Devotionals Book Two

February 20

The Faith that Works

The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. 1

Peter 4:7.

Do you believe that the end of all things is at hand, that the scenes of this earth's

history are fast closing? If so, show your faith by your works. A man will show all

the faith he has. Some think they have a good degree of faith, when if they have any,

it is dead, for it is not sustained by works. "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being

alone." Few have that genuine faith which works by love and purifies the soul. But

all who are accounted worthy of everlasting life must obtain a moral fitness for the

same. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we

shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall

see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even

as he is pure." This is the work before you....

You must experience a death to self, and must live unto God. "If ye then be

risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the

right hand of God." Self is not to be consulted. Pride, self-love, selfishness, avarice,

covetousness, love of the world, hatred, suspicion, jealousy, evil surmisings, must

all be subdued and sacrificed forever. When Christ shall appear, it will not be to

correct these evils and then give a moral fitness for His coming. This preparation

must all be made before He comes. It should be a subject of thought, of study, and

earnest inquiry, What shall we do to be saved? What shall be our conduct that we

may show ourselves approved of God?

When tempted to murmur, censure, and indulge in fretfulness, wounding those

around you, and in so doing wounding your own soul, oh! let the deep, earnest,

anxious inquiry come from your soul, Shall I stand without fault before the throne

of God? Only the faultless will be there. None will be translated to heaven while

their hearts are filled with the rubbish of earth. Every defect in the moral character

must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and

all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome.