“SEEING then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and basting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat ?” 2 Peter 3:11, 12. The “day of God” is near at hand. We believe it hasteth greatly. How important, then, that we have our conversation “in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour” (Phil. 3:20), “and that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Rom. 13:11.
Are we “kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer” ? Have we that love for the law of God that enables us to work no ill to our neighbor ? The apostle James says, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but decciveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” Chap. 1:26. He also admonishes us, “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, but a judge.” Chap. 4:11
Are we striving faithfully to preform every known duty, neglecting nothing? James says, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to hi it is sin.” Chap. 4:17 Are we trying to improve a the talents committed tour care, thus becoming “the light of the world”? Or are we burying them in the dust and rubbish of earth; thereby becoming dwarfs and imbeciles, and perhaps, slothfully loosing eternal life? our saviour said in one of his parables, “and cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, an gnashing of teeth.” Matt. 25:30
Have we commenced the toilsome ascent of Peter’s ladder of sanctification? for truly we must “WORK out our own salvation with fear and trembling.” Phil. 2:12 Says Peter, “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 And he says if we do these things we shall “never fall” and an entrance shall be ministered unto us “abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
All these christian graces are to be blended by our faith and works, into a character that shall stand the test of the Judgment. Who is sufficient for these things? How dreadful the thought that if we offend, or break the law of God, in one point, we are guilty of all. Yet we have the promise that the grace of God is sufficient for us, and that our Saviour will be with us “always, even unto the end of the world.” We know not how soon our cases will be brought up in judgment, to be decided; then how important that we take heed what manner of persons we are in all holy conversation and godliness. Mrs. M. B. Powell.
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald Aug. 22, 1878