Search Me O God

Jesus, in the sermon on the mount, gave this admonition: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your
Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 When I read this, I asked myself, “How can I
possibly be perfect?” I guess I could try to act perfectly...at least for a few hours I might be able to go
without doing anything wrong, but what about my thoughts? My words? We know that we cannot even
come near perfection in our own strength, it's only through Christ. My goal is to show how God wants
to unite with us in the soul searching and perfection process so we can be restored in His image.
First of all, why should I be perfect? Because of my love for my Savior, I've accepted His gift of
salvation. He justified me, and now each day I have a choice to be active in the sanctification process.
Sanctification is my fitness for heaven. As I see signs being fulfilled, I know that we are living very
near the end time. Will I be one of the 144,000 who live till Jesus comes? That question is not for me
to know. “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man
cometh.” Matthew 25:13 But we are to be watching! In this text, watching means more than peeking
out the window to see if the black cloud has appeared yet. The Greek word, watching, means vigilant,
awake, and watchful. Think about this, if death is referred to as sleep, then life would be the same as
being awake. Thus, a watching Christian is alive. Now read this: “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew
18:3 What do children do? Why they grow! Are you following my train of thought? An alive Christian
will always be growing.
How do I know in what ways I need to be growing? The Psalmist's plea says it. "Search me, O
God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in
me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalms 139:23,24 God wants to purify me so I can be part
of the 144,000, because "In their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the
throne of God." Revelation 14:5 I want to begin this perfection process now so I will be ready to stand
in that day.
I think one of the most vital defects to overcome in my character is unholy speech. James wrote
about the impact words have on us and on other people. “Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths,
that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though
they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm,
whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great
things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of
iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire
the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:3-6 We also know that “Out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matthew 12:34 So my words are impacted by my
thoughts, and one evil word can do an infinite amount of damage!
There are a great many evils that the Bible speaks of, but I believe the one that we Christians are
most comfortable with is laziness; laziness in spreading the gospel and doing soul saving work. I
wonder whether we would still be here on earth if we had to put all our effort forth to fulfilling the
gospel commission like the disciples did in their time. The servant of God wrote, “O that you could
understand the importance of the warning and what it means to you and to the world! If you did
understand, if you were filled with the spirit of the One who gave His life for the life of the world,
you would cooperate with Him, making earnest, self-sacrificing efforts to save sinners.” 1 Selected
Messages p. 92. Jesus wants me to overcome my laziness so I can be an effective worker with Him. He
says to me, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5 The fruit in this verse is
figurative of good works, and that includes soul-saving.
I must allow God to search me of every sin—even hidden ones—and give me power to be an
overcomer. Perfection is necessary so I can be a part of the 144,000 The tongue is one of the most
powerful weapons, whether for or against the truth. I want to allow God to purify my tongue so there is
no “guile found in in my mouth.” I want to leave behind my laziness so I may share the joy of working
for the salvation of lost souls. “Those who cooperate with Him in carrying forward His great
enterprise of mercy, laboring with all the strength God has given them to save those nigh and
afar off, will share in the joy of the Redeemer when the redeemed host stand around the throne of
God.” 1 Selected Messages p. 91