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Time-Share at Snowbird

When Pat and I lived in Salt Lake City, about 35 years ago, we received an invitation in the mail to visit a

new resort at Snowbird Ski Area, in one of the canyons just outside the city up in the mountains. It was

about a 30 minute drive from our home and there was an attractive offer along with the invitation.

The offer was a free ride up the Snowbird tram and a free dinner for two at one of the well-

known restaurants there at the ski area. As I recall, it was fall and the mountains were gorgeous so we

said, “why not.” The only catch was we had to sit through a 90 minute sales presentation.

We made an appointment and went up there. The concept of time-share was new to us, but it

made sense. Most of us have a limited amount of vacation time so why not own just a week or two of a

vacation home.

The units were attractive and we would not be restricted to only the property there at

Snowbird. With the proper arrangements, we could stay at any number of properties spread around the

country – it had not yet gone international.

Well, we were young and poor. Purchasing one was not an option for us. So, although they were

good salesmen with the ability to manipulate our emotions, we declined. We collected on the rewards,

enjoyed the tram ride and dinner, and headed home.

Compartmentalizing: Time-Sharing our Life

The idea of time-sharing makes some sense, especially since many of us live our lives a bit that way. We

often call it compartmentalizing. A person who has learned to do it well can usually deal with difficult

situations with less stress.

For instance, a doctor who regularly works with terminally ill patients will eventually go crazy if

he can’t compartmentalize a bit. It is what allows him to deal with patients suffering and dying in a

compassionate and loving way while leaving them at the office when he goes home to his family. When

used properly, it allows a person to be fully present in the current situation.

It can also cause us problems. We tend to compartmentalize our Christianity. Sabbath, along

with our personal devotional time, is our spiritual life. The rest of the time is our time. For many people

there is not much of a connection between the two.

We have a spiritual life and a secular life. When we are in our spiritual time, we try to forget our

secular life (many times unsuccessfully). When we are in our secular life, we tend to forget God and

focus on ourselves.

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We end up with a time-share religion; trying to live in both worlds seeking to gain the advantage

of eternity while not missing out on the “fun” of the world. As a result, we often feel guilty and live

without joy and peace. Paul describes this in Galatians 5:

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the

Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces

are constantly fighting each other. (Galatians 5:17, NLT)

Time Share in Orlando

About ten years ago while living in Orlando, we got another invitation to explore a time-share property.

It was close to Disney World Resort. The incentives were higher – some free Disney tickets and a “free”

3-day cruise. Of course there was that 90 minute sales presentation.

Based on our previous experience, we thought it would be a pretty easy thing to do. We sit

through the presentation, they give us Disney tickets and a voucher for a free cruise. We enjoy a day at

Disney and a wonderful Caribbean Cruise by investing an afternoon of our time.

We arrived at the resort and it was very nice, and very tempting. Again, the salespeople were

good and we sure wanted to buy in, but we couldn’t – we simply could not afford the payments.

So we said no. Instead of just giving us the things they promised, they gave us instructions on

how to redeem our tickets and our cruise. We discovered it was a daunting process.

We sent off the form for the cruise and then tried to redeem the Disney tickets. After several

unsuccessful attempts, we gave up on the tickets. I don’t remember now what the problem was, but it

didn’t work out.

After a few weeks, we got a call to get us signed up for our “free” cruise. When they asked for

my credit card number, I discovered the cruise was not totally free. It would still cost us more than we

could afford to take advantage of this “free” offer. I accused them of false advertising and we went

around and around. Again, we reached an impasse.

Our afternoon “investment” was a bust – no tickets, no cruise, but plenty of frustration.

Time-Share in Branson

A couple of years ago our Conference-wide ministers’ and teachers’ meetings were held in Branson,

Missouri. We stayed at a time-share resort with a nice hotel attached to it.

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A part of the check-in procedure was to speak with a person who was to be our personal

representative, to help us have a “good time” while we were there. We discovered she was also a

salesperson. She made us an offer – sit through a 90 minute presentation about their time-share

program, enjoy breakfast on them and receive $75 cash before we went home.

It seemed easy enough – although you would think I had learned my lesson. But breakfast and

an extra $75 would be nice, so I said okay. After all, we had been able to say no before, we could surely

hold out one more time.

We had a delightful time in Branson. The meetings were good, the weather was nice, and the

extra activities were fun. Our last morning there we went to the presentation. Breakfast was

disappointing. The facility was beautiful. It was a good program with connected properties all around

the world. It was something we knew we could enjoy – but we still could not afford it.

The salesman was a very good. He knew I was a minister. He knew how to sell property. We

explained why we couldn’t afford it (which was a mistake). He countered with several good reasons why

we couldn’t afford to pass up this opportunity – they were convincing reasons. Some that appealed to

my sense of altruism.

We managed to hold out for some time. They kept finding deals that got better and better.

Finally we gave in – we purchased a time-share.

Driving home, reality hit us. What had we done? In spite of it being such a good deal and all – we

still couldn’t afford it. It was the same principle I heard expressed once by an amateur carpenter who

said: “I cut the board three times, and it is still too short!”

We fretted all the way home. There was one out – there were a certain number of days before

the agreement would become binding where we could change our minds. If we bailed out in time, we

could end up with only minor damage.

It was time consuming, but we finally got it squared away. How much easier it would have been

if we had simply stuck to what we knew to be true. It would have saved us a lot of time, energy, and

frustration if I had just said no.

You know what would have been even better? We should have skipped the presentation

entirely. The frustration and effort of correcting the problem I created was not worth a minimal

breakfast and $75!

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The Problem

Now, the real problem is not the idea of time-sharing a vacation home. I could see it would be

something we could use and enjoy. There were real benefits. They had a good product to sell with

decent value – if you could afford it.

The real problem was the false premises that brought us together.

They assumed they could sell me their product if they could get me in there. So they offered

something they thought I would value in exchange for looking at their program. In one case, their offer

was shady – they did not really intend on me collecting it. It was simply false bait.

Their motive was selfish. They didn’t care about me. They only cared about making a sale.

I knew they wanted to sell me their product. I also knew I could not afford what they had to sell.

But I assumed I could hold out against them and get something for nothing. I thought I had nothing to

lose and everything to gain. I assumed I could meet their requirement and get their stuff without being

touched.

My motive was also selfish. I didn’t care about them, I only cared about getting some free stuff.

Both of us were only looking out for ourselves and were willing to use the other person to gain

what we wanted.

This is the essence of time-share religion. I want the benefits Jesus can give me without making

a real commitment and I want the fun of the world without the negative consequences.

It’s like I want to be perfectly healthy and look amazing, but I want to eat and live however I

want.

You know I could become a multi-trillionaire almost overnight if I could figure out a way for

people to eat what they wanted while being able to choose what calories and nutrients they would

absorb.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be able to eat a dozen donuts or a pint of ice cream

and choose to not absorb any of the calories!

But, that’s not how life works, is it! Paul said:

Don’t be misled – you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant.

Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that

sinful nature. (Galatians 6:7-8, NLT)

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And then, when we finally recognize this and decide we must move beyond this time-share approach to

religion, we find it’s hard. We experience what Paul described in Romans 7:

I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do

what is wrong, but I do it anyway … I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to

do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong … Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free

me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? (Romans 7:18-24, NLT)

The Solution

Fortunately, Paul does not leave us hanging there. He gives us the real solution to this dilemma!

Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our LORD. (Romans 7:25, NLT)

He continues into Romans 8 which is considered by many as the best and most powerful passage

written by Paul – I encourage you to read it all.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1, NLT)

Did you catch that? No condemnation! In the book Steps to Christ it helps us understand what this

means:

If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have

been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place of your

character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.

(Steps to Christ, page 62)

If you belong to Jesus – if you have accepted Him as your Savior, you are accepted before God just as if

you had never sinned. He looks at you as though you are perfect! Continuing on in Romans:

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong

to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death

… God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners

have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a

sacrifice for our sins. (Romans 8:1-3, NLT)

Earlier in Romans Paul put it this way:

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now,

most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps

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be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by

sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:6-8, NLT)

It always comes back to the cross.

It is only at the cross where we can see the depth of God’s love for us.

It is only because of the cross that He can forgive us and grant us eternal life.

Back to Romans 8:

He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer

follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit. (Romans 8:4, NLT)

The “just requirement of the law” is death. Your sin, my sin results in death. It is the natural

consequence of separating ourselves from God. Jesus died the death you and I earned, so you and I can

have eternal life. And as a result, we no longer follow our sinful nature, but live in obedience to God

because we are following His Spirit. In the Desire of Ages it says:

If we consent, He (Jesus) will so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts

and minds into conformity to His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our

own impulses. The will, refined and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service.

When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual

obedience. Through an appreciation of the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin

will become hateful to us. (Desire of Ages, page 668)

Wells Fargo Stage Drivers

The story is told about a question officials from Wells Fargo used when they interviewed perspective

stage drivers back when stage coaches were commonly used for long-distance travel and mail deliveries.

A certain stretch of winding road was described – a place where there was a cliff on one side

that dropped down a hundred feet into a river and on the other side was a steep bank. The question

was: How close to the edge can you safely drive the stage coach?

The first person stated: “I could easily get within a foot of the edge while going through there at

top speed.”

The second person, not to be out done, said: “I could drive within six inches of the edge and not

lose any time!”

The third person said: “I have no idea. I’d slow down and stay as close to the bank and as far

away from the edge as I could!”

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Which person would you rather be riding with? Who do you think got the job?

When our religion is of the time-share variety, we tend to focus on how close we can get to the

world without losing Jesus. As a result, the world is getting more of our attention. And, in reality, we are

drifting further from Jesus.

Our goal should never be to see how close to sin we can get and still gain Heaven. If we look at

life this way, we will eventually lose!

As Christians our goal is to get as close as we can to Jesus! Connected to Him, there is no chance

we will lose!

This is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has

the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you

who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.

(1 John 5:11-13, NLT)

Everything depends on knowing Jesus!

My challenge to you today is this - focus more of your time and attention on Jesus than on the

world. Let’s move away from a time-share religion, where we think in terms of Jesus’ time and my time.

Let’s move toward a Christianity full of the grace and power of Jesus, a Christianity where He is

the center of everything we do. Jesus said:

“Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and

live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (Matthew 6:32-33, NLT)

Let’s take him at His word!

_______________

Note: Most everything you find in this color is a hyperlink that will lead you to more complete references,

different translations, or pertinent websites.

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Scripture References

Matthew 6:24-34 (NLT): “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you

will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life – whether you have enough food and

drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father

feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your worries add a

single moment to your life?

28 “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They

don’t work or make their clothing, 29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as

they are. 30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into

the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will

we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father

already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and

he will give you everything you need.

34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is

enough for today.” (Matthew 6:24-34, NLT)

John 12:23-32 (NLT): Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24 I

tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its

death will produce many new kernels – a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their

life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for

eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I

am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the

very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do

so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others

declared an angel had spoken to him.

30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this

world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up

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from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to

die. (John 12:23-32, NLT)

Romans 5:6-11 (NLT): When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us

sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone

might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great

love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been

made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s

condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we

were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can

rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us

friends of God. (Romans 5:6-11, NLT)

Romans 7:4-25 (NLT): So, my dear brothers and sisters, this is the point: You died to the power of the law

when you died with Christ. And now you are united with the one who was raised from the dead.

As a result, we can produce a harvest of good deeds for God. 5 When we were controlled by our

old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that

produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death. 6 But now we have been released from the

law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the

old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law

that showed me my sin. I would never have known that coveting is wrong if the law had not said,

“You must not covet.” 8 But sin used this command to arouse all kinds of covetous desires within

me! If there were no law, sin would not have that power. 9 At one time I lived without

understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of

sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to

bring life, brought spiritual death instead. 11 Sin took advantage of those commands and

deceived me; it used the commands to kill me. 12 But still, the law itself is holy, and its commands

are holy and right and good.

13 But how can that be? Did the law, which is good, cause my death? Of course not! Sin used

what was good to bring about my condemnation to death. So we can see how terrible sin really

is. It uses God’s good commands for its own evil purposes.

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am

all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right,

but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this

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shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me

that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is

right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I

do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin

living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life – that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do

what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that

is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what

a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:4-25, NLT)

Romans 8:1-17 (NLT): So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And

because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin

that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our

sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies

we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son

as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully

satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are

controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful

nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and

peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never

will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the

Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in

them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die

because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit

of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the

dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature

urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit

you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit

of God are children of God.

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15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s

Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit

joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are

his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory,

we must also share his suffering. (Romans 8:1-17, NLT)

Galatians 5:16-26 (NLT): So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your

sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the

Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature

desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your

good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the

law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality,

impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger,

selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.

Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the

Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to

his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s

leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be

jealous of one another. (Galatians 5:16-26, NLT)

Galatians 6:7-10 (NLT): Don’t be misled – you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest

what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and

death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life

from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a

harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we

should do good to everyone – especially to those in the family of faith. (Galatians 6:7-10, NLT)

Ephesians 4:21-24 (NLT): Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from

him, 22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and

deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature,

created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. (Ephesians 4:21-24, NLT)

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Colossians 3:1-11 (NLT): Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the

realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the

things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden

with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will

share in all his glory.

5 So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual

immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater,

worshiping the things of this world. 6 Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. 7 You

used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. 8 But now is the time to get rid

of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. 9 Don’t lie to each other, for you

have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and

be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. 11 In this new life, it doesn’t

matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or

free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. (Colossians 3:1-11, NLT)

1 John 5:1-15 (NLT): Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And

everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. 2 We know we love God’s children if we

love God and obey his commandments. 3 Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his

commandments are not burdensome. 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we

achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only

those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

6 And Jesus Christ was revealed as God’s Son by his baptism in water and by shedding his blood

on the cross – not by water only, but by water and blood. And the Spirit, who is truth, confirms it

with his testimony. 7 So we have these three witnesses – 8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood –

and all three agree. 9 Since we believe human testimony, surely we can believe the greater

testimony that comes from God. And God has testified about his Son. 10 All who believe in the Son

of God know in their hearts that this testimony is true. Those who don’t believe this are actually

calling God a liar because they don’t believe what God has testified about his Son.

11 And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.

13 I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know

you have eternal life. 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that

pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he

will give us what we ask for. (1 John 5:1-15, NLT)

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E.G. White Writings

Desire of Ages, page 668: The Lord is disappointed when His people place a low estimate upon

themselves. He desires His chosen heritage to value themselves according to the price He has

placed upon them. God wanted them, else He would not have sent His Son on such an expensive

errand to redeem them. He has a use for them, and He is well pleased when they make the very

highest demands upon Him, that they may glorify His name. They may expect large things if they

have faith in His promises.

But to pray in Christ's name means much. It means that we are to accept His character, manifest

His spirit, and work His works. The Saviour's promise is given on condition. "If ye love Me," He

says, "keep My commandments" (John 14:15). He saves men, not in sin, but from sin; and those

who love Him will show their love by obedience.

All true obedience comes from the heart. It was heart work with Christ. And if we consent, He will

so identify Himself with our thoughts and aims, so blend our hearts and minds into conformity to

His will, that when obeying Him we shall be but carrying out our own impulses. The will, refined

and sanctified, will find its highest delight in doing His service. When we know God as it is our

privilege to know Him, our life will be a life of continual obedience. Through an appreciation of

the character of Christ, through communion with God, sin will become hateful to us.

As Christ lived the law in humanity, so we may do if we will take hold of the Strong for strength.

But we are not to place the responsibility of our duty upon others, and wait for them to tell us

what to do. We cannot depend for counsel upon humanity. The Lord will teach us our duty just as

willingly as He will teach somebody else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries

to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as

He did with Enoch. Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know,

after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only

wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has

promised. Whatever was given to Christ--the "all things" to supply the need of fallen men--was

given to Him as the head and representative of humanity. And "whatsoever we ask, we receive

of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight"

(1 John 3:22). (Desire of Ages, page 668)

Steps to Christ, pages 62-63: The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been – just what

it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents – perfect obedience to the law of God,

perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the

happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its

train of woe and misery, to be immortalized.

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It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous character by obedience to God's

law. But he failed to do this, and because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make

ourselves righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the holy law. We have

no righteousness of our own with which to meet the claims of the law of God. But Christ has

made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to

meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His

righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your

life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character stands in place

of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned.

More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain

this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long

as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. So you may

say, "The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and

gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). So Jesus said to His disciples, "It is not ye that speak, but

the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you" (Matthew 10:20). Then with Christ working in

you, you will manifest the same spirit and do the same good works – works of righteousness,

obedience.

So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have no ground for self-exaltation. Our

only ground of hope is in the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought by His

Spirit working in and through us. (Steps to Christ, pages 62-63)