“He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will manifest Myself to him.” Not everyone has Jesus’ commandments. Most people are ignorant of the commandments even though they have learned or read something about them. If you are to have Jesus’ commandments, they have to be revealed to you. That is the calling from God, but not everyone who is called is elected, even though the calling itself is an election. You are elected only after you have been obedient to the calling. This is Jesus’ and the Father’s second revelation: They will come and make their home with you. V. 23. During this interval between the first and second revelation, Satan is very busy with attempting to lead us astray and bringing us into doubt. It is during this time that people are sorely tempted, and many of them fall away. Those who live by faith and are faithful to their calling prove thereby that they are true in the depths of their heart and that they love Jesus. Then they come to the second revelation. They have become grounded and have obtained a tested faith. 1 Pet. 1:6-7. They have entered into rest. Heb. 4:3. Such people can also fall away, but this is the rare exception. Nevertheless, it is written that “he who endures to the end will be saved.” Matt. 10:22. In Revelation 17:14 we see who will be with the Lamb at the end. They are the called, the chosen [elected], and the faithful. We can see this clearly by reading in the Old Testament, which was written for our instruction. In Genesis 12 we read that God revealed Himself to Abraham. Then he received God’s commandments and promises. Lot followed along; nevertheless, there was a significant difference between them. Even though he was also a fine person, he had not received God’s commandments. 2 Pet. 2:7-8. Even in our days there are many believers who follow along. They may be fine people, yet they are earthly-minded and do not have God’s commandments. Abraham had several such revelations during which he received God’s commandments and promises. But in Genesis 22:12-18 we can see that he came to the second revelation. Then he received only promises. Before, he was told to go out from among them and walk before the Lord’s face, and the Lord would bless him. But now the Lord swore by Himself and said, “Because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, in blessing I will bless you . . . .” Heb. 6:13-15. We read about several such people, for example about David among others. 2 Sam. 7:8-21. However, we also read about several people, who received the first revelation, but they failed and did not come to the second revelation. Saul was one of them. He failed the test that was meant to confirm the kingdom for him; consequently, he lost it. 1 Sam. 13:11-14, 15:19-28. With the first revelation Jesus opens the door to us that leads to exceedingly great promises of an unspeakable glory by giving us the commandments. It is a very serious matter when such people fail and reject the counsel of God with themselves. Luke 7:30. We read (for example) about Jeroboam. God revealed Himself to him through the prophet and said, “Then it will be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you.” 1 Kings 11:38. Think of the calling and the glory that was opened up to him and the possibilities he received through the commandments. Yet how terrible it is to read what God had to say to him later on: “Therefore behold! I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam, and will cut off from Jeroboam every male in Israel, bond and free; and I will take away the remnant of the house of Jeroboam, as one takes away refuse until it is all gone.” 1 Kings 14:6-11. May God mightily bless each and every one who has received His commandments to be faithful until the end. It is of no avail if you have been entrusted with much and have gained a good reputation. If you are not faithful until the end, you are likely to hear words like Eli heard: “Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever’; but now the Lord says, ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be put to shame.’” 1 Sam. 2:30-36. This tells us how glorious and precious they are who are faithful until the end and who have arrived at the point that Jesus and the Father have come and made their home with them.Sigurd Bratlie

Honoring those to whom honor is due is biblical; we are even to honor all men! Even though some people might be quite bad, there is nevertheless something that is worth honoring. Seeking honor from men is unbiblical and therefore one hundred percent stupid, for this honor is worthless before God. However, on that Day, “each one’s praise will come from God.” 1 Cor. 4:5. Then what others think about the individual is completely immaterial. Just the fact of being the least interested in what other people think and believe about me is a manifestation of seeking honor, which is utter stupidity and madness, because the only thing that is of any significance is what God thinks about me. What people think neither assigns true honor to me nor does it take any true honor away from me. We do not live to please men; we live to please God! We should attach great importance to pleasing Him! It is Him that we must consider! Jesus was reproached by men, yet He was well-pleasing in God’s eyes. These are His steps. We are called and chosen to be reproached! “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.” Heb. 13:13, also verse 16.Elias Aslaksen