“And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward” (Ex. 14:15). The children of Israel were at the Red Sea, mountains on each side, and Pharoah’s army at their back. God had promised them a “good land and a large… flowing with milk and honey” (Ex. 3:8), but there were those who did not desire to move forward.
“And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness” (Ex. 14:11, 12).
“Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God” (Heb. 3:10-12). We must be careful not to allow this spirit of unbelief to grip our hearts. We must obey God’s Word and let the Holy Ghost work in us to purify our souls and reach the standard required for every member of The Church of God. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).
Perfection requires the removal of anything impure. “But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness” (Mal. 3:2, 3). God used this prophetic analogy to describe how He purifies our hearts. Just as a refiner’s fire, He draws out dross (impurities) so we can be pure and righteous, and He often uses our pain and suffering for this purpose. “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isa. 48:10). “He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him” (Psa. 105:17-19). “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12).
“…the Church is to be perfected by the ministry, who are its God-given gifts for that purpose…until all reach the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of Christ, the Head. The Church will be as one perfect man or body, and will reach the same measure of stature—spiritual height—as portrayed by Christ in His fulness. The Church will not be affected by false doctrines and Satan’s cunning craftiness, for its members will be so closely knit together that the pure nourishment will flow from one to another just as nourishment is supplied to every cell and tissue of the natural body….
“The cleansing will result from the application of, and obedience to, the Word of God preached by the ministry. A glorious or perfect Church is the purpose and goal in it all.” (Excerpts from GOD’S CHURCH IN THE PLAN OF THE AGES, M. A. Tomlinson, pp. 56, 57.)
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection…” (Heb. 6:1).
Merry Christmas and a very Blessed and Happy New Year to every member and friend of The Church of God around the world. Let’s remember those who are without family, shut-ins, and others who may feel alone during this season. Go caroling, fix baskets of goodies to share, or send cards to let these know they are loved and cared about. Plan special events of fellowship among the members of the Church to celebrate the birth of our Saviour. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor. 9:15).