M. C. Fernandes — South Africa

hat shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?" (Psalms 116:12).

It would be well for every one of us to look back on our lives to see how the Lord has been merciful to us.

By nature, man is not willing to give. Instead, he is always expecting to receive something. When the end of the year approaches with its season generally known for festivities, almost everyone is hoping to receive gifts.

We ask ourselves: How much have we received from the hands of the Lord? We receive from Him health, daily bread, clothing, a shelter in which to live, life. All these we receive freely. We are very privileged people. The Lord has been very benevolent toward each one of us.

The greatest gift

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

The greatest gift which we have received from our heavenly Father was His Son, Jesus Christ, who died to save us. The apostle John says: "We love him, because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Adam and Eve had been warned about the fall of Satan, that he had been expelled from heaven, and was trying to establish his throne on earth. They were to watch and not separate from each other. But the woman gave heed to the voice of the serpent, ate of the forbidden tree, and then took the fruit to her husband and he did eat also.

"But through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place of love. His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil. He was made captive by Satan, and would have remained so forever had not God specially interposed." 1

"The fall of man filled all heaven with sorrow. The world that God had made was blighted with the curse of sin and inhabited by beings doomed to misery and death. There appeared no escape for those who had transgressed the law. Angels ceased their songs of praise. Throughout the heavenly courts there was mourning for the ruin that sin had wrought.

"The Son of God, heaven’s glorious Commander, was touched with pity for the fallen race. His heart was moved with infinite compassion as the woes of the lost world rose up before Him. But divine love had conceived a plan whereby man might be redeemed. The broken law of God demanded the life of the sinner. In all the universe there was but one who could, in behalf of man, satisfy its claims. Since the divine law is as sacred as God Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement for its transgression. None but Christ could redeem fallen man from the curse of the law and bring him again into harmony with Heaven. Christ would take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin—sin so offensive to a holy God that it must separate the Father and His Son. Christ would reach to the depths of misery to rescue the ruined race." 2

We understand that in the plan of redemption our heavenly Father has given Heaven’s greatest Gift to this fallen world by sending Jesus to die in our stead.

I will give Him my heart

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways" (Proverbs 23:26).

The greatest gratitude which we may manifest towards the Lord is to give Him our sinful heart. Jesus is calling us every day: "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). What does it mean to give the heart to Jesus? Does it mean to be a baptized member of the church? Does it mean to be a prospective member? Does it mean to go to church and attend every worship meeting? It means much more than that. It is the surrender of body, soul and spirit to Him, and to do the will of God. Many whose names are registered upon the church rolls have not yet given their hearts to Jesus. They have one foot in and the other one out of the church. The true Christian seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. There are many who give only half of their hearts to God, but He does not accept half-and-half surrender. Surrender must be total and complete. A work done half-and-half is a constant denial of Christ.

To surrender the heart to Christ means to live a new life, and this is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Man cannot change himself by exercising his own will. He does not possess faculties through which such a change may take place. The leaven, something totally from without, must be introduced into the dough so that it may be transformed. So also the grace of God should be introduced into the heart of the sinner so that he may be fitted for the kingdom of God.

The reviving power must come from God. This change can be accomplished only by the Holy Spirit. All who have a desire to be saved—distinguished or humble, rich or poor—are to submit their will to the attraction of this power.

"As the leaven, when mingled with the meal, works from within outward, so it is by the renewing of the heart that the grace of God works to transform the life. No mere external change is sufficient to bring us into harmony with God. There are many who try to reform by correcting this or that bad habit, and they hope in this way to become Christians, but they are beginning in the wrong place. Our first work is with the heart." 3

The heart of him who surrenders it to Christ overflows with love for those for whom He died. He does not love others just because they say amen and they please him, but because they are the property of Christ. The truly converted soul dedicates his whole life to the service of Christ.

I will work to save souls

When we surrender our hearts to Jesus we do it because we are constrained by His love, and this will lead us to love the souls for whom He gave His life. In order to work for the Lord in behalf of those who are lost we should know what is the value of a soul.

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18, 19).

The redemption of man cost the highest price ever paid, the blood of Christ. He left His throne of glory in heaven to come to this world of sin to give His life for us. From His birth until His death He lived the life of a pilgrim. Though He was the Creator of all things He had nowhere to lay His head (Luke 9:58).

"The value of a soul, who can estimate? Would you know its worth, go to Gethsemane, and there watch with Christ through those hours of anguish, when He sweat as it were great drops of blood. Look upon the Saviour uplifted on the cross. Hear that despairing cry, ‘My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?’ (Mark 15:34). Look upon the wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet. Remember that Christ risked all. For our redemption, heaven itself was imperiled. At the foot of the cross, remembering that for one sinner Christ would have laid down His life, you may estimate the value of a soul." 4

Today, as never before, we ought to understand our responsibility toward God and the souls who are lost in the darkness of sin. The missionary has a special duty to fulfill, and that is to take the message of salvation to the lost. Many times this work requires a sacrifice and renunciation of the things that he cherishes. When we are called to work in a prosperous field where we have everything we want—good means of transportation, good food, a good dwelling place, etc.—we are very encouraged. But very often a sacrifice is involved which requires us to leave behind families, relatives, ease, and advantages, and go where the Lord calls us to work.

I remember when I was called to work in Angola, Africa, where over 30 years of civil war had been raging. Many people spoke to me and my family words of discouragement, but I felt that the Lord was calling me, and thinking on the words of Isaiah 6:1–8, I accepted the call. When I arrived in Angola and saw the condition of the country and the brethren, I was horrified, but my colleague who was with me said: "Brother, do not be sad. Here in Africa was where I had my best experiences with God." Now after more than four years of work, and because of the experiences I have made with God, I can say: "Blessed be the name of the Lord." It has been here in a land which, through war, has been stripped of many of its comforts and resources, that I have been able to feel the presence of the Lord, His protection, and care more than ever before.

The tithe is the Lord’s

We are the property of Jesus Christ. We belong to Him by creation and redemption. When Christ dwells in the heart, He purifies the soul from all iniquity, and the greatest desire will be to see the progress of God’s work. If we are faithful stewards, the resources for the support of the missions will never be lacking. The Lord’s treasury will always be full to support the needs of the work.

"A tithe of all our increase is the Lord's. He has reserved it to Himself, to be employed for religious purposes. It is holy. Nothing less than this has He accepted in any dispensation. A neglect or postponement of this duty, will provoke the divine displeasure. If all professed Christians would faithfully bring their tithes to God, His treasury would be full." 5

Unfortunately some members of the church are acting like Ananias and Sapphire, withholding that which belongs to the Lord. The tithe is just as sacred and holy as the Sabbath, and it does not belong to us. It is the Lord’s. It is a great sin to withhold that which should be given to the Lord. Many do not experience prosperity in their spiritual and material lives. They are weak and unstable because they are not faithful stewards. To steal is a transgression of God’s law, and the Bible identifies those who rob God as thieves. Are members of the church robbing God?

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:8–10).

We should never spend the Lord’s money for our own needs or enjoyment. The work of God needs the means, and many foreign missions have great necessities. We should be faithful so that the light of the gospel may reach all nations, tribes, tongues, and people.

What else can I give?

"Those who have been made partakers of the grace of God should not be slow to show their appreciation of that gift. They should not look upon the tithe as the limit of their liberality. The Jews were required to bring to God numerous offerings besides the tithe; and shall not we who enjoy the blessings of the gospel, do as much to sustain God's cause as was done in the former, less-favored dispensation? None should forget to make thank-offerings and free-will offerings to God, that through their instrumentality the precious light that they have received may be borne to others just as worthy as themselves. . . .

"Oh that I could impress all with the importance of following God's order in all things, and of becoming workers for Him! Let us humble our hearts before the Lord, and when we become indeed His true followers, we shall feel to confess that we have done very little for the dear Saviour who has done so much for us. Let us closely examine our own hearts, our motives, and our actions, realizing that these must each bear the close scrutiny of the Master, and that then we shall receive His impartial verdict.

"The Lord will work for His people when those who have newly come to the faith and those who are older in the truth say individually, I can and will do something for the Master. I will lay up something in the bank of heaven, even if it cost me present self-denial. And after His servants have come up to their privilege and done all that they possibly can do, even at a sacrifice to themselves, then the Lord will still advance His cause. He can subdue hearts the most obdurate. He can, by His Holy Spirit, bring the most selfish and grasping to appreciate truth above earthly treasure, and bring their talents of means and ability into His service." 6

The reward of following Christ

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion" (Isaiah 52:7, 8).

We should work for the Lord today with all the power and strength that He has given us, because one day we will receive the reward. When Jesus will come again we shall have the privilege of seeing one another personally, face to face, as well as to meet those whom we led to Jesus. This will be our greatest reward, our greatest joy, and then to live in that place which He has prepared for us.

"Every action of ours in befriending God’s people will be rewarded as done unto himself." 7

"The redeemed will meet and recognize those whose attention they have directed to the uplifted Saviour. What blessed converse they have with these souls! ‘I was a sinner,’ it will be said, ‘without God and without hope in the world, and you came to me and drew my attention to the precious Saviour as my only hope.’ . . . Others will say, ‘I was a heathen in heathen lands. You left your friends and comfortable home and came to teach me how to find Jesus and believe in Him as the only true God. I demolished my idols and worshiped God, and now I see Him face to face. I am saved, eternally saved, ever to behold Him whom I love.’

"Others will express their gratitude to those who fed the hungry and clothed the naked. ‘When despair bound my soul in unbelief, the Lord sent you to me,’ they say, ‘to speak words of hope and comfort. You brought me food for my physical necessities, and you opened to me the Word of God, awakening me to my spiritual needs. You treated me as a brother. You sympathized with me in my sorrows, and restored my bruised and wounded soul, so that I could grasp the hand of Christ that was reached out to save me. In my ignorance you taught me patiently that I had a Father in heaven who cared for me. You read to me the precious promises of God’s Word. You inspired in me the faith that He would save me. My heart was softened, subdued, broken, as I contemplated the sacrifice which Christ had made for me. . . . I am here, saved, eternally saved, ever to live in His presence and to praise Him who gave His life for me.’

"What rejoicing there will be as these redeemed ones meet and greet those who have had a burden in their behalf! And those who have lived, not to please themselves, but to be a blessing to the unfortunate who have so few blessings—how their hearts will thrill with satisfaction!" 8

Conclusion

Dear brethren, we are at the end of another year. May the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth as we surrender our lives to the Lord and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Let us renew our covenant with the Lord so that when His Holy Spirit will be poured out upon the church, we may be able to stand and take part in the loud cry. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

References:

1 Steps to Christ, p. 17.
2 Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 63.
3 Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 97.
4 Ibid., p. 196.
5 The Review and Herald, May 16, 1882.
6 Ibid., August 24, 1886.
7 Ibid., September 20, 1898.
8 My Life Today, p. 353.