the great controversy-第109节

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evil。　The　mightiest　conqueror　upon　the　earth　cannot　call　back　the　record　of
even　a　single　day。　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

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us；　they　will　bear　their　testimony　to　justify　or　condemn。

As　the　features　of　the　countenance　are　reproduced　with　unerring　accuracy　on
the　polished　plate　of　the　artist；　so　the　character　is　faithfully　delineated
in　the　books　above。　Yet　how　little　solicitude　is　felt　concerning　that　record
which　is　to　meet　the　gaze　of　heavenly　beings。　Could　the　veil　which　separates
the　visible　from　the　invisible　world　be　swept　back；　and　the　children　of　men
behold　an　angel　recording　every　word　and　deed；　which　they　must　meet　again　in
the　judgment；　how　many　words　that　are　daily　uttered　would　remain　unspoken；
how　many　deeds　would　remain　undone。

In　the　judgment　the　use　made　of　every　talent　will　be　scrutinized。　How　have
we　employed　the　capital　lent　us　of　Heaven？　Will　the　Lord　at　His　coming
receive　His　own　with　usury？　Have　we　improved　the　powers　entrusted　us；　in
hand　and　heart　and　brain；　to　the　glory　of　God　and　the　blessing　of　the　world？
How　have　we　used　our　time；　our　pen；　our　voice；　our　money；　our　influence？
What　have　we　done　for　Christ；　in　the　person　of　the　poor；　the　afflicted；　the
orphan；　or　the　widow？　God　has　made　us　the　depositaries　of　His　holy　word；
what　have　we　done　with　the　light　and　truth　given　us　to　make　men　wise　unto
salvation？　No　value　is　attached　to　a　mere　profession　of　faith　in　Christ；
only　the　love　which　is　shown　by　works　is　counted　genuine。　Yet　it　is　love
alone　which　in　the　sight　of　Heaven　makes　any　act　of　value。　Whatever　is　done
from　love；　however　small　it　may　appear　in　the　estimation　of　men；　is　accepted
and　rewarded　of　God。

The　hidden　selfishness　of　men　stands　revealed　in　the　books　of　heaven。　There
is　the　record　of　unfulfilled　duties　to　their　fellow　men；　of　forgetfulness　of
the　Saviour's　claims。　There　they　will　see　how　often　were　given　to　Satan　the
time；　thought；　and　strength　that　belonged　to　Christ。　Sad　is　the　record　which
angels　bear　to　heaven。　Intelligent　beings；　professed　followers　of　Christ；
are　absorbed　in　the　acquirement　of　worldly　possessions　or　the　enjoyment　of
earthly　pleasures。　Money；　time；　and　strength　are　sacrificed　for　display　and

488

self…indulgence；　but　few　are　the　moments　devoted　to　prayer；　to　the　searching
of　the　Scriptures；　to　humiliation　of　soul　and　confession　of　sin。

Satan　invents　unnumbered　schemes　to　occupy　our　minds；　that　they　may　not
dwell　upon　the　very　work　with　which　we　ought　to　be　best　acquainted。　The
archdeceiver　hates　the　great　truths　that　bring　to　view　an　atoning　sacrifice
and　an　all…powerful　mediator。　He　knows　that　with　him　everything　depends　on
his　diverting　minds　from　Jesus　and　His　truth。

Those　who　would　share　the　benefits　of　the　Saviour's　mediation　should　permit
nothing　to　interfere　with　their　duty　to　perfect　holiness　in　the　fear　of　God。
The　precious　hours；　instead　of　being　given　to　pleasure；　to　display；　or　to
gain　seeking；　should　be　devoted　to　an　earnest；　prayerful　study　of　the　word
of　truth。　The　subject　of　the　sanctuary　and　the　investigative　judgment　should
be　clearly　understood　by　the　people　of　God。　All　need　a　knowledge　for
themselves　of　the　position　and　work　of　their　great　High　Priest。　Otherwise　it
will　be　impossible　for　them　to　exercise　the　faith　which　is　essential　at　this
time　or　to　occupy　the　position　which　God　designs　them　to　fill。　Every
individual　has　a　soul　to　save　or　to　lose。　Each　has　a　case　pending　at　the　bar
of　God。　Each　must　meet　the　great　Judge　face　to　face。　How　important；　then；
that　every　mind　contemplate　often　the　solemn　scene　when　the　judgment　shall
sit　and　the　books　shall　be　opened；　when；　with　Daniel；　every　individual　must
stand　in　his　lot；　at　the　end　of　the　days。

All　who　have　received　the　light　upon　these　subjects　are　to　bear　testimony　of
the　great　truths　which　God　has　committed　to　them。　The　sanctuary　in　heaven　is
the　very　center　of　Christ's　work　in　behalf　of　men。　It　concerns　every　soul
living　upon　the　earth。　It　opens　to　view　the　plan　of　redemption；　bringing　us
down　to　the　very　close　of　time　and　revealing　the　triumphant　issue　of　the
contest　between　righteousness　and　sin。　It　is　of　the　utmost　importance　that
all　should　thoroughly　investigate　these　subjects　and　be　able　to　give　an
answer　to

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everyone　that　asketh　them　a　reason　of　the　hope　that　is　in　them。

The　intercession　of　Christ　in　man's　behalf　in　the　sanctuary　above　is　as
essential　to　the　plan　of　salvation　as　was　His　death　upon　the　cross。　By　His
death　He　began　that　work　which　after　His　resurrection　He　ascended　to
complete　in　heaven。　We　must　by　faith　enter　within　the　veil；　〃whither　the
forerunner　is　for　us　entered。〃　Hebrews　6：20。　There　the　light　from　the　cross
of　Calvary　is　reflected。　There　we　may　gain　a　clearer　insight　into　the
mysteries　of　redemption。　The　salvation　of　man　is　accomplished　at　an　infinite
expense　to　heaven；　the　sacrifice　made　is　equal　to　the　broadest　demands　of
the　broken　law　of　God。　Jesus　has　opened　the　way　to　the　Father's　throne；　and
through　His　mediation　the　sincere　desire　of　all　who　come　to　Him　in　faith　may
be　presented　before　God。

〃He　that　covereth　his　sins　shall　not　prosper：　but　whoso　confesseth　and
forsaketh　them　shall　have　mercy。〃　Proverbs　28：13。　If　those　who　hide　and
excuse　their　faults　could　see　how　Satan　exults　over　them；　how　he　taunts
Christ　and　holy　angels　with　their　course；　they　would　make　haste　to　confess
their　sins　and　to　put　them　away。　Through　defects　in　the　character；　Satan
works　to　gain　control　of　the　whole　mind；　and　he　knows　that　if　these　defects
are　cherished；　he　will　succeed。　Therefore　he　is　constantly　seeking　to
deceive　the　followers　of　Christ　with　his　fatal　sophistry　that　it　is
impossible　for　them　to　overcome。　But　Jesus　pleads　in　their　behalf　His
wounded　hands；　His　bruised　body；　and　He　declares　to　all　who　would　follow
Him：　〃My　grace　is　sufficient　for　thee。〃
2　Corinthians　12：9。　〃Take　My　yoke　upon　you；　and　learn　of
Me；　for　I　am　meek　and　lowly　in　heart：　and　ye　shall　find　rest　unto　your
souls。　For　My　yoke　is　easy；　and　My　burden　is　light。〃　Matthew　11：29；　30。　Let
none；　then；　regard　their　defects　as　incurable。　God　will　give　faith　and　grace
to　overcome　them。

We　are　now　living　in　the　great　day　of　atonement。　In　the　typical　service；
while　the　high　priest　was　making　the

490

atonement　for　Israel；　all　were　required　to　afflict　their　souls　by　repentance
of　sin　and　humiliation　before　the　Lord；　lest　they　be　cut　off　from　among　the
people。　In　like　manner；　all　who　would　have　their　names　retained　in　the　book
of　life　should　now；　in　the　few　remaining　days　of　their　probation；　afflict
their　souls　before　God　by　sorrow　for　sin　and　true　repentance。　There　must　be
deep；　faithful　searching　of　heart。　The　light；　frivolous　spirit　indulged　by
so　many　professed　Christians　must　be　put　away。　There　is　earnest　warfare
before　all　who　would　subdue　the　evil　tendencies　that　strive　for　the　mastery。
The　work　of　preparation　is　an　individual　work。　We　are　not　saved　in　groups。
The　purity　and　devotion　of　one　will　not　offset　the　want　of　these　qualities
in　another。　Though　all　nations　are　to　pass　in　judgment　before　God；　yet　He
will　examine　the　case　of　each　individual　with　as　close　and　searching
scrutiny　as　if　there　were　not　another　being　upon　the　earth。　Everyone　must　be
tested　and　found　without　spot　or　wrinkle　or　any　such　thing。

Solemn　are　the　scenes　connected　with　the　closing　work　of　the　atonement。
Momentous　are　the　interests　involved　therein。　The　judgment　is　now　passing　in
the　sanctuary　above。　For　many　years　this　work　has　been　in　progress。
Soonnone　know　how　soonit　will　pass　to　the　cases　of　the　living。　In　the
awful　presence　of　God　our　lives　are　to　come　up　in　review。　At　this　time　above
all　others　it　behooves　every　soul　to　heed　the　Saviour's　admonition：　〃Watch
and　pray：　for　ye　know　not　when　the　time　is。〃　Mark　13：33。　〃If　therefore　thou
shalt　not　watch；　I　will　come　on　thee　as　a　thief；　and　thou　shalt　not　know
what　hour　I　will　come　upon　thee。〃　Revelation　3：3。

When　the　work　of　the　investigative　judgment　closes；　the　destiny　of　all　will
have　been　decided　for　life　or　death。　Probation　is　ended　a　short　time　before
the　appearing　of　the　Lord　in　the　clouds　of　heaven。　Christ　in　the　Revelation；
looking　forward　to　that　time；　declares：　〃He　that　is　unjust；　let　him　be
unjust　still：　and　he　which　is　filthy；　let　him　be　filthy　still：　and　he　that
is　righteous　let　him　be　righteous　still：　and　he　that　is

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holy；　let　him　be　holy　still。　And；　behold；　I　come　quickly；　and　My　reward　is
with　Me；　to　give　every　man　according　as　his　work　shall　be。〃　Revelation
22：11；　12。

The　righteous　and　the　wicked　will　still　be　living　upon　the　earth　in　their
mortal　statemen　will　be　planting　and　building；　eating　and　drinking；　all
unconscious　that　the　final；　irrevocable　decision　has　been　pronounced　in　the
sanctuary　above。　Before　the　Flood；　after　Noah　entered　the　ark；　God　shut　him
in　and　shut