myrespect, my life. Jesus said, "For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not

down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" (Luke 14:28.) Hewas saying, "Perhaps before you start on the road to heaven you may want to considerwhat it will cost to finish the task and prepare your heart for that. After all, no man startsa building without considering this." Then Jesus gives the cost. Clearly He defines theexpenditure. "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, hecannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:33.)

Some are willing to go to church to be saved. Others are willing to say prayers andpay money to be saved. Some are even willing to give all their earthly goods to besaved. A few are willing to die in order to be saved. But, truly, a remnant are willing toforsake all that they have. We must yield up every talent, every possession and every

claim. We must even yield up death or any good work to gain this salvation. Every sin,all pride, every self-defense must be yielded up. When this is done you will live Christ'slife, for He gave all to save you. You must give all to be saved by Him. His own life is allthat He has ever given. If you want it, it is free. It will only cost all that you have. Whenyou forsake all that you have, you may then be trusted to have all that He has. God canthen trust you with family, friends and financial provision. When a man gives it up he willreceive, but if man seeks to keep anything, he will lose it all.

This is the formula. It is not hard to do this if one wills to do this. My invitation to youis to accept this great life if you have not done so. All you possess is only chaff incomparison. We are only asked to trade things which will finally be destroyed, for the

things which will last forever. Jesus gave us the formula and now He asks us to acceptthe gift of His righteousness.

HIS ONLY GIFT


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THE GIFT OF HIS TESTIMONY

Chapter Three

I remember the day I received this gift of Christ. What a complete joy filled my heart.What a perfect experience. The first thing I remember doing was going to my job andtelling others what Jesus had done for me. Some hearts were strangely warmed. Otherswere chilled. The ones who presented themselves as being good Christians seemed tobe those who were chilled. A lady working near my station heard me say how Jesus hadremoved my sins He had cleansed my heart. Her question was, "Oh, you don't sinanymore?" I could tell immediately this heart was not a warm one. I did not have atheology for my experience. I did not know for sure what had happened to me. All Iknew was that once I was blind, but now I saw. God had given me His testimony. I knewI had been forgiven and I knew my sins had no more power over me. I had been

delivered once and for all. This was my experience. Now this was my testimony. Irealized that I had become the light of the world yet not I, but Christ who lived in me. Ialways did those things which pleased the Father yet not I, but Christ who lived in me.

As I began to behold my Savior I could see more clearly the nature of the natural man.I saw myself as the offscouring of the earth. My own nature appeared to me as theslime pit of the universe. I saw myself as unworthy of so great a gift. This man wassinful and weak yet, now, Christ lived in me. Now the natural man could no longercontinue to bring me into the pit of sin's experience. Now I had a testimony of that fact.Of course I encountered those "spiritual hecklers." These would say, "Are you sayingyou are sinless?" They could not resist the temptation to make me speak of myself.

They knew if they could get me to boast that I was sinless the trap would be set. I neverfell into their traps but continued to recognize that I am sinful sold under sin. I couldnever make the claim that I, myself, was sinless. In fact, looking at myself to see if I wassinless gave me no little pain because I am chief of sinners. This is why I continued tokeep my gaze upon the Savior and ceased looking at myself. He is sinless and He liveswithin my heart. Thank God I am dead. I will put this carcass into the grave where itbelongs. Now I live unto God. I would answer the scoffers, "Whether I am sinless or notI will leave with God. I will let the angels record whether or not that is true. But this Iknow, once I was trapped in sin and now I am free."

I DO NOT BEAR WITNESS OF MYSELF

The testimony of Jesus was not, "I am sinless." But the Scriptures abound in Histestimony regarding the relationship to the Father He had. He came as a man to be triedas a man but in all things He pleased the Father. "Wherefore in all things it behoved himto be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest inthings pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that HeHimself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted."(Hebrews. 2:17-18.) Jesus was made like us and, as well, He was tempted as we are, butHe gained the victory in every area never yielding to sin, thus giving us the victory in


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every area never yielding to sin. What a blessing! His testimony was far moredescriptive than merely bearing witness of Himself. Indeed He said, "If I bear witness ofmyself, my witness is not true." (John 5:31.) Again He said, "...I can do nothing ofmyself...." (John 5:28.) This is the testimony of Jesus and this is the testimony of all thosewho have the testimony of Jesus. If we speak of ourselves, we cannot speak the truth,for we do nothing of ourselves. Jesus did not bear witness of Himself but His testimonywas decided and true. This being true, to some His testimony sounded like He wasspeaking of Himself. "...For I do always those things that please him." "...But the Son

abideth ever...." "Which of you convinceth me of sin?" "...I honor my Father...." "...I knowHim...." (See John Ch. 8). As with the testimony of Jesus, so it is with the testimony ofthe Christian. Christians do not bear witness to themselves; but to those who know notthe truth, it sounds like this is what they do. The Christian does nothing of himself anddoes not bear witness of himself, but his testimony remains, "...I have gained thevictory...Jesus' word is true He means what He says." (TM 517.) "I know Him! I know Him!I have tested Him; I have proved Him, and He has never failed me...." (UL 256.)

WHAT WE KNOW

John wrote concerning his testimony, "We know that no one begotten of Godcommits sin; rather, God protects the one begotten by Him, and so the evil one cannottouch him. We know that we belong to God, while the whole world is under the evil one."(1 John 5:18-19 NAB.) It may be well to notice that John was bearing witness to a truth thatfew would accept today. He said, "We know that anyone born of God does not sin andwe are born of God." I can see the shattered nerves of today's conservative with thatone; however, John said far more than this. He spoke of the testimony of Jesus. Hedescribes what that was. "Whoever believes in the Son of God possesses thattestimony within his heart. Whoever does not believe God has made God a liar byrefusing to believe in the testimony He has given on His own Son's behalf. Thetestimony is this: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. Whoeverpossesses the Son possesses life; whoever does not possess the Son of God does not

possess life. I have written this to you to make you realize that you possess eternal life--you who believe in the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:10-13 NAB.) This is what thetestimony of Jesus is. Did you grasp the significance of that? God gave us eternal life.All those who believe in the Son have eternal life and those who are born of God do notsin. And these believers will have this testimony. I can imagine that John would beboiled in oil by the modern church if he would bear the same testimony now as he borein his own lifetime.

Remember, the Christian does nothing of himself, neither does he bear witness ofhimself, but he does have the testimony of Jesus. It is not hard to understand the wrathof modern-day religion, for the Scriptures bear witness of this wrath. "And the dragon

was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, whichkeep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 12:17)We have seen what this testimony is. When one possesses the Son he possesses life.Notice the first words of the testimony: "God gave us eternal life and this life is in HisSon." Let us make it still more pointed. "I have eternal life because I have the Son.Those who have the Son don't sin." Immediately the hairs on the neck of theconservative class begin to raise. Their eyes begin to narrow, their head turns slightly,then with an upturned voice they say, "Oh, are you saying you are sinless?" It willalways be that Christians must go on as those who hear not. There will always be thosewho dwell in the company of unbelief.


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THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY

The Scriptures again give the definition of this testimony of Jesus. "And I fell at hisfeet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant,and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony ofJesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10.) The spirit of prophecy is that testimonywithin one's heart that Jesus is the Son of God and that He has given us eternal life. Weare empowered to work the works of His own life. Even in this flesh. Such a magnificentreality. Let them say, "You make yourself sinless." We will say, "I have eternal life andthis life is in His Son." "We know we are of God and those born of God do not sin." "Hehas never failed me, I have tested Him and He is true and He bears witness to me that Iam a son of God."

This message can be quite discouraging to the natural man. He realizes there is nohope for him. When the natural man hears these words he recoils in horror, for heknows if one accepts this testimony he is doomed to death. But for those who desirethis life, there is only rejoicing at the testimony, for it means that the dominion of sin isover forever for him. If anyone dwells in this life, he is secure. The Scriptures again bearwitness to that experience. "Here we have also the testimony of the Holy Spirit: He firstsays, 'This is the covenant which I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: Iwill set my laws in their hearts and write them on their understanding'; then He adds,'and their sins and wicked deeds I will remember no more at all.' And where these havebeen forgiven, there are offerings for sin no longer." (Heb. 10:15-18.) Imagine, thetestimony of Jesus through the spirit of prophecy saying He wrote His laws on our ownhearts, then forgets our sins forever, then removes the sin offering since sin no longerreigns. Now that is a testimony. I am of God for He has written His law on my heart.Notice that is not bearing testimony of one's self. That is having the testimony of Jesuswhich is the spirit of prophecy. It is God who bears the testimony of Jesus in our hearts.We claim His promise. We accept His work in us by faith thus making it a reality in ourlives. This is the testimony He has given us and by it we are believing unto eternal life.

THE LAW OF FAITH

There is a law that enters every facet of our lives. This law is that all things workaccording to our faith. Even the body reacts to our mental ideas and so it is in thespiritual. Our spiritual health is related directly to our attitude about it. If our testimony isone that includes falling on occasion, then for certain we will. If our testimony is that wewill stand in faith, then we gain strength to stand in faith. This is not a new principle.Some of the first writings of Scripture included this idea. "For this command which Ienjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you. It is not up in the sky, that

you should say, 'Who will go up in the sky to get it for us and tell us of it, that we maycarry it out?' Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, 'Who will cross the sea to getit for us and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?' No, it is something very near to you,already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out." (Deut. 30:11-14NAB.) All one has to do is believe it, since God has already placed the truth of it in theheart. Who is it that does not believe "someday" we will get better or "someday" we willachieve? You see? The idea of it is already there. The deception is that it is someday.The truth of it is that it is now. It all depends upon the one who decides he is ready tocarry it out.


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The sad reality for most is that these remain waiting for someone to do this for them.Humanity hopes for a Messiah to come and do something for them. That day will nevercome. All that has been done for us is all that will be done for us. We either believe it ordisbelieve it. Jesus said, "...According to your faith be it unto you." (Matt. 9:29.) If we wait,then our faith is in waiting. If we include in our testimony that someday we will make it--but not now, then our victory ever remains off in the someday. But if our testimony isthat we accept the Word of God as true and we claim this gift for ourselves now, and wetestify to this fact believing with our whole heart, it will be a reality for us at that instant.

God does not lie, so, "Every failure on the part of the children of God is due to their lackof faith." (PP 657.)

The mystery in my mind remains why men would like to extend their agony. Theprovision of all God's righteousness is now ready for the taking. This is His will. Yes, it isHis will that we take this gift now. It is also His will that we bear the testimony of Jesusnow. This is the gift of God. This is the spirit of prophecy. Even so, as strange as itseems, there are those who love their faults and failings. They cling to the opportunityfor failure, but it shall not be named among the people of God.

At this point we may want to go back into Biblical history and see the testimony as

others have given it. Jesus and John were not the only ones who spoke in this way.Others in Scripture also had confidence that God meant what He said. "Though you testmy heart, searching it in the night, though you try me with fire, you shall find no malicein me. My mouth has not transgressed after the manner of man; according to the wordsof your lips I have kept the ways of the law. My steps have been steadfast in your paths,my feet have not faltered." (Ps. 17:3-5.) The apostle Paul also added his voice to the gloryof God. "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, therighteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also thatlove His appearing." (2 Tim. 4:7-8.) Notice how the testimony is for all who believe. So it iswith all the other testimonies we have looked at. This is the testimony of Jesus and this

is the testimony of all who love His appearing.

NOT ONE DAY BUT TODAY

In this age you may know by now all things have counterfeits. So does the testimony.Some may say these things, but their lives bear another testimony. But this is not thecounterfeit I refer to, since it is so rare these days to hear the testimony at all. The one Irefer to is the message that we should do all these things and one day we may achieveand do all these things. That "one day" is the mark of a false testimony. The testimonyof Jesus is His own testimony from a life that lives this testimony. When we havereceived the gift of the Son, and with Him the gift of His righteousness, then we will

have the gift of His testimony. Any shortcut to this and any pretense will only lead toconfusion and guilt. We will believe that those who have this testimony arepresumptuous if we have not received it ourselves. Yet, those who have this life ofJesus know that their testimony is true. When one knows, there is no presumption.

It would be well to notice that the dragon, "who was wroth with the woman, and wentto make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, andhave the testimony of Jesus Christ", was not wroth with those who thought you shouldbe good. His wrath is not aimed at those who go to church and sing and pray alot. Hedid not aim his darts at those who thought they would achieve someday. His wrath was


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aimed at those who have the testimony of Jesus. There is something the dragon cannotstand about those who bear this testimony. One might think, "Why should he care?" Butcare he does. He cares because this is the only thing that will give Jesus Christ glory. Itdoes not give glory to say you will get better one day. That gives glory to self. It doesnot give Him glory to say you ought to get better and be good. It gives Him glory to liveHis life and bear witness to the fact that the words of Jesus are true and that He hasgiven you power over the enemy. This is the reason the dragon is wroth. Some believethey give God glory by saying "Yes, Christians should live righteous lives and many do

most of the time, but you know that one just might fall one day." This is a slap in theface of the Son of God. The Christian, on the other hand, believes the word of Christand he says, "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Ps. 23:6.) "I have set the Lordalways before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." (Ps. 16:8.)

Some who read these pages may not have this testimony. Would you like to have it?Would you like to be able to say, "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in thelaw of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with thewhole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways." (Ps. 119:1-3.) "...If youpractice these things you will never stumble." (2 Peter. 1:10.) I would like to say to thereader, you may walk the path that many have walked before you. Yes, there are those

who have chosen this life and have this testimony. It is true! Walking the earth right noware those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These put forth their efforts to alwaysplease the Lord and the peace of God is in their hearts. These walk in the law of theirGod and their conscience is pure and clean. Would you like to be one of these if you arenot now? This is God's offering to you. This is His gift to you. This is His testimony. It isoffered now.

Accepting this gift does not mean there will be no more battles. Sanctification is notthe work of a moment but of a lifetime. What the gift will do for you is give you the Spiritof God and with that gift you will always have victory. Sin shall have no more dominionover you. The gift does not give you holy flesh but it does give you holiness. Would you

like to have this?

HIS ONLY GIFT

THE GIFT OF HIS JUDGMENT

Chapter Four

We have looked at the character of God in the subject of His righteousness. The giftof His judgment is also the character of God and it is also from His righteousness as weshall discover. The Scriptures share these elements of the character of God in Exodus34:5-7. "And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed


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the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord,The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness andtruth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, andthat will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children,and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." It may bewell to notice here, that this is the name of God. Have you considered that when youhave prayed a prayer and closed it "In Jesus' name," you were actually closing theprayer with the attributes of God, including that transgression and sins are visited to the

third and fourth generation?

This subject is often referred to as cause and effect. God has put His righteous lawsin motion and He sustains them to give every man according as his works shall be.Jesus taught these principles in His ministry. "...Take heed what ye hear: with whatmeasure ye mete, it shall be measured to you...." (Mark 4:24.) The apostle Paul alsoclearly expresses this truth. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a mansoweth, that shall he also reap." (Gal. 6:7.) God's judgments are the foundation of Hischaracter. This is inseparable from the knowledge of His love. It must be consideredimpossible to have a loving God if you have a God unrighteous in His judgments. If Godis ever unfair or a respecter of persons, you would have unrighteousness.

We all expect to receive what we do when we do some good thing. If we make anapple pie and put it in the oven, after a time we expect to get an apple pie out of theoven. Is that not so? If we put earnest efforts into building a house we expect that ahouse would be built. This being true, there are multitudes who expect to do evil and notget the results of that. These expect to get away with their evil deeds. No one has everreceived other than the effects of his creations and it is for good reason. By this wemight get to know the Lord of the universe. He has said in His Word, "The Lord is knownby the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his ownhands." (Ps. 9:16.) There is nothing that can work faster in convincing us that someone iswatching and sustaining law than to do something in secret and get our reward openly.

The Lord says that this is how we may come to know Him. Whoever believes this truthand lives with the idea in mind that whatever he is doing will come back to him, will findhis life fully rewarding.

AFTER THEIR WAY

"...I will do unto them after their way, and according to their deserts will I judge them;and they shall know that I am the Lord." (Eze. 7:27.) Some might rebel at the thought thatall that has happened to them in life was fair, but the Word of God plainly states that thisis how it is created to work. In all this we can understand the love of God. Through allthe trials of life we can be brought to understand and know that there is a God in

heaven that rules. If things were allowed to "just happen," then how would thisknowledge ever be attained? Even so, some things have a bitter taste when the resultsof our actions come home to us. It is also good to realize that this is not one-sided.When we sow righteousness, then that is what will grow in our garden of life. "The fearof the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visitedwith evil." (Pr. 19:23.) So this principle works both ways. We are all judged according toour ways. This is always true and we can always depend on the outcome of anyhappening as the perfect judgment of God for us. Men may make mistakes, but Godnever has made mistakes. "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doethevil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man


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that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: for there is no respect ofpersons with God." (Rom. 2:9-10.)

We have heard that the Old Testament scriptures are fables and stories written bysuperstitious people. But if one will take a moment to carefully study these accounts, asstrange as some of them sound to certain folks today, one will see that they are allcause and effect stories. The trials of Israel in the desert were always associated withtheir murmurings or disbelief. We cannot find an example in Scripture where those who

were full of faith failed or fell. While often martyrs and others are pointed out asexamples of how bad things happen to the faithful, it is worthwhile looking at those whowere untouched by adversity because of their faith, such as Daniel and his three friends.If one would only think it through he would have to ask himself, "Do God's laws onlywork sometimes?" "Is God a respecter of persons?" It is true that with men there is ofteninconsistency, but this is never the case with God. "I the Lord search the heart, I try thereins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of hisdoings." (Jer. 17:10.)

Do questions come to your mind? "What about Aunt Sue; she was a good person andsomething bad happened to her?" Before we handle questions like these isn't it best to

discover, first of all, if God spoke the truth or not? Will one only believe if he can figureout all the problems in his mind? If one needs to figure it all out before he believes, hewill remain an unbeliever. Will an ant ever come to understand the workings of theuniverse? So it is with man. There are many things we will never come to understand.But one thing we can do and that is, decide for ourselves whether or not God is tellingthe truth in His Word. Do you question, "I believe God tells the truth; I just don't think theBible means what it says." If the Word of God doesn't mean what it says, then we are inquite a fix. If the Bible cannot be trusted always, then who is to say if it can be trusted atall? Without the Word of God we are left to be saved according to our ideas. It would becertain that all things would then be vanity. I do believe that the God who created theuniverse and put all things in perfect order can also protect His Word through the ages.

As I read His Word I can see the wonderful order of cause and effect. I have found thatGod's Word is true in my life.

If the Bible does not mean what it says, then what does it mean? When the Lord tellsus not to be fooled God isn't mocked; whatsoever a man sows he reaps; do yousuppose we can change that plain statement to mean anything else? This is especiallytrue when the statement begins, "Don't be fooled." We might notice it also says"whatsoever." Is God taking this to extremes or is He, rather, letting us understandexactly how it really is? Wouldn't you see this as a rather loving act, to warn us how lifereally works? Yes, He tries the reins, He reads the hearts and discovers what isgenerated there and then He gives us precisely what our works suggest. This is not only

true for this earth, but also the Kingdom of glory to come. "And, behold, I come quickly;and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." (Rev. 22:12.)The fairness and justice of God should be a matter of rejoicing, but too often it is thesubject of scorn. This truth only increases the love of God's children.

THE TERRIBLE TRUTH

"Terrible is this truth, and deeply should it be impressed. Every deed reacts upon thedoer. Never a human being but may recognize, in the evils that curse his life, fruitage ofhis own sowing." (Ed. 146.) Initially, one may be inclined to accept the shear weight of


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testimony on the subject that, indeed, we do receive what we sow, but when this truth isbrought into the details of life where we have thought ourselves misused and mistreated,we may balk. We all have had experiences in life where we felt someone did somethingto us and it was unfair. We look at our accidents and diseases and imagine they "justhappened." We think things just happen because we cannot trace a clear cause andeffect relationship in all circumstances. "When parents or rulers neglect the duty ofpunishing iniquity, God Himself will take the case in hand. His restraining power will bein a measure removed from the agencies of evil, so that a train of circumstances will

arise which will punish sin with sin." (PP 728.)

Even though we cannot see the beginning and end of our circumstances, we can besure they are not accidental. As with the apple pie they are created. In Mark, chapter 4,Jesus is using plant growth to describe how our circumstances are made. "So is thekingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, andrise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. Forthe earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full cornin the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle,because the harvest is come." We know not how these circumstances grow, but whenthe fruit is ripe it will all come to its fruition. So it is in all of life. We plant a seed

somewhere in our pathway. We may not even know that is what we are planting. It maybe an attitude or remark. It may be an idea or feeling that we nurture. It may be an overtact, but whatever it is, that is what we will reap by and by, whether good or bad. Eventhough this truth has terrible implications and, indeed, this world is full of the woe thatwe have made, nevertheless, there is something comforting about the knowledge thatGod can always be trusted and that all of our best efforts will not go unnoticed. Jesussaid, "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold wateronly in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward."(Matt. 10:42.) Conversely, it could be said that even so slight an evil will not go without itsreward.

GOD CAN BE TRUSTED

It would be well for us to look again and decide whether or not God's word can betrusted. Indeed, can God be trusted? What advantage could there ever be for God to beinconsistent? With a word or a look He could change the face of the earth in an instant.It is a wonderful thing to behold His perfect integrity in His own creation. If you or I wereat the beach forming a castle of sand we could at any time destroy it and start over withno feelings about it whatever. The Father in heaven is not fickle as we might be. All Hisworks come from His own righteousness and nothing is done in vain. In like manner,God accepts every choice on our part seriously and nothing is taken lightly that we havechosen. His own character is at stake. If God would do a single unrighteous act or

pronounce a single unrighteous judgement, the entire universe would immediately beginto destroy itself, for the whole system is supported by the perfect judgment of God.

You have heard that "accidents just happen." If that were so, then why is it thataccidents don't happen? To clarify that statement we need only to look at the missionarystories of how miracles were seen that saved a missionary from accident, hunger ordisaster. Does God only save missionaries? Other than those missionary stories, wealso hear of some who acknowledged God saved them from something. When Goddidn't get around to saving some other soul from an equally devastating disaster, was itthat the angel didn't get there in time, or was it rather that the creations of the individual


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involved insisted that he not be saved from this experience? Some cannot be savedfrom their creations or it would violate perfect law. It would also be seen that God wouldhave to violate the person's own will to save them. This, God does not do. It would bewell for us to understand that God is loving and kind. His loving kindness as a heavenlyFather gives us perfection. As a little child we do not always reason from cause to effect,but if we could see all things we would be in agreement with God.

WE NEED NOT EXPLAIN EVERYTHING

It is true we cannot explain every circumstance and always say why things have orhave not happened, but we can say that God is fair and that His judgments are perfectin every way. Not because we can understand it all, but because this is how He said itwas set up to work and if the created cannot take the word of the Creator, then we aretruly in a meaningless situation. "Yet you are saying the Lord isn't fair. But I will judgeeach of you in accordance with his deeds." (Eze. 33:20 ML.) The only way in which this lifewould have any real purpose is in the fact that all of our choices and intentions arebrought to a realization. We must be made to see what we do so that what we do canhave a purpose. Spending time on this celestial ball for the purpose of wasting it is onlya fantasy of the simple. Be not deceived, God is not mocked. "Yet you say, 'The way ofthe Lord is not just.' Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your waysthat are not just?" (Eze. 18:25.)

I would like to present you again with the proposition that we must first decidewhether or not God spoke the truth in His Word before we get into the details andpossibilities of cause and effect, or any discussion at all would be in vain. If one canaccept the proposal that God is just and brings to us that which we have done, whethergreat or small, then we will be standing in a place that can see the justice in our ownlives and God will receive our acknowledgment. "...Just and true are thy ways, thou Kingof saints...." (Rev. 15:3.) The record states, "...As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shallbow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." (Rom. 14:11.) If one's knees will

ultimately bow to the fact that God is just and true and all of His ways are and were justand true, it would seem the best possible plan to accept that fact now, rather than later,when it would do us no real good.

Ancient Israel learned very slowly that their sufferings were in proportion to theirunbelief. Whether or not they really learned that fact is debatable. Even so, all thesehistorical accounts were given so that we might take a lesson from them. It is God's willthat we live happy fulfilled lives full of joy, peace and appreciation. This is what we willhave if we are yielded to the name of God. "If you will seek the Lord and be convertedevery day; if you will of your own spiritual choice be free and joyous in God; if withgladsome consent of heart to His gracious call you come wearing the yoke of Christ,

"the yoke of obedience and service, "all your murmurings will be stilled, all yourdifficulties will be removed, all your perplexing problems that now confront you will besolved." (MB 101.) "Let me assure you that the struggles and conflicts which must beendured in the discharge of duty, the self-denials and sacrifices which must be made ifwe are faithful to Christ, are not created by Him. They are not imposed by arbitrary orunnecessary command; they do not come from the severity of the life which He requiresus to lead in His service. ...The path in which He invites us to walk would never havecost us a pang had we always walked in it. It is when we stray from the path of duty thatthe way becomes difficult and thorny. The sacrifices which we must make in following


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Christ are only so many steps to return to the path of light, of peace and happiness." (4T.558.)

YIELDING IS THE SECRET

I think most people would like to have light and peace and happiness. At least this iswhat they will say when you ask them. There is only one way for this to occur and that isto yield to the gift of the Son of God. In so doing, we yield to His righteousness and, by

this, we yield to the perfect justice of God. The fruit of that yielding is the quality of lifementioned. I have spoken with many individuals over the years and they spoke of theirfears of yielding. They believed that by yielding God would let some bad thing happen tothem or He might ask them to give up something. It is true, something terrible doeshappen. The "old man" dies. Of course that is only terrible to the old man. It is true, Goddoes ask you to give up much all the things that would cause you to suffer destruction.He asks of us all our other gods, including our lying, cheating and hatred. He asks of usour selfishness and trades with us His righteousness. We receive His light and peaceand happiness. We receive security, provision and joy. Is that so bad?

HE WILL NOT HURT YOUSome believe God wants to hurt them. This is so foolish. If God had any thought of

hurting us He would just hurt us. What would stop Him? Do you think your meagerefforts would stop God from hurting you? On the contrary, in spite of yourself and yourefforts to hurt you, God has done and is doing everything He can to bless you and bringyou joy. God allows your suffering to come when you insist on it. By this He designs thatyou will give up the suffering you enjoy so much. One may resist the notion that heenjoys suffering, but this is the conclusion one may draw from the fact that men lovethose things that bring it. In looking at my own life I have seen much of this suffering.Much of my life has been in deep pain. I discovered, by releasing myself to God, thepain was healed. I have found no greater protector than our loving heavenly Father. Ihave nothing more to fear. I want not anything.

One of the great blessings for us and the great gifts of God is the knowledge that Godis fair with us and that His judgments are righteous judgments. This not only will give uspeace about the past, but it will give us close attention to our choices in the future. Wecan know we can trust Him to bring to pass those desires He has placed in our hearts.We can know that God does not tantalize us with impossible notions. I invite the readerto accept this statement of God. The statement we should accept is that we reap whatwe sow. We should accept that those circumstances of life that come to us are God'sperfect judgments. When we do this we can know that we trust Him.

HIS ONLY GIFT

THE GIFT OF HIS HEALTH

Chapter Five


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If one is in the health profession and honest in his observation, he cannot help butsee that the body has a keen propensity for health. With disease comes the attack ofbody forces to bring healing and well-being. In God's creation everything always worksto right itself. The great mystery of righteousness is how God can give us such perfect

freedom to choose and, at the same time, bring us into alignment with His own will.Some believe that the idea of following God brings one to a place of slavery, but, inreality, any other course than perfect conformity to the will of God will bring the slavery.

HOW DISEASE COMES

The Scriptures give us examples of how disease comes about. "Fools because oftheir transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted." (Ps 107:17.) All diseasecomes from broken law. When dealing with our automobile we understand whensomething goes wrong. The automobile companies print manuals on how to care foryour car. They say to change the oil and get your car serviced regularly. There arethings you do to keep your vehicle in shape. One thing we have that automobiles do nothave is the self-healing propensity. Because of this, many assume that it will all workout if they lay off for a time whatever it is that does not agree with them. When these arewell they are off and running again to the foods and beverages that the body does notlike to assimilate.

Another cause of disease is the way one thinks. In the Old Testament there arenumerous examples of how a bad attitude contributed to a plague. In Numbers, chapter14, there is an interesting cause and effect relationship between attitude, prayers andthe words of the people. First of all, the people were discouraged because there was abarrier to the desire of entering Canaan. "And all the children of Israel murmuredagainst Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, WouldGod that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in thiswilderness!" These believed God brought them to a place where there was no way out.Their belief brought about the very thing they expected. Their desire was to die in thewilderness rather than face the apparent difficulty. God honored their words. "Say untothem, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine ears, so will I do toyou...." Regarding those that had the most resistant attitude in bringing a veryexaggerated report to the people and insisting on an evil report, the Bible reports theygot sick. "Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by theplague before the Lord." Today, many see themselves as wise men. Reasons fordisease abound. But diseases will ever remain upon the race while men treat symptoms

rather than the cause.

There is only one way to treat a man's actions and that is for him to have a new heart.An evil spirit still brings disease in spite of the tranquilizers many take. A rebellious heartbrings terrible stresses upon the human frame. Diseases are the result. The disease isan effort the body makes to correct the abuse. One may notice when one gets the flu,the body encourages a fast. The fast is an effort the body is making to cleanse itself.The fever is an effort to burn up the organism which is attacking it. The diseasesymptoms are from the body trying to save itself.


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THE CURE

It is a fact that we inherit weaknesses from our parents which predispose us tocertain ailments. Even so, we might take the advantage and learn of these weaknessesand their causes. By not following the habits of those who have gone before, we canstrengthen those weak points of our anatomy. In all this we can be sure that health ordisease is the result of cause and effect influences. "...If you will diligently listen to thevoice of the Lord your God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will listen tohis commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases uponyou, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals you." (Ex.15:26. Paraphrased) It is no mystery that these Egyptian diseases were the same diseaseswe have today.

In the world today there exists many of the same causes that existed centuries ago invarying degrees. Today, men use an abundance of drugs which ruin the smooth orderof the system. These drugs include coffee, tea, cigarettes, and alcohol. Added to theseare a never-ending source of what is termed prescription drugs. On top of these arevarying amounts of illegal drugs. Even so, drugs are not the only terror to the body. Ourfood is another source of one's destruction. We all know what happens to a car when itis flooded. It ceases to function. We cannot start a flooded car. Precise amounts of fuelmust be measured into the intake system for the car to run. With many human beingsthis care is not taken with their own body. If you can get it into your stomach, "get itthere" is one's motto. If it won't go in at mealtime then put it in between meals. Whatwon't go in between meals put in before bed. And so it goes. By and by, our body rebelsand the result is disease and sometimes death described under the myriad of termsused to explain that germs caused it all. When the death of a loved one is shared withothers these say, "My mother died of Hypervoluticuticus Syndrome." If the truth wereknown they might have said, "Mom stuffed herself." By using long and mysteriousnames men lead others to believe we didn't do it. "There is a divinely appointedconnection between sin and disease. No physician can practice for a month without

seeing this illustrated. He may ignore the fact; his mind may be so occupied with othermatters that his attention will not be called to it; but if he will be observing and honest hecannot help acknowledging that sin and disease bear to each other the relationship ofcause and effect." (5T 444.) Modern man would like to relegate the cause to the germsand other such things, but these only act as our servants. They cannot harm us withoutgaining our consent in some form or another.

MAN MAKES A MYSTERY

Disease hurts. We don't feel well or we don't look well. It gets our attention. This

attention is designed to bring our mind into play so that healing can take place. Whensomething hurts we do something about it. We have the world's way of doing somethingabout it and we have God's way. The world, whether African witch doctor or the moremodern form, all work to treat disease as a mystery or from the devil. "This disease iscaused by the vitroticulitus nervosa virus." The meaning of that statement is somethingout there did something to you. The witch doctor then mixes a few poisonous herbs andmakes a few incantations and sometimes the patient gets better. In modern medicinethe practitioner (one who is practicing) has someone who is an expert in drugs puttogether a potion to kill the bug that has gotten to you. The practice is the same aroundthe world, only the names, faces and costumes change.


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GOD MAKES IT PLAIN

If one will but take a moment to look at the principle that God's methods are quitesimple and purposeful, God will have our attention and we can gain from this aknowledge of our disease. We can understand the nature of it since we understand thatwe are the creators of it some way or other. After we are able to gain an intelligentknowledge of the disease we can take responsibility for it; I am not saying we take guiltfor it when I say responsibility. We may or may not be guilty. If we are born with it thereis no practical use for guilt, but we can take responsibility, guilty or not. This also lets thegerm off the hook. After we have taken responsibility for it we can then repent of oursowing. If we repent of our sowing, which is to change our causes and turn from thosepractices that cause disease, we will have courage to trust in divine power. The bodyalways uses divine power to heal itself and when we make a path for a full provision ofdivine power, our healing is all the more certain.

The ways that may be used to increase our faith and participate with God aredescribed as natural healing remedies. These remedies are not drugs but practices thataid the body in healing itself. Sunshine and fresh air are some of the most powerfulhealing agents there are. Others include the intelligent use of water. One may go to ahospital and receive a water treatment for several hundred dollars or he can do it in hishome for free. When hot water is used in conjunction with cold water, blood is forced inand out of the tissues which brings healing oxygen to the area infected. Charcoal isanother healer. It is used to draw unfriendly toxins and poisons out of the body.Charcoal may be used externally or internally. If charcoal were white, and veryexpensive, medical science might discover it. It is one of the most useful tools forcleansing the body and assisting the body in its restoration. There are many formswater treatments take but they are all very effective if used intelligently. These methodsassist the body in healing itself. These also assist the patient in gaining a knowledge ofhis anatomy and yielding up the practice of self-abuse that so many take for granted.

God works to bring man to a knowledge of His laws and obedience to them. Theworldly mind seeks to bring healing while man remains in transgression. There arediseases rampant in our world today that are caused by sexual perversity. Hardly aword is heard that these sufferers take responsibility for their disease and repent.Instead, there are voices everywhere asking medical science to come up with a cure sothat one might remain in sin and not suffer the consequence. It is true that one daycertain drugs may be found to mask the diseases that they claim to cure, but one thingis certain in the creation of God causes always have effects. One cannot be in rebellionand escape the effects of rebellion. It will always come in one form or another. There isnever an exception to this law of life. We have been given this promise.

NO SIDE EFFECTS

There are drugs used for healing that some say have "side effects." It is well for us tonotice that no drugs have side effects. These are effects. Drugs have effects of varyingdegrees with all people. These effects also reveal themselves in different waysdepending on the make-up of the individual receiving them. When one takes a drug to"heal" a disease that he is unwilling to repent of, then the drug itself may act as theeffect of the disease.


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Another form of deception is the diet. Diets do not work. Diets are ideas one tries forawhile and some seem to work sometimes, but the only thing that works is repentancefrom the old way and acceptance of a new way. When one changes his causes theeffects will naturally change. The best way for food to be handled by the body is in theway the body handles it. I spoke with a lady recently who accepted Christ and lost 47lbs. I asked her how she did it and she said, "I started eating right." The body loves tofind its natural place if it is not forced. If one decides to treat the body right, the body willtreat that person right.

REGULATING THE SYSTEM

The body does best on two meals a day, especially with those who do not do hardphysical work in their employment. This means the body does not have to handle foodcontinually. Five hours should be allowed between meals. No food whatever should beeaten until the next mealtime. Food that would normally take three hours to digest maytake many more hours if new food is placed in the stomach before it is finished with theold. All this has its certain effect.

The last time one eats should be at least five hours before bedtime. If food is eatenbetween meals the stomach never has a chance to stop and rest. If food is taken tooclose to bedtime, it remains in the stomach through the night, for digestion slows duringsleeping hours. In this case, the stomach cannot sleep with the rest of the body. Someindividuals keep food flowing through their bodies continually and when disease comesbecause of it, they rush to a doctor so that he might give them something for it. Now thebody has to deal with the disease and the medication also. Sometimes doctors areasked to do surgery to take something out that has been damaged by constant abuse.

It is true that a man may live many years without a great deal of serious disease whileabusing his organism. Even so, it cannot be considered that simply being conscious fora long time is life. If the system is abused it will affect the system's health and diminish

the mind's capacity to understand deep spiritual or abstract concepts. An abuser ofhimself will not be able to bring himself above a very shallow, emotional and sentimentalresponse to life. Speak to the individual about the gift of God and one might as wellspeak to the air.

TRUST IN DIVINE POWER

These are some of the principles that govern the well-being of the body and soul. Thegift of God can be received by those who are in harmony with principles that promotethe awareness of God's spirit. When one finds himself in a state of dis-ease he can

follow these principles to bring his body back to ease. The greatest of these principles isthe life of God. His virtue will bring healing to one who is sick. "Is any sick among you?let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him withoil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, ...and if he havecommitted sins, they shall be forgiven him." (James 5:14-15.) "...Christ is the samecompassionate physician now that He was during His earthly ministry. In Him there ishealing balm for every disease, restoring power for every infirmity. His disciples in thistime are to pray for the sick as verily as the disciples of old prayed. And recoveries willfollow; for 'the prayer of faith shall save the sick.' We have the Holy Spirit's power, thecalm assurance of faith, that can claim God's promises. The Lord's promise, 'They shall


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lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover,' is just as trustworthy now as in the daysof the apostles. It presents the privilege of God's children, and our faith should lay holdof all that it embraces." (MH 226-227.) God's only gift is health and happiness. Whateverthe Son has, you have available to you. The Son of God gave His life to guarantee itand, indeed, He continues to give His life to all who will take it.

If you will receive the gift of God as found in Gal. 5:22-23, you will not only havetemperance, but you will have a merry heart which does good like a medicine. (See

Proverbs 17:22). God's gift to you is His healing and restoration. I have seen blind eyessee. I have seen cancer healed. I have been witness to a host of miracles that attest tothe power of God. I have not seen many who believe. If one were to fall unconscious ina church it is most likely that the first thought would be to call an ambulance. I wouldhope that one would not trust in the wrong things as did King Asa. "And Asa in the thirtyand ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceedinggreat: yet in his disease he sought not to the Lord, but to the physicians." (II Chron 16:12.)In all the Scriptures there is no clearer presentation to the virtue of Christ and Hisnatural healing gift as in Mark 5:25-29. "And a certain woman, which had an issue ofblood twelve years, and ha

his only gift

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