Fingerprints

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Famous architects are invariably known for their ;style—their ;lines of design—or their school of thinking—in other words, the particular characteristics they employ that distinguish them from others of their craft. This is also true of authors, poets, artists, musicians and others. Everyone understands this.

In other books to the splinters I have explained in detail how ;God’s fingerprints are always plainly visible for those who know what to look for. This is true of His Church, His government, which would be upholding all of His doctrines—and it is true of His Work. But these things are also true in regard to churches of men. God’s people once plainly recognized Satan’s fingerprints when they saw them. So many today have lost the ability to distinguish the things of God from the things of men or the devil. But some will still discern and recognize.

A series of questions will help you determine whether you can still see God’s fingerprints on His Work. Examine the questions, perhaps carefully rereading them—and force yourself to produce an answer, spoken out loud:

Do you still believe that Christ’s gospel is solely about the KINGDOM OF GOD?
Do you still believe that this message must be powerfully announced in every nation of the world?—and that Mr. Armstrong understood this was never his ;private commission?
Do you still believe an equally powerful warning must be preached again to the nations descended from Israel?—and that a large ;Remnant from these countries, with the ;Great Multitude alongside, will be the product of God’s final Work?
Do you still recognize that God is punishing a world that is beyond repair—beyond anything the governments of men can fix—because it is in rebellion against His Law?
Do you still realize that your job—the primary reason for which Mr. Armstrong said that laymembers were called in this age—is to support God’s chosen leader and His Headquarters in fulfilling the Great Commission?
Are you able to remember and will you hold to all of the doctrines and policies that once pertained to the Work?
Can you see God’s miraculous help—His supernatural ;handprints—plainly evident all over The Restored Church of God, including all that you have learned in this book?
Have you investigated whether Christ has sent another apostle to finish His Work? If so, how careful, how thorough, were you in your investigation?
Are you willing to return to being on fire to pray daily for God’s Work in the spirit of verses such as Matthew 9:36-38—;Pray the Lord of the harvest that He will send forth laborers…—and II Thessalonians 3:1-2—;Pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course [run or speed on]…?
Will you return to a spirit of sacrifice?
Can you see that tens of thousands of fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are languishing in confusion, misery, division and blindness, but who do have the Holy Spirit, must be reached and warned of the consequences of their condition before the age is finished and it is too late to repent?
Do you still believe there is coming an unprecedented ;famine of the hearing of God’s Word because this Work will be complete and ;the night [will have come] when no man can work?
Are you sobered when you realize this will happen suddenly to a stunned and completely unprepared world—and that this reaction includes the majority of God’s people?
Do you still believe the Work must reflect the level of quality that Mr. Armstrong taught, and that befits the great God we always believed stood behind His Work?
Do you still believe that the Temple of God is one unified organization headed by Jesus Christ under the pattern of God’s government as taught by Mr. Armstrong?
With your protection, and possibly even your salvation at stake, can you say that you honestly disagree with the explanation given for measuring this Temple?—and are you absolutely sure?
Do you see yourself as having suffered from mass amnesia?
Have you admitted which areas of the Great Commission you have forgotten?
Are you willing to recapture and return to every one of them?
Will you be found by Christ among those who have ;faith on the earth?—and regarding God’s certain promise to carry out all of the greatest prophecies in the final chapter in His Work?
And most important, do you recognize that time is running out for you to make your own personal decisionin joining and supporting this ;short Work, foretold to also be ;cut short?

Many more questions could be included, but these are enough. I repeat, think carefully about them. Review them several times if necessary. Then consider other questions in the book.

Make yourself answer each one with brutal honesty!

Returning to the Hallmark Quote

At the end of Chapter One you saw the following definitive statement from Mr. Armstrong. The last chapter also closes with it. Now that you have read the rest of the book, it should carry vastly more meaning than before. Recall that it appeared under the subhead ;Your Part in GOD’S WORK:

In my over fifty years’ intensive, rich, active experience, since God changed MY direction into HIS WAY, I have observed that the very first need of every Christian, who is to GROW and develop this spiritual character, is to have his heart completely in THE WORK OF GOD, which the living Christ has called His servants to do, as His instruments! Our ‘WORKS’ are our part in GOD’S WORK— getting His true Gospel to the whole world as a witness—preparing the way for Christ’s coming. We are merely His INSTRUMENTS. It is GOD’S WORK! Those who condemn ‘WORKS’ are condemning the Great GOD who is the actual DOER through us as His instruments and Co-Workers! It is not, after all, our works!

Those who are self-centered, caring nothing for the WORK OF GOD, having not enough outgoing concern to want to help GET CHRIST’S MESSAGE out to this blinded, deceived, dying world, fall away. Those who center their whole ‘Christian’ life and activity on developing their own selves spiritually, whose hearts are not in or concerned about this great OUTGOING worldwide WORK OF GOD, actually directed by the living CHRIST, develop onlyINWARDLY, until they shrivel up spiritually and fall by the wayside! Those whose hearts, their active, constant, earnest, fervent PRAYERS, and their tithes and offerings are in GOD’S WORK continue to EXPAND spiritually—they become HAPPIER—they become greatly BLESSED—their lives become richer and fuller—and their faces beam in smiles. They RADIATE! They PROSPER!

The New Testament is literally filled with instruction on Christian living—leading a new, different, sparkling, joyous life—or, perhaps more correctly, allowing Jesus Christ to live such a life—GOD’S WAY in them!

How WONDERFUL is God’s Way!

SALVATION comes—if we are willing—as God’s FREE GIFT— by GRACE!

But we must be changed. There is DOING, not hearing only (Rom. 2:13). There is development of a new righteous CHARACTER. Yet, even that is CHRIST IN YOU actually DOING it! Actually, even the ‘works’ are primarily done by HIM! But how WONDERFUL that there are righteous ;WORKS in the true Christian life—opportunity formore than salvation, priceless though that be—opportunity for higher position, rank, opportunity to SERVE, higher GLORY!

What Will You Be Doing in the Next Life?

Full Circle—Question Revisited

It has been said that ;facts are stubborn things. Early in the book’s INTRODUCTION it was asked: How many will be honest with all the facts of history and previous teaching of the Church presented throughout? You have read them and they are plain, clear—and SO MANY! When seen in their fullness, you should have found themimpossible to misunderstand.

I ask again: How many will read this book and remember—in other words, will recover from mass amnesia and ;Alzheimer’s in reverse!—and re-accept all that they have forgotten, and RETURN to what they knew?

I state one final time to every person who was in the Worldwide Church of God: You are strongly exhorted to read—and apply!—our absolutely crucial books ;ANOINT YOUR EYES, THE TRUE CHURCH and THE GOVERNMENT OF GOD—and WAKE UP to the doctrinal compromise, confusion, flattery, weakness and deceit of your leaders. Shift your focus and thinking from enjoying services to MARKETING GOODS! Come to where Christ is leading and God is working! Come to the only instrument that He is using, or could use! Come to the only ;house that the living Christ has built (Psa. 127:1)—and to the only ;engine that He is fueling and putting to service!

After you have anointed your eyes, come to the immensely powerful WORK being done HERE!

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