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God’s Plan to Finance His Work

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Treasure in Heaven

August 31 – September 6, 2025

Key Text

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

Study Help: Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, 571–575, 645, 646; The Review and Herald, May 9, 1893

Introduction

“God has made men His stewards. The property which He has placed in their hands is the means that He has provided for the spread of the gospel.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 529

Sunday

1 A WORK FOR EVERYONE

1.a. What is God’s method of perfecting and uniting His scattered sheep? Ephesians 4:11–16. How does this involve a duty and privilege for every believer? 1 Corinthians 3:7, 8

 

Note: “In sending forth His ministers our Saviour gave gifts unto men, for through them He communicates to the world the words of eternal life. This is the means which God has ordained for the perfecting of the saints in knowledge and true holiness.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 237

“The Lord has made the proclamation of the gospel dependent on the consecrated ability and the voluntary gifts and offerings of His people. While He has called men to preach the word, He has made it the privilege of the whole church to share in the work by contributing of their means to its support.” In Heavenly Places, 303

1.b.      In what way do the “Macedonian cries” of today require something from each of us, and how are we thus blessed? Acts 16:9, 10

 

Note: “Each one should strive to do for Jesus all that it is possible for him to do, by personal effort, by gifts, by sacrifices. There should be meat in the house of the Lord, and that means a full treasury, that responses may be made to Macedonian cries coming from every land. How pitiful it is that we are obliged to say to these who cry for help, ‘We cannot send you men or money. We have an empty treasury.’ ” Counsels on Stewardship, 298

“We are to place in the Lord’s treasury all the means that we can spare. For this means, needy, unworked fields are calling. From many lands is sounding the cry, ‘Come over … and help us.’ Our church members should feel a deep interest in home and foreign missions. Great blessings will come to them as they make self-sacrificing efforts to plant the standard of truth in new territory. The money invested in this work will bring rich returns.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, 49

Monday

2 LEARNING GOD’S WAY

2.a. What sin did Nadab and Abihu commit that resulted in their instant deaths by a fiery judgment? Leviticus 10:1–3, 9

 

Note: “Where, in God’s directions for the support of His work, do we find any mention of bazaars, concerts, fancy fairs, and similar entertainments? Must the Lord’s cause be dependent upon the very things He has forbidden in His word—upon those things that turn the mind away from God, from sobriety, from piety and holiness? And what impression is made upon the minds of unbelievers? The holy standard of the word of God is lowered into the dust. Contempt is cast upon God and upon the Christian name. The most corrupt principles are strengthened by this un-Scriptural way of raising means. And this is as Satan would have it. Men are repeating the sin of Nadab and Abihu. They are using common instead of sacred fire in the service of God. The Lord accepts no such offerings.” The Review and Herald, December 8, 1896

2.b.      What can we learn from the way Moses raised funds—and from the Israelites’ response?
Exodus 35:4, 5, 21, 29; 36:3–7

 

Note: “The plan of Moses to raise means for the building of the tabernacle was highly successful. No urging was necessary. Nor did he employ any of the devices to which churches in our day so often resort. He made no grand feast. He did not invite the people to scenes of gaiety, dancing, and general amusement; neither did he institute lotteries, nor anything of this profane order, to obtain means to erect the tabernacle for God. The Lord directed Moses to invite the children of Israel to bring their offerings. He was to accept gifts from everyone that gave willingly, from his heart. And the offerings came in so great abundance that Moses bade the people cease bringing, for they had supplied more than could be used.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 529

Tuesday

3 PRACTICAL COUNSEL

3.a. How may we be in danger of receiving the curse placed on the town of Meroz? Judges 5:23

 

Note: “ ‘Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.’ What had Meroz done? Nothing. This was their sin. The curse of God came upon them for what they had not done.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 2, 284

“The fruits of selfishness always reveal themselves in a neglect of duty, and in a failure to use God’s entrusted gifts for the advancement of His work.” Counsels on Stewardship, 26

“Only a small amount of means flows into the Lord’s treasury to be appropriated to the saving of souls, and it is with hard labor that even this is obtained. If the eyes of all could be opened to see how prevailing covetousness has hindered the advancement of the work of God, and how much more might have been done had all acted up to God’s plan in tithes and offerings, there would be a decided reform on the part of many; for they would not dare to hinder the work of advancing the cause of God as they have done.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, 483

3.b.      What does Inspiration teach us about economy? Proverbs 21:20; John 6:12

 

Note: “The word comes to every believer, ‘Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.’ Economize in your expenditure of means upon yourself. The first step of self-denial is generally the most difficult, but begin without delay. Your self-denying offerings shall be used in this field to supply workers to give the last message of mercy to a fallen world.” General Conference Bulletin, April 1, 1899

Wednesday

4 OUR PART IN GOD’S PLAN

4.a How is tithe to be used? 1 Timothy 5:17, 18

 

Note: “The tithe is the Lord’s, and those who meddle with it will be punished with the loss of their heavenly treasure, unless they repent. Let the work no longer be hedged up because the tithe has been diverted into various channels other than the one to which the Lord has said it should go. Provision is to be made for these other lines of work. They are to be sustained, but not from the tithe. God has not changed; the tithe is still to be used for the support of the ministry. The opening of new fields requires more ministerial efficiency than we now have, and there must be means in the treasury.” Gospel Workers, 227, 228

4.b.      How does David encourage us in liberality? 1 Chronicles 29:10–14

 

Note: “It is God who blesses men with property, and He does this that they may be able to give toward the advancement of His cause. He sends the sunshine and the rain. He causes vegetation to flourish. He gives health and the ability to acquire means. All our blessings come from His bountiful hand. In turn, He would have men and women show their gratitude by returning Him a portion in tithes and offerings—in thank offerings, in freewill offerings, in trespass offerings. Should means flow into the treasury in accordance with this divinely appointed plan—a tenth of all the increase, and liberal offerings—there would be an abundance for the advancement of the Lord’s work.” The Acts of the Apostles, 75

“Had God’s plan been followed, means would now be flowing into His treasury; and funds to enable ministers to enter new fields, and workers to unite with ministers in lifting up the standard of truth in the dark places of the earth, would be abundant.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 6, 386

Thursday

5 A RESPONSIBILITY AND PRIVILEGE

5.a. How can God’s people hasten Christ’s coming? 2 Peter 3:11, 12

 

Note: “By giving the gospel to the world it is in our power to hasten our Lord’s return. We are not only to look for but to hasten the coming of the day of God. 2 Peter 3:12, margin. Had the church of Christ done her appointed work as the Lord ordained, the whole world would before this have been warned, and the Lord Jesus would have come to our earth in power and great glory.” The Desire of Ages, 633, 634

“The work of God, which should be going forward with tenfold its present strength and efficiency, is kept back, like a spring season held by the chilling blast of winter, because some of God’s professed people are appropriating to themselves the means that should be dedicated to His service. Because Christ’s self-sacrificing love is not interwoven in the life practices, the church is weak where it should be strong. By its own course it has put out its light, and robbed millions of the gospel of Christ.” Counsels on Stewardship, 54

5.b.      What privilege is extended to every believer? 1 Corinthians 3:9

 

Note: “God is not dependent upon men for the advancement of His cause. He might have made angels the ambassadors of His truth. He might have made known His will, as He proclaimed the law from Sinai with His own voice. But in order to cultivate a spirit of benevolence in us, He has chosen to employ men to do this work.” Counsels on Stewardship, 20

“God has made men His almoners [an officer responsible for distributing alms to the poor], copartners with Himself in the great work of advancing His kingdom on the earth; but they may pursue the course pursued by the unfaithful servant, and by so doing lose the most precious privileges ever granted to men. For thousands of years God has worked through human agencies, but at His will He can drop out the selfish, the money-loving, and the covetous. He is not dependent upon our means, and He will not be restricted by the human agent. He can carry on His own work though we act no part in it. But who among us would be pleased to have the Lord do this?” Ibid., 198, 199

Friday

REVIEW AND THOUGHT QUESTIONS

1    What is one way we can help to perfect and unite God’s people?

2    How do wrong methods of raising funds contrast with God’s way?

3    How can little personal expenditures hinder God’s work?

4    What would happen if all cultivated the magnanimity of David?

5    How may we be hastening or delaying our Lord’s return?

Copyright 1997, Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia 24019-5048, U.S.A.

Recipe – 8-Layer Bean Dip

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Orange Pepper

Orange bell pepper, a cultivar of Capsicum annuum, belongs to the family Solanaceae but lacks capsaicin, which is the heat element present in hot peppers.

Orange bell peppers are medium to large in size and are rounded, square, and blocky in shape with 3-4 lobes and a thick green stem. The smooth skin is firm, glossy, and bright orange, and underneath the skin, the equally bright orange flesh is thick, juicy, crisp, and succulent. Orange bell peppers have an aqueous crunch and are sweet with a fruity flavor, the sweetest of the colored peppers.

An excellent source of vitamin C, one large orange bell pepper provides more than three times the vitamin C of an orange, delivering a whopping 316 mg of vitamin C vs 83 mg in a navel orange. They also have about ten times the amount of lutein and zeaxanthin than other peppers. There is strong evidence that these carotenoids are pivotal for eye health. Research by Associate Professor Tim O’Hare of the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation at the University of Queensland, has identified orange capsicums as the richest source of the orange pigment zeaxanthin, which is vital for central vision. He says the compound accumulates in our macula, at the back of our eyes. It protects against blue light, which is particularly damaging as it can oxidize our photoreceptors, which leads to macular degeneration.

Commonly hollowed, orange bell peppers can be used as a serving vessel for soups, dips, and stuffing. Raw, baked, or roasted, they are a great addition to stir fries, salads, sandwiches, cheeses, and more.

Sources: specialtyproduce.com/produce/Large_Orange_Bell_Peppers_5077.php; qaafi.uq.edu.au/article/2020/06/orange-capsicums-menu-long-term-eye-health; enewsletter.k-state.edu/youaskedit/2016/03/15/nutition-differences-in-colored-peppers

 

Recipe – 8-Layer Bean Dip

Ingredients

3 cups salsa, divided

2-15 oz. cans black or kidney beans, drained

2 avocados

1 Tbs. lime juice

1/2 tsp. salt, or to taste

1 cup cashews

1 orange bell pepper, roughly chopped

1/4 cup nutritional yeast

1/3 cup water

1/2 cucumber, chopped

2 cups corn kernels

1/2 cup olives

2 green onions

salt, to taste

Process

In a food processor, blend one cup of salsa and the beans until smooth. Spread on the bottom of a deep dish. Combine avocados, lime juice, salt, and mash until smooth. Spread on top of the bean/salsa mixture. Blend cashews, pepper, and nutritional yeast, and add water a little at a time until smooth. Spread over the avocado layer. Spread the rest of the salsa over the cheese layer. Top with cucumbers, corn, olives, and onions, or add any veggies desired. Serve with warm tortillas or baked tortillas chips.

A False Witness

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A witness is a person who has seen, heard, sensed, or been aware of something, especially an event or a fact. A witness can also give evidence or testimony, often in a court of law, based on their own knowledge. Wikipedia defines a witness as “someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, either oral or written, of what they know or claim to know.” Cornell University Law School’s definition of a witness is “someone with firsthand [personal] knowledge of an event.” A witness engages all five senses, but especially the senses of sight and hearing, as necessary tools in order to be truly qualified as a witness.

Accordingly, the major qualification of a true witness is that they must be truthful. The person is required to declare only what they have witnessed without adding or subtracting information based upon their biases, opinions, etc. The Holy Scriptures call Jesus “the Faithful and True Witness” (Revelation 3:14) and this is so because He declares Himself as “the Truth” (John 14:6). Jesus told His disciples, “…  the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me” (John 14:30). Satan who is the prince of this world is a liar and also the father of lies (John 8:44). This makes him the false witness!

A true or false witness.

As there are true witnesses, so there are false witnesses. King Solomon says that God hates “a false witness that speaketh lies” (Proverbs 6:19). While deadly sin number two addresses a lying tongue, it speaks of lying generally. In a concise form, the expression a lying tongue represents whatever has been already said concerning “the wicked man” who “walks with a forward mouth” and whose conduct is made up of deceit (Proverbs 6:12, 13). Lying is the willful perversion of truth, not only by speech but by any means whatever, whereby a false impression is conveyed to the mind.

This sixth deadly sin, known as perjury, specifically addresses an aspect of lying that forbids being a false witness against one’s neighbor. More specifically, this sin is detestable to God and is expressly forbidden in the moral code, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). Clearly, that which makes a person a “false witness” is speaking lies based upon unfounded accusations. It is this type of lying that is expressly forbidden by the ninth commandment, “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

This prohibition is repeated elsewhere in the Bible because God considers this sin a very serious matter and does not want us to forget His command.

  1. Exodus 23:1 – “Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.”
  2. Deuteronomy 5:20 – “Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.”
  3. Proverbs 12:17 – “He that speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.”
  4. Proverbs 12:22 – “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are His delight.”
  5. Proverbs 25:18 – “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.”
  6. Matthew 19:18 – “… Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.”
  7. Mark 10:19 & Luke 18:20 – “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness.”
  8. Romans 13:9 – “For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness.”

Thousands of people have been wrongly convicted across the United States in a system defined by official indifference to innocence and error. Since 1989, over 3,175 persons have been exonerated in the United States. The years that these people spent in prison for crimes they didn’t commit total over 27,200. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, as of November 2016, more than half of all wrongful convictions were traced to witnesses who lied in court or made false accusations.

Richard Phillips was an unfortunate victim whose friend made a false statement about him in 1972. As a result, he was imprisoned for 46 years, the longest known wrongful prison sentence in American history.

In June, 2011, a former undercover police officer confessed that his lies in court more than 30 years ago had wrongfully sent over 150 people to prison. “In his confession, he said he could not guess the number of people who were sent to prison because of his lies because he stopped counting arrests at 150, halfway through his three-year undercover stint.”

Source: STUFF, Former Cop says his lies sent people to prison, June 25, 2011

The unfortunate results.

We see also in the Holy Scriptures the unfortunate results of bearing false witness. For example, in 1 Kings 21, the narrative reveals how Jezebel, King Ahab’s wife, employed two false witnesses to lie against Naboth because he refused to sell Ahab his family vineyard. Because of their false witness, Naboth lost his property and his life.

Let’s look at a few questions that we need to answer:

  1. How does God view those who bear false witness?

“There are men who are ever talking and gossiping and bearing false witness, who sow the seeds of discord and engender strife. Heaven looks upon this class as Satan’s most efficient servants.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, 607

“All evil-speaking and bearing of false witness is disloyalty to God and to His cause.” The Review and Herald, November 29, 1898

  1. What will happen to a church that entertains a false witness?

“Satan has made his boast of what he can do. He thinks to dissolve the unity which Christ prayed might exist in His church. He says, ‘I will go forth and be a lying spirit to deceive those that I can, to criticize, and condemn, and falsify.’ Let the son of deceit and false witness be entertained by a church that has had great light, great evidence, and that church will discard the message the Lord has sent, and receive the most unreasonable assertions and false suppositions and false theories. Satan laughs at their folly, for he knows what truth is.” Testimonies for Ministers and Gospel Workers, 409

“Misrepresentation and [bearing] false witness will grow to open rebellion.” The Review and Herald, January 30, 1900

  1. How should the church handle the influence of a false witness?

“The Lord would not have His servants unjustly charged by their fellow laborers with the guilt of many sins. Those who do this do much harm by creating a sentiment which will cut off the influence of those against whom they speak. False impressions will be made. Every effort should be made to present the facts as they exist. It is essential for the one who has borne false witness to see that he has been guilty of a great wrong in causing dissension in the church and in creating false sympathy, thus leading others into the same error and endangering their souls.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 10, 167

What does it really mean?

We have been studying the subject of false witness, but some people may not be sure of the meaning of bearing false witness. Here is a comprehensive definition of bearing false witness, “ ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.’

“False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive our neighbor, is here included. 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

According to Paul, false witnesses or false accusers are a sign of the last days. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves … without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers.” 2 Timothy 3:1–3

Paul used the Greek word diabolos here, meaning “devil or slanderer,” to describe false accusers. Mrs. White, commenting on these verses, revealed the awful effect the influence of false accusers will have on the church.

“While Christ is at work to preserve a pure church in the earth, Satan ever seeks to counteract his agency and work. Spurious Christians are found in the church of God; for we find men, while professing the name of Christ, more firmly united to Satan than they are united with pure and holy influences. They gather darkness and unbelief from Satan, and they communicate it to the church. They profess to have the power of discernment, and discover spots and stains in the character of their brethren and are not slow to communicate their suspicions to other members of the church. They distribute the leaven of distrust, of malice and accusation. And as a result, alienation and estrangement come in between brethren. All these false accusers, though their names are on the church records, are under the control of Satan, and work as his agents to weaken and confuse the church, and divide the brethren of Christ on earth. When this has been accomplished, Satan exults over the divided state of the church, and points the world to the professed followers of Christ, thus bringing the name of Christ into dishonor before the world, and intrenching men in their unbelief and rebellion against God.” The Review and Herald, January 3, 1893

Finally, what is the penalty for being a false witness? “One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong; Then both the men, between whom the controversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother; Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” Deuteronomy 19:15–21

“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.” Proverbs 19:5

“Men may think to hide their evil deeds from human eyes, but they cannot deceive God. ‘All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.’ Hebrews 4:13.” Prophets and Kings, 252

“All the way along in the history of the third angel’s message there have been found amongst the believers men who have done much harm to God’s cause. These men are spots in our feasts of charity; tares among the wheat; wolves among the sheep, ready to bite and devour. Delighting to bear false witness, they cruelly injure the reputation of others. Every such one will be rewarded ‘according to his works.’ God ‘hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world.’ ” The Review and Herald, May 12, 1903

Let us keep in mind these words, “Slander covers more ground than we suppose. The command, ‘Thou shalt not bear false witness,’ means very much more than we realize. False witness is borne again and again in flippant speech concerning even the workers whom God has sent. The seeds of envy, of evil thinking and evil speaking, germinate and produce a harvest of their kind, to be garnered by the one who planted the seed. ‘Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ ” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1106

All scriptures taken from the King James Version.

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at 718-882-3900.

Beets – A Superfood

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Everyone has food preferences. Some eat just about everything, while others are very picky and won’t even try foods they “don’t like.” Some are hesitant to try anything new.

Sometimes, you might say you don’t like a particular food because your parents didn’t, so you might not have been introduced to it until later in life. You might have eaten something as a child and liked it but then didn’t eat it again for decades. You may need to learn to enjoy it again, as eating is a learning process. Try exciting your sense of smell with a sniff or your taste with just a smidge on the tongue. You may be drawn to its appearance on your plate, the various ways you can prepare it, or the different sauces and seasonings you might use.

Beets (beta vulgaris), love them or despise them, provide some truly amazing health benefits.

A staple food found in ancient civilizations like Babylon, Greece, and Rome. We have evidence that they were cultivated in areas of North Africa as far back as 4,000 years ago. Beet leaves and stalks were first utilized for culinary purposes, while its roots were used for medicinal purposes. During the 16th to the 19th century, beets began to spread around the world. Like potatoes, onions, and turnips, the beet was viewed as a common crop grown and harvested when more sophisticated foods and meat were unavailable. It eventually found its way to America with the colonists.

These deep-red root vegetables abound in nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that are incredibly beneficial for human health. One of the reasons it is so good for the human body is that it contains varying amounts of nearly all the vitamins and minerals the body needs. It is particularly rich in certain essential nutrients like folate, manganese, copper, magnesium, potassium, and iron.

Folate, a B vitamin, is particularly needed to produce red and white blood cells in bone marrow, DNA, and RNA throughout the human lifespan, but especially during periods of growth like pregnancy, infancy, and adolescence. The beet is an outstanding vegetable for the heart, as it contains nearly all the vitamins and minerals necessary to support a strong and healthy heart. It may also lower the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

Beets are also high in antioxidants, which fight the free radicals that can damage cells, the heart, and even DNA. They are high in nitrates, which are converted to nitric oxide gas in the body, one of the most critical items for blood vessel health, promoting better and easier blood flow and lessening the heart’s workload.

A researcher from the UK states: “Research has proven that a daily inorganic nitrate dose can be as effective as medical intervention in reducing blood pressure, and the best part is we can get it from beetroot … .” (From the 8 Fantastic Health Benefits of Beets.)

This same increase in blood flow that helps the heart also benefits the brain. Decreased blood flow to the brain often precedes cognitive decline and may contribute to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, improved blood flow to the brain may help delay or prevent these issues. Some studies have shown that beetroot juice has a positive impact on the frontal lobe of the brain, where our working memory, judgment, decision-making, and man’s higher power (his will) are located. Beet juice has the potential to increase neuroplasticity. This enables us to learn new skills and to change and adapt throughout our lives. Adding beet juice to our diet would be beneficial.

Inflammation is a common factor in most, if not all, diseases, including heart disease, cancer, liver disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and more. Beets naturally combat inflammation in the body through the potent pigmented compounds called betalains. Animal studies have confirmed that beets combat both chronic inflammation and the oxidative stress associated with free radicals. Additionally, another study found that beets reduce the pain and discomfort commonly associated with osteoarthritis.

In addition to your heart and brain benefiting from the nitrate influence on circulation, the efficiency of the mitochondria is also beneficial. Our mitochondria are the primary source of energy produced by our cells. The improved circulation helps deliver more oxygen to the muscles. This dual benefit enhances both the endurance and performance of athletes.

Beets are also beneficial for eye health. It, and especially the leaves and stems, are high in beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene. Beta-carotene is an essential nutrient that can be converted into Vitamin A. Vitamin A, the workhorse of vitamins, is essential for healthy eyesight. Lycopene may help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts. Lutein helps protect your retina and lens from light damage and UV rays that can potentially cause macular degeneration. As with the other organs we have mentioned, eye health is supported by the circulation improvements that nitric oxide provides.

Regarding bone loss, calcium is not the only mineral needed for healthy bones. Magnesium plays a critical role in preventing bone loss. Vitamin C produces collagen that helps maintain healthy bones and cartilage. Antioxidant-rich foods, such as beets, offer a protective health benefit for all organ systems. Reducing the effects of free radicals that damage many things can increase longevity, improve vitality regardless of age, and reduce the risk of cancer.

Beets are high in fiber. Fiber improves bowel function, creates a healthier microbiome, helps you feel fuller, better controls blood sugar levels, and reduces cholesterol. Each of these benefits can be achieved through pharmaceutical methods, but why use pharmaceuticals when all you need is a glass of beet juice regularly or to thinly slice a beet and season it with olive oil and herbs?

Like many fruits and vegetables, the beet’s maximum benefits are obtained by eating them raw-in salads and coleslaw. Blend them with yogurt, fresh garlic, or humus to make a healthy and colorful dip. While beet juice is nutritious on its own, adding it with the juice of other vegetables, such as carrots and celery, makes an even more nourishing drink. Beets can also be roasted, steamed, pickled, and used in soups such as borscht. The leaves and stems, which are even more nutritious, can be cooked like you would spinach or kale.

So, if you like beets, eat them more often. If you don’t like them or haven’t really tried them, give them a chance. Remember 12 tries to decide, for your health.

Did You Know?

It takes 10-12 tries to decide if you like something or not.

Sources: Try and Try at Least 12 Times – Your Kid’s Table; 8 Fantastic Health Benefits of Beets – The Art of Anti-Aging; 8 Health Benefits of Beets—Plus Ideas for How to Eat More of Them; 9 Impressive Health Benefits of Beets; 12 of the Best Foods for Your Heart Health

The Worst Year Ever

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The year 1899 is considered the worst for Major League Baseball. That season, the Cleveland Spiders played 154 games, winning 20 and losing 134.

2008 was the worst year in National Football League history. The Detroit Lions was the first team to lose every game in a 16-game season.

In 1917, the US experienced the worst inflation in its history, when annual inflation reached 17.84%.

From 1939–1945, the world was involved in the worst, most lethal war in history. When World War II ended it is estimated that as many as 80 million people had died—including 21 to 25 million military deaths.

For more than a year, much of the world experienced literal darkness—day and night, extreme cold, economic stagnation, and plague. Known as the Late Antique Little Ice Age, the year was AD 536. A mysterious fog had covered much of the Northern Hemisphere blocking the sun, causing temperatures to drop, destroying crops, and killing people. Why? What was the cause of this fog?

In 2018, researchers discovered that the fog was created by a volcanic event. A report in the journal Antiquity concluded that there was a cataclysmic volcanic eruption in Iceland (Other sources are not as convinced it was Iceland, but certainly somewhere in the Northern Hemisphere.) Volcanic ash, sulphur, and debris were propelled high into the atmosphere and then carried by the wind across most of the Northern Hemisphere; spreading ash thousands of miles, coating Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. This eruption was big enough that it altered the global climate patterns of the time. Procopius, the Byzantine historian, described the darkness as, “the sun gave forth its light without brightness, like the moon, during this whole year.” He said the sun seemed to be in constant eclipse.

His and other accounts of the darkness weren’t taken seriously until the 1990s, when researchers decided to look at the trees in Ireland. Examining the tree rings, they discovered that something weird happened around AD 536. The summer temperatures in Europe and Asia were 35°F–37°F colder; the coldest temperatures in the previous 2,300 years. It even snowed that summer in China. “In the first year of the Tai dynasty [536], snow fell in the summer, and the crops failed.” Nan Shi, Chinese Chronicle. Michael McCormick, a Harvard history professor, noted that, “It was a pretty drastic change; it happened overnight. The ancient witnesses really were onto something. They were not being hysterical or imagining the end of the world. It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year.”

Roman politician Cassiodorus wrote, “We marvel to see no shadows of our bodies at noon.” And described the sun as being “bluish” in color. The moon had lost its luster and, “the seasons seem to be all jumbled up together.” “We have had a winter without storms, a spring without mildness, and a summer without heat.” The effects of this Little Ice Age were made worse by two other massive eruptions in 540 and 547, preventing western Europe from recovering until 660 and 680 in Central Asia.

Then, as if darkness, drought, and economic calamity weren’t bad enough, in 541 the bubonic plague hit the Roman port of Pelusium in Egypt, rapidly spreading until it had killed one-third to one-half of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Less heat and fewer of the sun’s rays were reaching the Earth. After the eruption in 540, temperatures continued to drop and photosynthesis slowed, people died, insects and animals could not survive.

Unable to feed their armies, empires began to collapse, leaving them unable to protect themselves from marauding neighbors. It took decades for the European and Asian continents to recover.

Whether the volcanic eruption in 536 had any real affects on the Americas is harder to tell. There is some evidence that there was a global drop in temperatures in these societies, and excavations have found skeletal remains from 6th century Mesoamerica that indicate malnutrition in the remains of children and young people, and this would align with drought and famine.

A chain of events that began with a volcanic eruption, and ended after decades of chaos—snow in the summer, darkness, seasons scrambled, the deaths of millions of people. Is it any wonder why people of the time thought it was the end of the world?

Caveat: I was intrigued by this subject, but I am in no way making a position statement either for myself nor the Steps to Life Ministry on climate change as it is viewed today.

Did You Know?

The plague of 541 was known as the Plague of Justinian because he was the ruler of the Byzantine Empire at the time. Some estimates suggest that 10% of the world’s population died during this time of plague.

Did You Know?

A team of researchers matched ice records of chemical traces found in ice cores from Greenland and Antarctica with the tree ring records of climate, and found that nearly every unusually cold summer over the last 2,500 years was preceded by a volcanic eruption.

Sources: clrn.org/what-is-the-worst-record-in-nfl-history; Wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_worst_Major_League_Baseball_season_win-loss_records; madisontrust.com/information-center/visualizations/when-in-us-history-were-the-highest-and-lowest-inflation-rates; nationalinterest.org/blog/reboot/5-worst-wars-all-human-history-170840; history.com/article/536-volcanic-eruption-fog-eclipse-worst-year; science.org/content/article/why-536-was-worst-year-be-alive; justhistoryposts.com/2026/06/10/a-brief-moment-of-historys-worst-year-ever

Giving Up Heaven

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Think about this. The children of Israel were determined to be God’s chosen people, rulers of the world, as they saw themselves, on their own terms. This led them to refuse Jesus as the Messiah. Further still, it led them to kill Him. There are people today, all over the world, who feel the same way and they exist even in our church. They want to go to heaven, but on their terms.

Imagine giving up heaven for a job that pays six figures and allows a person to travel all over the world on the company’s dime, but requires that he work one Sabbath a month. Or, not paying tithe for a long time to save up for that fancy sports car he has always wanted? Or, giving up heaven because he can’t give up that cup of coffee or latté? What about a big juicy steak with some equally juicy jumbo shrimp on the side? Or, a handful of M&Ms, a bowl of macaroni and cheese. Or, giving up heaven for your spouse or child?

Friends, it isn’t about what we give up, it’s the giving up—obedience or disobedience. The Bible tells us that there is nothing we should put ahead of God, not even our family. We can rationalize all we want, but just because we need a home doesn’t mean we have to buy a mansion. We need transportation, but we don’t need a Rolls Royce. We need food, but we need to consume food that is healthy for our bodies, and does not make us crave “the fleshpots of Egypt.” We need clothes, but we don’t need to spend thousands of dollars for the latest fashions so that we can fit in with the world. What keeps me from God, doesn’t have to be big; just that little darling sin I can’t seem to let go of.

“The Saviour of the world … laid aside His glory and clothed His divinity with humanity. He became the meek and lowly Jesus. He left His riches and glory in heaven and became poor that we, through His poverty, might be made rich. … But selfish men will repine and murmur if called to leave their little earthly treasure for Christ’s sake … ! No one can appreciate the blessings of redemption unless he feels that he can joyfully afford to make any and every sacrifice for the love of Christ. …

“You know but little of real sacrifice and genuine denial of self. … The young man who asked Jesus what he should do that he might have eternal life was answered: ‘Keep the commandments.’

“He confidently and proudly replied: ‘All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?’ Jesus looked pityingly upon the young man; He loved him, and He knew the words He spoke would forever separate the youth from Himself. Nevertheless, Jesus touched the plague spot of his soul. He said to him: ‘Go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.’ The young man wanted heaven, but not enough to withdraw his affections from his earthly treasure. … His decision was to give up heaven and to cling to his earthly treasure. How many are now making the very same decision which fixed the destiny of this young man?” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 4, 219, 220

Story – Saved from the Flood

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Night had fallen. Everybody in the little town was asleep. Everybody, that is, except the policeman, who was keeping his watch all alone in the police station.

Nobody dreamed that danger was near. No serious trouble had come to the town in years. There was no sign of trouble now, except that the level of the water in the river was a little higher than usual. But then, the water often rose and fell without anyone’s noticing it. Sometimes, especially in the hot dry summer, the river was merely a little trickle, way down at the bottom of its forty-foot-high banks.

The night wore on. There was no sound save the beating of the rain on the roofs and roadways, and the occasional barking of a dog.

Suddenly the telephone rang sharp and loud in the police station.

Startled a bit, the policeman picked up the receiver. “Hello,” he said.

The words that came over the phone shocked him.

“Flood warning!” said a voice. “Lots of water rushing your way. Will reach you in thirty minutes. Get the people out of all houses on low-lying ground. There’s no time to lose.”

A flood! In thirty minutes! How little time to warn everybody! How quickly he must work!

The policeman sounded the alarm, and in an instant the whole town was alive. A few minutes later men were hurrying to the houses down by the river, waking the sleeping families and helping them move what they could of their goods to higher ground. There just wasn’t time to salvage many things.

Some of the people, just roused from sleep, didn’t want to move, especially in the middle of the night, with rain pouring down. They couldn’t believe that a flood was only a few minutes away. But the policeman and the fireman and other friends hurried them out to safety.

Then it came. About one o’clock in the morning, a wall of water, full of uprooted trees, broken houses, and dead animals, rushed by. On its churning surface were tables, chairs, pianos, oil drums, and even cars! It hit the bridge in the middle of town and carried it away as though it had been made of paper. It overflowed its banks and filled all the low-lying land nearby. Some of the houses which people had left but a few minutes before were lifted off their foundations and sent sailing downstream. Others simply collapsed, fell apart, and were carried away.

By this time hundreds of people were standing on high ground near the river, peering through the darkness at the terrible scene before them. How glad they were that nobody was in those houses that were being smashed and carried away by the flood!

Nobody?

“Look!” cried someone, pointing over the swirling water. “Surely that was a light! Over there; look!”

“It can’t be,” said others. “There’s nobody there. There’s no light.”

“But there it is again! It must be a candle. Somebody keeps lighting it, and it blows out.”

“So it is. Whose house is it?”

“That’s Mrs. Smith’s house. Her husband is in the Army, and she has four little children with her. Didn’t anybody warn them?”

Somehow in the darkness and the excitement that house had been missed. Now it was surrounded by wild, rushing water which threatened any moment to carry it away.

“Give me a rope!” cried some brave soul. “I’ll swim over there.”

They tied a rope around the man, and he set off. But he couldn’t get anywhere near. It was impossible. The swift current carried him away, and it was only with great difficulty that he was hauled back. Another man offered to go but he also failed. A third made the attempt, but exhausted, had to give up.

Meanwhile, out there in the darkness a brave mother was making a gallant fight for her life and for the lives of her children.

As no one had called to warn her of the coming flood, she and her children were all fast asleep when the first rush of water came sweeping into their house. Awakened by shouts and the roar of the flood waters going by, she jumped out of bed to find herself standing in two feet of water, which covered the bedroom floor and was fast rising. Suddenly realizing what had happened, she grabbed her four children and lifted them one by one onto the top of a large cupboard. Then as the water rose above the beds, the table, the chairs, she clambered up on top of the cupboard herself, taking with her a candle and matches, a dry blanket, a bottle of milk, a knife, an old chisel, and, of all things, a flatiron!

Now they were all huddled together on top of the cupboard, wondering just how high the water would rise. Then it was that this dear, brave mother began to pray that God would spare her and her children, and if not, let them die together.

An hour passed by. Two hours. It was now three o’clock in the morning. They could feel the water close to the top of the cupboard. Suddenly one of the inside walls of the house gave way and fell with a great splash.

“The end must be near now,” this brave mother said to herself. But she was not ready to give up yet.

Now it was that she made use of the tools she had so wisely brought with her, thinking that she might in some way need them.

Just over their heads was the ceiling, made of thin boards. “If I could just cut through it,” she said to herself, “we could climb up on the rafters. Then we would be another two feet above the water.”

Seizing the flatiron and the blunt chisel, she began chipping away at the board, splitting it off in little pieces until she had made a hole two feet long by nine inches wide. Through this tiny holy she pushed her children, one by one, telling each to sit astride a rafter. She was afraid they might fall through the frail board if they were to stand on it. Then she pulled herself up through the hole and sat with them there, waiting, wondering, praying, while below, the water swirled through the house.

Four o’clock. Five o’clock. Six o’clock. It was getting light now. And what a scene! The great brown torrent was still surging by, with bits of broken houses and furniture floating on its surface.

Hundreds of people who had watched all night were looking anxiously at the one little house still standing in the midst of the flood. Only its roof could be seen now, with the tops of some of its windows. Surely everybody in it must have drowned long ago!

But no! As they looked they could see that someone was cutting a hole in the roof!

The brave little mother was making her last attempt to save her children. She was lifting them out onto the roof!

A shout goes up from the people and tears come to many eyes. But the little family is still in grave danger. At any moment the house could begin to come apart under the pressure of the swirling water.

“Let me try again,” says a strong swimmer. “I think I can make it now.”

They tie a rope around his waist and he sets off through the raging waters. He is swept downstream, but fights his way up again. At last, after a mighty effort, he reaches the house. Another shout goes up from the people anxiously watching on the bank. He has gotten there in time! The family may yet be saved.

Tying the rope securely, he makes his way in through a window. The large cupboard, on which the family had waited so long, and by which they had climbed into the loft, is gone. He signals back for a ladder. Soon another swimmer, aided by the rope, is on his way with one. Another swimmer follows. Soon one of them is seen swimming from the house with a little girl on his shoulders.

Another mighty cheer rends the morning air. Then another and another as one by one the children are brought by strong hands along the rope, strained to the uttermost by the fury of the torrent.

Then, as all brave captains are last to leave a sinking ship, this dear mother is the last to leave her falling house. When all her four children have been taken to safety she comes herself and, with the help of her rescuers, makes her way to land. What a cheer the people give for her!

Her children won’t soon forget how they were saved from death that dreadful night. It was a mother’s faith against a flood.

The Story Book, Character Building Stories for Children, RHPA, ©1964, 81–89

God’s Call to Modern Apostates

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Christ, during His earthly ministry, emphasized the binding claims of the Sabbath. He showed reverence for the institution He Himself had given. In His days, the Sabbath had become so perverted that its observance reflected the character of selfish men rather than the character of God. Christ set aside the false teaching which had misrepresented Him. Although followed with merciless hostility by the rabbis, He went straight forward, keeping the Sabbath according to the law of God.

In unmistakable language He testified to His regard for the law. “Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets,” He said, “I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17–19, RSV

The great enemy of man’s happiness has made the Sabbath of the fourth commandment an object of special attack. Satan says, “I will work at cross purposes with God. I will set aside God’s memorial, the seventh-day Sabbath. I will show the world that the day sanctified by God has been changed. I will obliterate the memory of it. I will place in its stead a day that does not bear the credentials of God, a day that cannot be a sign between God and His people. Through my vicegerent, I will exalt myself. The first day will be extolled, and the Protestant world will receive this spurious sabbath as genuine. I will be the prince of this world. I will so control minds that God’s Sabbath shall be a special object of contempt. A sign? I will make the observance of the seventh day a sign of disloyalty to the authorities of earth. Human laws will be made so stringent that men and women will not dare to observe the seventh-day Sabbath. For fear of being without food and clothing, they will join the world in transgressing God’s law. The earth will be wholly under my dominion.” Through setting up a false sabbath, the enemy thought “to change times and laws.” But has he really succeeded in changing God’s law? He who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, has declared of the seventh-day Sabbath: “It is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations.” “It is a sign … forever.” Exodus 31:13, 17. The changed signpost is pointing the wrong way, but God has not changed. He is just as jealous for His law now as in the days of Ahab and Elijah. …

In the closing work of God on earth, the standard of His law will be again exalted. False religion may prevail, the cross of Calvary may be lost sight of, darkness may spread over the world, and the popular current may be turned against the truth; but in the hour of greatest peril the God of Elijah will raise up human instruments to bear a message that will not be silenced. In the places where men have gone to the greatest lengths in speaking against the Most High, the voice of stern rebuke will be heard. Boldly will men of God’s appointment denounce the union of the church with the world. Earnestly will they call on men and women to turn from a man-made institution to the observance of the true Sabbath. “Fear God, and give glory to Him,” they will proclaim to every nation, “for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth … . If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” Revelation 14:7–10. The world will be arraigned before the bar of Infinite Justice to receive sentence. …

The test will come to every soul. The observance of the false sabbath will be urged. The contest will be between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. Those who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and customs will then yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. At that time the gold will be separated from the dross. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance

and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness will appear in the shame of their nakedness.

Scattered in every land, there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear only at night, these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth. In Africa, in Europe, in South America, in China, in India, in the islands of the sea, and in all the corners of the earth, God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness, revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to His law. In the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan’s supreme effort is made to cause “all” to receive, under penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false day, these faithful ones, “blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish,” will “shine as lights in the world.” Revelation 13:16; Philippians 2:15, RSV. The darker the night, the more brilliantly will they shine. From Splendor to Shadow, 96–100

Everything Was Given

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“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell (sheol), behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

Psalm 139:7–10

The Mariana Trench

One hundred twenty-four miles east of the Mariana Islands in the western North Pacific Ocean lies the Mariana Trench. It is part of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana subduction system. It coincides with the subduction zones that form the boundary between two tectonic plates: the Pacific Plate, which is subducted beneath the Mariana Plate.

The Trench is more than 1,580 miles long and an average of 43 miles wide. Its deepest areas are Nero Deep, 31,693 feet; Challenger Deep, 36,201 feet; and Sirena Deep, 35,463. The temperature at the bottom of the Trench is 35–39°F.

The first descent to the bottom of the Trench occurred on January 23, 1960, making a record dive of 35,814 feet into Challenger Deep. On March 26, 2012, the submersible Deepsea Challenger made a dive to 35,756 feet, setting a new world record depth for a solo descent.

In 2009, the Trench was established as a US National Monument. The Mariana Trench Marine National Monument encompasses 95,216 square miles of submerged land and waters within the Mariana Archipelago. Although it includes some of the Mariana Trench, it does not encompass Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Trench.

Source: britannica.com/place/Mariana-Trench; wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Trench

Outer Space

Earth ends, and outer space begins at the Kármán line, approximately 62 miles straight up from the surface of the planet. However, because the Kármán line is partly a reality and partly a human construct, scientists continue to debate the actual distance, which could range from 18.5 miles to 1 million miles.

The physical aspect of the Kármán line roughly marks the altitude where traditional aircraft can no longer fly. Commercial aircraft have a maximum flying altitude of 42,000 feet, and helicopters, both civilian and military, have a maximum altitude of 40,280 feet. However, US military aircraft have a maximum flying altitude of 50,000 feet, except the U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird, and the X-15. They, along with the Soviet MIG-31 and MIG E-266M, can reach altitudes as high as 354,200 feet (67 miles).

Source: simpleflying.com/how-high-can-military-planes-fly; Wikipedia.org/wiki- Kármán_line; astronomy.com/space-exploration/the-karman-line-where-does-space-begin

To Every Corner

According to NASA, the Earth’s radius is 3,963 miles at the equator, its widest point due to the equatorial bulge, and 3,950 miles at the poles. This results in an Earth diameter of 7,913 miles at the equator, but it is slightly smaller, 7,900 miles when measured from pole to pole. The equatorial circumference of Earth is 24,901 miles, but the meridional circumference (North Pole to South Pole) is 24,860 miles.

Source: space.com/17638-how-big-is-earth

The Eruption Heard Around the World

From May 20 to October 21, 1883, the island of Krakatoa in the Sunda Strait experienced repeated volcanic eruptions. On August 27, 1883, the most destructive of the eruptions—registering as a six on the VEI (volcanic explosivity index) destroyed over 70% of the island and its surrounding archipelago and caused it to collapse in upon itself, creating a caldera. It is one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history.

The explosion was heard 1,930 miles away in Perth, Australia, and 3,000 miles away in Rodrigues near Mauritius (an island country off the southeastern coast of East Africa).

The acoustic pressure wave circled the globe more than three times, rupturing the eardrums of sailors aboard the RMS Norham Castle just off the coast of Sumatra, 630 miles away. The explosion generated multiple tsunamis and killed at least 38,417 people, including 3,000 people, the entire population of the island of Sebesi, 7.5 miles from Krakatoa.

Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_eruption_or_Krakatoa

“The coming of Christ to our world was a great event, not only to this world, but to all the worlds in the universe of God. Before the heavenly intelligences He was to take upon Himself our nature, to be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet to leave an example of perfect purity and unblemished character.

“Satan and his angels exulted as they discovered that the Son of God had taken upon Himself the nature of man, and had come to be man’s substitute, to engage in the conflict in our behalf. The human family had been overpowered by the deception of the enemy … .

“Satan gloried in the opportunity of besieging the Son of God with fierce temptations. Because He had taken upon Himself the nature of man, Satan deemed that his victory was certain, and with every malignant device in his power he strove to overcome Christ. The steadfast resistance of Christ to the temptations of the enemy brought the whole confederacy of evil to war against Him. Evil men and evil angels united their forces against the Prince of peace.

“The issues at stake were beyond the comprehension of men, and the temptations that assailed Christ were as much more intense and subtle than those which assail man as His character was purer and more exalted than is the character of man in his moral and physical defilement. In His conflict with the prince of darkness in this atom of a world, Christ had to meet the whole confederacy of evil, the united forces of the adversary of God and man; but at every point He met the tempter, and put him to flight. Christ was conqueror over the powers of darkness, and took the infinite risk of consenting to war with the enemy, that He might conquer him in our behalf.

“The Redeemer of the world clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might reach humanity; for, in order to bring to the world salvation, it was necessary that humanity and divinity should be united. Divinity needed humanity, that humanity might afford a channel of communication between God and man, and humanity needed divinity, that a power from above might restore man to the likeness of God.

“Christ was God, but He did not appear as God. He veiled the tokens of divinity, which had commanded the homage of angels and called forth the adoration of the universe of God. He made Himself of no reputation, took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. For our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich.

“He humbled Himself to pass through man’s experiences, and He would not turn aside from the plan by which salvation could come to man. Knowing all the steps in the path of His humiliation, He refused not to descend step by step to the depths of man’s woe, that He might make expiation [atonement] for the sins of the condemned, perishing world. What humility was this? It amazed the angels. Tongue can never describe it. Pen can never portray it. The imagination cannot take it in. Sinless and exalted by nature, the Son of God consented to take the habiliments of humanity, to become one with the fallen race. The eternal Word consented to be made flesh. God became man.

“But He stepped still lower; He humbled Himself to bear insult, reproach, accusation, and shameful abuse. In the world which He had made, which was sustained by the word of His power, there seemed to be no room for Him. He had to flee from one place to another until His life work was accomplished. He was betrayed by one of His followers and denied by another. He was mocked and taunted. He was crowned with thorns, and forced to bear the burden of the cross.

“He was not insensible to ignominy and contempt; He submitted to it, but He felt its bitterness as no other being could feel it. Pure, holy, and undefiled, He was yet arraigned as a criminal before the eyes of the world. From the highest exaltation, the adorable Redeemer took step after step in the path of humiliation. He consented to die in the sinner’s stead, that by a life of obedience, man might escape the penalty of the law.

“He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death. And what a death! It was the most shameful, the most cruel—the death upon the cross as a malefactor. He died not as a hero in the eyes of men, loaded with honors; He died as a condemned criminal, suspended between the heavens and the Earth—died a lingering death, exposed to the tauntings and revilings of a debased and profligate mob.

“ ‘All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.’ He was numbered with the transgressors, and even His kinsmen according to the flesh disowned Him. … He expired amidst derision. But all His sufferings were counted as of small account in consideration of the result He was working out in behalf of man, and for the good of the whole universe.

“He expired on the cross exclaiming, ‘It is finished,’ and that cry rang through every world, and through heaven itself. The great contest between Christ, the Prince of life, and Satan, the prince of darkness, was practically over, and Christ was conqueror. His death answered the question as to whether there was self-denial with the Father and the Son.

“Through the death of Christ, a door of hope was opened for fallen man. Man was under sentence of death for the transgression of the law of God. He was under condemnation as a traitor, as a rebel; but Christ came to be his substitute, to die as a malefactor, to suffer the penalty of the traitors, bearing the weight of their sins upon His divine soul. He descended lower and lower, till there were no lower depths of humiliation to sound, in order that He might lift up those who would believe in Him, and cleanse the guilty from moral defilement, and impart to them His own righteousness. He died to make an atonement, to redeem, cleanse, restore, and exalt man to a place at His right hand.

“Through His life upon Earth, He scattered blessings wherever He went. Though at His word legions of angels would render Him homage, yet He walked the Earth unhonored, unconfessed. In place of praise, He met reproach. He walked among men as one of the poor and lowly. Though He healed the sick, relieved the oppressed, bound up the brokenhearted, yet few called Him blessed, and the great of the Earth passed Him by with disdain.

“As a member of the human family He was mortal, but as God He was a fountain of life to the world. He could have withstood the advances of death and refused to come under its dominion, but voluntarily He laid down His life that He might bring life and immortality to light. He bore the sin of the world, endured the penalty, yielded up His life as a sacrifice, that man should not eternally die. Contrast His suffering and humiliation with the riches of His glory, with the wealth of praise pouring forth from immortal tongues, with the anthems of adoration, with the homage of millions of holy angels in the heights of the sanctuary, and seek to comprehend what manner of love inspired the heart of Jesus.

“How much has God loved the race of men?—Look to Calvary. As you behold Jesus upon the cross, does not the heinous character of sin appear? It was sin that caused the death of God’s dear Son, and sin is the transgression of the law. Says the prophet: ‘Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. … It pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He hath put Him to grief: when Thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied … .’ ” The Signs of the Times, January 5, 1915

To the deepest parts of land or sea, to the highest points and farthest distances of the sky or universe, man barely can comprehend the love of God in His creation, nor, even faintly, the love that led Him to sacrifice His Son for man’s salvation.

“The love of God is so deep, so full, that it could only be expressed in giving for our sakes His own beloved Son to poverty, to shame, to humiliation, to mockery, and to death. He was the most costly and precious offering that could be given to the world, and in Him all heaven was given.” The Bible Echo, November 25, 1895

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38, 39

Sowing and Reaping

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Earlier this year, I determined to study the concept of sowing and reaping. Perhaps I thought of it while setting out my tomato plants and anticipating a harvest of homegrown deliciousness. Or, it could also have been when Pastor John mentioned the concept in one of his sermons. But as I studied, I came across this definitive statement from Inspiration:

“The Lord has made it a part of His plan that man’s reaping shall be according to his sowing.” Healthful Living, 25

The Plan

The “plan” referred to in this quote is the plan of salvation, which adds weighty importance to the significance of being acutely aware of what we sow, for clearly, our eternal destiny depends on it.

Regardless of the cause that provoked this study, I began with Galatians 6:7, 8: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.”

An Important Concept

Early in my study, I realized that this is a fairly common concept mentioned many times in Scripture.

Reaping what we sow was an important concept for the Apostle Paul. Not only did he write about it in his letters to the Galatians and the Colossians, but he also mentioned it in his second letter to the Corinthians:

“But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” 2 Corinthians 9:6

“But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.” Colossians 3:25

The obvious corollary to that is that he who does right will also be repaid accordingly. We are left to determine for ourselves which kind of repayment we will receive based on the type of actions we commit and the kind of seed we sow.

Once again, we see that it is up to us to determine what kind of crop we will have.

Job

Moses also alluded to this concept when he recorded Job’s experience.

We generally recognize Job’s three friends as “miserable comforters.” However, the dubious counsel they gave Job occasionally contained a gem of truth. In one of Eliphaz’s diatribes, he stated, “Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.” Job 4:8

Even though it is clear from the context that Eliphaz meant this as an indictment of Job’s character, implying that Job’s troubles were the result of his supposed iniquitous behavior, if we remove it from the context, it remains a gem of truth. Although Eliphaz neglected to state it, the opposite is also true—those who till the soil with righteousness will receive a righteous reward.

Inspiration has much to say about this concept as well, revealing that there are many different aspects to sowing and reaping.

By Beholding

“You see that your brethren do not come up to the Bible standard, that there are defects in them, and you dwell upon these defects. You feed upon them instead of feeding upon Christ … .” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 334

If we continually and consistently dwell upon the faults of others, it is a universal law that those faults will become ingrained in our characters. But if we look ever to Jesus, the faults of others will fade as we will see more clearly our own faults and realize the necessity of change. “[For] by beholding we become changed. Let us look to Jesus and consider the loveliness of His character, and by beholding, we shall become changed into the same likeness.” Our High Calling, 334

There is a saying that you are what you eat. That is a statement of an obvious truth—in more ways than one. But it is also true that your character will be molded by whatever it is that you allow to occupy the avenues of the soul—your senses.

A More Detailed Example

“The soul does not become more and more like Christ by beholding evil, but like the evil which it beholds. The same love of self, the same indulgence of self, the same hastiness of Spirit, the same petulance of temper, the same sensitiveness and pride of opinion, the same unwillingness to receive counsel, the same unsanctified, independent judgment, will be manifest in those who criticize as in those who are criticized. They will act as if they had not Christ as their pattern and example.” The Review and Herald, August 15, 1893

“Those who feel it their prerogative to criticize their fellow men are doing the work of the enemy. The Lord has set none to correct the supposed errors of others; for by beholding these imperfections they themselves become harsh and self-centered. They compare themselves with themselves, and measure themselves among themselves. There are jealous and sensitive souls who foster their pride until, like an inflamed wound, it cannot bear the slightest touch. They fancy that they have been slighted, when no slight exists, until they create in themselves the very evils they imagine in others.” Ibid., November 21, 1899

So, You Reap What You Sow

In our original text from Galatians, Paul wrote, “He who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” The obvious question to ask from this statement is, What does it mean to sow to the flesh?

“Every seed sown produces a harvest of its kind. So it is in human life. We all need to sow the seeds of compassion, sympathy, and love; for we shall reap what we sow. Every characteristic of selfishness, self-love, self-esteem, every act of self-indulgence, will bring forth a like harvest. He who lives for self is sowing to the flesh, and of the flesh he will reap corruption.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 84

So, what we plant and cultivate in our hearts is what will grow and become our characters.

The following passage contrasts sowing to the flesh with sowing for a harvest of good.

“Fellow laborers, we are each sowing seed in the fields of life. As is the seed, so will be the harvest. If we sow distrust, envy, jealousy, self-love, bitterness of thought and feeling, we shall reap bitterness to our own souls. If we manifest kindness, love, tender thought for the feelings of others, we shall receive the same in return.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 30

The Harvest Sown in this World is Carried into the Next

“Those who have sought for the development and perfection of Christian character by exercising their faculties in good works will, in the world to come, reap that which they have sown. The work begun upon earth will reach its consummation in that higher and holier life to endure throughout eternity.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 83

What we need is to be educated in the perfecting of Christian character. Mrs. White gives us counsel that is useful in this education—counsel, as you might expect, that deals with the universal concept that the nature and quality of the harvest is the result of the earlier sowing.

“By the laws of God in nature, effect follows cause with unvarying certainty. The reaping testifies to the sowing. Here, no pretense is tolerated. Men may deceive their fellow men and may receive praise and compensation for service which they have not rendered. But in nature, there can be no deception. On the unfaithful husbandman the harvest passes sentence of condemnation. And in the highest sense, this is true also in the spiritual realm. It is in appearance, not in reality, that evil succeeds. The child who plays truant from school, the youth who is slothful in his studies, the clerk or apprentice who fails of serving the interests of his employer, the man in any business or profession who is untrue to his highest responsibilities, may flatter himself that, so long as the wrong is concealed, he is gaining an advantage. But not so; he is cheating himself. The harvest of life is character, and it is this that determines destiny, both for this life and for the life to come.

“The harvest is a reproduction of the seed sown. Every seed yields fruit after its kind. So it is with the traits of character we cherish. Selfishness, self-love, self-esteem, self-indulgence, reproduce themselves, and the end is wretchedness and ruin. ‘He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.’ Galatians 6:8. Love, sympathy, and kindness yield fruitage of blessing, a harvest that is imperishable.” Education, 108, 109

A Different Aspect of the Same Concept

“Every day, we are sowing some kind of seed. If we sow the seeds of unbelief, we shall reap unbelief; if we sow pride, we shall reap pride; if we sow stubbornness, we shall reap stubbornness, ‘for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’ ” Lift Him Up, 266

The following passage, published over a century ago, provides an accurate description of this concept as it is applied to society today.

“The widespread iniquity prevalent today may in a great degree be attributed to a failure to study and obey the Scriptures, for when the word of God is set aside, its power to restrain the evil passions of the natural heart is rejected. Men sow to the flesh, and of the flesh reap corruption.” Prophets and Kings, 624

Our Free Will

It is in the exercise of our free will that we sow. Whether we sow rebellion or obedience determines the nature of the crop.

“Lucifer took the position that as a result of the law of God, wrong existed in heaven and on this earth. This brought against God’s government the charge of being arbitrary. But this is a falsehood framed by the author of all falsehoods. God’s government is a government of free will, and there is no act of rebellion or obedience which is not an act of free will.” The Signs of the Times, June 5, 1901

By transgressing God’s law, regardless of the method or manner, we are sowing seeds that will yield a failed crop—one destined by universal law to be only discord, anarchy, and ruin.

Remember, part of the Lord’s plan is that man will reap according to how he has sown.

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.