Herbert W Armstrong

   Personal from Herbert W Armstrong — IN THIS TALK WITH Our readers I want to say something about the flood of letters now flowing in from those of you who have just read the exciting new booklet, The WONDERFUL WORLD TOMORROW — What it Will Be Like.
   All but ONE so far — from approximately two hundred thousand booklets already mailed out (and another hundred thousand now being mailed) — have been enthusiastic, elated, inspired to know what a WONDERFUL world is soon to be ours.
   Of course there had to be one who appeared angry — "Bosh and Rubbish!" he wrote. He sincerely thinks we are wrong — instead of himself. He reminds me of Mrs. O'Reilly's son Dennis, a war veteran, marching down 5th Avenue in New York, in the Victory Parade at the close of World War II. Mrs. O'Reilly beamed with pride, saying, "An 'd'ya know, I was so proud of Dinney — they were all out o' step but him!"
   I want to answer his letter — for the enlightenment of ALL our readers. But first, a comment or two inspired by all these other appreciative letters. I wish ALL OF YOU could realize that this wonderful coming world IS REAL — and most of you will be in it — I hope as one of its changed Immortals. It's not only REAL — it is coming SOON. Possibly (I do not set dates) in less than ten years! Yes, very possibly that soon!
   But what I am most concerned about is WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU — as an individual! Each of you! I wish all of our readers could think as one wrote me — wondering what YOU will be doing, then!
   I wish all our readers could be reminded, at this point, of that very first of the LAMS OF SUCCESS! There are seven laws that will '.produce success. The very first one is to have the RIGHT GOAL — to be fired with ambition to achieve that goal — to keep that goal constantly uppermost in your mind!
   Have a definite, inspiring PURPOSE in life. Realize, as Winston Churchill said, there is a PURPOSE being worked out here below! Mankind was placed on this earth FOR A PURPOSE. That means YOU, as an individual, were born and given the breath of life for a PURPOSE!
   In this world's colleges and universities they teach nothing about that purpose. They know nothing of the real MEANING of life. They leave students without a goal. They don't know where they are going — or whether they are going anyplace.
   But the all-intelligent, all-knowing Creator who designed the human mind and body, created the human race, and supplies the air, water and food to sustain it, had a PURPOSE! And, through the apostle Paul, He reveals to us that GOAL — in Paul's words, that "I might attain unto the RESURRECTION..." and, further, "... this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the MARK for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:11, 13-14).
   The MARK — the PRIZE — the GOAL toward which Paul pressed forward is THE RESURRECTION to Immortality, in the Kingdom of God!
   In this newest booklet we tried to paint in simple words — as revealed in the Bible — the WONDERFUL world which this Kingdom of converted, changed Immortals, under Christ, will produce.
   But is BEING THERE, as a changed, immortal person YOUR goal? Is that one overriding LIFE'S OBJECTIVE constantly before your eyes — constantly dominating your thoughts?
   Many have written to tell me how exciting — how interesting and inspiring — to see just WHAT such patriarchs and prophets and men of God as Abraham, Joseph, Job, Daniel, Moses and others will be doing — how they will be brought back to life, immortal, in glorified POWER — and the high executive positions in the new WORLD GOVERNMENT they will occupy.
   Interesting? Exciting? WONDERFUL? Yes, I should say it is! But, as I said above, I wish all of YOU were terribly concerned by asking yourselves where YOU will be — what you will be doing then!
   I don't mean that you may decide for yourselves what precise position may be assigned to YOU. Yet, in general, I can tell you what position will be assigned you! It will be the position you are training for, qualifying for; RIGHT NOW — in this life!
   WHY will Abraham, David, the apostles Peter and Paul, be assigned the positions either directly named — or at least indicated — in the Bible? Simply because they prepared for, and qualified for those positions DURING THEIR MORTAL LIVES!
   YOU — if you have been called to conversion now — are being JUDGED for your future position in God's Kingdom right now!
   Few understand this — I know. But see if I can make it plain enough that at least some of our readers may UNDERSTAND. A number of "JUDGMENTS" are revealed in the Bible. Most people get all mixed up and confused by such theological terms as "judgments," "covenants," etc.
   Understand, first, being "saved" — that is, being born into the Kingdom of God — given God's GIFT of eternal life — is altogether by GRACE, as God's free GIFT. You can't earn it! I have ALWAYS taught that! In spite of the false accusations of persecutors, who try to make you believe I teach "salvation by WORKS" (and they know better!!!) I have NEVER taught that — I do not believe that! — I have always taught that salvation — what religious people call "being saved" — inheriting Eternal life—being born into the Kingdom of God — just getting there — comes ONLY by GRACE (which means undeserved pardon) and as God's FREE GIFT. You CAN'T earn it! All your OBEDIENCE — all your good WORKS — won't buy it!
   BUT — and here is where the persecutors are in confusion — you shall be REWARDED with whatever OFFICE you shall be placed in according to your WORKS! Check for yourself. Don't believe me because I say it — check for yourself.
   When the glorified Jesus Christ returns to earth, in all the supreme POWER and GLORY of God, as KING of kings to rule all nations, He will then assign the positions in His Government — the "reward" — to those who already — then — "ARE SAVED!" to those who have, through grace, received God's GIFT of eternal life — then already made IMMORTAL. These shall have been resurrected to immortality, and have risen to meet Him in the air, as He is returning.
   Now notice: Jesus says, "And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be" (Rev. 22:12).
   Notice the parable of the pounds: When Jesus returns, having been coroneted KING of kings, He will call to Him those He had given "the money" — that is, His Spirit and salvation. The one who, in this mortal life, had gained "ten pounds" is made mayor over ten cities. The one who gained, in his Christian life in this time five pounds is made mayor ruling over five cities. He qualified for only half as much, during this mortal life, so his REWARD in the Kingdom — the POSITION to which he is assigned — is only half as much.
   Notice this picture of Christ's Coming, and establishing of the Kingdom of God over the nations: "And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever'... And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints..." (Rev. 11:15-18).
   One of the Judgments is the "Great White Throne Judgment." Notice that REWARD — rank in God's Kingdom — is according to WORKS! Not getting into the Kingdom, but rank, or reward, or office, once there: "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God [in a resurrection]; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Rev. 20:12).
   Peter taught that God JUDGES (not "saves") according to WORKS: "... the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work" (I Pet. 1:17). Paul taught that God "will render to every man according to his deeds" (Rom. 2:6).
   Jesus said, plainly, "no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father" (John 6:65). And again, "No man can come to me, except the Father which bath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44). But, to you whom God has called at this time — to you who have repented, believed, received God's Holy Spirit and thus been converted, YOU ARE BEING JUDGED RIGHT NOW (I Peter 4:17). And if you say: "I'm already `saved'; and there are 'no works' to salvation," and then you fail to go on overcoming, and growing spiritually (see II Pet. 3:18), you not only will BE JUDGED by your lack of spiritual works to qualify for a higher office in God's Kingdom — but, far worse, you may be in the position of the servant to whom (parable of the "pounds" — Luke 19, quoted above) — Jesus took away from him the very salvation he thought he had! It takes a LIVING faith to save!
   So — I just wanted to say to those who have read this newest booklet — read it AGAIN, and let it be REAL to you. Recognize the connection with what you read there to your own life, NOW! STUDY God's Word daily! Realize you must learn to live by its every Word! SO LIVE BY IT! And pray, earnestly, daily, and OFTEN! Put into practice in your life' what God teaches you in His Word! And get your heart in HIS WORK! Pray for it!

Plain Truth Magazine

February 1967

Vol XXXII, No.2