Our Affections

WHERE SHOULD OUR affections be centered? The Scriptures say, “Set your affection [or mind] on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Col. 3:2) The preceding verse exhorts, “Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” Beautifully clear also are the words of Jesus, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.” “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”—Matt. 6:33; 22:37

EARTHLY TREASURES

Many people have set their affections and built their hopes upon earthly things, only to find them but mocking delusions, leaving the heart at last, broken, crushed, and barren. The treasures of wealth, fame, social distinction, houses and lands, friends, home and family, power and influence, are subject to change and decay. These possessions may vanish in a night. Friends long trusted may suddenly grow cold, and even become enemies. The love that glows upon the home altar may flicker and become dim, or extinct. Many have found the affections and high hopes of youth and early life turn to ashes in a few years or months.

GOD’S WORD

To all the Lord’s people, the Word of the Lord should appeal with special force, when it calls them to come to him with their burdens and their broken hearts. “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit” (contrition, meaning sincere sorrow for sin). (Ps. 34:18) God’s love and precious promises are very sweet indeed to those who, sad and disappointed in their earthly struggles, come to Christ for rest and comfort. There, alone, true blessing and safety can be found; there, alone, is the real treasure, far exceeding the choicest treasures of earth. Jesus said, “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”—John 14:23

TREASURES IN HEAVEN

Jesus said, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven,” (not upon earth). (Matt. 6:19,20) One of the chief treasures is the personal love and relationship of God, and of his dear Son. They become to us an unfailing refuge in every time of need—our daily joy, solace, and comfort. Here is a love that never grows cold. A love from which nothing—apart from our own unfaithfulness—can separate us, not even death. During the time of our Lord’s Second Presence, a blessed change occurs for those who die in the Lord. The Scriptures tell us that they are changed “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” to the Divine nature, immortality. (I Cor. 15:51,52) Jesus, through the Revelator, has promised, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.”—Rev. 3:21

INCENTIVES TO FAITHFULNESS

Some of the blessed and inspiring promises which the Father and the Son cheer each of the truly consecrated are: “Thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty.” (Isa. 33:17) Ye “shall be mine, … in that day when I make up my jewels.” (Mal. 3:17) “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.” (John 15:16) “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (immortality). (Rev. 2:10) “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev. 20:6) These heavenly treasures call for special zeal and faithfulness, under every trial and test of the present time.

PRESS ALONG

As heavenly pilgrims nearing home, we are to keep our affections set upon the spiritual, eternal things; more and more laying up treasures, where moth and rust cannot corrupt and where thieves cannot break through and steal. (Matt. 6:20) If our heart is upon the heavenly treasures, the disappointments and afflictions of the present life cannot overwhelm us. We care not for the illusive bubbles of this poor world, so soon to burst and disappear. We wisely “touch lightly the things of this earth, esteeming them only of trifling worth.” They are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. By the Lord’s help we faint not by the way, but press along the heavenly road until we reach the goal of our hopes.

CONTINUAL FIGHT

To be a child of God does not mean that we shall be free from all earthborn cares. There is a continual fight within us—the New Creature against the old. “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other.” (Gal. 5:17) Indeed the world, the flesh, and the Adversary oppose our way as New Creatures in Christ Jesus. Not only must our affections of the old mind be torn from their earthly props, to which they naturally cling, but they must be trained heavenward, and be held there by the cords of faith, love, and devotion toward God. Our Father must be first, all else subordinated.

GOD FIRST—SELF LAST

The fleshly mind rebels against this requirement. But the New Creature sees this obligation in a special light which leads to the making of a full consecration to the Lord and his glorious cause. This involved enlistment under the banner of Jesus to fight a good fight against sin, entrenched in the flesh, requires faithfulness in this warfare even unto death. In making his consecration, the Christian puts God first, Jesus next, and himself as the servant of these, and of the principles which they represent. His flesh is devoted, consecrated, given over to death in the service of God, his will, plan, and ways. Nothing is to be done “through strife or vainglory,” but all to the glory of God.—Phil. 2:3

SANCTIFICATION

To give the heart to God is to surrender all that we have to his will. It involves self-sacrifice. Taking this definite and wise course enables us to meet and overcome all the coming temptations. This is part of our sanctification. Those sanctified may implicitly trust Divine wisdom, love, and power, and hold fast the exceeding great and precious promises. All things shall work together for their spiritual and eternal welfare. Only those thus consecrated have the deep peace and joy of heart which the passing storms and difficulties of the present time cannot disturb. We must keep the center of the affections right, true, and pure, remembering that “A double minded man [whose affections are not centered in God] is unstable in all his ways.”—James 1:8

A LIFE OF NEW AFFECTIONS

For all mankind there is a natural attraction to earthly things. The true Christian, however, must not only keep setting his affections on heavenly things, but he must keep rooting out all earthly desire and attraction. Ours is a life of new desires and affections. As footstep followers of Christ we seek to attain a share in God’s kingdom with our dear Redeemer. This includes a share in the Millennial reign—as the bride of Christ, to sit with him in his glorious throne for the blessing of all the families of the earth. Meanwhile, by Divine help, we continue faithful to the present mission of the church, the perfecting of the saints for the future work of service, to develop in herself every grace, to be God’s witness to the world, and to prepare to be kings and priests in the next age.—Rev. 20:6

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