December 4:  An Eternity of Bliss.

The Reward for Fulfilling the Mission.
"He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together."--John 4:36, NKJV

GOD DESIGNS that all shall be workers.  The toiling beast of burden answers the purpose of its creation better than does the indolent man.  God is a constant worker.  The angels are workers; they are ministers of God to the children of men.  Those who look forward to a heaven of inactivity will be disappointed; for the economy of heaven provides no place for the gratification of indolence.  But to the weary and heavy-laden rest is promised.  It is the faithful servant who will be welcomed from his labors to the joy of his Lord.  He will lay off his armor with rejoicing, and will forget the noise of battle in the glorious rest prepared for those who conquer through the cross of Christ.--Messages to Young People, 216.

The weight of the wrath of God will fall upon those who have misspent their time and served mammon instead of their Creator.  If you live for God and heaven, pointing out the way of life to others, you will go onward and upward to higher and holier joys.  You will be rewarded with the "Well done, thou good and faithful servant:...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, 54.

                            I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.
                       So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters,
           but God who gives the increase.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one,
                 and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
              For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
                                                                                            --1 Corinthians 3:6-9, NKJV

December 3:  An Eternity of Bliss.

The Glorious Reward of the Faithful Worker.
He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.--Psalm 126:6, NKJV

A HARVEST OF JOY will be reaped by those who sow the holy seeds of truth.--Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 174.

Glorious will be the reward bestowed when the faithful workers gather about the throne of God and of the Lamb.  When John in his mortal state beheld the glory of God, he fell as one dead; he was not able to endure the sight.  But when the children of God shall have put on immortality, they will "see Him as He is."  1 John 3:2.  They will stand before the throne, accepted in the Beloved.  All their sins have been blotted out, all their transgressions borne away.  Now they can look upon the undimmed glory of the throne of God.  They have been partakers with Christ in His sufferings, they have been workers together with Him in the plan of redemption, and they are partakers with Him in the joy of seeing souls saved in the kingdom of God, there to praise God through all eternity.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, 285.

                                Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us,
                 that we should be called children of God!  Therefore the world does not know us,
                       because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God;
              and it has not been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when he is revealed,
                                     we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
                       And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
                              
                                                                              --1 John 3:1-3, NKJV

December 2:  An Eternity of Bliss.

Work Faithfully to Reap Joyfully.
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.--Psalm 126:5, NLT

AS FAITHFUL HUSBANDMEN in God's field, we must sow with tears and be patient and hopeful.  We must meet troubles and sorrows.  Temptations and wearisome toil will afflict the soul, but we must patiently wait in faith to reap with joy.  In the final victory God will have no use for those persons who are nowhere to be found in time of peril and danger, when the strength, courage, and influence of all are required to make a charge upon the enemy.  Those who stand like faithful soldiers to battle against wrong, and to vindicate the right, warring against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places, will each receive the commendation from the Master: "Well done, good and faithful servant:...enter thou into the joy of thy Lord" (Matt. 25:21).--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, 327.

                             A farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop.
                             But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.
                                 You must each decide in your heart how much to give.
                                  And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure.
                                       "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully."
                                       And God will generously provide all you need.
                                       Then you will always have everything you need
                                            and plenty left over to share with others.
                                                                                         --2 Corinthians 9:6-8, NLT

December 1:  An Eternity of Bliss.

God Can Always Turn Sorrow Into Joy.
For His anger is but a moment, his favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.--Psalm 30:5, NKJV

IT IS EVER GOD'S PURPOSE to bring light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, and rest out of weariness for the waiting, longing soul.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, 215.

In the time of the end the people of God will sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land.  With tears they will warn the wicked of their danger in trampling upon the divine law, and with unutterable sorrow they will humble themselves before the Lord in penitence.  The wicked will mock their sorrow and ridicule their solemn appeals.  But the anguish and humiliation of God's people is unmistakable evidence that they are regaining the strength and nobility of character lost in consequence of sin....
...They have registered the wiles of the deceiver; they have not been turned from their loyalty by the dragon's roar.  Now they are eternally secure from the tempter's devices....

...Christ is revealed as the Redeemer and Deliverer of His people.  Now indeed are the remnant "men wondered at," as the tears and humiliation of their pilgrimage give place to joy and honor in the presence of God and the Lamb.--Prophet and Kings, 590-592.

                                             Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
                                                          Lord, be my helper!
                                    You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
                                You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,
                              To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.
                                        O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
                              
                                                                     --Psalm 30:10=12, NKJV