May 8And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life — 1 John 2:25.
We all should understand that we have something to do in realizing the gracious promises of God to us. In connection with the affairs of this present life He has promised that our bread and water shall be sure, but this does not imply that we shall neglect reasonable opportunities for securing these. He has promised us also a share in the Kingdom by and by; but it is for us to make our calling and election sure. God is thoroughly capable and thoroughly willing to perform all of His part in connection with every matter, but it is to our advantage that He calls us to show our faith by our works—by our cooperation with Him in all reasonable ways—Z '03, 175 (R 3204). Eternal life is not a natural inherent possession of man but is a gift of God, bestowed on those whose characters will be in harmony with God's character. This promise is unconditional to the faithful, bound by Jehovah's oath. If we are faithful, our faith may rest with immovable steadfastness on God's fulfilling His promise. What an inspiration to loyalty such a promise should be!—P '30, 77. Parallel passages: Psa. 21:4; 133:3; Dan. 12:3; Matt. 19:29; Luke 20:36; John 3:14-17; 4:14; 5:24, 25, 29, 39; 6:27, 40, 47, 50-58, 68; 10:10, 28; 12:50; 17:2, 3; Acts 13:46, 48; Rom. 2:7; 5:21; 6:22, 23; 1 Cor. 15:53, 54; 2 Cor. 5:1. Hymns: 208, 5, 9, 15, 62, 246, 255. Poems of Dawn, 251: Eternity. Tower Reading: Z '15, 12 (R 5608). Questions: How has this text influenced me this week? Why? With what results? |
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ETERNITY
WHAT is Eternity? Can aught
Paint its duration to the thought?
Tell every beam the sun emits,
When in sublimest noon he sits;
Tell every light-winged mote that strays
Within its ample round of rays;
Tell all the leaves and all the buds
That crown the gardens, fields and woods;
Tell all the spires of grass the meads
Produce, when spring propitious leads
The new-born year.
Be this astonishing account
Augmented with the full amount
Of all the drops the clouds have shed,
Where'er their watery fleeces spread
Through all Time's long-protracted tour.
Tell all the sands the ocean laves;
Tell all the changes of its waves,
Or tell, with more laborious pains,
The drops its mighty mass contains.
Were there a belt that could contain
In its vast orb the earth and main;
With figures were it clustered o'er,
And not one cipher in the score;
And could thy laboring thoughts assign
The total of the extended line;
How vast the amount, the attempt how vain,
To read duration's endless chain;
For when as many years have run,
Eternity is but begun!
Then think of life thou mayst attain,
Through years eternal to remain,
And the love which bought it all for thee
When thou wert doomed no life to see;
And grace which to its boundless store
Adds endless blessings evermore:
And when thy cup of joy runs over,
Let songs of praise rise to the Giver.
WHAT is Eternity? Can aught
Paint its duration to the thought?
Tell every beam the sun emits,
When in sublimest noon he sits;
Tell every light-winged mote that strays
Within its ample round of rays;
Tell all the leaves and all the buds
That crown the gardens, fields and woods;
Tell all the spires of grass the meads
Produce, when spring propitious leads
The new-born year.
Be this astonishing account
Augmented with the full amount
Of all the drops the clouds have shed,
Where'er their watery fleeces spread
Through all Time's long-protracted tour.
Tell all the sands the ocean laves;
Tell all the changes of its waves,
Or tell, with more laborious pains,
The drops its mighty mass contains.
Were there a belt that could contain
In its vast orb the earth and main;
With figures were it clustered o'er,
And not one cipher in the score;
And could thy laboring thoughts assign
The total of the extended line;
How vast the amount, the attempt how vain,
To read duration's endless chain;
For when as many years have run,
Eternity is but begun!
Then think of life thou mayst attain,
Through years eternal to remain,
And the love which bought it all for thee
When thou wert doomed no life to see;
And grace which to its boundless store
Adds endless blessings evermore:
And when thy cup of joy runs over,
Let songs of praise rise to the Giver.
