Editorial

Inheritance

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Inheritance is a wonderful thing. Some people are geniuses because of what they inherited. Inheritance is also an awful thing. Some people must be taken care of like infants for their entire lifetime because of what they inherited. Some babies die before or shortly after they are born because their inherited physical or mental defects make it impossible for their body to survive.

Not only do we inherit physical and mental qualities but we inherit spiritual qualities. This is something that many Christians, including many theologians, seem not to understand. However, Job understood something about this subject and he discusses it in some detail in Job 13 and 14. He said, “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. … Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!” Job 14:1, 4

“The law of God is the standard of character; it is the expression of the character of God Himself. It was given to Adam and Eve in Eden. God planted for them this beautiful garden, and supplied their every want. Was it too much to ask them to respond to all His love and care by obedience to His righteous law, which, if kept, would have secured to them happiness, peace, and joy forever?

“God gave our first parents a pure and upright character, in harmony with His law; and had they remained obedient, they would have bequeathed the same character to their posterity. But they listened to Satan’s specious temptations, and transgressed this holy law, and the result was death. And the sons and daughters of Adam, instead of coming into the world, as God first made man, righteous and heirs of eternal life, have been the victims of sin and death and woe. This is the result of the transgression of God’s law in Eden.” The Bible Echo, July 29, 1895 [Emphasis supplied for clarity.]

The common use of the word bequeath is “to give or leave to another by last will and testament. Example: to bequeath an estate.” But this is not the only definition of bequeath. It also has the following dictionary definition and is used in this sense by Ellen White in the above paragraph—“to hand down, to give by inheritance.”

If Adam and Eve had never sinned, all of their posterity would have inherited a perfect body, mind, and character. However, because of their sin in Eden, all of their posterity are born in sin, and they are doomed to die by inheritance. They are also the inheritors of many other woes that are common in mankind today. Mrs. White writes, “Sorrow filled heaven, as it was realized that man was lost and the world that God created was to be filled with mortals doomed to misery, sickness, and death, and that there was no way of escape for the offender! The whole family of Adam must die.” Early Writings, 127

Your Nature Can Be Changed

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It is only the overcomer who at last will receive a crown and eternal life.(See Revelation 21:5-7; 1 John 5:4, 18.)

All must overcome sin if they are to have eternal life, but there are many who become discouraged, believing they cannot overcome because they inherited evil tendencies (propensities) from Adam; tendencies they cannot change. Consequently, overcoming is not possible for them, or so they say. However, Inspiration tells us it is possible.

“You may claim much leniency because of your human nature, of your temptations and trials, and seek to excuse yourself for sin because of inherited tendencies, but Christ gave Himself in behalf of humanity, and there is no reason for failure. Christ bore temptations such as you will never be called upon to bear. He suffered as you will never suffer. He knew all your griefs, He has carried your sorrows. He has made it possible for you to be an overcomer. Do not say it is impossible for you 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.’ We know you cannot overcome in your own strength; but help has been laid upon One who is mighty to save. When God gave His only begotten Son, He provided everything essential to your salvation. … The resources of heaven are open to us. We should believe this precious truth. And when the enemy comes in like a flood to discourage and to dishearten, the Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him. … All heaven was poured out to us in Christ, and He that spared not His own Son will not withhold any good thing from those who walk uprightly.” The Upward Look, 154

The true child of God will be made free of every defect of character by the blood of the Lamb and the transforming power of God. And it is the privilege of every believer to possess Christ’s nature. Jesus spoke of this change in the human heart when He said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see (discern) the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

“The blessings of salvation are for every soul. Nothing but his own choice can prevent any man from becoming a partaker of the promise in Christ by the gospel.” Conflict and Courage, 297

A Good Conscience

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In a letter written during his imprisonment in Rome, the Apostle Paul asked the Christian Jews to “Pray for us; for we are confident that we have a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably.” Hebrews 13:18

To a wicked Roman governor Paul wrote, “This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.” Acts 24:16

Human authorities that make laws to restrict religious liberty assume a right that belongs to God alone. (See The Desire of Ages, 630.) “The precepts of the Scriptures, conveyed through the understanding, are to rule the conscience; … God speaking in the Bible, and not the church speaking through the priesthood, is the one infallible guide.” The Great Controversy, 102

The way to have a good conscience is to become, by the grace of God, a holy person:

“The true Christian obtains an experience which brings holiness. He is without a spot of guilt upon the conscience or a taint of corruption upon the soul. The spirituality of the law of God, with its limiting principles, is brought into his life. The light of truth irradiates his understanding. A glow of perfect love for the Redeemer clears away the miasma which has interposed between his soul and God. The will of God has become his will, pure, elevated, refined, and sanctified. His countenance reveals the light of heaven. His body is a fit temple for the Holy Spirit. Holiness adorns his character. God can commune with him, for soul and body are in harmony with God.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, 909

If we are to be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus, our conscience must be cleansed, just as the sanctuary had to be cleansed.

“For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 9:13, 14

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22, 23

Do You Always Tell the Truth?

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When Jesus described Satan’s character, He specified two chief characteristics—he was a murderer and a liar.

“You [the Jewish leaders] are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44, 45

Lying has become so commonplace that people do not believe those in high positions in the church, in business, or in government because they have been lied to so many times. You may have caught someone in your family, church, school, or workplace in a lie.

Lying isn’t always telling a “whopper,” an outright, bald-faced lie—like the man or woman involved in an adulterous relationship, and when suspicion falls on them they deny, deny, and deny. That’s an outright lie. But there is also the “little white lie” that intends to deceive. “The check’s in the mail,” but it hasn’t been written.

Before you succumb to this most successful temptation of the devil, read Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:15. The Lord warns us that no liar will be in the kingdom of heaven.

God hates lying. Satan deceived one-third of the angels in heaven by lying, causing the first war—in heaven (Revelation 12:7-9). And by telling a series of lies, Satan deceived Eve, bringing sickness, pain, suffering, and death to the inhabitants of this world.

In Proverbs 6, we find the seven things that God hates. Two specifically involve lying, while the other five are almost always involved with lying.

“An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. This precept forbids every effort to injure our neighbor’s reputation by misrepresentation or evil surmising, by slander or tale bearing. Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 309

One of the greatest joys of following Jesus is that He always tells the truth, for “it is impossible for God to lie.” Hebrews 6:18

All That Is Hidden Will Be Revealed

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Today, because of increased technology, we can locate, apprehend, and prosecute criminals who, even 50 years ago, would have remained at large for years. DNA, fingerprint, gun databases, facial recognition software, and behavioral analysis, combined with the worldwide web, are used by law enforcement agencies around the globe to catch criminals guilty of any number of crimes. However, in spite of all this knowledge and technology, some of the greatest crimes, to this day, remain unsolved.

What is possibly the greatest crime in America during the 20th century was the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. This crime was committed in public, in broad daylight, with thousands of people watching—some lining the cavalcade route, others watching on television. The press took pictures and filmed the event; citizens lining the street took home movies and snapshots. Yet, still to this day, the truth regarding this assassination remains hidden. How does this happen?

In his book, JFK Conspiracy of Silence, Charles A. Crenshaw, M.D., one of the attending physicians on duty on November 22, 1963, at Parkland Hospital in Dallas when President Kennedy arrived in their emergency room, writes the following:

“ ‘I have nothing to add. Now, if you would excuse me.’ With that, I turned and threaded my way through the crowd of people toward the emergency room. At that moment, I entered the conspiracy of silence. I wasn’t asked or told to do so, nor was any overt pressure ever placed upon me. I was acting from an instinctive survival feeling … . To do otherwise would equal saying … ‘Oswald didn’t shoot him in the head because the President was shot from the front.’ None of us doctors were willing to do that. … I reasoned that anyone that would go so far as to eliminate the President of the United States would surely not hesitate to kill a doctor.” Conspiracy of Silence, 152–154

Whether this crime remains unsolved or has been solved and the details merely kept hidden from the public, a day is coming when everything hidden will be revealed.

So here is the question we must ask ourselves: “Is there anything I have hidden away that must be confessed?” If so, I must make it right before probation closes. Otherwise, it will be publically revealed when it is too late for me to be forgiven, and I will be doomed, lost forever.

Now is the time to make things right, friend. Don’t wait until it is too late.

How Can These Things Be?

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What does it mean to be born again? Christians often ponder this question, seeking a deeper understanding. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” John 3:5. He also told him not to be surprised by His words, but Nicodemus still wondered, “How can these things be?” Verse 9

When born into this world, we are born of the flesh—our natural, carnal nature (the will of man). As a result, every human being has failed to keep the law of God (Romans 3:23). And because of this inheritance, we are sold under sin (Romans 7:14), are at enmity with God (James 4:4), and cannot keep the law of God, even if we wanted to because our carnal nature prevents it. However, obedience is a requirement for receiving the gift of salvation.

The Holy Spirit speaks to my carnal heart, enabling me to see my unfaithfulness and disobedience to my heavenly Father. This personal journey of realization and repentance is a deeply introspective and contemplative process. I can see that Christ came to this world to bear my sins on the cross, and I can see just how sinful I am and how much I have hurt my Best Friend. Sorrowful and remorseful, I cry out, as did Paul, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Romans 7:24

“Such is the cry that has gone up from burdened hearts in all lands and all ages. To all, there is but one answer, ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ John 1:29.” The Faith I Live By, 96

The first step in the Christian life is repentance, which allows the Holy Spirit to produce in me a new life that is obedient to God, believes in Jesus as my personal Saviour, and commits my life to His sovereignty (The Desire of Ages, 175). Only then am I truly born again.

“I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8

Imagination

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Imagination is a beautiful, yet terrifying thing.

When it is too late to be saved, most of this world’s population will experience the awful realization that they are irretrievably lost. No longer will there be a sacrifice for sins. They will die in their sins, alone, never to awaken. Imagine waking up one day to find probation for the human race has ended, and you are not saved.

However, the Bible prophets give us these warnings so that this will not be our experience:

“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved!” Jeremiah 8:20

“Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 18:31

“Say to them: ‘As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ ” Ezekiel 33:11

The apostle Paul warns us against procrastination:

“For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.’ ” 2 Corinthians 6:2

“Again He designates a certain day, saying in David, ‘Today,’ after such a long time, as it has been said: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’ ” Hebrews 4:7

Multitudes are in the “valley of decision” (Joel 3:14), and all those who remain too long in the valley of decision will die there.

“There are some who seem to be always seeking for the heavenly pearl. But they do not make an entire surrender of their wrong habits. They do not die to self that Christ may live in them. Therefore, they do not find the precious pearl. They have not overcome unholy ambition and their love for worldly attractions. They do not take up the cross and follow Christ in the path of self-denial and sacrifice. Almost Christians, yet not fully Christians, they seem near the kingdom of heaven, but they cannot enter there. Almost but not wholly saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 118

Almost Saved

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On a Friday afternoon in 1985, a jumbo jet, flying from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, was on approach to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport during a violent thunderstorm. It was approaching under Instrument File Rules (IFR) because of the bad weather. Air traffic control asked the pilot to reduce his speed to 137 knots because the jet was gaining too quickly on a Learjet ahead of him struggling with the weather. As the jet neared the runway only a few hundred feet above the ground, a violent downdraft slammed the jet toward the ground. While it plowed up a field with its landing gear, the pilot was able to gain control and lift the jet into the air a few feet off the ground, flying it level toward the runway which now was in sight.

The jet was off course several feet sideways for a straight-on approach to the runway. Two water tanks stood on one side of the runway. The jet—had it been on a straight course to the runway—would have harmlessly flown past them. But because it was off course and so near to the ground, the wing collided with the tanks, spinning the entire aircraft around and breaking it in two. The 100+ passengers sitting in the front half, along with the flight and cabin crews, were killed.

The pilot was very experienced and skillful. He had decades of experience and thousands of hours of flight time, and because of his skill and despite the thunderstorm, he had gained control of the aircraft and made for the runway.

The jet was actually over the airport when the accident happened, so close to a safe and uneventful landing. The pilot, the passengers could see their destination, but most of them never made it there alive.

You and I are approaching a storm. “We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages.” Last Day Events, 12. Many professed Christians will lose their lives in this storm, not just their temporal lives but eternal life.

“Almost but not wholly saved, means to be not almost but wholly lost.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 118

Don’t let it happen to you.

Reproduction

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Reproduction has been part of God’s plan from the beginning (Genesis 1:28; 9:1).

Jesus said to His disciples, “ ‘By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit. … I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain.’ ” John 15:8, 16

Jesus speaks here of the spiritual reproduction of the divine character in other human beings. When I am connected with Christ, then His life will flow through me to those around me, and His character will then be reproduced in others. It is the privilege of every Christian to be a coworker with Jesus in this work. (See John 15.)

“Tell the people of Him who is ‘the Chiefest among ten thousand,’ and the One ‘altogether lovely.’ The Song of Solomon 5:10, 16. Words alone cannot tell it. Let it be reflected in the character and manifested in the life. Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple. Everyone God has predestinated to be ‘conformed to the image of His Son.’ Romans 8:29. In everyone, Christ’s long-suffering love, His holiness, meekness, mercy, and truth are to be manifested to the world. …

“The Saviour longs to manifest His grace and stamp His character on the whole world. It is His purchased possession, and He desires to make men free, and pure, and holy. Though Satan works to hinder this purpose, yet through the blood shed for the world there are triumphs to be achieved that will bring glory to God and the Lamb. Christ will not be satisfied till the victory is complete, and ‘He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied.’ Isaiah 53:11. All the nations of the earth shall hear the gospel of His grace. Not all will receive His grace; but ‘a seed shall serve Him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.’ Psalm 22:30.” The Desire of Ages, 826–828

“Christ is seeking to reproduce Himself in the hearts of men; and He does this through those who believe in Him. The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing—the reproduction of Christ’s character in the believer, that it may be reproduced in others.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 67

God’s Test Question

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While in school, listening to lectures and doing laboratory assignments, you are collecting in your mind the data and questions that you think the professor might ask on a test, and you store these items in your memory so that you will be ready to pass the course.

Our entire life in this world is simply a course of study for which we will be tested before the end of the world. The test will be concerning the law of God. In the final judgment, only one question will be asked—Did this person keep the law or not? The one-word answer will determine your eternal destiny.

The apostle James says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10. If you break even one of the commandments, you are a lawbreaker. There is a single point that will be most under attack in the law of God.

The fourth commandment is the longest, most-detailed commandment of the ten. This commandment alone tells us explicitly who the author of the law is and why He has such authority. God has also used it as an outward sign or seal so that the whole universe will know who His people are. (See Ezekiel 20; Isaiah 8; and Exodus 31.) It also directs us to rest on the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday), keeping His day holy and refraining from any work. In keeping all of God’s law, and specifically the Sabbath day, we show to the universe that we are God’s people.

The Bible tells us explicitly that in the last days God’s people will be commandment keepers (Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12) and that the commandment breakers will eventually be destroyed (Revelation 14:9-12; Revelation 21:8, 27; Revelation 22:15; Matthew 7:21-23).

So friend, where do you stand today? Are you on God’s side of the great controversy or are you at present on the devil’s side. Obedience or disobedience—what does your life show?

“Be sure the Sabbath is a test question, and how you treat this question, places you either on God’s side or Satan’s side. The mark of the beast is to be presented in some shape to every institution and every individual.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 477