Why Are We  Still Here?

Prayer Thought: 

Our acts, our words, even our most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our destiny for weal or woe. Though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear their testimony to justify or condemn.  {GC 486.3}

Let’s have this in mind as we listen to God through our study. 

1Cor. 6:1   Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?  

1Cor. 6:2   Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?  

1Cor. 6:3   Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?  

1Cor. 6:4   If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.  

1Cor. 6:5   I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?  

God wants us to be like Jesus, it’s the reason why His waiting for us. Why are we still here? May the following quotations will inspire us and have a decided choice to live a life for Christ daily. We are here to form perfect characters for heaven. We have something to do besides repining and murmuring at God's providences, and writing bitter things against ourselves. {3T 526.1}

We are to form characters free from sin--characters made righteous in and by the grace of Christ. . . . Our hearts are to be cleansed from all impurity in the blood shed to take away sin.  {CH 633.3}

“The characters we form here will decide our eternal destiny….” RH June 11, 1901

None will be translated to heaven while their hearts are filled with the rubbish of earth. Every defect in the moral character must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome.  {1T 705.2}

All is harmony, peace, and love in heaven. No discord, no strife, no censuring, no unloving words, no clouded brows, no jars there; and no one will be introduced there who possesses any of these elements so destructive to peace and happiness. Study to be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up for yourselves a good foundation against the time to come, that you may lay hold on everlasting life.  {1T 705.3}

If we ever enter the kingdom of God, we must enter with perfect characters, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. {MYP 105.2}

“We cannot enter heaven with any deformity or imperfection of character…. ST Feb. 15, 1892

One defect, cultivated instead of being overcome, makes the man imperfect, and closes against him the gate of the Holy City. He who enters heaven must have a character that is without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. Naught that defileth can ever enter there. In all the redeemed host not one defect will be seen.  {MYP 144.2}

If you would be a  saint in heaven, you must first be a saint on earth. The traits of character you cherish in life will not be changed by death or by the resurrection. You will come up from the grave with the same disposition you manifested in your home and in society. Jesus does not change the character at His coming. The work of transformation must be done now. Our daily lives are determining our destiny.  {AH 16.2}

The work for you must be done here. This earth is the fitting-up place. {1T 705.3}

“It should be the aim of your life to fit yourself for association with the redeemed, with holy angels, and with Jesus, the world’s Redeemer.” FILB 364

Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Nothing but holiness will prepare you for heaven. It is sincere, experimental piety alone that can give you a pure, elevated character and enable you to enter into the presence of God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable. The heavenly character must be acquired on earth, or it can never be acquired at all. {2T 267.2}

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Eph. 1:4  According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 

2Cor. 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 

Mat. 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 

Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 

Titus 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 

Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 

Titus 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

We need to understand that imperfection of character is sin. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole, and every one who receives Christ as a personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes.  {COL 330.2}

“Jesus proceeded to show His hearers what it means to keep the commandments of God… that it is a reproduction in themselves of the character of Christ.”  MB  86

Conclusion:

Before we become preachers to the world we must be a changed person. Ready to serve others and share the blessings of our relationship with Him who is All-knowing and All-powerful God of Heaven…

Remember these:

Christ came to our world to represent the character of God as it is represented in His holy law; for His law is a transcript of His character. Christ was both the law and the gospel. The angel that proclaims the everlasting gospel proclaims the law of God; for the gospel of salvation brings men to obedience of the law, whereby their characters are formed after the divine similitude.  {2SM 106.2}

“And while we cannot claim perfection of the flesh, we may have Christian perfection of the soul.”  2SM 106