It was recommended that "Mystery of the Ages" be read every 6 months. I can't truthfully say that I have faithfully followed that recommendation, but my studies have finally led me to it once more. I've only made it through the Authors Statement, Preface, and Introduction, but I already see just
why the recommendation!
Mr. Armstrong briefly mentions a crossroads in his life--a fork in the road. At a crossroads, there isn't just one road anymore, but there also isn't more than 2. Left or right; that's it. As Christ plainly said, "
He that is not with me is against me." It's at this crossroad that you see how you
have been living, and how you
should be living. It's not just seeing that you've been breaking the Sabbath all these years, but
you've been breaking every other commandment too! You see that your way of
living has been wrong! Yes, you've not only been partially wrong, but you are wrong to the tens! You have been so wrong, that you feel horrid. You feel rank. You feel disgusting. You feel ugly. You feel worthless. And that's when you realize that something can be done
about it! There are, after all, two roads. Two ways of life. Two trees. So there you are, standing at your crossroads, knowing that a conscious decision must be made. It only takes one decision to change the course, but it doesn't stop there. It really means making those decisions for the
remainder of your
life. God makes it plain that He would rather someone be on fire for Him, or completely against Him. God says those who dabble, those who are half-hearted, those who keep parts of the law but not all of it, those who compromise with the law, "
because you are lukewarm and not cold or hot, I will spit you out of My mouth." So, you're either all in, or all out.
Mr. Armstrong continues in his book:
"I came to realize that accepting God's truth meant
FORSAKING THIS WORLD."...
"This surrender to God...this
GIVING UP OF THE WORLD...WAS THE ONLY MEDICINE
IN ALL MY LIFE THAT EVER BROUGHT A HEALING!...
I was finding
JOY
beyond words in this
TOTAL DEFEAT."
Can it be? Can giving up this world really bring
healing? And can there really be
joy in this defeat? Mr. Armstrong also said that this surrender and defeat was "the most bitter pill I ever swallowed." So, it will hurt more than anything, but isn't that worth the MOST joy you'll ever experience?
Oh how I miss this book! It's been too long. Don't ever let me wait so long to be reminded of this precious truth, and the decision I made at my own crossroad. I am all in!
