Christian Life

Sovereignty – Supreme Power or Authority

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“Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?’ Jesus answered, ‘You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.’

“From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, ‘If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.’ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

“Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’ But they cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar!’ ” John 19:10–15

In verse 10, Pilate asks Jesus, “Don’t you know that I have authority over you? I can have You crucified or I can release You.” And indeed, Pilate had supreme power and authority over Jesus at that moment in the great controversy.

Later, in the last part of verse 15, Pilate gave the Jews the opportunity to agree to Jesus’ release, but what did the Jews say?

“We have no king but Caesar!” Perhaps unknowingly, the people were choosing Caesar as their sovereign ruler—not God, and certainly not Jesus. Sadly for the Jews, regardless of the worldly leader they might choose to lead them, Jesus had the ultimate authority and power, and thus, sovereignty over the universe and everything in it on that day and still today.

Satan has sought to usurp Christ’s sovereignty for millennia.

“In the wilderness, Christ endured trials human beings cannot comprehend. Here, Christ was brought face-to-face with the subtle power of Satan, the fallen angel. The enemy pursued the same course with the Saviour that he did with Adam and Eve in Eden. He began by disputing the sovereignty of Christ. If you are the Son of God, he said, give me evidence that You are.

“Well did Satan know who Christ was, for when the Saviour went to Gadara, the evil spirits in the two madmen there cried out, ‘What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?’ ” Christ Triumphant, 191

Not only did Satan dispute the sovereignty of Christ 2,000 years ago, but he is today doing everything he can to get us to do the same, using the same subtlety against us that he used against Christ in the wilderness of temptation. He may not come to us disguised as an angel of light, but he has a myriad of other disguises that are even more subtle and harder to recognize.

In the parable of the husbandman, found in Matthew 21:33–46, Christ provides an example in symbols of those who refuse to acknowledge His sovereignty. Christ’s Object Lessons clearly explains this parable.

“The Jewish rulers did not love God; therefore they cut themselves away from Him, and rejected all His overtures for a just settlement [of the harvest]. Christ, the Beloved of God, came to assert the claims of the Owner of the vineyard; but the husbandmen treated Him with marked contempt, saying, We will not have this man to rule over us. They envied Christ’s beauty of character. His manner of teaching was far superior to theirs, and they dreaded His success. He remonstrated with them, unveiling their hypocrisy, and showing them the sure results of their course of action. This stirred them to madness. They smarted under the rebukes they could not silence. They hated the high standard of righteousness which Christ continually presented.” Op. Cit., 293, 294

Christ presents a high standard for us to follow, but He is not a dictator.

“God does not compel anyone to love Him and obey His law. He has manifested unutterable love toward man in the plan of redemption. He has poured out the treasures of His wisdom, and has given the most precious gift of heaven that we might be constrained to love Him, and come into harmony with His will. If we refuse such love, and will not have Him to rule over us, [that is, we will not accept His sovereignty] we are working our own ruin, and we shall sustain an eternal loss at last.” Counsels on Stewardship, 127

“When Christ came into the world to exemplify true religion, and to exalt the principles that should govern the hearts and actions of men, falsehood had taken so deep a hold upon those who had had so great light that they no longer comprehended the light and had no inclination to yield up tradition for truth. They rejected the heavenly Teacher, they crucified the Lord of glory, that they might retain their own customs and inventions. The very same spirit is manifested in the world today.” Counsels on Sabbath School Work, 47, 48

“We will not have this man to rule over us.”

When man was created, God gave him/us free will. We do not have to comply with any aspect of His law or His testimonies. But Inspiration tells us:

“Every manifestation of creative power is an expression of infinite love. The sovereignty of God [extreme power and authority] involves fullness of blessing to all created beings. … The history of the great conflict between good and evil, from the time it first began in heaven to the final overthrow of rebellion and the total eradication of sin, is also a demonstration of God’s unchanging love.” Christ Triumphant, 7

How do we respond to this demonstration of God’s unchanging love? How do we acknowledge our appreciation of that love?

“When the Lord delivered His people Israel from Egypt and committed to them His law, He taught them that by the observance of the Sabbath they were to be distinguished from idolaters. It was this that made the distinction between those who acknowledge the sovereignty of God and those who refuse to accept Him as their Creator and King. ‘It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever,’ the Lord said. ‘Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.’ Exodus 31:17, 16.” Counsels for the Church, 261

Why is the Sabbath to be a sign, a perpetual covenant between God and His people? What acknowledgment do Sabbathkeepers make when they obey the fourth commandment?

“Every religion that wars against the sovereignty of God defrauds man of the glory which was his at the creation, and which is to be restored to him in Christ. Every false religion teaches its adherents to be careless of human needs, sufferings, and rights. The gospel places a high value upon humanity as the purchase of the blood of Christ, and it teaches a tender regard for the wants and woes of man. The Lord says, ‘I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.’ Isaiah 13:12.” The Desire of Ages, 286

To achieve that exalted position, that high value that God intends for man to have, we must be faithful stewards. We commonly think of being faithful stewards as being careful with our financial means. However, we must recognize that we are also stewards of God’s mercy and generosity.

Faithful stewardship

“Whatever we render to God is, through His mercy and generosity, placed to our account as faithful stewards. … Angels of God, whose perceptions are unclouded by sin, recognize the endowments of heaven as bestowed with the intention that they be returned in such a way as to add to the glory of the great Giver. With the sovereignty of God is bound up the well-being of man. The glory of God is the joy and the blessing of all created beings. When we seek to promote His glory we are seeking for ourselves the highest good which it is possible for us to receive. … God calls for the consecration to His service of every faculty, of every gift, you have received from Him. He wants you to say, with David: ‘All things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.’ (1 Chronicles 29:14).” God’s Amazing Grace, 62

In 1915, at Ellen G. White’s funeral service, Elder A. G. Daniells gave an address in which he listed seven views held by and continually stressed in Mrs. White’s sermons:

  • the sovereignty of God,
  • the divinity of Christ,
  • the efficacy of the gospel,
  • the inspiration of the Scriptures,
  • the majesty of the law,
  • the character of sin and deliverance from its power,
  • the brotherhood of man, his relationships, and responsibilities within that brotherhood

Her teachings regarding these great questions, her life of devotion to the Lord, and service to her fellowman were made impressive through the revelations given her by the divine Spirit.

Without exception, mankind is, by nature, selfish. Man’s initial reaction to the need to submit to the sovereignty of God, of making a complete surrender of heart, soul, and mind, is rebellion. “I want to do what I want to do.” However, that is not the way salvation works. It is only by complete submission to the will of God that any of us have any hope of crossing the Jordan.

As Seventh-day Adventists, we have a tremendous advantage over Satan’s subtle efforts to lead us astray. In addition to the Bible, we have the Spirit of Prophecy to give us guidance and understanding that, without the aid of the Holy Spirit, we have no chance of discerning truth from error. That aid is promised to all who submit to God’s sovereignty.

“The genealogy of our race, as given by Inspiration, traces back its origin, not to a line of developing germs, mollusks, and quadrupeds, but to the great Creator. Though formed from the dust, Adam was ‘the son of God.’

“He was placed, as God’s representative, over the lower orders of being. They cannot understand or acknowledge the sovereignty of God, yet they were made capable of loving and serving man. The psalmist says, ‘Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet: … the beasts of the field; the fowl of the air, … and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.’ Psalm 8:6–8.

“Man was to bear God’s image, both in outward resemblance and in character. Christ alone is ‘the express image’ (Hebrews 1:3) of the Father; but man was formed in the likeness of God. His nature was in harmony with the will of God. His mind was capable of comprehending divine things. His affections were pure; his appetites and passions were under the control of reason. He was holy and happy in bearing the image of God and in perfect obedience to His will.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 44, 45

“Self-imposed limitations include those things He has not chosen to include in His plan which he might have included as long as they were not contrary to His nature. He did not choose to spare His Son; He did not choose to save all people; He did not choose all nations in Old Testament times; He did not choose Esau; He did not choose to spare James (Acts 12:2). Though He could have done any of these things without being inconsistent with omnipotence, He did not choose to do so in His plan. … Ultimately God is in complete control of all things, though He may choose to let certain events happen according to natural laws which He has ordained.” Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie (1986)

“Christian character is developed, not by a life of meditative abstraction, but by a life of earnest, unselfish effort. The time in which we are living calls for solid work—for work that is right to the point. We must meet the foe on the right hand and on the left. The lives of the combatants for the truth are not to be filled with bustle and excitement and display, to the neglect of personal piety. Vigilant watching is to be combined with earnest working. Every Christian grace is to be incorporated into the character. We are to be diligent ‘in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.’ (Romans 12:11.)” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 8, 310

None of this would be possible without acknowledging God’s sovereign authority in our lives.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.

Satan’s Five Discouragements

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The devil is a very busy individual. He mounts attack upon attack against God’s people, severely trying them until many become discouraged and want to give up. In his efforts to thwart the plan of salvation, he has attempted to discourage even God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Yes, friends, discouragement is the devil’s business.

For hundreds of years, the devil worked to hide that he was the real oppressor, instead convincing God’s chosen people that the Messiah would come to deliver them from an earthly oppressor. So, when Jesus came to save them from their sins rather than the Romans, most of the Jews rejected Him because He was not the Messiah they were expecting or, dare I say, wanted. They saw themselves as holy people, God’s chosen nation, but they failed to recognize that they were sinners more in need of a Saviour than rescue from an oppressive ruler.

“They could find no rest from the accusings of a troubled conscience. Thus, Satan worked to discourage the people, to lower their conception of the character of God, and to bring the faith of Israel into contempt. He hoped to establish the claim put forth when he rebelled in heaven—that the requirements of God were unjust and could not be obeyed. Even Israel, he declared, did not keep the law.

“While the Jews desired the advent of the Messiah, they had no true conception of His mission. They did not seek redemption from sin, but deliverance from the Romans. They looked for the Messiah to come as a conqueror, to break the oppressor’s power, and exalt Israel to universal dominion. Thus the way was prepared for them to reject the Saviour.” The Desire of Ages, 29, 30

“Humanity, becoming more degraded through ages of transgression, called for the coming of the Redeemer. Satan had been working to make the gulf deep and impassable between earth and heaven. By his falsehoods he had emboldened men in sin. It was his purpose to wear out the forbearance of God, and to extinguish His love for man, so that He would abandon the world to satanic jurisdiction.” Ibid., 34, 35

By making men and women so wicked and, as a consequence, creating so much wickedness in the world, the devil was attempting to wear out the forbearance of God.

“Satan was unwearied in his efforts to overcome the Child of Nazareth. From His earliest years, Jesus was guarded by heavenly angels, yet His life was one long struggle against the powers of darkness. That there should be upon the earth one life free from the defilement of evil was an offense and a perplexity to the prince of darkness. He left no means untried to ensnare Jesus. No child of humanity will ever be called to live a holy life amid so fierce a conflict with temptation as was our Saviour.” Ibid., 71

“No one upon earth had understood Him, and during His ministry He must still walk alone. Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission. Even His disciples did not understand Him. He had dwelt in eternal light, as one with God, but His life on earth must be spent in solitude. …

“Alone He must tread the path; alone He must bear the burden.” Ibid., 111

Are you tempted to be discouraged, believing there is not a single person in the world who understands? No one understood Jesus; not one person—not His mother, His family, His disciples, not even John the Baptist—understood what Jesus was about to do for mankind. If Satan tempts you to be discouraged because you feel all alone in the world, remember that you have a Saviour, and He walked His entire life alone, though surrounded by many people, in a world that chose not to understand Him.

“There were none on earth who could comprehend His divine mission, or know the burden which He bore in behalf of humanity.” Ibid., 326

“Satan excited the evil passions of men, in order to fasten his rule upon them. … From generation to generation he worked to blind the people to these prophecies, that they might reject Christ at His coming. …

“Since he [Lucifer] had lost heaven, he was determined to find revenge by causing others to share his fall. This he would do by causing them to undervalue heavenly things, and to set the heart upon things of earth.” Ibid., 115, 116

God said, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. And with these words, it became Satan’s determined effort to cause Christ to doubt them. He took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and said, “If You are the Son of God … .” If he could shake Christ’s confidence in God, he would win the great controversy. The plan of salvation would be ruined if Christ were to lose faith in the Father and work a miracle on His own behalf.

“Satan saw that he must either conquer or be conquered. The issues of the conflict involved too much to be entrusted to his confederate angels. He must personally conduct the warfare. All the energies of apostasy were rallied against the Son of God. Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell.” Ibid., 116

Jesus became Satan’s focal point. All of his army came together to find some way to bring about the downfall of Jesus Christ.

“Many look on this conflict between Christ and Satan as having no special bearing on their own life; and for them it has little interest. But within the domain of every human heart this controversy is repeated. Never does one leave the ranks of evil for the service of God without encountering the assaults of Satan. The enticements which Christ resisted were those that we find it so difficult to withstand.” Ibid.

“In all ages, temptations appealing to the physical nature have been most effectual in corrupting and degrading mankind. Through intemperance, Satan works to destroy the mental and moral powers that God gave to man as a priceless endowment. …

“Our only hope of eternal life is through bringing the appetites and passions into subjection to the will of God.

“In our own strength, it is impossible for us to deny the clamors of our fallen nature. Through this channel Satan will bring temptation upon us. Christ knew that the enemy would come to every human being, to take advantage of hereditary weakness, and by his false insinuations to ensnare all whose trust is not in God.” Ibid., 122

Christ’s mission to this world was more than His death on the cross and the example of His life. Jesus came to reveal to man the true character of God, to break Satan’s power over man, setting his captives free. Jesus offered love, the power to overcome, and a new life with a changed heart and nature. But this aroused the devil’s ire, and he summoned all his forces to contest Christ’s work. And so it will be for those who choose to follow Christ in these final hours of the great controversy  (The Desire of Ages, 257).

In Matthew 16, Jesus told the disciples that He was to be crucified to redeem mankind, but this was so contrary to what they had always been taught they could not believe or accept it. Peter immediately began to argue with Jesus. But Jesus gave the most severe rebuke that He had ever given to any of His disciples because Satan was speaking through Peter, “But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ ” Verse 23

“Satan was trying to discourage Jesus, and turn Him from His mission [of being crucified]; and Peter, in his blind love, was giving voice to the temptation. The prince of evil was the author of the thought. His instigation was behind that impulsive appeal. In the wilderness, Satan had offered Christ the dominion of the world on condition of forsaking the path of humiliation and sacrifice. Now he was presenting the same temptation to the disciple of Christ.” The Desire of Ages, 416

“Satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God—as punishment arbitrarily inflicted on account of sin. Hence, one upon whom some great affliction or calamity had fallen had the additional burden of being regarded as a great sinner.

“Thus, the way was prepared for the Jews to reject Jesus. He who ‘hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows’ was looked upon by the Jews as ‘stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted;’ and they hid their faces from Him. Isaiah 53:4, 3.” Ibid., 471. The disciples believed that the true Messiah would not be in a situation like this, therefore, this couldn’t possibly be the Messiah.

“To the heart of Christ it was a bitter task to press His way against the fears, disappointment, and unbelief of His beloved disciples. It was hard to lead them forward to the anguish and despair that awaited them at Jerusalem. And Satan was at hand to press his temptations upon the Son of man. Why should He now go to Jerusalem, to certain death? All around Him were souls hungering for the bread of life. On every hand were suffering ones waiting for His word of healing. The work to be wrought by the gospel of His grace was but just begun. And He was full of the vigor of manhood’s prime. Why not go forward to the vast fields of the world with the words of His grace, the touch of His healing power? Why not take to Himself the joy of giving light and gladness to those darkened and sorrowing millions? Why leave the harvest gathering to His disciples, so weak in faith, so dull of understanding, so slow to act? Why face death now, and leave the work in its infancy? The foe who in the wilderness had confronted Christ assailed Him now with fierce and subtle temptations. Had Jesus yielded for a moment, had He changed His course in the least particular to save Himself, Satan’s agencies would have triumphed, and the world would have been lost.” Ibid., 486

The devil knew that the salvation of our world rested fully on just one Person. He knew that he would rule the whole world if he could overcome Him. But it seems that the devil forgot who that Person is—the Creator of all things, who holds up worlds and maintains everything in its order, the One who grants mercy, grace, and pardon to a world in need of redemption, and the power to overcome, Jesus Christ.

“At this time [a few days before the crucifixion] Christ’s work bore the appearance of cruel defeat. … To His disciples the case seemed hopeless.” Ibid., 621

“In the wilderness of temptation, the destiny of the human race had been at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For this he had been preparing during the three years of Christ’s ministry. Everything was at stake with him. If he failed here, his hope of mastery was lost; the kingdoms of the world would finally become Christ’s; he himself would be overthrown and cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would become Satan’s kingdom, and the human race would be forever in his power.” Ibid., 686, 687

So what temptation did the devil press upon Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane? Complete and eternal separation from the Father, the fear that His sacrifice would be unacceptable, that He would never be one with God again.

“Satan and his confederacy of evil, the legions of apostasy, watched intently this great crisis in the work of redemption [in the Garden of Gethsemane]. The powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ’s thrice-repeated prayer. Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but this might not be. No way of escape was found for the Son of God.” Ibid., 693

“And what was to be gained by this sacrifice? How hopeless appeared the guilt and ingratitude of men! In its hardest features, Satan pressed the situation upon the Redeemer: The people who claim to be above all others in temporal and spiritual advantages have rejected You. They are seeking to destroy You, the foundation, the center, and seal of the promises made to them as a peculiar people. One of Your own disciples, who has listened to Your instruction, and has been among the foremost in church activities, will betray You. One of Your most zealous followers will deny You. All will forsake You. … The sins of men weighed heavily upon Christ, and the sense of God’s wrath against sin was crushing out His life.” Ibid., 687

“Satan led the cruel mob in its abuse of the Saviour [during His trial]. It was his purpose to provoke Him to retaliation if possible, or to drive Him to perform a miracle to release Himself, and thus break up the plan of salvation. One stain upon His human life, one failure of His humanity to endure the terrible test, and the Lamb of God would have been an imperfect offering, and the redemption of man a failure.” Ibid., 734

“Satanic agencies confederated with evil men in leading the people to believe Christ the chief of sinners, and to make Him the object of detestation. Those who mocked Christ as He hung upon the cross were imbued with the spirit of the first great rebel. He filled them with vile and loathsome speeches. He inspired their taunts. But by all this he gained nothing.” Ibid., 760, 761

Just as Satan worked to discourage Jesus in the hope of causing the world to be lost, he now seeks to discourage you and cause you to be lost. Jesus has paid the price for the salvation of this world, but as individuals, we still retain free will, and it is here that Satan focuses all his power. If he can, through temptation and harassment, he will cause me to become discouraged, and if I give in to discouragement and give up, then I am lost. This is the devil’s whole purpose for all mankind.

Since the devil successfully uses discouragement against Christians and those who want to become Christians, let’s look at a few of his methods.

Health Problems

When your body is sick and weak, your mind is affected and there is no escaping it. The devil comes, whispering everything imaginable, telling you that you might as well give up. You haven’t been able to overcome, and you will never overcome. But remember, no matter how sick or weak you are, even if you are the worst sinner, you can trust yourself to Jesus Christ, and the devil cannot cause you to be lost. (See Hebrews 7:25; The Desire of Ages, 125.)

Financial Problems

Have you ever had to choose between doing the will of God or losing your job because you won’t work on the Sabbath, or have you sacrificed your education because you will not attend classes or tests on the Sabbath? This is another way the devil brings discouragement because of the financial burden that following the Lord seems to bring. Some people have said, “I am choosing to obey God even if it costs me my career.” Jesus was [and remains] the Prince of heaven. He sat on a throne, wore a crown, and carried a scepter. All the universe’s riches were His, yet He became poor in this world to save you. If you become poor and sacrifice everything to follow Jesus, you will have an everlasting reward worth more than anything this world can offer.

Hypocrisy

Character defects in family or church members can discourage those striving for heaven. Too often, hypocrisy runs rampant in Christians’ lives.

It is purported that Mahatma Ghandi said: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

For those looking ahead to the soon-coming of our Lord, a shaking time is coming. We must strive to remove from our hearts the selfishness and besetting sins that hold us back from developing the perfected character—the Christlike character—required by God to live in His presence. When the time of shaking is over, everyone who is not converted, every hypocrite, will be shaken out (Hebrews 12).

The book of Revelation was written primarily for the last days, but unlike the book of Daniel, it was not written for the whole world, but for God’s church (Revelation 1:1). “ ‘I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.’ ” Revelation 22:16. When Jesus comes again, He will take only His church out of this world; no one else is going.

Don’t misunderstand; over the history of this world, many people have lived and died, and never belonged to a church, never heard or spoke the name of Christ, but they will be saved and resurrected with the church triumphant. Those who have overcome (repeated seven times in Revelation 2 and 3) and who live through the time of trouble and are alive when Jesus comes again will be taken up from this world. God’s church will have the seal of God in their forehead, and it is clear that in the last days, if you do not have the seal of God in your forehead, you will suffer His judgments.

“They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” Revelation 9:4

If you want to be ready when Jesus comes, you must be a member of His church.

Throughout the Scriptures, a woman is used as a symbol of the church. Revelation 12 describes a pure woman as God’s church. Revelation 12:17 describes the last church on earth as a people who will keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:12). They will also have the spirit of prophecy.

“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10, last part

Revelation 17 tells us that those who are a part of Christ’s church when He comes will have three characteristics—called, chosen, and faithful. “ ‘These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.’ ” Verse 14. We will not be taken to heaven if we lack these three characteristics.

God tells us that we must be baptized with water, but it isn’t the water that is important. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change, a symbol of being baptized by the Holy Spirit, an acceptance into the body of Christ. God’s bride, His church, has “made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). She has been given “fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen” (Verse 8) represents the righteous acts of the saints. And finally, God’s church is “called to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Verse 9). “By one Spirit [Holy Spirit] we were all baptized into one body [body of Christ, the church].” 1 Corinthians 12:13

My Own Defects of Character

We all (sorry, no exceptions) have character defects that we struggle to overcome. The devil wants you to believe that you can’t give them up. He whispers that you have done it a thousand and one times now, and you will never succeed. As long as you are in this world, you will face this struggle, but do not be discouraged. Sanctification is the process by which we overcome, and the struggle is a part of overcoming. The devil repeatedly tempted Jesus throughout His life, and he will do the same to you (John 15:20).

“The apostle Paul declares, ‘I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing’ (Romans 7:18). To those who have tried so hard to obtain by faith so-called holy flesh, I would say, You cannot obtain it. Not a soul of you has holy flesh now. No human being on the earth has holy flesh. It is an impossibility.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 32. Not one human being is free from struggle. That is why we pray. And Jesus promises that if we ask Him, He will help us.

“There’s no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but will with the temptation make it possible for you to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, literal translation. God has promised to give you all the help that you need, but, if you intend to win, don’t give up the fight.

False Theology

The devil tried to discourage Jesus by telling Him that because He had taken upon Himself the sins of the world, He would be forever separated from God because sin and holiness do not coexist (Isaiah 59:2). But the Bible says that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38, 39). And no matter the cost, man must be saved. For this reason, Jesus was tempted as no human being will ever be tempted. There is no human being so sinful that they cannot be saved. I am saved when I commit myself to Jesus and give my heart to Him alone, He then becomes sovereign in my life.

Jesus, as our Saviour, endured everything the devil brought against Him, and He did it to save you. The devil is trying to press the same discouragements upon us. He wants us to believe that we are beyond redemption and that our character defects can never be removed. But he is wrong. “ ‘The one who comes to Me I will by no case cast out.’ ” John 6:37, last part

If you put your trust in Jesus, He will save you.

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

Holy Traits of Character

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“True holiness is bestowed only upon those who ‘are doers of the word,’ and ‘not hearers only.’ ”

The Signs of the Times, September 24, 1896

Holiness is Like the Wind

Jesus used the wind in the trees to help Nicodemus understand what it means to have holiness in the heart. We can hear the wind but cannot tell where it comes from or where it will go. We cannot see the wind, but we can see its effects on the things around us—the rustling of the leaves, flattening of the grass if the wind is strong enough, whitecaps on the water, your hair blowing in your face, the clouds moving swiftly across the sky. We cannot see the holiness inside, but we will see the effects of holiness in the outworking of the life. People do not see holiness but are affected by it, both the one who is made holy and those who witness it.

“But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ ” 1 Peter 1:15, 16. The Bible tells us that if we respond to the guidance of the Holy Spirit and seek to be like Jesus in character, our thoughts, words, and actions will demonstrate that we have accepted the in-working power of the Holy Spirit to make us genuinely holy.

“ ‘For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy.’ ” Leviticus 11:44

“Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

Without Holiness

I will not be in heaven if I am not a holy person.

The most common English word used to describe a holy person is saint. The word saint [hagion] comes from the same Greek root word hagios meaning sanctify [hagiaso] and sanctification. In Hebrew, the word is qadosh, meaning “a holy person.” “ ‘The court shall be seated [the court was seated in 1844], and they shall take away his [the anti-Christ’s] dominion, to consume and destroy it forever. Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’ ” Daniel 7:26, 27. The kingdom, dominion, and all its greatness are for the saints or God’s holy people, but if a person has not been made holy, they will not be one of God’s people, nor will they receive the kingdom.

The Characteristics of a Holy Person

A holy character is recognized by its specific characteristics, and becoming holy is a process that does not happen in a day, a year, or ten years. We all have unholy traits. We are born with them as a part of our sinful nature, making us naturally inclined toward unholiness. Responding to these inclinations develops an unholy character. It is these unholy habits that must be resisted and changed.

“The formation of a right character is the work of a lifetime and is the outgrowth of prayerful meditation united with a grand purpose. The excellence of character that you possess must be the result of your own effort. … Wishing, sighing, dreaming will never make you great or good. …

“True character is a quality of the soul, revealing itself in the conduct.

“A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. … And in heaven we are continually to improve.

“A good character is a capital of more value than gold or silver. … Integrity, firmness, and perseverance are qualities that all should seek earnestly to cultivate; for they clothe the possessor with a power which is irresistible—a power which makes him strong to do good, strong to resist evil, strong to bear adversity.” My Life Today, 267

“Now is your golden opportunity to form pure and holy characters for heaven.” Lift Him Up, 305

“The nearer we live to Jesus, the more will we partake of His pure and holy character; and the more offensive sin appears to us, the more exalted and desirable will appear the purity and brightness of Christ.” Sons and Daughters of God, 62

“The people of God are in constant warfare to maintain their peculiar and holy character, and under no condition or circumstance is the cross of Christ to be shunned or laid aside.” This Day With God, 294

Let’s look at some holy character traits and how we can recognize if we possess them.

Living a Life of Service

A holy person does not desire to be first. That was Lucifer’s problem. At first, he wasn’t satisfied with being the highest-created being in heaven. He wanted to be equal with God’s son. Then, the more he nurtured the need to be first, the more he wanted to be “like the Most High.”

The disciples also had this problem. The mother of James and John had petitioned Jesus to appoint her sons to the highest positions possible in His kingdom—the temporal kingdom they were all hoping for. Naturally, the other ten apostles took exception to the request. “When the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.’ ” Matthew 20:24–28

Jesus said, “I do not seek My own glory.” John 8:50. So if we want to be like Him, we will not seek to be first.

Being a Team Player

A holy person will not seek to be independent. Individual independence was a problem in the Corinthian church. “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, … that there are contentions among you. Now I say this, that each of you says, ‘I am of Paul,’ or ‘I am of Apollos,’ or ‘I am of Cephas,’ or ‘I am of Christ.’

“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. …

“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” 1 Corinthians 1:15, 17

The devil has worked to divide families, friends, and churches for 6,000 years, and he’s become very accomplished at it. “For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” 1 Corinthians 3:3

Holy people do not work independently of each other. “Now he who plants and he who waters are one … . For we are God’s fellow workers … .” Verses 8, 9, first part What a privilege to be a fellow worker with God. He could have sent angels to do His work on earth. He could have raised up stones to do it. But He wanted to make us coworkers with Himself and prayed that we would be united, in harmony with Him and one another, and He promised to make us fit—holy—for the work.

Not Self-seeking

Have you ever encountered someone—at work, home, or church—who feels superior to everyone else?

John wrote about just such an experience. “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren, and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church.” 3 John 1:9, 10

Seeking control over others is what the devil has been doing since the beginning of sin. “Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be first in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to win their homage to himself.” The Desire of Ages, 21. Jesus Christ was and is the commander of the heavenly host, but Satan stirred up strife seeking to gain the authority and control that belonged to Jesus. And we all know how that ended—expulsion from heaven with a third of the angels in rebellion. The desire for preeminence is the devil’s spirit.

Willing to Stand Alone

A holy person will remain faithful to the truth even if it means he must stand alone. Paul wrote, “That from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. … that the man of God may be complete [perfect], thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:15, 17

A time is coming when everyone around us—our family, friends, coworkers, and church family—may refuse to obey God’s commandments and remain faithful to His truth. Still, His holy people will stand alone under the banner of truth no matter the cost.

The Bible contains many examples of those who stood alone for their faith. Joseph, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego, the Waldenses, Martin Luther, and many others prove that God can change sinful hearts, recreating a person into His holy child.

“The greatest want of the world is the want of men [and women]—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.

“But such a character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. A noble character is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the higher nature—the surrender of self for the service of love to God and man.” Education, 57

Intercedes for Others

Have you ever been in trouble and wished someone would speak on your behalf? Abraham interceded for the people of Sodom. Moses interceded for the children of Israel more than once in Egypt and the wilderness. Esther risked her life to intercede on behalf of her people. Just about every father and mother who has ever lived has interceded on behalf of their children. And of course, Jesus interceded on behalf of the whole world on the cross.

Satan’s hold on the people of this world is unbreakable, and most of the time, they are unaware that they are in bondage and need help. That is why they need someone to intercede on their behalf. Jesus is our Mediator in heaven, pleading before His Father on our behalf. But here, in this world, we know that prayer can change things. Only power from heaven can break the devil’s hold on a person, and intercessory prayer may be our most effective way to work as colaborers with heaven on behalf of those we love and respect here.

No Vengeance

“Vengeance is Mine, and recompense; their foot shall slip in due time; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things to come hasten upon them.” Deuteronomy 32:35

A holy person does not repay evil for evil. They will be kind to others, sharing the love of God, serving others, and living peacefully with all (Romans 12:17, 18).

It hurts when we are slandered and treated unkindly and unfairly—particularly for reasons that are beyond our control, like our race, heritage, or color. As sinful human beings, our first response is to lash out at the perpetrator, to seek to strike out, to avenge our bruised pride. Vengeance and avenging are attributes of pride. Pride must be eradicated from the heart if we are to be made holy. Regardless of how the world may treat God’s people, He will, at His appointed time, dispense vengeance upon sin and the sinners of this world.

“The long forbearance of God had ceased, the figures in the books of God’s reckoning had been accumulating, the cup of the unjust was full. Mercy then ceased and justice took the sword of vengeance. …

“There was a shut door in Noah’s time. There was a shut door to the unbelievers in the destruction of Sodom but an open door to Lot. There was a shut door to the inhabitants of Tyrus, a shut door to the inhabitants of Jerusalem … who disbelieved, but an open door to the humble, the believing, those who obeyed God. Thus it will be at the end of time.” This Day With God, 235

“Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful-hearted, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.’ ” Isaiah 35:3, 4

Hospitality

Abraham extended hospitality to the three strangers headed for Sodom. In so doing, he entertained heavenly angels and the Son of God Himself. Lot, for all his faults, had cultivated this holy trait. And when the angels sent to destroy Sodom came to the gate to enter the city, Lot offered them a meal and shelter, not only from the elements but from the evil decadence that held sway in the hearts of the Sodomites. (See Genesis 18, 19.)

Seeking God’s Will

A holy person does God’s will from the heart. Many Christians believe they are doing the Lord’s will but act and speak for show—much like the Pharisees in Luke 18:9–14.

“As a nation the Jews had been growing prouder and prouder. They had made great boasts of their righteousness. They made broad their phylacteries*, uttered long prayers in the marketplaces, and gave alms to be seen of men. Their religion was formal, consisting of ordinances and purifications, rites and ceremonies. It was not heartfelt.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10, 153

But Paul tells us that a holy person will seek God’s will “not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” Ephesians 6:6

Jesus came to reconcile all who are alienated from God because of sin. The man whose character is sanctified and holy is no longer alienated from God and works with Him to help others be reconciled.

Calmness

Both perceived and actual unfairness can cause a person to speak and act provocatively. Being provocative is an extension of pride. Perhaps to gain support or have others agree with him, a person will provoke or instigate trouble and stir up the feelings of those around him. Again, the example of Lucifer’s efforts in heaven comes to mind. He provoked or created circumstances that caused unrest and agitated the sensibilities of the holy angels. But a holy person will work instead to appease, soothe, and seek out the Lord for the calmness of spirit needed to face his trials.

Fellowship with the Saints

A holy person will seek out the fellowship of fellow believers. The Bible provides many examples of this (Ephesians 5; Hebrews 10; Galatians 2). Being holy, we will recognize the same holiness in fellow believers, and they will recognize it in us, making us brothers and sisters in Christ. We are welcome because we are no longer strangers in a foreign land but part of the family of God.

Also, this trait of fellowshipping with the saints means that we will not be in fellowship with the works of darkness.

“We are called to be the Lord’s special people in a much higher sense than many have realized. The world lies in wickedness, and God’s people are to come out of the world, and be separate. They are to be free from worldly customs and worldly habits. They are not to accord with worldly sentiments, but are to stand out distinct, as the Lord’s peculiar people, earnest in all their service. They are to have no fellowship with the works of darkness.” Our Father Cares, 243

Hates Evil

Even in Christ’s church, a Christian may still hold close to some beloved, darling sin. A holy person will abhor evil (Romans 12; 1 Thessalonians 5). The first angel’s message says, “Fear God.” Revelation 14:7. What does it mean to “fear God”?

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.” Proverbs 8:13. If I love a particular sin, I must take it to the Lord and ask Him for the strength to overcome it. Then He can change my heart, and I will hate what I once loved.

Is Selfless and Practices Self-Control

A person who practices self-will and selfishness and is quarrelsome, a gossiper and a busybody needs a change of heart. A holy person practices self-denial and self-control and does not gossip about his brother or sister (1 Peter 3). He will have a servant’s heart and be compassionate, especially with those in trouble (Colossians 3). He does not threaten other people (1 Peter 2). He is obedient to authority. He will be courteous (1 Corinthians 3).

Pressing Toward Perfection

Perfection does not come automatically; it is a daily process (Philippians 3). Paul writes to us about this process. “I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling that is in Christ Jesus.” Verse 14

Character perfection is completed here because everyone in heaven will be perfect. If I hold on to my imperfect traits of character, then I will not be in heaven.

The Lord promises that I can reach this standard of perfection. In fact, He tells me to be perfect. “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

I must, as did Paul, choose to press on to perfection. One by one, I must throw off my unholy character traits. God provides the power; I surrender the will. The Holy Spirit will show me what must be removed from my life, one sin after another. Each victory prepares me for the next. God does not fail; if I surrender to Him, He will keep me from failing. That’s not to say that there will be no setbacks, but God has promised that as I commit to do His will, the work He begins in me, He will see it done (Philippians 1:6).

“Holiness is … an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love.” Sons and Daughters of God, 155

First Corinthians 13—the love chapter—describes nearly a dozen holy character traits. Romans 12 outlines Paul’s sermon on holiness and is a tremendous additional read. A holy person will have all the characteristics contained in these chapters.

We must pray for each other. It is not so far in the future that the only people living in this world will be holy. How we think, talk, and act must be changed because no one who cherishes sin will be in that number.

True conversion is what we need. Once there was an unholy person in heaven and God cast him out with all who followed him, and He will not accept any unholy person back. But if you surrender your will to the Holy Spirit and are willing to be changed, He will change you. That is the Holy Spirit’s business—changing hearts and rebuilding ruined characters to reflect the character of Jesus.

He is waiting to change you. Will you let Him?

*Phylactery – two small square leather boxes containing slips inscribed with scriptural passages and traditionally worn on the left arm and on the head by observant Jewish men and especially adherents of Orthodox Judaism during morning weekday prayers. Source: merriam-webster.com/dictionary

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

Christianity Is More than a Ticket to Heaven

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So many in the Christian world today, including many Seventh-day Adventists, believe that all you have to do is believe in Jesus, belong to a church, pay your tithe to the right place, do a few good deeds and you’ve got your ticket to heaven. But are they right? What is true Christianity?

First, let’s see what it means to be a Christian.

“What is it to be a Christian? It is to be Christlike; it is to do the works of Christ.” Lift Him Up, 341

“A Christian is a Christlike man, a Christlike woman … .” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 935

“To have a Christlike character it is necessary to act in a Christlike way. …

“… it is essential to persevere in right doing.” Mind, Character and Personality, Vol. 2, 552

It is clear then that being a true Christian requires a character like Christ had. We find that the Bible describes this character in Galatians 5:22, 23. If you are Christlike, you will have love for God and your neighbor, you will be joyful, peaceable, patient, kind, humble, constant, and composed. You will do right because it is right.

1 John 2:6 tells us that if we abide in Him, we “ought also to walk as He walked.”

“Christ has come to be our example, and we are to walk as He walked, and work as He worked, with unselfish purpose, ever keeping the Pattern before us. Weighted with the sense of responsibility, we are to represent Christ to the world. This is our work as Christians; for we are to let our light shine forth to the world in good works. Actions will tell, and therefore how important it is to study the life of Christ to see how He glorified the Father, that we may go and do likewise.” The Youth’s Instructor, December 15, 1892

So if a true Christian is a person whose character is like Christ’s character, then what is true Christianity?

“Theology is valueless unless it is saturated with the love of Christ. True Christianity diffuses love through the whole being. It touches every vital part—the brain, the heart, the helping hands, the feet—enabling men to stand firmly where God requires them to stand, lest the lame be turned out of the way. The burning, consuming love of Christ for perishing souls is the life of the whole system of Christianity.” The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1910

Religion and theology are only good when they display the love of Christ. Many people believe in religion, but while they say they believe in Christ, their characters do not represent Him.

“The Lord expects His followers to reveal, in the transformation of their life and character, the power of the gospel, which converts and sanctifies the soul.” The Review and Herald, March 1, 1898

“The Lord of glory clothed His divinity with humanity, and came to our world to endure self-denial and self-sacrifice, in order that the moral image of God might be restored in man. All the heavenly attributes were in His heart in abundance, and flowed out in an irrepressible stream of good works.” Ibid.
The more Christlike we become, the more we will do the deeds of Christ.

“In Christ’s unwearying efforts is our pattern. Pity for those in need and suffering will be awakened in all who will attempt this self-denying, self-sacrificing work that the Majesty of heaven came to our world to perform. Those who receive Christ by faith will represent His compassion, His goodness, and His love in a world that is marred and seared with the curse. The degree to which these graces exist in the life and character, measures the genuine likeness to God. ‘By their fruits,’ said Christ, ‘ye shall know them.’ This is the true test both in grace and in nature. …

“But who are walking even as He walked? Who are working in Christ’s lines? Who among us have the faith which works by love and purifies the soul? Who are coming into such conformity to God as was represented in the grace of Him who is our pattern? Those who yoke up with Christ will have the mind of Christ. They will garrison the mind so that it shall not become enslaved to the control of a power that will stop at nothing in its earnest zeal to win the victory.” Ibid.

How then do we become more Christlike? Is it just sitting in church, listening to the minister tell us what we should know? Is it just believing in Jesus, but sitting back, not inclined to do the work that He did for a dying world?

“Let it never be forgotten that true Christianity comes through the engraving of Bible principles upon the heart and character. This must be an individual work, visibly expressed.” The Kress Collection, 122

“We can, we can, reveal the likeness of our divine Lord. We can know the science of spiritual life. We can glorify God in our bodies and in our spirits, which are His.” In Heavenly Places, 43

“The worker for God needs spiritual life. This life will give vigor to soul and body. Spiritual life yields to its possessor that which all the world is seeking, but which can never be obtained without an entire surrender to God. The contemplation of Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, will make our lives sweet and fragrant, and give us power to perfect a Christian experience.

“Laborer for God, the work given you is to represent Christ. He came to this world to shed upon you His own brightness and peace. Close the windows of your heart against the atmosphere of unbelief, and open them heavenward. It is your privilege to face the light, to talk faith and life. Let your countenance reflect the joy of the Lord. Speak of His goodness, tell of His power. … You may reflect the beauty of the character of your risen Lord … .” The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1910

“True Christianity is a religion of progress. It is ever giving light and blessing, and has in reserve still greater light and blessing to bestow to those who receive its truths. The illuminating influence of the gospel of Christ, and the sanctifying grace of God, can alone transform the carnal mind to be in harmony with spiritual things.” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 124

“Never rest satisfied until you possess a loving and lovable spirit. Your words may strengthen, help, and bless those around you. True Christianity makes the religious life attractive. Come to Christ, and His gentleness and love will break down the harsh, cold selfishness that prevents you from revealing Him to the world. Your hasty temper will be subdued, your pride expelled. Jesus will fill your heart with His gentleness, His patience, His love. Then you can uplift Him before sinners.” The Review and Herald, January 26, 1911

“In the light shining from the cross, true Christianity appears so pure and lovely that external decorations only hide its true worth. It is the beauty of holiness, a meek and quiet spirit, which is of value with God.” The Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, 383

What is true Christianity?

“Nothing can elevate man, nothing can make him pure and keep him pure but believing in and practicing the truth. He must eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. This is the lesson all should learn. They should see that to be sanctified means more than to have a theoretical knowledge of the truth. They must have living faith. They must do more than denounce wrongs in others; they must fight it in themselves. They must be whole-souled Christians possessing the earnestness and living energy derived in Christ.” Educational Messenger, March 19, 1909

“Christ is represented as stooping from His throne, bending earthward to send help to every needy soul who asks for it in faith. He is raising up the fallen, bringing hope to the helpless, and placing their feet in sure paths. He gave Himself to a shameful, agonizing death to save the perishing. O, He is able, He is willing, He is longing to save all who will come to Him! As you look upon our Intercessor, let your own heart be broken. Then, softened and subdued, you can address repentant sinners as one who knows the power of redeeming love. Pray with these souls. Get them to look away from themselves to the Saviour, and the victory is won. They behold for themselves the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. The strong tide of redeeming love pours into the parched, thirsty soul, and the sinner is saved to Christ. As he responds to the drawing of the Saviour, he repents of his sins and confesses them, and pardon is written opposite his name. The Holy Spirit takes of the things of God, and shows them to him. And his heart is filled with a sense of the greatness of God’s love. The grace of Christ expels the selfishness that has hitherto ruled the life. The affections turn to God. The character is transformed. The man is filled with an intense desire to serve Him who has done so much for him.” The Review and Herald, January 26, 1911

“A man lives unto God when he continually recognizes Him as a present Helper. When there is a recognition of the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be a holy fear lest he shall make mistakes. The soul will be drawn out continually in earnest prayer as he realizes his need. As he draws nigh unto God, God will draw nigh unto him; the love of God will be kindled in his heart, and he will be able to speak the words of God. The language of the heart will then be, ‘Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.’ ” Bible Training School, January 1, 1908

Judy Rebarchek is the managing editor of the LandMarks magazine. She may be contacted by email at judyrebarchek@stepstolife.org

God’s Way in Difficulty

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“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Psalm 46:1

“ ‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’ ”
Isaiah 55:8, 9

It would seem then, that if we are not in harmony with God’s ways, one of us will have to change if we are going to be together. Which do you suppose is the one to change?

So this is the question for each of us, “Am I willing to be changed so that I will think and do as God thinks and does?

Escape from Egypt

David was thinking specifically of the Red Sea experience when he said: “Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” Psalm 77:19, 20

When we study the geography of the path that the children of Israel took when they left Egypt, we see that they were guided by God in the pillar of cloud on a course which never would have taken them to the Red Sea at all.

Following a straight line out of Egypt would have led them on a path above the Red Sea, but after they had traveled a short distance from Egypt, God deliberately changed their course, angling them back by a round-about road to the Red Sea. Many, maybe even Moses himself, must have wondered why God was leading them in such a circuitous route. Then, they found themselves hemmed in by mountains on each side, the sea in front of them, and an army of angry Egyptians close behind.

There were two problems as the Israelites camped there on the seashore. One was the sea in front of them, a seemingly impassible barrier. The other, was the Egyptian army behind them, an enemy that they believed they could not defeat. God’s path went right through this impassible barrier to strengthen the faith of the Israelites, and then used it as a graveyard for the seemingly-unconquerable enemy. Upon reaching the far side, the children of Israel sang the song of victory to God found in Psalm 77. Did Israel understand what God intended to do? No. Why? If they had known it would not have been a test of their faith. Did the Egyptians know what God was going to do? Of course not. If they had, they would not have followed. So, even though neither God’s chosen nor His enemies understood His plan, He had one. A miraculous plan that despite the difficulty, provided the way to freedom.

“Are You not the One who dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; that made the depths of the sea a road for the redeemed to cross over?” Isaiah 51:10

“I will make each of My mountains a road, and My highways shall be elevated.” Isaiah 49:11

All across this country, engineers annually spend thousands of hours and millions of dollars plotting highways that avoid mountains and other geographical obstacles as much as possible. But God says through the prophet Isaiah that He will use the most impossible situations, the most impassible barriers, and make them highways on which His remnant people may travel to victory. It may be an impassible sea or an ocean that stretches out before us, or the walls of a high mountain range that seem to defy scaling. God says to us, “Follow My providence and I will make a way for you.” If we will believe, it will make us utterly immune to discouragement. And He backs that promise by giving us examples of His faithfulness.

“All these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Corinthians 10:11

“Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing.” The Ministry of Healing, 481

“Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief.” The Desire of Ages, 330

So let me ask, is it worthwhile to experience difficulty so that we can know that God provides the way out and through? The way out of Egypt was through the Red Sea. As the children of Israel stood, looking back in fear at the advancing Egyptian army, God parted the water and made a way for over a million people, their livestock, and all their possessions—on dry land, mind you—to reach the other side before allowing the water to return on its course burying their enemy behind them.

Yes, friends, our heavenly Father has a multitude of ways for providing for us that we know nothing about and would likely be unable to comprehend even if we knew them. If we will accept the principle of making the service of God supreme, we will find that perplexities will vanish and there will be a plain path before our feet.

Since we have this assurance, we need not lament the difficulties we encounter in this life, but rather we must look for God’s solutions. Moses didn’t know at first what to do. But he had learned to wait on the Lord to see how He would use the circumstances as they existed. So he called upon God, and then told the people to stand still and see the salvation of God (Exodus 14:13, 14). And presently, God instructed Moses to stretch his rod out over the sea, and it opened up.

“We should seize upon circumstances as instruments by which to work.” The Ministry of Healing, 500. Many would have looked at this situation and seen nothing with which to work. There was no bridge, no boats, no logical way to get across. It appeared to man as hopeless. And he would be right without the promise of God to help His people. We are hopelessly lost, and there is no way possible for us to overcome the difficulties of this life on our own. But Moses looked to God and obeyed His direction, and the difficulty itself became the way of escape. In this same way, every difficulty we may encounter, God has a way prepared to bring relief.

“Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 332

The Red Sea, the mountains, the Egyptians were all hindrances, but God led the children of Israel to the one place where those hindrances would become a helper to His people, and He will do the same for us. So, if we find ourselves in a difficult situation, rather than weeping and moaning and saying, “O Lord, why did You ever let me get into this situation?” say, “Dear Lord, I don’t know what Your purpose is, but I know You will make something wonderful out of this. Show me what I must do.”

Standing on the shore of the Red Sea there wasn’t much that the children of Israel could do but show their faith in God’s promise by simply stepping into the water. It wasn’t much, just that one step forward, but it was important for them to show their faith. In that one step they committed to doing the impossible. This is righteousness by faith, and by obedience to God and faith in His promise, they achieved the impossible.

We cannot lie down on a bed or sit in a chair waiting and hoping that someday by some strange, unusual miracle we will wake up and find that we are all ready for heaven. We are to ask Jesus to help us to take hold of a situation as it is, and, by faith, carry out His commands confident that He will help us. We will never find ourselves in any situation but that Jesus has already made arrangements to use it for our good and His glory. We must seize the circumstances as instruments with which to work, and then press with determination in the right direction, and then the circumstances become our helpers, not our hindrances.

The Mighty, Raging River

Some time ago, I was riding along the Frazier River in western Canada. As we drew near the end of our journey, we would have to cross the river, but the Frazier River is a mighty, roaring stream, and there was no motor boat, canoe, or sailboat that could cross it. But there was a way, and the very current of that river, strong and mighty as it was, was the way across.

The way across the Frazier River was by ferry. The ferry is not powered by a gasoline motor, steam engine, or electricity. The ferry runs by the power of the river itself. By a specific arrangement of cables and wheels strung high above the river, this barrier that stands between you and the other side, has been harnessed to take you across. A cable reaches from one side to the other while another cable secures the ferry to the cable above, keeping the ferry from being swept downstream. But still, how does the ferry get across?

Two levers on the ferry control two great paddles, one on each side of the ferry. With these paddles, the pilot is able to direct the ferry to one side of the river and back again. Depending on which paddle you let down into the river, the very pressure of that water as it roars down the river against the paddle turns the ferry in the direction to go across. Raising that paddle and letting down the other allows the ferry to return to the opposite side.

Man has seized upon circumstances as instruments with which to work and thus accomplishes his purpose. The obstacle that the river creates is solved by harnessing its power and using it to the needed end. What a lesson. Instead of allowing the raging river to be an obstacle, a way was found to use the obstacle—the river—to help them cross it, no matter how impossible it appeared to be.

So, whatever difficulty I encounter in my life I don’t stand there weeping, I don’t look back at where I’ve been; I look to Jesus with a faith that just knows something wonderful will come of it. I must learn that the solutions to my difficulties today are not found in my past or even in my future. What I need today to face this life is the guiding hand of my Lord and Saviour. Only He can give me sense enough to learn how to seize upon circumstances as instruments with which to work.

Experiences in Faith

When the three Hebrews were standing on the threshold of the fiery furnace they didn’t know what God was going to do, but they knew He had said, “Those who honor Me, I will honor.” (1 Samuel 2:30, last part). They determined to take God at His word and to be true to Him whether they lived or died in that furnace. But God took that furnace and used it to destroy those who threw them into the furnace, and the ropes that bound them. He used the circumstances to liberate the Hebrew young men and to bring conviction to the king of Babylon, who, after a number of other experiences, was finally converted (Daniel 4:34–37).

The men in authority in Darius’ Persia hated Daniel. So, they schemed against him by making a law that prohibited everyone from praying to anyone but the king. They made the law because they knew Daniel would be faithful in praying to God, and would not pray to the king; and they were right. Daniel kept right on praying to his God three times a day facing toward Jerusalem (Daniel 6). As a result, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den. Daniel obeyed God rather than men, and the lions didn’t hurt him. And God used Daniel’s difficulty as the instrument by which God destroyed all the men who had plotted against Daniel.

Haman was one of Satan’s wicked servants plotting against the people of God. He planned to harm the Jews and hang Mordecai. He had already prepared a gallows on which to hang him. But God used Esther as a solution to this difficulty, and it was Haman who was hanged on the gallows rather than Mordecai. We find many examples in the Bible of God using circumstances to bring about solutions.

God keeps His promise to help His children, but sometimes He also allows them to suffer. During the Dark Ages, millions of people were martyred for their faith, but not because God had forgotten or forsaken them, nor because this principle failed. Every one of the souls who went down in death won more people by their death than they would have by their life. And in the kingdom of God they will be able to see the harvest that their death produced and will clap their hands for joy that their witness in death was used to testify to the power and the love of Jesus and to the strength of His law.

Friends, there is nothing—nothing—that stands in the way of the man who is devoted to God. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1, 2

Faith Fosters a Solution

One of our students at Wildwood, a young lady from Nicaragua whom I will call “Mary,” had some experiences in which the Lord had used her while she still lived in Nicaragua. Mary was the only Seventh-day Adventist in her family, and in Nicaragua a great majority of the people are members of the Roman Catholic Church, as it is in many Latin American countries. But the Lord blessed Mary with some precious experiences in standing—sometimes completely alone—for truth.

Mary decided to take a three-year secretarial course at a Catholic college in Nicaragua. During the last three months of the course study, a group of priests came to the college. There was a strong Catholic influence as all the teachers and the three hundred students were Catholic, except for Mary. She was the only non-Catholic.

The time soon came when all the young people were expected to give confession to the priests, but Mary did not go. The headmistress of the college called her to her office and asked her why she wasn’t a Catholic. Mary answered that she was very happy as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist church. The headmistress suggested to Mary that if she would become a Catholic her parents would not have to know. But Mary told her that she could not lie because whatever she did must be in harmony with truth, so she would not do what the headmistress suggested.

One day Mary went to class and discovered that final exams for all of her subjects were scheduled on three different Sabbaths. She went to the dean of the college, and told him that she was a Seventh-day Adventist and would not be able to take her exams on the Sabbath. The dean said that he could not change the schedule. Mary went home and told her aunt and uncle and they prayed together for the Lord’s help.

The next day Mary went to the pastor of the church and asked for his counsel. He told her the decision was entirely up to her as a matter of conscience. So she very earnestly prayed asking God to solve this problem for her so that she might remain true and faithful to Him.

The Sabbath for Mary’s final exam in bookkeeping came, but, as was her custom, she went to church just like Jesus did. When she got home, she found, to her great surprise, a group of her classmates waiting for her. They were very happy to tell her that there had been no exams that day because the people in charge of administering them had gotten drunk the night before and were unable to give them. So, her exam that had been scheduled for that Sabbath had been postponed until the next day, Sunday.

Being so upset about how things seemed to be working out, Mary had not been able to study much, but this news gave her courage and she studied late into the night to be ready for the next day’s exam. As she began the exam, she found that she was not nervous as she usually was when taking exams, but instead experienced a peace she had never known before. She finished the exam in good time and got the highest grade. But she still faced the problem of two more exams, each one to come on an upcoming Sabbath.

She continued praying and trusted that God would again help her. When the next Sabbath came she went to church. After church the same students were waiting for her on the porch of her home. As before, they were very happy, but they said they didn’t quite understand why all these things were happening, but the teacher who was to have charge of the exam that day had to have an emergency operation in the hospital that morning. And again the exam was postponed until the next day, Sunday. Mary went, as she had the week before, to take her typewriting exam, and once again received the highest grade in the school.

Mary’s third and last exam in shorthand was also scheduled for Sabbath. She had continued praying all week. She went to church on Sabbath and for a third time, when she got home there were her classmates waiting at the door of her home. They said that only the power of God could have worked things out because this time it was the same as it had been the first Sabbath. Those in charge of the exam were drunk from a festival the night before, so the exam had been postponed until the next day, Sunday. When Mary went to take the exam, she again finished first and received the highest grade.

Mary, her fellow classmates, the dean, and headmistress of the college, now could clearly see that God had worked miraculously on her behalf, that Matthew 21:22 had truly been fulfilled in her life. “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

The God who opened the Red Sea and delivered the children of Israel from the Egyptians, who preserved three faithful, young men in the fiery furnace and changed the heart of a king in the process, who saved Daniel from being lunch for a group of lions and the Jews from Haman the hangman, and changed circumstances so that a young, faithful woman would be able to take her exams on Sunday rather than the Sabbath, is still at work today. May we learn His way which is so much different from our own. How much better it is to do what God says and then wait for God to make a way through our difficulties.

“Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.” The Ministry of Healing, 481

Elder W.D. Frazee studied the Medical Missionary Course at the College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda, California. He was called to Utah as a gospel medical evangelist. He founded the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute in 1942. He believed that each person is unique, specially designed by the Lord.

Crucified with Christ

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“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Galatians 2:20

Saul of Tarsus was a Jew, a Pharisee, and a zealous persecutor of the Christian church. “Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.” Acts 9:1, 2. When a Christian met someone walking on the road, he would ask, “Are you of the way?” This was how Christians identified each other. If the answer was in the affirmative, then each of them knew they had found a Christian brother.

On his journey to Damascus, Saul carried with him letters granting him the authority to round up Christian Jews, arrest them, and bring them back to Jerusalem where they would be tried in the Jewish court. But something miraculous and unimaginable happened to Saul on that journey.

“As he journeyed, he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ ” Verses 3, 4

Friend, did God know Saul? Yes, He did. In fact, God knows your name, where you live, what you do, and where you are headed. He can, at any time He chooses, address any member of the human family by their first and last name.

Saul is stricken by this bright light. He hears this voice and falls on the ground shaking and says, “ ‘Lord, what do you want me to do?’ Then the Lord said to him, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’ ” Verse 6. That is a very brief description of what happened that day on the Damascus Road. If you read the full account in Acts 26, you will see that Jesus gave Saul detailed instructions that he should bear witness to what he had seen, experienced, and all that Jesus would, in time, show him. This is when Saul was crucified with Christ and became Paul. You see, you cannot truly witness for Christ until you have been crucified with Him.

According to the Bible, a human being has three parts.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Notice, a human being has a spirit, a soul, and a body. So when Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ,” was he saying that he was crucified on a tree as Christ was? No.

The Bible refers to the soul as being the mind or a person’s intellectual capability, his or her ability to analyze, to reason, to remember, and to think. Was Paul’s mind, his mental nature, crucified? No. In fact, we find that his mind was stimulated by the experience. Inspiration tells us that, though he was blind, he reviewed all the prophecies about the Messiah in his mind.

So, if Paul was crucified with Christ and it was not in his body or soul, it must then be that Paul was crucified with Christ in his spirit. Man’s spirit has to do with his feelings and emotions. The Bible often calls man’s spirit his heart.

“Out of the heart proceed the issues of life.” Proverbs 4:23

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.” Matthew 15:18, 19

Saul’s heart was filled with hatred and murder toward the Christians. But when the light from heaven encompassed Saul on the Damascus Road, it was like a sword piercing through his spirit. His spirit was shattered, completely broken; it was crucified.

Man’s natural heart is hard like a stone and his natural nature is selfish, and, therefore, sinful. It wants to do things its own way, to think and feel the way it wants. But God wants to do something miraculous in our lives. “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26

All the while Saul was hating, hunting down, and putting Christians in jail, Jesus was preparing a new heart for him. He planned to remove his stony heart and replace it with one that would have a new spirit, a heart crucified and restored, so that it would seek to do the will of God.

When my old man—my natural self—is crucified with Christ, the Lord will remove my heart of stone and give me a new heart of flesh and put a new spirit in me. But here is the problem. The devil comes and tempts you and me, and sometimes, our crucified old nature is allowed to take charge of our lives again. Then we are back to the person we were before—bitter speech, selfish words, self-exaltation, jealousy, anxiety, strife, dissension in the church, and so much more. Whenever there is dissension or division in the church or in a group of Christian people or a Christian family, someone has let the old man come down from the cross; they are not crucified anymore.

But here Paul says, “I am … .” He didn’t say he was, or that he would be. He says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” (KJV). I must ask myself that if I were to say, right now, that I am crucified with Christ, would my recording angel be able to write down that I have told the truth or that I told a lie?

Today, even among God’s people, too often, the old man comes down off the cross and we start acting like we are unconverted. This is what happened to the Corinthian church. “Brethren, I could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal.” 1 Corinthians 3:1. “You are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?” Verse 3

Paul says more, “the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, last part, KJV). Love has to do with the spiritual nature of man. Jesus loved me. He loves me now, and everything that He did on this earth, the life He lived and the sacrifice He made were all done because of His love for me.

The Bible says that Christ was fully human, with a physical nature, a mental nature, and a spiritual nature. Kneeling in the garden of Gethsemane, He looked down the stream of time and saw the entirety of mankind. That day in the garden, He knew each of us by name. But He didn’t just know us, He loved us. Friends, we do not have the spiritual capability to understand what Jesus did on Calvary, nor the depth of His love.

“Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world’s dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, ‘with healing in His wings.’ Malachi 4:2

“The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of ‘the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal.’ Romans 16:25, R. V. It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God’s throne. … God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, ‘that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16.” The Desire of Ages, 22

While Jesus hung on the cross, some of those standing by as witnesses to His crucifixion said, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross. … And we will believe You.” Matthew 27:40, 42, last part. Jesus could have done that. He could have decided that His 33 years of life in this world was enough—and too much. He could have chosen to go back to heaven. His life, and, particularly, His death was a voluntary act. The decision to execute the plan of salvation was made before the beginning of the world. He did not have to go to the cross, but if He had not, I would be lost, and so would you.

So, to be crucified with Christ, I must make a voluntary choice to have this miraculous work done in my life, just as Jesus voluntarily chose to come to this earth as a man, to live and die, so that mankind could be saved. God did not force Jesus, and He will never force you or me.

You cannot force anyone to love you, and God knew that only by the greatest, most powerful display of love that had ever been seen in the history of the universe, would mankind be awakened from its stupor of selfishness and sin. In the incarnation of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross, God’s incomprehensible love was displayed to the entire universe.

Peter wrote, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” 1 Peter 1:6–8

In one generation, the story of the incarnation, the crucifixion, especially the resurrection and the ascension of Jesus Christ to heaven, and His promise that He would return again went to the entire inhabited world. And people listened.

John, the beloved, said, “We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19. As I look at the life of Jesus, I find that the defilement of sin that is in me is not in Him. Sin does not come at me just from the outside, but is a part of me on the inside; you might say, it’s in my DNA. And you then might say, as Paul did, “Lord, what do you want me to do?”

Jesus says that if I am weary and burdened and will come to Him, He will yoke Himself together with me and I will have rest in my soul. This rest doesn’t mean that you won’t have trials or troubles. Sin is still in the world, and we will have to face it every day. But, if I say that I love Jesus, if I allow Him to be a moment-by-moment part of my life, then I will surrender my life to Him and work to remove from it the things that I know are wrong. Then He will walk beside me providing peace and grace even through the most difficult times. Many people today claim that they love God, but God has to correct them, because they continue to hold on to the sinful things of this world that keep them separated from Him. No, He says, they do not love Me because they are not willing to give up all for Me.

Friend, is there any sinful thing in your life that needs to be let go of, removed?

“Christ hates sin. From Him evil met with stern rebuke. But while He hates sin, He loves the sinner. Laying aside His riches and glory, He came to this earth to seek for us, sinful, erring, unhappy, that He might lead us to heaven. He humbled Himself, and took upon Him our nature, that He might make us like Himself, pure and upright, free from defilement. He suffered more than any of you will ever be called to suffer. He gave His all for you. What have you given for Him?” The Signs of the Times, July 9, 1902

Jesus cannot save me unless I am willing to allow Him to take my sin away. My carnal, selfish nature must be crucified. “There is nothing so hard as the crucifixion of the will.” Our High Calling, 107. So, I must ask myself whether I have come to the place in my Christian walk where I can say to the Lord, not my will, but Your will. If I want to be saved, I must be crucified with Christ.

“When the heart yields to the influence of the Spirit of God, the conscience will be quickened, and the sinner will discern something of the depth and sacredness of God’s holy law, the foundation of His government in heaven and on earth. … [The sinner] sees the love of God, the beauty of holiness, the joy of purity; he longs to be cleansed and to be restored to communion with heaven.” Steps to Christ, 24

Being crucified with Christ means the crucifying of our sinful spirit. No one can go to heaven if they have not been crucified with Christ. Crucifying the will means to follow God wherever He leads, to accept His will rather than our own to control our lives.

It is God’s purpose that the life of Christ is to be reproduced in every one of His people, but this does not mean the body or the ability to reason. God wants my heart—the part of me that has made me a sinner. But by His power and grace, my heart can be transformed.

“Not by the decisions of courts or councils or legislative assemblies, not by the patronage of worldly great men, is the kingdom of Christ established, but by the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit.” The Desire of Ages, 509

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statues, and you will keep My judgments and do them.” Ezekiel 36:26, 27

Implanting Christ’s nature into humanity by the work of the Holy Spirit, giving them His spiritual nature is the only way the kingdom of Christ can be advanced. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name; who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13. It is this power alone that uplifts mankind. And we, as the human agents for the accomplishment of this work, are to teach and practice the word of God.

“When the apostle Paul began his ministry in Corinth, that populous, wealthy, and wicked city, polluted by the nameless vices of heathenism, he said, ‘I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.’ 1 Corinthians 2:2. Writing afterward to some of those who had been corrupted by the foulest sins, he could say, ‘But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.’ ‘I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.’ 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1:4

“Now, as in Christ’s day, the work of God’s kingdom lies not with those who are clamoring for recognition and support by earthly rulers and human laws, but with those who are declaring to the people in His name those spiritual truths that will work in the receivers the experience of Paul: ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.’ Galatians 2:20. Then they will labor as did Paul for the benefit of men.” The Desire of Ages, 510

Friend, if you are hoping someday to wear the crown of glory and have the gift of eternal life, there must be an unreserved, total surrender of your will to God’s will. He does not accept a half surrender. He wants all of your heart. And when self is crucified, then the Holy Spirit can work a miracle of transformation in your life.

God’s purpose for the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of Christ was so all who would behold by sight or by faith the marvelous display of His law and love, would yield their will to His will and be given a new heart and a new spirit.

“Christ, the precious Saviour, is to be the Christian’s all in all. Every holy thought, every pure desire, every Godlike purpose, is from Him who is the light, the truth, and the way. Christ is to live in His representatives by the Spirit of truth. …

“Under the mighty impulse of His love He [Jesus] took our place in the universe and invited the Ruler of all things to treat Him as a representative of the human family. He identified Himself with our interests, bared His breast for the stroke of death, took man’s guilt and its penalty, and offered in man’s behalf a complete sacrifice to God. By virtue of this atonement He has power to offer to man perfect righteousness and full salvation. Whosoever shall believe on Him as a personal Saviour shall not perish but have everlasting life.” In Heavenly Places, 65

Jesus never fails. Our only danger is that we will not be crucified with Him.

“Jesus identifies His interest with His chosen and tried people. He represents Himself as personally affected with all that concerns them. …

“His sympathy with His people is without a parallel. He will not simply remain a spectator, indifferent to what His people may suffer, but identifies Himself with their interests and sorrows. If His people are wronged, maligned, treated with contempt, their sufferings are registered in the books of heaven as done unto Him.” Ibid.

Imagine it—a world where all Christians, maybe even all of mankind, could say Christ is living in me. There would be peace, unity, humility, benevolence, selflessness, respect, and love; not the hatred, selfishness, lawlessness of every kind that we see today.

“Everyone that shall see the King in His beauty, must be without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. We now have an opportunity to form characters for the future life, and what a rich blessing we shall receive if we obtain the recompense of the reward! There is no comfort in sin. Men are made miserable because they refuse to obey the commandments of God. The whole world lieth in wickedness, but Christ came to remove the woe that comes as a consequence of sin. He came to our world to show us how to live a pure, holy life, and I have purposed in my heart that He shall not have lived and died in vain for me. I want to say with the apostle: ‘I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.’ I want to leave a bright track heavenward for all that may be attracted in the way of life.” The Signs of the Times, August 4, 1890

When your will is crucified, then the Holy Spirit will work a miracle inside. We should be praying for that miracle every day.

“There are many who conclude that they are saved simply because they have good impressions; but this is not enough. The entire affection must be renovated. Every individual must learn by experimental knowledge where lies his true strength. No one can leave his first love without a forfeiture of the Christian character. The Church must come up out of the wilderness, leaning upon the arm of her Beloved. When each member of the church can say, ‘I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me,’ then Christ, the hope of glory, will be revealed in His people.” Ibid., August 18, 1890

God will have a people in the last generation who can say “I am crucified with Christ.” This is the biggest and best offer that mankind will ever receive and it is available to everyone in the world. But it is up to each of us to take advantage of it.

Are you willing to sacrifice everything carnal, fleshly, sinful, and sensuous, so that Jesus can live inside? And when the devil tempts you, will you say “I’m staying right here on the cross. I want to be crucified with Christ so that He can live in me.”

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

His Peculiar People

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“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should [show] forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9 KJV

In Paul’s letter to Titus, he wrote the following:

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own peculiar people, zealous for good works.” Titus 2:11–14

David wrote, “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special [peculiar] treasure.” Psalm 135:4

If you are reading closely, you will notice a theme running through these verses: God’s people are to be peculiar. In the original languages, the words translated as peculiar can also mean special or chosen. Regardless of which translation you choose, it is clear that God’s people are unique compared to the “broad-road” world.

What is it that makes God’s people peculiar?

“Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.” Exodus 19:5

“For you are a holy people to the Lord your God, and the Lord has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 14:2

“Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special [peculiar] people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments.” Deuteronomy 26:18

We have a clue in this last verse as to what makes His people peculiar: they “keep all His commandments.”

The immediate thought to a Seventh-day Adventist is that keeping the fourth commandment is what makes God’s people peculiar. That is indeed true, but that is not the only act of following God’s will that makes His people peculiar.

Revelation 14:12 confirms what we have already noted: God’s peculiar people are obedient to all of His commandments.

Searching the Scriptures confirms other “peculiar” character traits.

In Paul’s first letter to Timothy, he stressed the importance of appropriate apparel, advising against wearing gold, pearls, or anything that would bring attention to a person’s appearance rather than to his or her character.

Another peculiar aspect to the character of God’s people is their diet. We are told in 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20, that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Our diet should be pure and unpolluted—a vegan diet consisting of vegetables, grains, fruits, and nuts.

Inspiration augments that counsel by advising that it is best for optimum health to eat only two meals a day so that we can retire at night with an empty stomach. We are also counseled not to snack or do anything that would activate digestive activity between meals.

In Galatians 5, Paul provides some excellent guidance on developing the peculiar character that God expects His people to possess.

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19–21

Then in verse 24, Paul states that God’s peculiar people will abstain from these habits and attitudes that degrade the image of Christ in them: “And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires,” the very passions and desires that he has given in the previous verses.

It is interesting that Paul interjects within his writing those character traits that clearly identify God’s people: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Verses 22, 23

Based on what we see in society today, anyone who consistently manifests the righteous character traits listed in verses 22 and 23 would likely be very different from the majority of the population and would therefore be viewed as peculiar, to say the least.

Another peculiar, special, or interesting thing often noticed among Adventists is a sincere desire to speak the truth at all times. How many times have you been listening to an Adventist tell a story and then stop and correct himself in mid-story concerning a statement in the story that didn’t come out right the first time? It may not even be a material or significant point in the conversation, and certainly not be an intentional misstatement, but it shows how seriously Adventists keep in mind the fact that no liar will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Given more time and thought, we could think of many other habits or character traits that God’s peculiar people manifest that make them stand apart, which is exactly what God wants in His people. After all, in 2 Corinthians 6:17, first part, we are told, “Come out from among them and be separate.”

One would think that such people would have a positive influence on their unbelieving friends and relatives. Unfortunately, sometimes there is a problem. In addressing this problem, Inspiration makes the following statement:

“There are many in the church who at heart belong to the world, but God calls upon those who claim to believe the advanced truth to rise above the present attitude of the popular churches of today. Where is the self-denial, where is the cross-bearing that Christ has said should characterize His followers? The reason we have had so little influence upon unbelieving relatives and associates is that we have manifested little decided difference in our practices from those of the world.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 289

However, there is a remedy, one that is  well-known to us.

“When Christ took human nature upon Him, He bound humanity to Himself by a tie of love that can never be broken by any power save the choice of man himself. Satan will constantly present allurements to induce us to break this tie—to choose to separate ourselves from Christ. Here is where we need to watch, to strive, to pray, that nothing may entice us to choose another master; for we are always free to do this. But let us keep our eyes fixed upon Christ, and He will preserve us. Looking unto Jesus, we are safe. Nothing can pluck us out of His hand. In constantly beholding Him, we ‘are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord’ (2 Corinthians 3:18).” Steps to Christ, 72

In seeking to be the peculiar people that the Lord wants us to be, I’m sure that we all recognize that we have an enemy, and most of us rightly recognize that enemy as Satan. But we also have to recognize that just as God needs human agents to bring the news of salvation to the world, Satan also needs human agents to do his work. In a testimony to a church member, the pen of Inspiration wrote the following concerning Satan’s agents:

“Sister K, although possessing excellent natural qualities, is being drawn away from God by her unbelieving friends and relatives, who love not the truth and have no sympathy with the sacrifice and self-denial that must be made for the truth’s sake. Sister K has not felt the importance of separation from the world, as the command of God enjoins. The sight of her eyes and the hearing of her ears have perverted her heart.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 108

Eyes and ears—two of the avenues Satan uses to reach our souls and lead us astray!

“God has given you abilities which you can use to good account, or abuse to your own injury and to the injury of others. You have not realized the claims that God has upon you. It should be ever borne in mind that we are living in this world to form characters for the next. And all our associations with our fellow mortals should be with reference to their eternal interest and to our own; but if our interviews with them are devoted only to pleasure and to our own selfish gratification, if we are light and trifling, if we indulge in wrong acts, we are not coworkers with God, but are decidedly working against Him. The precious lives God has given us are not to be molded by unbelieving relatives in a way to please the carnal mind, but to be spent in a manner which God can approve.” Ibid., 236

In other words, do not let your unbelieving friends and relatives prevent you from becoming the peculiar person that God wants you to be.

Consider this description of a home where there is a lone Adventist, “a home where the shadows are never lifted … .” Ibid., Vol. 5, 362

“… perhaps while one member of the family gives his heart to God, others do not. They are still under the control of the Saviour’s worst enemy, and they feel annoyed and angry that division has come into their household. He who has accepted Christ is no less dutiful than before; on the contrary, he is [to be] more kind, more faithful, more affectionate, because his nature is being purified, sanctified, and ennobled by the truth.” The Bible Echo, March 19, 1894

In other words, he is striving to become one of God’s peculiar people.

May the Lord guide us daily as we seek to know and do His will in all situations and all circumstances so that we may indeed become one of His peculiar people.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. He may be contacted by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org

More Than One Road to Hell

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“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12

The church is being sifted. As the winds of persecution and heresy unite to purge God’s threshing floor and all the chaff is blown out, the wheat remains. Regarding this time of shaking and sifting, Mrs. White writes, “As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in our ranks. Some who are now ready to take up weapons of warfare will in times of real peril make it manifest that they have not built upon the solid Rock; they will yield to temptation. Those who have had great light and precious privileges, but have not improved them, will, under one pretext or another, go out from us.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 400

Generally, there are two reasons for doing something—the reason given and the real reason. The reason given is pretext. Say a person is offended or hurt by something someone says or does, and this is the reason given for the person to stop coming to church. But if we were to look much deeper, we would find that the real reason is an unconverted heart. However, many will convince themselves to believe the pretext, and as a result, they will depart—go out—from God’s people.

“The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. … Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work, few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. …

“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time, the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. …

“The deeper the night for God’s people, the more brilliant the stars. Satan will sorely harass the faithful; but, in the name of Jesus, they will come off more than conquerors. Then will the church of Christ appear ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’ ” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 80–82

That terrible description of the awful sifting time just ahead speaks of the test over the mark of the beast and the time when people will be unable to buy or sell unless they are willing to receive that sign of apostasy and rebellion. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us and if we have not yielded to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we will find ourselves unable to stay true to God.

Let’s look at some of those downward steps, the various ways through which men arrive at last at the final jump from the church of God into Babylon.

In Line with the World

It is suggested that men take the journey to follow the world step by step—little by little—by yielding to worldly demands and conforming to worldly customs.

Inspiration tells us that our people are in constant danger of conforming to the world. “There is constant danger among our people that those who engage in labor in our schools and sanitariums will entertain the idea that they must get in line with the world, study the things which the world studies, and become familiar with the things that the world becomes familiar with. This is one of the greatest mistakes that could be made.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 534

Our danger is being influenced by what we read, look at, and listen to. The longer we look to and listen to the world we will eventually come to many of their conclusions.

“Those who seek the education that the world esteems so highly are gradually led further and further from the principles of truth until they become educated worldlings. At what a price have they gained their education!” Ibid., 535, 536. Is it possible then that someone can be a man or woman of God at the start of their education, but end up a child of the devil? Yes, it is. And he need only, at each point, to take one step. “And there are some who, having secured this worldly education, think that they can introduce it into our schools. But let me tell you that you must not take what the world calls the higher education and bring it into our schools and sanitariums and churches. … I speak to you definitely. This must not be done.” Ibid., 536. It is dangerous, and it is one of the ways leading downward.

Now during the shaking, all those who have been thus influenced by the world will go out, unless they have had their hearts brought back like Paul’s experience in Arabia or Moses’ experience in the desert of Midian.

“Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness.

“God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. … God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 81, 82

Being Good, but Good for Nothing

Now we will look at something that ought to come very close to each one of us as we examine ourselves. “Every selfish, covetous person will fall out by the way.” Early Writings, 269. You don’t have to go to a worldly university to learn to be selfish and covetous, for we are born that way and will stay that way unless we are born again (John 3:3).

“Like Judas, who sold his Lord, they [selfish, covetous persons] will sell good principles and a noble, generous disposition for a little of earth’s gain. All such will be sifted out from God’s people.” Early Writings, 269. Judas was part of Jesus’ inner circle, but he fell out because he was selfish and covetous—he wanted his own way and what others had—and this is another way that many people will be sifted out.

Is there any hope for me if I am selfish? Yes, but all the selfishness must be sifted out of me or else it will sift me out of God’s church. If I cling to my selfishness, I will be sifted out, but if I am willing to let the grace of God sift me, then I have hope.

Continual giving starves covetousness to death. The devil doesn’t like that, but Jesus does. He so loved that He gave Himself; the Father so loved that He gave His Son. And as we unite with Jesus in unselfish ministry for others and unselfish giving for God’s work to help the poor and needy, it helps to sift out our selfishness and covetousness.

Related to selfishness and covetousness is an idol that looks so sweet that many people think that it will never do much harm: the love of ease. “I know that many think far too favorably of the present time. These ease-loving souls will be engulfed in the general ruin.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 80. Ease-loving souls are people who don’t want to do anything bad, they just don’t want to do anything at all. We are studying various roads to hell and one of them is the road of just being good—good for nothing, ease-loving, avoiding responsibility.

It is represented by the man in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The master had given one servant five talents, another servant two talents, and a third one talent. This third servant wrapped it in a napkin and put it in the earth. When the master came back, the servant thought he had played it safe, but the master didn’t commend him. He was not willing to exert himself to go beyond what had been imparted to him. I pray that God will deliver us from the ease-loving spirit that dodges and evades responsibilities.

Ease loving often masquerades as perfectionism—the idea that I am so conscientious that I don’t want to do anything unless I could do it the very best. The only way I can do anything very good is to have practically nothing to do. If I can’t do it perfectly, then I really shouldn’t do it at all. I warn you, this is one of the devil’s most subtle deceptions. And when men and women get to the judgment, some will be surprised how sanctimonious was the guise under which the enemy led them away. Fear can also cause people to spurn responsibility. “I just can’t do it because I might do it wrong.” Each of these is a ditch on opposite sides of the same road.

“The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. These are Satan’s snares, set for unwary feet. But these slavish bands must be broken. … God’s watchmen will not cry, ‘Peace, peace,’ when God has not spoken peace.” Ibid., 83. So I’m not going to speak peace to people who desire to be good, but are largely good for nothing. My soul longs that God shall arouse every lackadaisical, half-hearted, ease-loving soul with the spirit to do more and more and more.

Too Much

There are also people who try to do too much and botch the job. But that is no reason why others should take any one of the talents God has given them and wrap it up nicely in a napkin and put it on a shelf. Sometimes pride is wrapped up with the talent. “What if I can’t do it perfectly?” “What if I fail?” God may allow failure for the express purpose of removing pride from the heart.

Dwight L. Moody was not an educated man, as the world counts it. He had been a shoe clerk before his conversion. He wasn’t a preacher, just a man who wanted to work to save souls. Ira Sankey was a cultured and well-educated man, known for the composition of many well-known hymns such as The Ninety and Nine, and for his strong baritone voice. Moody and Sankey had been invited to London to preach in a large theater before the royal family of England as well as lords and ladies from all around. Sankey led out with a song service. Moody, the simple shoe clerk, rose to speak to the thousands of people before him. As he started to read the Bible text he fumbled with it. He couldn’t get through it. He felt humiliated and started to read it again. Sankey tried to help him. Again and again he tried to read the text, but was unable to get through it. He broke down and wept. In silence, he reached out in prayer, “Oh Lord, if You can help a poor ignorant man like me to say something to these people that will help them, then, Lord, help me.” And with that, he began to talk to them. For 20 minutes all over that theater the Spirit of God was at work. The king and queen of England were weeping in their box. The human vessel had been broken and the light shone out.

If we would get away from our own ideas of how things should be done, God is willing and ready to do great things through us. But God works no miracle for the soul who, for whatever the reason, hugs the shore and loves the life of ease and freedom from responsibility. All such will eventually be sifted out.

Esau’s Problem

I am always saddened when I read about the life of Esau. Esau had a big problem—himself. “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16. Esau’s attention was focused to that spot just below the ribs, and to satisfy his appetite, he was willing to sacrifice his birthright for a bowlful of stew. Esau couldn’t control his appetite, so it controlled him.

“The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 491, 492. The people who receive the latter rain and give the loud cry will be those who have gotten the victory over pride, selfishness, love of the world, every wrong word and action, and over appetite.

“Health reform is to do among our people a work which it has not yet done. … Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God’s people, to walk no more with them.” Counsels on Health, 575. This speaks directly to the effects uncontrolled appetite has on loyalty to God and His church. Only half converted regarding health reform, these people will be sifted out. This mentions specifically the question of meat eating and is linked definitely with the approaching sifting from God’s church. If anyone still hungers for the fleshpots of Egypt (sin), you must ask God to sanctify your appetite. He accomplishes this only after we turn away from eating meat and any other food that is eaten against counsel—anything that we cherish more than God. We must be watchful regarding good food for even it can become an idol. Our appetite must be converted here if we are to sit at the Lord’s table there.

Jesus went into the desert and fasted for 40 days, for me. He broke the power of appetite and He will enable me to do the battle on my own account. Yes, I can have—and so can you—victory over appetite.

A Fire and a World of Iniquity

James tells us that if a man can control the tongue, he is a perfect man who will be able to bridle the whole body (James 3:2). But the danger of the tongue is not what goes in, but what comes out of the mouth. You can disarm a man by taking his sword away, but you cannot get rid of the sword which pierces—the faultfinding, gossiping, and accusing tongue. Isaiah understood this, for when he caught a view of the Lord, he said, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah 6:5, first part. In response, an angel came and took a live coal from off the altar and put it on his lips. Imagine, if that had been a literal thing, it would have been very painful. Are you and I willing to have this radical treatment applied to us so that we can be cured of faultfinding, accusation, and criticism? People who may have no interest in the world, who are not controlled by their appetite, may be especially prone to the temptation to criticize.

Remember the prayer of the Pharisee? “God, I thank You that I am not like other men.” Luke 18:11. He went on to list all the things he didn’t do. He was a pretty good Pharisee, as Pharisees go, but he used his tongue to find fault and criticize even in prayer. It was a fixed habit with him. The publican on the other hand prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Which of these men went down to his house justified? In this time, of all times, we need to be delivered from this spirit of criticism and faultfinding.

This is God’s church, His movement. We should view with suspicion anyone who comes with what they call light, new light, old light, any kind of light, all the while accusing and condemning those upon whom God has laid the burden of the work. No matter how it might try to conceal with the sheep’s clothing of longing for the latter rain and the loud cry in an effort to hide the wolf that would tear and divide the flock, we must not be misled by the sheep’s clothing when the growl of the wolf is still occasionally heard. The dragon cannot forever masquerade as a lamb.

“But men are to be condemned who start out with a proclamation of wonderful light, and yet draw away from the agents whom God is leading. This was the way in which Korah, Dathan, and Abiram did, and their action is recorded as a warning to all others. We are not to do as they have done—accuse and condemn those upon whom God has laid the burden of the work.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 56

As we have looked over some of the various ways of being sifted out, we see that one side of the road to heaven is worldliness—conformity, a drifting away from God’s standards—while on the other side of the road is pharisaical conformity to the standards of reform, yet with the spirit of criticism and self-righteousness.

Can the Blind Lead the Blind?

“And He spoke a parable unto them: ‘Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?’ ” Luke 6:39. If we follow anyone other than Jesus Christ, then we might find that we have fallen into the ditch, and the only question is, in which ditch will you land?

How horrible it would be to be so loyal to a church or doctrine that I would be willing to follow it even if it embraced worldly trends and participated in the wickedness of the world, then to discover that in the crisis hour when the mark of the beast is enforced, that I have lost heaven? Equally as tragic, if, in the name of reform and standing for standards, I become so pharisaical that I pull away from my brothers and sisters who may not agree with me and find myself outside the church of God. Do you think it will matter in the Day of Judgment if you followed a preacher or an elder or a teacher? If you are not following the testimonies of the Holy Spirit and the Bible, you eventually will find yourself not only disloyal to God’s standards, but disloyal to His church as well.

Friend, the devil doesn’t care which of these downward steps you take. His only interest is that you take one, and that you do it so committedly that you ultimately leave God’s church and take up residence in Babylon. He wants you to believe that you are a good Pharisee, all while you criticize and find fault. He wants you to think that food is just something that you need to survive and not something that can control your life, until the decisions you make are no longer those that would lead you to heaven. He wants you to be afraid to fail or too proud to try, instead sitting back in ease, satisfied to have no responsibility at all. The devil wants us to look at, listen to, and see the things of this world until our sinful hearts become so much a part of it, that they no longer yearn for heaven.

There is only one thing that will take us through.

“ ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.’ ” Revelation 3:15–17

This is Jesus’ message to the Laodicean church, to the church of the judgment hour—to you and me. No matter what we think of ourselves, our true condition is pathetic—wretched, miserable, blind, and naked. But Jesus has the answer for us.

“ ‘I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.’ ” Verses 18, 19

That gold is faith and love. If we love Jesus, we will in love cling to His standards no matter who goes against them. Love is the answer—love for God and love toward our fellow man.

“We must come up to a higher plane of action. Let the spirit of Jesus vitalize the souls of the workers. … Do not allow all your strength and energy to be given to worldly, temporal things … . We have not a moment’s time to use selfishly. Let all we do be done with an eye single to the glory of God.” Sabbath-School Worker, July 1, 1885

“In the instruction that Christ gave to His disciples, and to the people of all classes who came to hear His words, there was that which lifted them to a high plane of thought and action. If the words of Christ, instead of the words of men, were given to the learner today, we would see evidences of higher intelligence, a clearer comprehension of heavenly things, a deeper knowledge of God, a purer and more vigorous Christian life.” The Review and Herald, November 7, 1907

“Those who are looking for the Lord soon to come, looking for that wondrous change, when ‘this corruptible shall put on incorruption,’ should in this probationary time be standing upon a higher plane of action.” Counsels to the Church, 169

We must not be satisfied with doing only the minimum requirements in our work of developing perfection of character. God has an infinite purpose for us. He will show the points on which we must improve in order that we may measure up more perfectly with heaven’s high ideals. With a glad heart, we must endeavor to grow every day in grace and in the knowledge of heavenly things. Let us set a quiet example of Christian living that others may follow and let us be ever loyal to God and His church. With one hand we must cling to what our Lord has said through His word and the Spirit of Prophecy, and with the other cling to His true church which He has placed here in this world to carry on His work.

Pastor W. D. Frazee studied the Medical Missionary Course at the College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda, California. In 1942, he began a faith ministry that would become the foundation for the establishment of the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute. Pastor Frazee passed to his rest in 1996.

The Basic Principles of God’s Kingdom

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“Jesus came to this earth … to show us how to live so as to secure life’s best results.” The Ministry of Healing, 365

One of the most foundational principles of the great controversy between Christ and Satan is that the law of God is so basic, so fundamental, that it cannot be changed. It existed when Adam and Eve were created and it will last forever and will never be changed.

“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17

Not a Tittle

The word tittle comes from the Latin and was used to distinguish the letter i from the strokes of other letters nearby. Hence the word means the dot above the lowercase i or j. The Greek word for tittle is keraia, a diacritic (an accent sign) used in Greek writing meaning a hook or serif that looks similar to an apostrophe. The Hebrew letter daleth is made with two strokes of the pen. The tiny extension of the roof line of the letter is a tittle .

Luke 16:17 is one of the strongest statements in the whole of Scripture regarding the permanency of God’s law.

Think about this text. Jesus Himself is speaking. But, you might say, “There are a lot of texts spoken by Jesus in the Bible.” Jesus is the Creator. Just imagine how He created the entire universe and upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebrew 1). And when the Creator says that God’s law will never be changed, then we can be confident that nothing, not one word, not one dot of a letter will be changed.

God’s government has a foundation. The Bible tells us what that foundation is. We find it in the book of Psalms.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.” Psalm 89:14, first part

“For all Your commandments are righteousness.” Psalm 119:172, last part

Paul says, “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Romans 7:12

The words just and righteous come from the same word in Hebrew and Greek. They are synonyms, so you can use just and righteous interchangeably and it would mean the same thing. All of God’s commandments are the definition of just and righteousness and are the very foundation of His government.

The great controversy began because Lucifer wanted God to change His law. Specifically, he wanted Him to change the first commandment. “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:3

The trouble was, Lucifer wanted a place in the Godhead, and God said “No.”

“For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ ” Isaiah 14:13, 14

But Jesus said He would destroy the entire universe before He would allow even a part of a letter of His law to fail. That is strong language, isn’t it?

The Bible says there is one God who has the ability to create and destroy; even the devil will find that out one day soon. We are told that the day is coming when God will destroy Satan and all those who follow him (Malachi 4:1).

The foundation of God’s government, His law, is based on two principles.

The first four commandments explain the first principle—to love God above all, the first and great commandment. And the last six commandments explain the second principle—to live to serve and help others, and to love them, affording to them the same value that God places on me (Matthew 22:34–40).

In simple language, the commandments teach us to love God and our fellow man more than we love ourselves, and that we are called to be servants to both God and man. Christ paid an infinite price to save sinners, all sinners. His painful death on the cross for humanity—no matter how deep in sin we may be—vividly demonstrates the immeasurable, incalculable value Jesus Christ and His Father places on us.

The basic principle of Satan’s kingdom is self-service. That’s it; and if I am living to please myself, to serve myself, to help myself get ahead, even if I call myself a Christian, then in the books of heaven it will be recorded that I am a member of Satan’s kingdom.

Mrs. White wrote many times that when Satan sees people serving themselves, he is satisfied. “They consent to live for the service of self, and Satan is satisfied.” The Desire of Ages, 130

If I am living for myself, I am a member of Satan’s kingdom, and he will be happy.

Conversely, if I love God and my fellow man, living for others and not myself, then it will be recorded in the books of heaven that I am a member of God’s kingdom.

Why Did Jesus Die?

“And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Corinthians 5:15

Jesus died so that you and I could learn how to deny self and live for others.

“ ‘Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.’ ” Matthew 10:34–39

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’ ” Matthew 16:24

Because of our sinful nature, we need specific instruction on this point, otherwise we would never think of this. The principle of the cross is self-denial, denying myself in order to help someone else. Jesus did that. He gave up His throne, power, and glory, and came to this world as a man. God was teaching the principle of self-denial through Jesus’s life here in this world (Counsels on Stewardship, 158; Matthew 19:29).

Born, not in a palace, but in a manger, Christ represented the principle of selflessness—“I gave up everything to save you.”

As one of the poorest men on earth—no money, property, possessions—the only one Jesus had to make provision for was His mother. For Mary’s care, he gave her into the hands of the one person who loved Him so much, knowing that He could trust John the beloved to care for her. With this one precious possession cared for, Jesus was ready to die so that mankind could be saved.

What did He leave behind when He left heaven? Denial requires giving up something. Christ left His throne, His position of leadership, His glory and the praise of angels, the companionship of His Father, to come here to be a man, so that He could know how to help me. He showed me by His life how to live my life, and then He gave up His life—fully separated from His Father and all of heaven—so that I would be able to deny myself and take up my cross and follow Him. After He died and ascended back to heaven, what did Jesus take with Him from this world? Some nail prints, perhaps scars on His forehead, a physical body like ours.

“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” John 12:25, 26

Jesus is saying that if I want to be part of His kingdom, I must understand the basic principles of His kingdom. “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your, soul, and with all your mind.’ … ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Matthew 22:37, 39, last part

In God’s kingdom, love reigns supreme, and love does no harm, it sacrifices, restores, and transforms. But in Satan’s kingdom, self reigns and selfishness abounds.

These two contradictory principles are the basis of the great controversy: the law of love and righteousness, the transcript of the character of God, that could not be changed, and the law of pride and selfishness that would not change.

God knew from eternity that when we fell, when we took on this selfish nature, it would be an uphill battle to overcome selfishness. Mrs. White says that selfishness is sin (The Signs of the Times, April 13, 1891), and it results in self-serving. I may profess to be a Christian, but if I am serving self, it won’t matter what I say, I am a member of Satan’s kingdom. Jesus came to this world and died to save me from the kingdom of selfishness. Will I accept this sacrifice? Will I come to understand that I must surrender my life to the Lord to be broken and converted?

God knows the battle that we must fight, and He is ready to provide strength and encouragement to those who choose to follow the narrow way and fight the battle.

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14

On the broad road, I can serve myself all I please—that is what comes naturally to me. But the broad road is Satan’s kingdom and I will lose my life when I follow that road. If I want to be a part of the kingdom of heaven, only the narrow road, the difficult way leads there, and that is the road I must take. Why is the way difficult and narrow? Because I have to overcome my sinful nature and my desire to serve myself.

God Our Father is Also Our King

It is a wonderful thing to live in America where we have no human king. The idea and desire for a human king came from the devil. But in heaven there is no republic or democracy, no elections to decide who our ruler will be. Heaven is governed by a King who has absolute, albeit benignant, authority.

Lucifer used this principle in his attack against God. He thought that if a king had absolute authority, then he could do whatever he pleases, and Lucifer wanted to do whatever he pleased. He told the angels that if they would join him, they would have absolute liberty, the ability to choose to do whatever they wanted to do.

This was the cause of the great controversy. Lucifer didn’t want to be under the authority of his Father and King. He wanted to be free to do as he pleased, and what would please him was to be a king himself, and so he protested against Jesus and God. He convinced thousands of angels to follow him in his protest. In spite of God’s efforts to win him back, to help him see the pride and selfishness that was developing more and more in his heart, Lucifer remained persistent, and ultimately, God was left with no choice but to expel him, and the angels who followed him, from heaven.

It should move all our hearts to understand what the rest of the universe has known for thousands of years. God, the King of all heaven and earth, with absolute authority, could exercise that authority to do whatever pleased Him. And what pleased the God of heaven and earth? To allow His Son to come into this world, to live a life of self-denial and self-sacrifice, and to finally die on the cross to save me.

Once Satan reached this world, he started telling people that if they would join his government, they could do whatever they wanted. Because man had inherited, since the fall of Adam, a selfish and sinful nature, that sounded great. It was the temptation in the garden of Eden and it is still the temptation today. Satan teaches that if I want to do something I shouldn’t, I should just do it, and that I can do it for my whole life, confess, and do it again … and still be saved. He says I can do as I please and still go to heaven. But that is a lie, a delusion, cooked up in the devil’s kitchen, and it is contrary to the law of God.

People wonder how they can ever resist the draw of their own selfish nature and the temptations that Satan brings to them every day. God knew these awful temptations would come. He provides encouragement through His word and this gives us faith and strength to overcome. We need only believe.

“ ‘To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.’ ” Revelation 2:7, last part

“ ‘He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.’ ” Revelation 3:5

“ ‘To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.’ ” Revelation 3:21

“ ‘He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’ ” Revelation 21:7

God says, “If you will choose to love Me with all your heart, soul, mind, and spirit, to serve and follow Me, to walk the narrow path, if you will deny self and love and serve your fellow man, if you will, by the power and grace I offer, overcome temptation and sin in the name of Jesus Christ, then I will send the Holy Spirit to work a miraculous transformation in your life, and I will give you the gift of eternal life. And for all your sacrifice in this life, I will repay you a hundredfold.”

Eternal life is a gift. You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. You can’t take it by force. The devil will tell you that if you follow the Lord, you will lose all these things, worldly things. You won’t have fame or money, power, popularity. You won’t be able to do what you want to do nor can you do it with whomever you want to do it. Satan says that if you follow God, you will lose your freedom, but this, too, is a lie. God offers freedom from sin, freedom from the selfishness that rules your nature. Satan offers only slavery. God offers eternal life and compensation for what you sacrificed for Him. Satan offers only death.

How Do I Gain the Mastery Over Self?

Denying self is hard. There is nothing in the world that I will ever be asked to do that is more difficult. So how do I gain the mastery over my sinful nature? How do I continue to walk the narrow way? How do I keep from backsliding?

A backslider is a person who has been following God, but has slipped back to serving him or herself. They started up the narrow way, they were serving God and their fellow man, and they intended to always do so. But the devil came and flashed a shiny new temptation before them, and while they believed they couldn’t be tempted, they were, and they yielded to that temptation. When you go back to serving yourself, you have become a backslider.

We are living in a time when there are more backsliders than ever before, many of whom may not even realize they have backslidden. But we have a pattern that God’s word says we can follow with confidence. Jesus Christ is our pattern—the way we must follow, the truth in which we can place our confidence, the life we receive when we obey and trust Him. The shaking time is here. Will we stay true to God? Will we follow the pattern that Jesus has given us to follow?

“Jesus came to this earth to accomplish the greatest work ever accomplished among men. He came as God’s ambassador, to show us how to live so as to secure life’s best results.” The Ministry of Healing, 365

So, if that is what Jesus came for, then shouldn’t we be studying the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to receive the lessons that we need in order to follow Jesus’ pattern?

If I am going to take a trip to a place I’ve never been before, I will take out a map and plan out the roads I need to follow. It is the same with following Jesus’ pattern. I can’t know how to follow it if I don’t have directions.

“The life of Christ that gives life to the world is in His word. It was by His word that Jesus healed disease and cast out demons; by His word He stilled the sea, and raised the dead; and the people bore witness that His word was with power. He spoke the word of God, as He had spoken through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament. The whole Bible is a manifestation of Christ, and the Saviour desired to fix the faith of His followers on the word. When His visible presence should be withdrawn, the word must be their source of power. Like their Master, they were to live ‘by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4

“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 the Holy Spirit, that we may understand His word. We should take one verse, and concentrate the mind on the task of ascertaining the thought which God has put in that verse for us. We should dwell upon the thought until it becomes our own, and we know ‘what saith the Lord.’

“In His promises and warnings, Jesus means me. God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that I by believing in Him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. The experiences related in God’s word are to be my experiences. Prayer and promise, precept and warning, are mine. ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.’ Galatians 2:20. As faith thus receives and assimilates the principles of truth, they become a part of the being and the motive power of the life. The word of God, received into the soul, molds the thoughts, and enters into the development of character.

“By looking constantly to Jesus with the eye of faith, we shall be strengthened. God will make the most precious revelations to His hungering, thirsting people. They will find that Christ is a personal Saviour. As they feed upon His word, they find that it is spirit and life. The word destroys the natural, earthly nature, and imparts a new life in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit comes to the soul as a Comforter. By the transforming agency of His grace, the image of God is reproduced in the disciple; he becomes a new creature. Love takes the place of hatred, and the heart receives the divine similitude. This is what it means to live ‘by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’ ” The Desire of Ages, 390, 391

Mrs. White isn’t talking about a cursory reading: this verse today, and another verse tomorrow. The Lord has instructed her to tell us that we must read the Scriptures and the words of Inspiration, and pray for understanding, daily, until the principles of truth have been assimilated into our lives. We are told to commit each word to memory, not to just memorize the words, but to fill our minds and hearts with their inspired meanings until there is no room for the world.

“The Old and the New Testament Scriptures need to be studied daily. The knowledge of God and the wisdom of God come to the student who is a constant learner of His ways and works. The Bible is to be our light, our educator.” Messages to Young People, 189

I loved to read as a child. I read so much, I believe I might have read myself into near-sightedness and had to start wearing glasses early in my life. As a teenager, I continued to read and I determined that I wanted to read the Bible and all the Spirit of Prophecy books I could, memorizing as much as my mind would hold. Later when I became a pastor, I learned to read the Bible in both Greek and Hebrew. I have to read more slowly in Greek and Hebrew, but I have found that, for me, in reading more slowly in any language, I have better comprehension of what the Lord is trying to tell me.

All of us in these last days—particularly our youth—should start a program of studying the life of Jesus Christ every day. This would involve reading the Gospels and The Desire of Ages.

“It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones.” The Desire of Ages, 83

Which Kingdom

We must learn the difference between God’s kingdom of love and Satan’s kingdom of selfishness. The primary principle of Satan’s kingdom is “me.” The primary principle of God’s kingdom is love for God and self-denial as demonstrated by loving service to others and by denying self.

One day very soon, heaven is going to be filled with people who lived on this earth to help and bless others just as Jesus did. No one who puts “me” first will be there. Only those who have struggled against their sinful nature and overcome by following after the pattern left by Jesus will be there.

Which kingdom will you be a part of?

 Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

No Excuse

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Years ago, there was a comedian who portrayed a character that would often say, “The devil made me do it!” The character used this as an excuse for having done things that they knew they shouldn’t do. How many of us use the same excuse, whether we realize it or not? It seemed funny when spoken as part of the comedian’s skit, but there is nothing funny about sin or making excuses for it.

The Bible tells us that none of us is good, not one (Psalm 14:3), that the human heart seeks only to do evil (Genesis 6:5). Why is mankind so bad? Because our first parents chose to believe a lie rather than to trust in their Creator, and as a consequence they were changed and sin entered the world. This is made clear in the Spirit of Prophecy, “The beginning of yielding to temptation is in the sin of permitting the mind to waver, to be inconsistent in your trust in God. The wicked one is ever watching for a chance to misrepresent God and to attract the mind to that which is forbidden.” Mind, Character and Personality, Vol. 1, 31

God had created Adam and Eve in His own image, to be like Him. But disobedience changed them, and their nature became selfish and proud, self-serving and rebellious. Since this change in man’s nature, he naturally is, and seeks to do, evil. Man’s natural sinful tendencies lead him to pursue, nurture, just plain work hard at developing cultivated sins—things such as drinking alcohol, gambling, breaking the Sabbath, adultery, covetousness, jealousy, conceit, pride, and many other things.

James 1:14 describes it this way: “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” Since Adam and Eve sinned, each subsequent generation is born to want to do evil and Satan is more than happy to help us continue living that way. “Why is there so much misery and suffering in the world today? Is it because God loves to see His creatures miserable? Oh, no! It is because the immoral habits of man have weakened his physical, mental, and moral powers.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 9, 234

Satan has at his disposal a large arsenal that he uses against us with great effectiveness. To begin with, he hates God. God loves us so much that He gave His Son to save us, so consequently, Satan hates us, too. He will do anything and use any means to keep us under his control. He deceives, lies, manipulates, promises, accuses, forces, berates, insinuates, demeans, and tempts. He has spent the last 6,000 years mastering the art of temptation and wielding the other weapons in his armory.

“If he can, he will fasten the mind upon the things of the world. He will endeavor to excite the emotions, to arouse the passions, to fasten the affections on that which is not for your good; but it is for you to hold every emotion and passion under control, in calm subjection to reason and conscience. Then Satan loses his power to control the mind.” Mind, Character and Personality, Vol. 1, 31

First of all, let’s look at what sin is not. Temptation is not sin. You can be tempted all day long, but if you do not yield to temptation, then you have not sinned. Yielding to temptation is sinning.

How many times have you thought your life was all but wasted because of all the sinful things you have done, the wrong choices you have made, the many times you have turned to do your desires rather than to follow God? A hundred times? A thousand? How many times have you thought, “How in the world can God even want me after all I’ve done?” That’s devil talk. Satan is telling you that God cannot love you because you are too bad.

Read the following quotation carefully and, maybe, read it again, “The strongest temptation is no excuse for sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to sin. The will must consent, the heart must yield, or passion cannot overbear reason, nor iniquity triumph over righteousness.” Maranatha, 225

Did you get that? You cannot be compelled to sin against your will! You can’t even blame it on the devil. If you or I sin, it is a result of our own action.

“It is not because there is any flaw in the title which has been purchased for you that you do not accept it. It is not because the mercy, the grace, the love of the Father and the Son is not ample, and has not been freely bestowed, that you do not rejoice in pardoning love. … If you are lost, it will be because you will not come unto Christ that you might have life.” Our Father Cares, 92

“ ‘According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.’ Then if you are lost, you will be left without excuse.” Peter’s Counsel to Parents, 11

“Temptation is not sin unless it is cherished. Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, will fill the soul with peace and abiding trust. ‘When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him’ [Isaiah 59:19].” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 2, 343

The devil knows us very well. He knows how to tempt us and he will find every possible way to do it. I grew up watching television—what we called good, wholesome family shows in those days—kid shows, nature shows, and family movies. However, as I got older I began to watch other programs. This opened a whole Pandora’s box of worldly things to see and hear and wonder about. There was hardly a day that went by that the TV wasn’t on in my house, even if I wasn’t watching it. I used the excuse that it provided me with company.

The negative influence that TV programs and movies have had on my life is incalculable. So many of my likes and dislikes, the things that drove many of my decisions in life can, to a large degree, be traced back to the hours and hours I spent watching television. All of these did their work over the years to diminish my desire for prayer and Bible study, and also provided the devil with fertile material to use against me. “Decisions may be made in a moment that fix one’s condition forever. … But remember, it would take the work of a lifetime to recover what a moment of yielding to temptation and thoughtlessness throws away.” My Life Today, 322. Think of all the days and hours thrown away that can never be retrieved again and how much work is now required in order to recover.

“By a momentary act of will you may place yourself in the power of Satan, but it will require more than a momentary act of will to break his fetters and reach for a higher, holier life. The purpose may be formed, the work begun, but its accomplishment will require toil, time, and perseverance, patience, and sacrifice. The man who deliberately wanders from God in the full blaze of light will find, when he wishes to set his face to return, that briars and thorns have grown up in his path, and he must not be surprised or discouraged if he is compelled to travel long with torn and bleeding feet. The most fearful and most to be dreaded evidence of man’s fall from a better state is the fact that it costs so much to get back. The way of return can be gained only by hard fighting, inch by inch, every hour.” Ibid.

These are all sobering thoughts and quotations, but my purpose for this writing is not to discourage or cause anguish of heart. Yes, we are tempted. Yes, we have yielded, but, praise God, we don’t have to yield. “There is no excuse for man to remain in transgression and sin, because strength has been provided for him in Jesus, that he may overcome. The God of heaven Himself is working by His Spirit.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 9, 233. Imagine! God Himself is working on your behalf to make us strong enough to resist temptation.

Christ came to this world to pay the penalty for sins on behalf of every man, woman, and child, but He also came to live the very life that God has promised to every man. God doesn’t just say, “Do this.” Or “Be this.” No. He says I have shown you the way, walk in it. I have provided everything you will need, including My promise that you will be able to do it (Christ’s Object Lessons, 333).

“Not only did Christ give explicit rules showing how we may become obedient children, but He showed us in His own life and character just how to do those things which are right and acceptable with God, so there is no excuse why we should not do those things which are pleasing in His sight. …

“In Him was found the perfect ideal. To reveal this ideal as the only true standard for attainment; to show what every human being might become; what, through the indwelling of humanity by divinity, all who received Him would become—for this, Christ came to the world. He came to show how men are to be trained as befits the sons of God; how on earth they are to practice the principles and to live the life of heaven.” Our Father Cares, 310

“We are ever to be thankful that Jesus has proved to us by actual facts that man can keep the commandments of God, giving contradiction to Satan’s falsehood that man cannot keep them. The Great Teacher came to our world to stand at the head of humanity, to thus elevate and sanctify humanity by His holy obedience to all of God’s requirements showing it is possible to obey all the commandments of God. He has demonstrated that a lifelong obedience is possible. Thus He gives men to the world, as the Father gave the Son, to exemplify in their life the life of Jesus Christ.” Lift Him Up, 170

Some have said that Christ did this because He was God. But if Jesus had had a single advantage that is not available to us, how could we follow what He says, live as He lived?

“We need not place the obedience of Christ by itself as something for which He was particularly adapted, by His particular divine nature, for He stood before God as man’s representative and [was] tempted as man’s substitute and surety. If Christ had a special power which it is not the privilege of man to have, Satan would have made capital of this matter. The work of Christ was to take from the claims of Satan his control of man, and He could do this only in the way that He came—a man, tempted as a man, rendering the obedience of a man.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 340

“Our Lord was tempted as man is tempted. He was capable of yielding to temptations, as are human beings. His finite nature was pure and spotless, but the divine nature that led Him to say to Philip, ‘He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father’ also, was not humanized; neither was humanity deified by the blending or union of the two natures; each retained its essential character and properties.

“The divine nature, combined with the human, made Him capable of yielding to Satan’s temptations. Here the test to Christ was far greater than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God. To suppose He was not capable of yielding to temptation places Him where He cannot be a perfect example for man, and the force and the power of this part of Christ’s humiliation, which is the most eventful, is no instruction or help to human beings.” Ibid., Vol. 16, 182, 183

“Obedience is the outgrowth and fruit of oneness with Christ and the Father. …

“Bear in mind that Christ’s overcoming and obedience is that of a true human being. In our conclusions, we make many mistakes because of our erroneous views of the human nature of our Lord. When we give, to His human nature, a power that it is not possible for man to have in his conflicts with Satan, we destroy the completeness of His humanity. His imputed grace and power He gives to all who receive Him by faith. The obedience of Christ to His Father was the same obedience that is required of man.” Ibid., Vol. 6, 340, 341

Wait, I am to give the same obedience to God as Christ gave? How is that possible?

“Man cannot overcome Satan’s temptations without divine power to combine with his instrumentality. So with Jesus Christ, He could lay hold of divine power. He came not to our world to give the obedience of a lesser God to a greater, but as a man to obey God’s holy law, and in this way He is our example.

“The Lord Jesus came to our world, not to reveal what a God could do, but what a man could do, through faith in God’s power to help in every emergency. Man is, through faith, to be a partaker in the divine nature, and to overcome every temptation wherewith he is beset. The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam through faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in human nature which we now have.

“The Lord Jesus has bridged the gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, could only keep the commandments of God, in the same way that humanity can keep them. ‘Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.’ 2 Peter 1:4. …

“… by thinking and talking of Jesus we become charmed with His character, and by faith we become changed from character to character. ‘And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.’ … We must practice the example of Christ, bearing in mind His Sonship and His humanity. It was not God that was tempted in the wilderness, nor a god that was to endure the contradiction of sinners against himself. It was the Majesty of heaven who became a man—humbled Himself to our human nature.” Ibid., 341, 342

Because of the example set forth in the life of Jesus Christ we “need not retain one sinful propensity. …

“Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. …

“By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.

“Through the plan of redemption, God has provided means for subduing every sinful trait, and resisting every temptation, however strong.

“The strongest temptation is no excuse for sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to sin. The will must consent, the heart must yield, or passion cannot overbear reason, nor iniquity triumph over righteousness. …

“As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, daily partaking of His nature, we cooperate with God in overcoming Satan’s temptations. God works, and man works, that man may be one with Christ as Christ is one with God. Then we sit together with Christ in heavenly places. The mind rests with peace and assurance in Jesus.” Maranatha, 225

“By faith and prayer all may meet the requirements of the gospel. No man can be forced to transgress. His own consent must be first gained; the soul must purpose the sinful act, before passion can dominate over reason, or iniquity triumph over conscience. Temptation, however strong, is no excuse for sin.” The Signs of the Times, February 8, 1883

“The work to which Christ calls us is to the work of progressive conquest over spiritual evil in our characters. Natural tendencies are to be overcome. … Appetite and passion must be conquered, and the will must be placed wholly on the side of Christ.” The Review and Herald, June 14, 1892

Friends, this is good news. Never again do you have to feel like a failure. Never again do you have to believe that you are too great a sinner and therefore are unable to change. Never again will the devil be able to say that you are his.

“If you will stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Emmanuel, faithfully doing His service, you need never yield to temptation; for One stands by your side who is able to keep you from falling.” Maranatha, 225

David is an example of one who was tempted, and who yielded with grave and horrible consequences. When darkness was brought upon his soul by his sins with Bathsheba and his desire to have her at all cost, he offered no excuse. Immediately, he accepted responsibility for what he had done and the painful results that would follow.

“David awakens as from a dream. He feels the sense of his sin. He does not seek to excuse his course, or palliate his sin, as did Saul; but with remorse and sincere grief, he bows his head before the prophet of God, and acknowledges his guilt. …” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 2, 1023

Christ met Satan, a defeated foe, and prevailed. “The humanity of Christ received the fallen foe and engaged in battle with him. He was sustained in the conflict by divine power just as man will be sustained by his being a partaker of the divine nature. He gained victory after victory as our Champion, the Captain of our salvation … .

“All heaven rejoiced because humanity, the workmanship of God, was placed in an elevated scale with God by the signal victory gained. Christ was more than conqueror, leaving the way open that man may be more than conqueror through Christ’s merits, because He loved him. …” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 183, 184

“Temptation and trial will come to us all, but we need never be worsted by the enemy. Our Saviour has conquered in our behalf. Satan is not invincible. … Christ was tempted that He might know how to help every soul that should afterward be tempted. Temptation is not sin; the sin lies in yielding. To the soul who trusts in Jesus, temptation means victory and greater strength.” Our High Calling, 87

Do you want to walk with Jesus in truth and righteousness? Then claim the promise “It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel anyone to sin.” It is in the time of trial and temptation that we are able to measure our faith in God and the firmness of our character.

“Do not say, ‘It is impossible for me to overcome.’ Do not say, ‘It is my nature to do thus and so, and I cannot do otherwise. I have inherited weaknesses that make me powerless before temptation.’ In your own strength you cannot overcome, but help has been laid upon One that is mighty. …

“God has given His Holy Spirit as a power sufficient to subdue all your hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong-doing. By yielding the mind to the control of the Spirit, you will grow into the likeness of God’s perfect character, and will become an instrumentality through which He can reveal His mercy, His goodness and His love.

“Whatever may be your defects, the Holy Spirit will reveal them, and grace will be given you to overcome. Through the merits of the blood of Christ you may be a conqueror, yes, more than a conqueror. Will you who read these words resolve never again to excuse your defects of character by saying, ‘It is my way’? Let no one again declare, ‘I cannot change my natural habits and tendencies.’ Let the truth be admitted into the soul, and it will work to sanctify the character.” The Youth’s Instructor, October 2, 1902

“All the satanic legions cannot injure you unless you open your soul to the arts and arrows of Satan. Your ruin can never take place until your will consents. If there is not pollution of mind in yourself, all the surrounding pollution cannot taint or defile you.” Our Father Cares, 96, 97

“I must continually have my strength in God. My dependence must not waiver. No human agency must come between my soul and my God. The Lord is our only hope. In Him I trust, and He will never, no never, fail me.” That I May Know Him, 266

Judy Rebarchek is the managing editor of the LandMarks magazine. She may be contacted by email at: judyrebarchek@stepstolife.org