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The Great Controversy
of them, but which they have neglected to perform. It is not enough
that they are trees in the garden of God. They are to answer His ex-
pectation by bearing fruit. He holds them accountable for their failure
to accomplish all the good which they could have done, through His
grace strengthening them. In the books of heaven they are registered as
cumberers of the ground. Yet the case of even this class is not utterly
hopeless. With those who have slighted God’s mercy and abused His
grace, the heart of long-suffering love yet pleads. “Wherefore He saith,
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Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall
give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, ... redeeming the
time, because the days are evil.”
Ephesians 5:14-16
.
When the testing time shall come, those who have made God’s
word their rule of life will be revealed. In summer there is no noticeable
difference between evergreens and other trees; but when the blasts of
winter come, the evergreens remain unchanged, while other trees are
stripped of their foliage. So the falsehearted professor may not now
be distinguished from the real Christian, but the time is just upon us
when the difference will be apparent. Let opposition arise, let bigotry
and intolerance again bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and the
halfhearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true
Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter,
than in days of prosperity.
Says the psalmist: “Thy testimonies are my meditation.” “Through
Thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”
Psalm 119:99, 104
.
“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom.” “He shall be as a tree
planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and
shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall
not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding
fruit.”
Proverbs 3:13
;
Jeremiah 17:8
.
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