The Only Pathway
To True Happiness

Chapter 4

Happy are they who hunger and thirst
after righteousness, for they will be filled.
Matthew 5:6

Representing our attitude towards the provision that
God has made in order to fill our great need

Typical Confession: Father, having been confronted with your perfect holiness I realise that, by comparison, all my righteousness is as worthless as dirty rags. Nevertheless, I long to be like you. May I have the power to appreciate the width, the length, the height and the depth of your love, for I realise that such an appreciation is essential to the development of my character. (Ephesians 3:18, 19)

We have now considered three of the seven beatitudes that comprise the constitution of the kingdom. All three of these beatitudes are intended by God to humble us, to remind us that `the flesh counts for nothing,' and to prepare us for spiritual healing.

To recap, therefore, citizens of the kingdom . . .

1) will know that they are sinners,

2) will be sorry that they are sinners,

3) will realise that, in themselves, they have absolutely nothing of which to be proud.

Now, having been made acutely aware of our nothingness, and having fallen at the foot of the cross, we are ready to rise. The fourth stipulation in the constitution of the kingdom is the first upward step - the first step towards restoration - and this, quite logically, is identified as a deep and genuine longing to be like Jesus.

`We hunger and thirst after righteousness when we want to have all our thoughts, our words, our actions, like Christ's.' (SJ61)

`To be like God will be the one desire of the soul.' (1BC1087)

The constant plea of all who have this desire will be . . .

`Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.' (Psalm 51:10)

This plea will not be the plaintive cry of despondency, however, but the hopeful supplication of a people inspired by Grace. It will be an appeal that is motivated by the knowledge that the Lord has promised that . . .

`All who long to bear the likeness of the character of God will be satisfied.' (DA302)

In order to satisfy our hungering after righteousness, God has arranged a special banquet. It is not an exclusive banquet either, for to all the invitation is extended, . . .

`Come, and seek, and find. The reservoir of power is open, is full and free. Come with humble hearts, not thinking that you must do some good work to merit the favor of God, or that you must make yourself better before you can come to Christ. (1SM333)

Even if our hunger is hardly felt, and even if our thirst is slight, we have a Guide whose special commission is to eavesdrop on the innermost yearnings of the soul, and to encourage all who long for a better life, all who hunger after righteousness, to respond to the invitation and to attend the banquet. So efficient is our Spirit Guide in fact that . . .

`Never a prayer is offered, however faltering, never a tear is shed, however secret, never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble, but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. Even before the prayer is uttered or the yearning of the heart made known, grace from Christ goes forth to meet the grace that is working upon the human soul.' (COL206)

The good news is that no-one is excluded from the list of guests who are invited to the banquet for, regardless of their condition, regardless of their past, and regardless of their station in life, . . .

`God takes men as they are . . . They are not chosen because they are perfect, but notwithstanding their imperfections, that through the knowledge and practice of the truth, through the grace of Christ, they may be transformed into His image.' (DA294)

Though all are invited to the banquet, not all may gain an entrance, for those who enter must be suitably attired. Sadly, those who come dressed in the garb of self-righteousness will be refused entrance for . . .

`They have sewed together fig leaves to cover the nakedness caused by transgression. They have worn the garments of their own devising, by works of their own they have tried to cover their sins, and make themselves acceptable with God.' (COL311)

The self-righteous simply cannot be permitted to enter the banqueting hall for . . .

`We must not come to the repast dressed in citizen's dress. We must have on the white robe of Christ's righteousness, which has been prepared for all the guests.' (5BC1097)

`How daring is the insult to Heaven when one presents himself as a candidate for entrance at the wedding feast, when wearing his own citizen's dress of self-righteousness! How greatly he dishonors God, openly showing contempt for the sacrifice made on Calvary!' (YI01-03-96.2)

Those who are permitted to enter the banqueting hall will appreciate the worthlessness of human righteousness and, as such, they will understand that . . .

`Apart from Christ we have no merit, no righteousness. Our sinfulness, our weakness, our human imperfection make it impossible that we should appear before God unless we are clothed in Christ's spotless righteousness.' (1SM333)

Thus, with all our weaknesses, and despite our sinfulness, we may set off for the banquet, not bemoaning our shortcomings, but overjoyed that such perfect finery has been provided for such perfectly unworthy guests.

Then, on arrival at the banquet, our Guide . . . `will dress himself to serve, will have [us] recline at the table and will come and wait on [us].' (Luke 12:37)

As we take our seats, and as we consider our spiritual appetite, we will be thrilled at the thought that our hungering and thirsting after righteousness is evidence that the King Himself has a personal interest and involvement in our lives. Of this we may be sure, for . . .

`All the longing after a better life is from Christ. Every holy thought, every pure desire, every godlike purpose, is from Him who is the light, the truth, and the way.' (3SM198; HP65)

In fact, it is very pleasing to God when his children hunger and thirst for a higher order of life, for it is evidence that our souls are responding to His voice as He speaks to us through His holy law, for . . .

The `law is the echo of God's voice, saying to us, Holier, yes, holier still. Desire the fullness of the grace of Christ; yea, long - hunger and thirst - after righteousness. The promise is, ``Ye shall be filled.'' (3SM202/3)

What honour is ours, therefore, that we are invited to feast with the King, and that He invites us to eat, not of common food, but of the flesh and the blood of His own dear Son, the One who said of Himself:

`I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If a man eats of this bread, he will live forever.' (John 6:51)

All who hunger after righteousness must eat of this bread, for we have the assurance that . . .

`If we eat of the bread which came from heaven we shall be Christlike in spirit and character,' for `the bread of life alone can satisfy the hungering soul. The water of life alone will quench the thirst of the thirsty soul.' (8T169; STE112)

And so it is that God has provided His Son to serve as food for the soul, . . .

`He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.' (Psalm 107:9)

In consideration of the fare that has been prepared for us, we realise that this is a most sacred banquet and that, as such, we would be wise to examine our motives as we partake of such exquisite cuisine. In this respect, God demands that . . .

`We are to hunger and thirst after righteousness, [not for self-glory, but] that we may represent Christ to the world. If His love abides in our hearts, it will be distinctly revealed. We shall be lights in the world. Christ calls upon every follower of His to reveal His virtues of character, to represent Him in word and deed, to make known His love.' (RC124)

Clearly, therefore, the purpose of the banquet is not just to gratify our personal longings, but to prepare us to become living representatives of the King; to prepare us to follow His example by giving our lives for the good of others. As such, we can understand that the Lord has a very high ideal for His children. In fact . . .

`God has plainly stated that He requires us to be perfect; and because He requires this, He has made provision that we may be partakers of the divine nature.' (3SM203)

We need have no doubt, therefore, that . . .

`As God is perfect in His sphere, so man may be perfect in His sphere.' (8T64)

All of which confirms that . . .

`God did not design that His wonderful plan to redeem men should achieve only insignificant results.' (DA667)

As He looks forward to welcoming us into the pearly gates one day, God wants to welcome us, not as culprits barely pardoned, but as conquerors.

This thought represents an awesome challenge. Yet we may face this challenge with confidence, for the invitation itself outlines a very practical process that must be followed in order for us to reach perfection. Written in the Master's own script it reads quite simply:

`If a man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.' (John 6:37)

And to all who respond to this invitation, Jesus has given the guarantee:

`He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.' (John 6:35)

The good news, therefore, is that it is our longing, our hungering, and not our standing before God, that brings a special response from Him, for . . .

`The Lord is waiting to bestow His Holy Spirit upon all who will hunger and thirst after righteousness.' (CW118)

He `specifies no conditions except that you hunger for His mercy, desiring His counsel, and long for His love. "Ask!" The asking makes it manifest that you realize your necessity, and if you ask in faith, you will receive.' (1SM332)

Being a God of infinite love, He will feed us because He loves us, and because we are willing to be fed. This means that He grants us the gift of righteousness, not on the strength of our efforts to be righteous, not on the basis of any merit system, but only because we hunger and thirst, for . . .

`Not by painful struggles or wearisome toil, not by gift or sacrifice, is righteousness obtained; but it is freely given to every soul who hungers and thirsts to receive it.' (MB18)

In fact, the more we realise our necessity, and the more we ask in faith, the more we may lean upon the promise, for . . .

`The intensity of desire represented by hungering and thirsting is a pledge that the coveted supply will be given.' (7T213)

This is no ordinary pledge either. In fact it comes to us with a gilt-edged guarantee, wherein God Himself has given us the promise:

`I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground.' (Isaiah 44:3)

We should take careful note, however, that God practices strict economy, for the water is only poured out on thirsty land, and the streams will only be made to flow over dry ground. Thus we can appreciate why the first three beatitudes seek to wipe away all traces of earthly pride for, until this pride is crushed, we will not realise our spiritual "dryness" - we will not thirst for the water of life. Without our spiritual appetite being thus aroused, we will not feel any need to attend the banquet, there to eat of the flesh and drink of the blood of the Lamb.

Once we see ourselves as we really are, however, and we see how filthy our filthy rag righteousness really is, we will long to have the precious water of life poured upon our drought-stricken souls. Then we will have a special appreciation for the words of the song writer, . . .

`Foul, I to the fountain fly.' 

For as long as we recognize our `foulness,' and we hunger and thirst after cleansing, we will treasure the Fountain, and we will have a special appreciation for our kind heavenly Father who has extended to foul sinners the invitation:

`Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!' Come and `taste and see that the Lord is good.' (Isaiah 55:1; Psalm 34:8)

`As the weary traveler seeks the spring in the desert and, finding it, quenches his burning thirst, so will the Christian thirst for and obtain the pure water of life, of which Christ is the fountain.' (MB19)

Thus the promise to all who hunger and thirst after righteousness is that, provided they come to the banquet, provided they are suitably attired, and provided they eat of the flesh and the blood of the Lamb, and drink the cleansing waters, they will be filled.

The Keys of The Kingdom

Realizing the importance of attending the banquet, let us return to the practical realities of daily living and ask ourselves just what is the banquet that God is inviting us to attend, and just how do we go about eating the bread and drinking the water of life? Once again, the answer is a simple one:

`A banquet has been prepared for us. The Lord has spread before us the treasures of His Word.' (5BC1097)

`In the study of the Bible the converted soul eats the flesh and drinks the blood of the Son of God.' (STE220)

All, therefore, who hunger and thirst after righteousness must realise that . . .

`As our physical life is sustained by food, so our spiritual life is sustained by the word of God. And every soul is to receive life from God's word for himself. As we must eat for ourselves in order to receive nourishment, so we must receive the word for ourselves. We are not to obtain it merely through the medium of another's mind. We should carefully study the Bible, asking God for the aid of His Holy Spirit, that we may understand His word. . . . This is eating the Bread that comes down from heaven.' (DA390/1)

The encouraging news, therefore, is that the simple and gratifying exercise of spending time with God in His Word every day will answer to the needs of our fallen souls, for . . .

`The soul that is nourished by the bread of life will have every faculty vitalized by the Spirit of God.' (6T153)

`The soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought will be transformed by communion with God through the study of the Scriptures.' (COL60)

`As we try to become acquainted with our heavenly Father through His word, angels will draw near, our minds will be strengthened, our characters will be elevated and refined. We shall become more like our Saviour.' (DA70)

In fact . . .

`All that is necessary for our salvation is given in the Word of God. The jewels buried in it are inexhaustible; for it is the wisdom of an infinite mind.' (1SM228; STE147)

`The Word makes the proud humble, the perverse meek and contrite, the disobedient obedient. The sinful habits natural to man are interwoven with the daily practice. But the Word cuts away the fleshly lusts. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the mind. It divides the joints and marrow, cutting away the lusts of the flesh, making men willing to suffer for their Lord.' (7BC928)

Enoch is a fine example of one whose appetite for righteousness was well satisfied. Yet this was only because Enoch understood the rules, and because he ordered his life according to the rules. Under no circumstances would he fail to attend the sacred banquet.

`In the midst of a life of active labor, Enoch steadfastly maintained his communion with God. The greater and more pressing his labors, the more constant and earnest were his prayers. He continued to exclude himself, at certain periods, from all society. After remaining for a time among the people, . . . he would withdraw, to spend a season in solitude, hungering and thirsting for the divine knowledge which God alone can impart.' (PP87)

Enoch was not one who made excuses. Never did he exclude himself from the daily banquet by reasoning that he was too busy, too tired, or too involved, for he understood that . . .

`It is not enough that the sinner believe in Christ . . ., he must, by faith, and obedience, abide in Him.' (PP517)

As such, Enoch did not try and convince himself that a brief morning and evening prayer were sufficient to satisfy the needs of his soul. He knew too well that it required more than just a visit to the synagogue once a week in order for his hungering after righteousness to be satisfied.

Today Enoch stands before us as a challenging example. Like him, we simply have to come to terms with the fact that . . .

Just as `food cannot benefit us unless we eat it, unless it becomes a part of our being, so Christ is of no value to us if we do not know Him as a personal Saviour. A theoretical knowledge will do us no good. We must feed upon Him, receive Him into the heart, so that His life becomes our life. His grace must be assimilated.' (DA389)

Thus it is obvious that those who hunger after righteousness will have to adopt the determination of the Psalmist, and echo his resolution:

`I will not enter my house or go to my bed - I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, till I find a place for the Lord, a dwelling for the mighty One of Israel.' (Psalm 132:3,4)

`The words of God are the wellsprings of life, and we must get into the daily habit of drinking deeply from these wells. (MB20)

`The words of God are the bread of heaven. If we would be saved, we must make them a part of the daily life.' (SpTA12-4.2)

`Our spiritual life must be daily revived by the stream that makes glad the city of our God.' (8T27)

Then, as we feed each day upon the word of life, we may rest in God's promise:

`My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.' (Isaiah 55:11)

Jesus is the bread, Jesus is the water, Jesus is the Fountain of life, and it is only through our personal acquaintance with Him through the daily study of His Word, it is only as we attend the daily banquet that our hungering after righteousness may be satisfied. This means, in effect, that our destiny hangs on our willingness to attend the daily banquet, for . . .

`The keys of the kingdom are the words of Christ. All the words of Holy Scripture are His, and are here included. These words have power to open and to shut heaven.' (DA413)

Bon Appetit!