We read statements:

    When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. { COL 69.1}

    Are we any nearer this condition than 50-100 years ago?

Let us look at the history of ancient Israel to get some clues.

    Gen 15:16  But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

    Deu 9:5  Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

    It is clear that those going into the promised land were not any more righteous than those coming out of Egypt but God had promised this land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So, the question for us, are we currently any more righteous than we were 100-100 years ago or during the times of the Exodus?

    There are some conditions that are required and some events to occur. EGW offers some wonderful insights. Consider these statements.

“Love to God comprises our duty to God; love to our neighbor, our duty to one another. Mutual love must be cherished at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. This is the credential which we bear to the world, that God has sent his Son Jesus to die, to bring back the moral image of God in man: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” This love cultivated, becomes an abiding principle, and is effectual in rooting out dissensions and divisions among brethren. Where envying and jealousies are cherished, there is every evil work. All this must be cleansed from the soul temple, and then God will work in much greater power for his people. But he cannot do this where those evil things exist; for should God bless, each party would be confirmed in his conviction that he is right and his brother wrong. In the place of love there would be contention over the very blessings bestowed. In the place of acting like Christians, and guarding one another’s interest, there would be a tearing and rending of one another, like brute beasts. Such a spirit is wholly in harmony with Satan, and is in accordance with his mind and purposes, fulfilling his will, doing his pleasure; for he knows the sure result is separation from God. Then he obtains full control over their minds and affections. And while professing to be children of God, they are to all intents and purposes children of the wicked one; for they act out his spirit and do his will. It is mutual strife in the place of mutual love, that if persisted in will prove their common ruin. Professed Christian churches are often ruined by their own unchristian course toward one another. “{ RH June 28, 1887, par. 7 }

“The commandment-keeping people of God ere long will be placed in a most trying position; but all those who have walked in the light, and diffused the light, will realize that God interposes in their behalf. When everything looks most forbidding, then the Lord will reveal his power to his faithful ones. When the nation for which God has worked in such a marvelous manner, and over which he has spread the shield of Omnipotence, abandons Protestant principles, and through its legislature gives countenance and support to Romanism in limiting religious liberty, then God will work in his own power for his people that are true. The tyranny of Rome will be exercised, but Christ is our refuge.” { SpTA03 37.1 }

There are actions than man may do that would keep God for working for him such as:

    Putting themselves in the way.

“They must have the truth as it is in Jesus, else it will not be a saving truth to them.” “Without me,” says Christ, “ye can do nothing.” When finite men shall cease to put themselves in the way, to hinder, then God will work in our midst as never before. { 1888 113.4 }

Putting God and the truth out of sight.


“When Christ and the truth are not put into a corner out of sight, but made prominent, then God will work with your efforts. I believe it, I believe it. The more you feel your own weakness and make God your trust, the more will He work with all your efforts.. 4LtMs, Lt 11, 1886, par. 10

 

But this still begs the question, “When will God work?” Consider the following statement.

   
“God has borne long with the perversity of the human race; he has tried to win them to himself. But the time will come when they will have filled their measure of iniquity; and then it is that God will work. This time is almost reached. God keeps a record with the nations in the books of heaven, and soon their cup will be full.” SW July 14, 1908 Par.

“What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it is not in his power to do for himself.”—Special Testimonies to Ministers and Workers, Series A, 9:61 (1897). { TM 456.3}

 

Conclusion:

 

As we look around us, we see that “wickedness abounds “and that  very soon, the cup of iniquity of the world will be full and then “God will work”! I believe that is very, very soon!

 

Let us individually and as a church, follow this admonition;

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

For He will purify the Church..

Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

 

Therefore: it is all Of God and none of man.


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