The Life Examined with CAROLYN MACOMBER | Proclamation! Contributor
I believed what I had been taught. The messages came to me from leaders in the Adventist Church and from the prophet, Ellen G. White. The goal of my life was to be perfect, because God was perfect (Mt. 5:48). Guilt and frustration were my constant companions, because perfection was always just out of reach. Now, after becoming born again and being discipled using only the Scriptures, life looks different. My goal is not to be perfect; now the purpose of my life is much, much, more.
Ellen White wrote, and I believed,
“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above, are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in Heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14” (The Great Controversy 425.1).
Adventism taught that Christ died for my sins and I had to be perfect to be saved. It was an impossible conundrum!
The messages learned stated,
“The righteousness of Christ will not cover one cherished sin” (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 316).
“We can never see our Lord in peace, unless our souls are spotless. We must bear the perfect image of Christ” (Review and Herald, May 30, 1882).
“(Christ) came to this world and lived a sinless life, that in His power His people might also live lives of sinlessness” (Review and Herald, April 1, 1902).
“There is no safety nor repose nor justification in transgression of the law. Man cannot hope to stand innocent before God, and at peace with Him through the merits of Christ, while he continues in sin. He must cease to transgress and become loyal and true.” (1 Selected Messages, EGW, p. 213).
“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement.” (Testimonies For the Church, vol. 5, p. 214).
“While God can be just, and yet, justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins, or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be a continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul ….” (1 Selected Messages, p. 366).
“To be redeemed means to cease from sin.” (Review and Herald, Sept. 25, 1900).
I was a living mess, always striving but never obtaining the required perfection while also believing Christ died for my sins. I had a twisted, misconceived “truth” that came directly from the deceiver. Biblical passages had been taken out of context and used to teach me lies.
Now, I live in the light of God’s perfect grace. Jesus died for my sins because I can never, as I live on this earth, be sinless, and anyone who claims to be able to live a sinless life is deceived (1 Jn 1:8).
Now I live in the battle between sinful flesh and Christ which Paul penned in Romans 7:14-25, and Romans 8:1.
Realizing I will never be perfect this side of heaven but that Christ is my righteousness gives me hope, and my purpose is different. Now I take time to read God’s word and receive eternal pleasure at His hands (Ps. 16:11). My life is the Lord’s to speak His words and to serve others so that the Lord may be praised through Christ Jesus (1 Pet. 4:11). My focus is Jesus Christ, that He may be glorified, loved, and known. The purpose of my life is to grow in the One Who died for me and to know His word that teaches me Who He is.
I no longer strive for perfection. I am learning to live in the grace of His finished work. †
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