Will I Receive the Latter Rain?- Part Three

As we begin a new year, we think of how close we are to the end of this world's history. Will it be two years, five years, or longer? We don't know, but we know it is coming very soon. All of the signs of the times are fast fulfilling. When the pope stands in front of the leaders of the Congress of the United States of America, and they are both Roman Catholic, and he addresses a joint session of Congress, we know the end is near. The pope supports the "global warming" theory. And now the MIT Center for Collective Intelligence is pushing a "green sabbath" rest. The sun day is gaining momentum and the world is wondering after the beast.

It may be that your time or my time will end in this world before Jesus returns. Who knows but God, how much time individuals have left. Today may be our last day. Are you ready to have your character judged? What is the standard in the judgment? It is the law of God. Are we keeping the commandments of God.....from the heart? If we are doing as did Paul before his conversion when he was "blameless", we

"Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His"

will not inherit eternal life. Our faith cannot be of the flesh, but of the Spirit that allows Christ to impute and impart His righteousness to us. When we make a full surrender of all we are and all we have, He then takes possession of the heart and writes His law therein. Paul finally understood. "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless." Philippians 3:4-6. "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace. Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Romans 8:3-9.

Our righteousness must be pure and holy, it must be that which can only come from a heart purified by the Spirit of Christ. The law, the law, the law cannot save, it can only reveal our condemnation if we are not obeying from the heart. We understand the law has not been abolished, it is still binding, all of the moral law. The ceremonial and the civil laws are not binding, but all moral law remains as our guide to morality.

In our first two articles in this series we spoke of our need to be born again in order to receive the latter rain, that it will only fall upon those who have received the "former rain". We understand the direct relationship between the Holy Spirit and the reception of both the former rain and the latter rain. Let's review this statement again: "Only those who are living up to the light they have, will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it." FLB 333

Notice "we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain." There are

The latter rain was falling and yet so few understood it

manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. Why? Because it is the Holy Spirit that is residing in all who are converted and are receiving what the latter rain brings. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. How many today understand what was poured out in the church in 1888 by the Holy Spirit? The latter rain was falling and yet so few understood it. They did not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit that were being poured out upon those who were converted and open to more of the Spirit.

In our second message in this series we made reference to the Laodicean message given by Jesus to us, the message given to Nicodemus by Jesus, and the message brought to the church in 1888 as the latter rain began to fall. All three messages were designed to reveal the need to be converted and to bring about a conversion experience. Whether it be one individual as with Nicodemus, or a whole church that is being addressed, the message is the same.

In 1888 the church had been backslidden for many years. It had been preaching the law, the law, the law until the church was as dry as the hills of Gilboa. "As a people, we have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that had neither dew nor rain. We must preach Christ in the law, and there will be sap and nourishment in the preaching that will be as food to the famishing flock of God. We must not trust in our own merits at all, but in the merits of Jesus of Nazareth. Our eyes must be anointed with eye-salve. We must draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to us, if we come in his own appointed way. O that you may go forth as the disciples did after the day of Pentecost, and then your testimony will have a living ring, and souls will be converted to God." 1888, pg 560.

Notice the solution was not to do away with the law, but to "preach Christ in the law". The law was given

The essence of the messages in 1888 was the loveliness of Jesus and the sinners great need

that we might see our sins and know that we are condemned. Remove the law and the sinner will not see he is sick and in need of a physician. Christ came to save the lost, but He cannot save those who do not see they are lost, the Laodiceans. We see a direct parallel between the message to the Laodiceans and the 1888 message in that both were to a lost church, and both presented Christ as the only solution. The essence of the messages being given in 1888 was Jesus and the sinners great need of Him. The messages to Nicodemus, to the Laoicean church, and the message to the church in 1888 were all rebukes, but also were encouraging messages for they presented the solution to the sinner's lost condition, Jesus Christ.

"I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Though the professed followers of Christ are in a deplorable condition, they are not yet in so desperate a strait as were the foolish virgins whose lamps were going out, and there was no time in which to replenish their vessels with oil. When the bridegroom came, those that were ready went in with him to the wedding; but when the foolish virgins came, the door was shut, and they were too late to obtain an entrance.
But the counsel of the true Witness does not represent those who are lukewarm as in a hopeless case. There is yet a chance to remedy their state, and the Laodicean message is full of encouragement; for the backslidden church may yet buy the gold of faith and love, may yet have the white robe of the righteousness of Christ, that the shame of their nakedness need not appear. Purity of heart, purity of motive, may yet characterize those who are halfhearted and who are striving to serve God and mammon. They may yet wash their robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Review and Herald, Aug. 28, 1894.

The message to Nicodemus began with reproof that shocked him. He was told he was not good enough to enter heaven, that he must be born again. But, Jesus did not leave this sinner without encouragement. He told Nicodemus that eternal life would come from looking upon the One who would be made sin and would be "lifted up". It is by beholding the loveliness of Jesus that we are changed into the same image, character, by the Spirit. "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18. It is an intellectual and a spiritual truth that by beholding we become changed. The mind is as plastic. It gradually adapts itself to that which it beholds. As those who were bitten by serpents would live if they looked upon the uplifted serpent, so would Nicodemus if he would look upon the uplifted Savior. He did look and he was converted.

In 1890 Ellen White had a message for the Brethren in Responsible Positions. It encompassed the message given in 1888. The message began "Brethren in responsible positions, you are in danger. I lift my voice in warning. Beware. Unless you watch, and keep your garments unspotted from the world, Satan will stand as your captain." God's prophet encouraged the leaders of His church to behold the loveliness of Jesus. Just as Jesus did with Nicodemus, and, as He encourages church members today in the message to the Laodicean Church. She closed her message then with what was not only important in their day, but is present truth in our day.

As the end approaches, the testimonies of God's servants will become more decided and more powerful, flashing the light of truth upon the systems of error and oppression that have so long held the supremacy. The Lord has sent us messages for this time to establish Christianity upon an eternal basis, and all who believe present truth must stand, not in their own wisdom, but in God; and raise up the foundation of many generations. These will be registered in the books of heaven as repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in. We are to maintain the truth because it is truth, in the face of the bitterest opposition. God is at work upon human minds; it is not man alone that is working. The great illuminating power is from Christ; the brightness of his example is to be kept before the people in every discourse.
The rainbow above the throne, the bow of promise, testifies to the whole world that God will never forget His people in their struggle. Let Jesus be our theme. Let us with pen and voice present, not only the commandments of God, but the faith of Jesus. This will promote real heart piety as nothing else can. While we present the fact that men are subjects of a divine moral government, their reason teaches them that this is truth, that they owe allegiance to Jehovah. This life is our time of probation. We are placed under the discipline and government of God to form characters and acquire habits for the higher life. Temptations will come upon us. Iniquity abounds; where you least expect it, dark chapters will open that are most terrible, to weigh down the soul; but we need not fail nor be discouraged while we know that the bow of promise is above the throne of God. We shall be subject to heavy trials, opposition, bereavement, affliction; but we know that Jesus passed through all these. These experiences are valuable to us. The advantages are not by any means confined to this short life. They reach into eternal ages. Through patience, faith, and hope, in all the changing scenes of life, we are forming characters for everlasting life. Everything shall work together for good to those that love God.
All the scenes of this life in which we must act a part, are to be carefully studied, for they are a part of our education. We should bring solid timbers into our character building; for we are working both for this life and eternal life. And as we near the close of this earth's history, we advance more and more rapidly in Christian growth, or we retrograde just as decidedly.
"I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth ..... And I will remember my covenant, ... and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh." In the rainbow above the throne is an everlasting testimony that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Whenever the law is presented before the people, let the teacher of truth point out the throne arched with the rainbow of promise, the righteousness of Christ. The glory of the law is Christ; He came to magnify the law, and make it honorable. Make it distinct that mercy and truth have met together in Christ, and righteousness and peace have embraced each other. It is when you are looking to His throne, offering up your penitence and praise and thanksgiving to God, that you perfect Christian character, and represent Christ to the world. You abide in Christ, and Christ abides in you; you have that peace that passeth all understanding. We need constantly to meditate upon Christ and His attractive loveliness. We must direct minds to Jesus, fasten them upon Him. In every discourse dwell upon the divine attributes.
As the bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the combined power of mercy and justice. It is not justice alone that is to be maintained; for this would eclipse the glory of the rainbow above the promise; man could see only the penalty of the law. Were there no justice, no penalty, there would be no stability to the government of

"If we were defective in character, we could not pass the gates..."

God. It is the mingling of judgment and mercy that makes salvation full and complete. It is the blending of the two that leads us, as we view the world's Redeemer, and the law of Jehovah, to exclaim, "Thy gentleness hath made me great." We know that the gospel is a perfect and complete system, revealing the immutability of the law of God. It inspires the heart with hope, and with love for God. Mercy invites us to enter through the gates into the city of God, and justice is satisfied to accord to every obedient soul full privileges as a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King. If we were defective in character, we could not pass the gates that mercy has opened to the obedient; for justice stands at the entrance, and demands holiness, purity, in all who would see God. Were justice extinct, and were it possible for divine mercy to open the gates to the whole race, irrespective of character, there would be a worse condition of disaffection and rebellion in heaven than before Satan was expelled. The peace, happiness, and harmony of heaven would be broken up. The change from earth to heaven will not change men's characters; the happiness of the redeemed in heaven results from the characters formed in this life, after the image of Christ. The saints in heaven will first have been saints on earth.
The salvation that Christ made such a sacrifice to gain for man, is that which is alone of value, that which saves from sin, the cause of all the misery and woe in our world. Mercy extended to the sinner is constantly drawing him to Jesus. If he responds, coming in penitence with confession, in faith laying hold of the hope set before him in the gospel, God will not despise the broken and contrite heart. Thus the law of God is not weakened, but the power of sin is broken, and the scepter of mercy is extended to the penitent sinner. 1888 pg 730.

The penitent sinner will be forgiven. Thus the truth has been opened before our eyes. How many will accept such a straight message? That is not of concern. What is of concern is will I accept the truth and ask God to take my heart, my whole heart today. The impenitent sinner will not receive mercy. Unless

"the happiness of the redeemed in heaven results from the characters formed in this life, after the image of Christ"

one is repentant, he will not be justified. Unless one receives the Spirit of God into his heart, he will not receive the former rain. Only those who are born of His Spirit and maintain that experience will receive the latter Rain. It is the desire of Jesus that you and I receive the latter rain. He wants to reveal Himself to the world through you and me. Yes, we may reflect the character of Christ today, for "the change from earth to heaven will not change men's characters; the happiness of the redeemed in heaven results from the characters formed in this life, after the image of Christ." The thief on the cross made a full surrender to Jesus and thus he was born of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit came into his heart, wrote the law of God upon his heart, and imparted to him the character of Christ. Yes, the thief will go to heaven with a character formed on this earth, for "the saints in heaven will first have been saints on earth" by beholding the loveliness of Jesus.

By faith born of spending that thoughful hour each day contemplating the life of Christ, you and I can give honor and glory to our God. We may be witnesses of His love and power in a world soon to perish. What more could Jesus have done for us? Heaven was emptied that we might know of His love for us while we were yet sinners. Let us not deny Jesus His reward for all He has done. What a God we serve! Let us not only praise Him, but honor Him in all we think, say, and do. This will hasten His soon coming that will put an end to sin, suffering and death. As we do this, we may in principle and good conscience pray for the latter rain.