“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.”  Revelation 2:4 

Dear believers in Christ. We will continue the study on the “Pure Mark of Truth” that we began in the previous issue (December 2017).

“Every day the probation of some is closing. Every hour some are passing beyond the reach of mercy. And where are the voices of warning and entreaty to bid the sinner flee from this fearful doom? Where are the hands stretched out to draw him back from death? Where are those who with humility and persevering faith are pleading with God for him?” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 140

REMEMBER THE FIRST LOVE!

Brethren and sisters, let us remember back to the time when we first received the message. Remember how eager we were.  If you would critically analyze your life, do you see advancement in your life towards the light of heaven, or have you have backslidden? Or are you simply maintaining your current condition as it is?

John the Revelator warned us, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4–5

“It is our work to know our special failings and sins, which cause darkness and spiritual feebleness, and quenched our first love.” –The Review and Herald, June 7, 1887

“‘Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works’ . . . . The believers did not sense their spiritual fall. They knew not that a change had taken place in their hearts, and that they would have to repent because of the noncontinuance of their first works. But God in His mercy called for repentance, for a return to their first love and to the works that are always the result of true, Christlike love.”–The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 957

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.” Acts 3:19

Christ admonishes, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:19–20

REMEDY THE CHARACTER

Brethren, now is the right time to remedy our character.

Says the psalmist, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. Psalms 139:22–23

“The sealing time is very short, and will soon be over. Now is the time, while the four angels are holding the four winds, to make our calling and election sure.” –Early Writings, p. 58

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 214

“The Seal and the Commandments.—Many will not receive the seal of God because they do not keep His commandments or bear the fruits of righteousness.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 970

“Like Christ in Character.—The seal of the living God will be placed upon those only who bear a likeness to Christ in character.” –Ibid, p. 970

“Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people. This is forcibly set forth by the prophet’s illustration of the last work under the figure of the men each having a slaughter weapon in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side. ‘And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.’” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 266

“Seek a thorough preparation to meet Jesus, that when He appears you may exclaim with joy, ‘Lo this is our God, we have waited for Him, and He will save us.’ Eternal life will then be yours, and you will be a partaker with Christ of His glory, ever to hear His glorious approving voice, and behold His lovely person.” –The Youth’s Instructor, April 1, 1854

FAULTLESS BEFORE THE THRONE.

“These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:4–5

“What are you doing, brethren, in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast. . . . Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God—candidates for heaven.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 216

“And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will He do evil.” Zephaniah 1:12

“Lukewarm and halfhearted, they dishonor God far more than the avowed unbeliever. They grope in darkness, when they might be walking in the noonday light of the Word, under the guidance of One who never errs.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 970

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:15–16

“We are to copy no human being. There is no human being wise enough to be our criterion. We are to look to the man Christ Jesus, who is complete in the perfection of righteousness and holiness. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the pattern man. His experience is the measure of the experience that we are to gain. His character is our model. Let us, then, take our minds off the perplexities and the difficulties of this life, and fix them on Him, that by beholding we may be changed into His likeness. We may behold Christ to good purpose.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, p. 970

“How many will mourn for lost opportunities when it is eternally too late! Today we have talent and opportunity, but we know not how long these may be ours. Then let us work while it is day; for the night cometh, in which no man can work. ‘Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.’” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 167

“In a little while every one who is a child of God will have His seal placed upon him. O that it may be placed upon our foreheads! Who can endure the thought of being passed by when the angel goes forth to seal the servants of God in their foreheads?” –The Review and Herald, May 28, 1889

Finally brethren may God help us, “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21

Grace unto you all. 

Jenifer Akello, Uganda