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He Wore Our Nature

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The time of trouble is coming when we will stand in the presence of God without a mediator (The Review and Herald, January 17, 1907). However, right now, we all need a mediator 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So a clear understanding of this subject reveals what must happen among God’s people.

Differences in the understanding of a word have unfortunately resulted in much theological confusion. Some Adventists hold that the word sinful simply means having a tendency to sin and therefore, have concluded that having a sinful nature does not involve guilt, since a tendency to sin falls short of committing an actual act. Misunderstanding the true definition of sinful has resulted in a great deal of erroneous thinking, resulting in completely untrue conclusions.

The definition of sinful, according to Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language (1828) is:

  1. “Tainted with sin, wicked, iniquitous, criminal, unholy.”
  2. “Containing sin or consisting in sin; contrary to the law of God.”

Again, from the 1828 Webster’s American Dictionary we find this definition for the word tainted.

“Impregnated with something noxious, disagreeable to the senses or poisonous, infected, corrupted, stained.”

It is easy to show from the writings of Ellen White that she did not believe Jesus’ nature was sinful by any of the above definitions. However, when Jesus went to Gethsemane, our sins—our sinful spiritual nature—were laid upon Him. He voluntarily accepted them. But, had His Father not intervened, our sins and nature would have killed Him (The Desire of Ages, 693).

Mrs. White calls this experience in Gethsemane “Christ’s humiliation.” Some Adventists have tried to prove that Christ had a sinful spiritual nature by the following Spirit of Prophecy quotation:

“He [Christ] took upon Himself fallen, suffering human nature, degraded and defiled by sin.” The Youth’s Instructor, December 20, 1900. They overlook the fact that this statement was written about “Christ’s humiliation.”

Christ’s entire human life can truthfully be described as a humiliation, but the term “Christ’s humiliation” refers in a special sense to His experience in Gethsemane and the cross.

“The awful moment had come—that moment which was to decide the destiny of the world. The fate of humanity trembled in the balance. … Will the Son of God drink the bitter cup of humiliation and agony? Will the innocent suffer the consequences of the curse of sin, to save the guilty?” The Desire of Ages, 690

Mrs. White’s statement that “not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity” (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 13, 18), creates a problem for those who believe that Christ had a sinful nature, including the propensities to sin just like the rest of humanity. They feel compelled to try to explain it by saying that Christ’s human nature had the same “natural propensities” as we do, but not the “evil propensities” that our nature (flesh) has.

Let’s return to Webster’s American Dictionary for the definition of propensity:

  • “Bent of mind, natural or acquired; inclination, in a moral sense; disposition to any thing good or evil, particularly to evil; as a propensity to sin.”
  • “A natural tendency.”

So, what is the natural bent or propensity of man’s sinful mind?

“ ‘The carnal [or natural] mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.’ ” The Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895. (Bracketed words are in the original Signs of the Times article.)

It is easy to see that natural and evil propensities are one in the same.

If we incorrectly assign a definition to the word sinful, concluding that a person can have a sinful nature without having guilt because it is only a tendency to sin, then the next false conclusion follows that Christ had this sinful nature in Him. Note this carefully: having or possessing a sinful nature in Him is very different from having our sinful nature “laid upon Him.” To correct the erroneous conclusion—built on several false assumptions—that Christ had a sinful nature in Him, just like we do, Mrs. White wrote the Baker letter (found in Manuscript Releases, Vol. 13).

An Important Question

If Christ had a sinful nature, erroneously defined as only a tendency to sin, where does that tendency to sin originate?

  1. (a) If we say that sinful involves a tendency or propensity to sin and then suggest that Christ had a sinful nature, we are calling Christ a sinner. (b) To say that a tendency or propensity to sin does not involve guilt is not true because an evil propensity can only proceed from a heart that is selfish (Matthew 15:19, 20, first part; Luke 6:45), and selfishness is sin (The Signs of the Times, April 13, 1891). If Christ had a sinful nature, and consequently a propensity to sin, He would have been a sinner. (c) If Christ had a bent toward sin, then He would have an imperfect character and imperfection of character is sin (Christ’s Object Lessons, 330).
  2. The Bible says that “sin is transgression of the law.” (1John 3:4 KJV). The law commands that I love God supremely and my neighbor as myself. If I have a sinful nature (the essence of which is a selfish nature), then all of my thoughts, words, and actions will be sinful because selfishness is sin and I would be in constant violation of the two great principles of the law. So a person with a selfish (sinful) nature cannot keep the law and certainly cannot be a saviour (Romans 8:7, 8).
  3. People who think that a sinful nature is only the tendency to sin, and that Jesus possessed this sinful nature or evil propensity without guilt, imply that an action is not a sin unless it is a premeditated, conscious act of the will.
  4. This wrong definition of sinful, accuses Jesus of having a sinful nature, and lowers the standard of righteousness to accommodate our inherited tendencies to wrong (Christ Triumphant, 157). Mrs. White expressly states that we are not to do this (The Review and Herald, March 10, 1910).
  5. People who use this type of thinking use flesh and nature synonymously and teach that Mrs. White made the same mistake.
  6. This also gives to the humanity of Christ a tendency toward sin, again accusing Him of being a sinner. The tendency toward sin proceeds from a selfish heart and is also a trait of an imperfect character, and both are sin.
  7. This also suggests that Mrs. White had the false belief that the human nature of Christ possessed traits which belong to the power of evil—the same natural, sinful tendencies that we inherit.

Mrs. White considers carnal and natural to be equivalent terms, indicating that the carnal [sinful] mind is the natural mind of man. The Bible and Inspiration use carnal and flesh as equivalent terms. Desire, or carnal lust, is a power of the carnal mind. Mrs. White distinguishes between flesh as in the body and flesh as in the carnal mind.

“The lower passions have their seat in the body and work through it. The words ‘flesh’ or ‘fleshly’ or ‘carnal lusts’ embrace the lower, corrupt nature; the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God. We are commanded to crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. How shall we do it? Shall we inflict pain on the body? No; but put to death the temptation to sin. The corrupt thought is to be expelled. Every thought is to be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ.” The Adventist Home, 127, 128

A bent toward sin is a natural propensity for evil. Our natural propensities are evil because they come from the flesh, that is, our lower, corrupt nature. “By nature man has no love for God. It is not natural for him to think of heavenly things. Satan has worked against God and His government, leading men to attribute to God the traits which belong to the power of evil.” The Review and Herald, March 12, 1901. It is, and ever has been, Satan’s work to lead men to attribute his character traits to God.

Mrs. White is in harmony with both the Bible and the dictionary definitions of sin and sinful because she clearly understood that the word flesh can be used when speaking either of the body or the carnal mind and that the word nature can be used when referring to the body or the character. She never suggests that Christ’s human nature possessed the same tendency toward sin—the natural propensities—that we, as sinful man naturally possess.

If you believe, as many Adventist preachers have taught and are still teaching, that Christ had sinful tendencies or propensities toward sin, Mrs. White describes a long-term effect on your individual character development.

“It is a law of the human mind that by beholding we become changed. Man will rise no higher than his conceptions of truth, purity, and holiness. If the mind is never exalted above the level of humanity, if it is not uplifted by faith to contemplate infinite wisdom and love, the man will be constantly sinking lower and lower. The worshipers of false gods clothed their deities with human attributes and passions, and thus their standard of character was degraded to the likeness of sinful humanity.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 91

If I believe that Jesus had the same naturally-sinful nature that I inherited from Adam, then I will never rise higher than my own conception of truth, purity, and holiness.

The affections of the mind—this natural bent of our desires, inclinations, and propensities—are accurately described as having tempestuous thoughts within our mind. Paul calls this the “carnal mind” or to be carnally minded (Romans 8:6, 7).

Jeremiah describes it as “desperately wicked.” In the Hebrew language, desperately wicked is translated as “incurably wicked; cannot be cured.”

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9

“The secret of Satan’s power over God’s professed people lies in the deceitfulness of the human heart.” The Signs of the Times, December 13, 1899. Satan has power over us because he has something in us that he uses in his temptations against us. The carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, and cannot be because it doesn’t want to be. Our nature is selfish and enjoys being selfish. But Jesus showed how our nature can be subjected to the power of the Holy Spirit, and how our natural, sinful nature can be changed by it.

“Every mind is controlled either by the power of Satan or the power of God.” The General Conference Bulletin, March 30, 1903

Man does not possess the independence he thinks he does. He is under the control of one of two great powers. Because of his fall from heaven, it is impossible for Satan to ever again be subject to the law of God. The carnal mind that man inherited from Adam after the Fall is controlled by Satan, and as a consequence, it is impossible for it to be subject to the law of God.

Think Prayerfully, Because It Bears Repeating

Man, as he came from the hand of his Creator, possessed a pure, holy, and righteous nature controlled by love—all characteristics of the Creator, His government, and His kingdom. Man’s heart responded to God’s love, becoming a conduit of that love. But when he yielded to the temptations of Satan, his nature no longer possessed that purity, holiness, righteousness, and love of and for the Lord. Instead, he chose to follow the government with no holiness and no ability to engender it, for it is controlled by selfishness and sin. Man’s heart now responds only to the selfish desires of his own sinful nature (James 1:14, 15) and the control of Satan.

The government of God is perfect and pure. The government of Satan is selfish, deceitful, and desperately wicked. These are the only two powers in this world and they are in conflict with one another over the very soul of man. From the day we are born, sin reigns in our nature. You might say that sin is in our DNA. It is not something that we just do; it is what we are. Man, naturally selfish and wicked, must choose to be remade in purity and holiness. How, then, can I truly believe that Jesus possessed my fallen, selfish, sinful nature; a nature described as more deceitful than anything else and hopelessly wicked?

Was Jesus tempted from within like we are? Jesus said of Himself, “The ruler of this world [the devil] is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Satan found nothing in Christ that would respond to temptation because He did not possess our inherently wicked and selfish nature. Jesus possessed nothing, not a single propensity or desire toward sin that would answer to Satan’s temptations.

“Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But … Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” The Great Controversy, 623

Jesus kept His Father’s commandments. He was the living, breathing embodiment of them. He could state with complete assurance, as did David, “Your word have I hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11. “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, who seek Him with the whole heart! They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. … I will keep Your statutes … .” Psalm 119:1–3, 8, first part

Two in One

“God cannot be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempteth no man.” James 1:13, R.V. The Bible tells us that Jesus was tempted like we are, that He was a brother to us in the trials of this world. But in order for that to be true, He had to be like us. If He did not have our sinful nature, then how was He able to be like us, and at the same time, be a perfect sacrifice for our salvation?

“The divine nature combined with the human, made Him capable of yielding to Satan’s temptations. Here the test to Christ was far greater than that of Adam and Eve, for Christ took our nature, fallen but not corrupted, and would not be corrupted unless He received the words of Satan in the place of the words of God.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 182, 183

“He [Jesus] veiled His divinity with the garb of humanity, but He did not part with His divinity. A divine-human Saviour, He came to stand at the head of the fallen race, to share in their experience from childhood to manhood.

“Christ had not exchanged His divinity for humanity; but He had clothed His divinity in humanity.

“Be careful, exceedingly careful as to how you dwell upon the human nature of Christ. Do not set Him before the people as a man with the propensities of sin. … He [Jesus voluntarily] took upon Himself human nature, and was tempted in all points as human nature is tempted. He could have sinned; He could have fallen, but not for one moment was there in Him an evil propensity. …

“Avoid every question in relation to the humanity of Christ which is liable to be misunderstood. … [G]uard strenuously every assertion, lest your words be taken to mean more than they imply, and thus you lose or dim the clear perceptions of His humanity as combined with divinity. …

“Never, in any way, leave the slightest impression upon human minds that a taint of, or inclination to, corruption rested upon Christ, or that He in any way yielded to corruption.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1128

Concerning the fact that Christ was tempted in all points and yet without sin—a text used innumerable times as a proof text for advocates of Christ having a sinful nature—Mrs. White wrote:

“He was tempted in all points like as man is tempted, yet He is called ‘that holy thing.’ It is a mystery that is left unexplained to mortals that Christ could be tempted … and yet be without sin.” Ibid., 1128, 1129

If Christ had a sinful nature, there would be no mystery in saying He was tempted in all points as we are (See 1 Timothy 3:16; The Review and Herald, November 8, 1887; The Signs of the Times, July 30, 1896).

The physical mind and body are both fallen, ruined, as a result of sin, but the naturally-carnal mind is ruined with corruption. The body is ruined with mortality, physical degeneration that ends in death. The ruined physical nature of man is not sin but rather the result of sin. However, the carnal mind is sin, and it is this sin that causes mortality. Christ took our ruined physical nature and our mortality, but He did not take our corrupted mental nature, the carnal mind.

“He humbled Himself, and took mortality upon Him. As a member of the human family He was mortal, but as a God He was the fountain of life to the world.” The Review and Herald, July 5, 1887

“Christ who knew not the least moral taint or defilement of sin, took our nature in its deteriorated condition.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 115

Inspiration compares the fallen, ruined nature and the character of the first Adam with the pure and holy nature and character of Jesus (The Youth’s Instructor, June 2, 1898). All of mankind was ruined by Adam’s failure, but it was redeemed by the second Adam.

“Jesus Christ is our example in all things. He began life, passed through its experiences, and ended its record, with a sanctified human will.” The Signs of the Times, October 29, 1894

“Christ came to the earth, taking humanity and standing as man’s representative, to show in the controversy with Satan that man, as God created him, connected with the Father and the Son, could obey every divine requirement. [This was Satan’s original, and persistent accusation, against God, that man could not deny self and keep the law, therefore, God is a dictator, unjust, lacking mercy and love for those He created.] Speaking through His servant He declares, ‘His commandments are not grievous’ (1 John 5:3). It was sin that separated man from his God, and it is sin that maintains this separation.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 253, 254

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Hebrews 8:10

Concerning the Messiah, the Bible says, “I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8

The law, and God’s pure, divine love filled the heart of His only begotten Son. Thus, Jesus had an unblemished divine spirit, so that He could be our unblemished sacrifice. But in order that He might be sacrificed, Jesus took on our ruined, human body. Only in this way could He be tempted (Christ Triumphant, 208) and die (God’s Amazing Grace, 153).

“Christ’s perfect humanity is the same that we may have through connection with Christ. As God, Christ could not be tempted any more than He was not tempted from His allegiance in heaven. But as Christ humbled Himself to our nature, He could be tempted. He had not taken on Him even the nature of the angels, but humanity, perfectly identical with our own nature, except without the taint of sin.” Christ Triumphant, 208

Christ is the promise of what we are to become. As a man, He possessed a holy and pure nature, for He was God, but He also possessed a ruined body and other physical attributes that could respond to Satan’s temptations, for He was also man. God promises that we—who are wicked by nature and naturally seek to do evil—can be given a new pure and holy heart when we surrender ourselves body, soul, mind, and spirit to God, are transformed, and, by commitment, remain close to the side of Jesus.

Jesus was the greatest teacher who ever lived. He was what He desires us to become. He possessed the peace that He desires to give to us. His peace will be the result when His law of pure, divine love is written in our heart.

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed, but My kindness shall not depart from you, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord, who has mercy on us.” Isaiah 54:10

“Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Hebrews 4:1, 2 KJV

The night Jesus was betrayed, a terrible time of trouble waited just before Him. But as He stood before the infuriated Jewish judges and Pilate, He was not afraid, for He had peace in His heart—a peace that comes from doing the will of the Father, of keeping His law in His heart; a peace that the world could not give, nor take away.

“He stood unmoved by the fury of the waves that beat about Him. It was as if the heavy surges of wrath, rising higher and higher, like the waves of the boisterous ocean, broke about Him, but did not touch Him. He stood silent, but His silence was eloquence. It was as a light shining from the inner to the outer man.” The Desire of Ages, 726

“In taking upon Himself man’s nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is encompassed. … He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He ‘knew no sin.’ He was the lamb ‘without blemish and without spot.’ …

“Not even by a thought could Christ be brought to yield to the power of temptation. … Christ declared of Himself, ‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.’

“Jesus did not allow the enemy to pull Him into the mire of unbelief, or crowd Him into the mire of despondency and despair.

“Christ’s humanity was united with divinity, and in this strength He would bear all the temptations that Satan could bring against Him, and yet keep His soul untainted by sin. And this power to overcome He would give to every son and daughter of Adam who would accept by faith the righteous attributes of His character.” The Faith I Live By, 49

“This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” That I May Know Him, 354

Friends, the Lord wants us to have that same peace in our hearts, but unless His law is written in our hearts, we will never have it. The work of the Holy Spirit is to sanctify each individual heart, but the sins of God’s people must be blotted out, and a complete transformation, a recreation, must be accomplished in man—physically, mentally, spiritually. Any propensity toward sin results in an imperfect character which is sin (The Signs of the Times, September 3, 1902). A person who possesses, inside, even one propensity toward sin will fall short of a perfected character.

“In our own strength it is impossible for us to deny the clamors of our fallen nature. Through this channel Satan will bring temptation upon us. Christ knew that the enemy would come to every human being, … and by passing over the ground which man must travel, our Lord has prepared the way for us to overcome. …

“So long as we are united to Him by faith, sin has no more dominion over us. God reaches for the hand of faith in us to direct it to lay fast hold upon the divinity of Christ, that we may attain to perfection of character.

“And how this is accomplished, Christ has shown us. … Only by the word could He resist temptation. … All its strength is yours.” The Desire of Ages, 122, 123

(Emphasis supplied throughout.)

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

Does a Squirrel’s Tail Grow Back?

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I don’t believe that there are many animals in God’s kingdom that are as cute as a squirrel. I have seen brown squirrels, gray squirrels, and black squirrels.

Recently, a squirrel ran across the road in front of me and I noticed that it had a tail only about two inches long. I know that a squirrel’s tail is important—to the squirrel. Let’s look and see.

More than just a bushy appendage; it has many crucial functions that help the squirrel to survive in the wild. Its tail is made up of a series of small bones connected together by muscles and ligaments. The ligaments provide support and stability, while the muscles allow the squirrel to move its tail in a variety of directions. At the base of the tail is a gland that produces a sticky, pungent substance called musk. Squirrels use their musk to mark their territory and to communicate with other squirrels.

The squirrel uses its tail to climb trees and balance on branches. It serves as a stabilizer, a balance pole if you will, that aids in navigation as the squirrel scampers through treetops or speeds across open spaces on the ground. It is extremely agile allowing the squirrel to perform graceful and precise acrobatic feats to escape being the main course of a predator’s meal, helps to catch its food, and can even serve as an umbrella and a parachute.

A squirrel communicates with other squirrels by flicking and twitching its tail. The position and movement of its tail signals the different messages that warn of danger or confirm a safe zone.

The tail is also a temperature regulator, a biological thermostat. In winter, the squirrel will curl itself up with its tail wrapped around it like a cozy blanket. In this way, its tail helps to retain its body heat. In the summer, its tail becomes a fluffy fan by increasing the blood flow near the skin surface of the tail fur.

It looks like having a healthy, bushy tail is not just for show, but it is really important to keep the squirrel alive. So, what happens if a squirrel loses its tail?

Actually, it’s not all that uncommon for a squirrel to lose its tail.

Sometimes its tail gets stuck between the branches of a tree or between fence boards and the squirrel will simply yank it off to free itself.

For its size and cuteness, the squirrel is actually pretty aggressive. It fights over a mate and territory. It bites and claws other squirrels, so it’s no wonder that a tail can be lost from time to time.

Predators like hawks, cats, and large snakes, target its tail and it appears that the squirrel itself has the ability to “lose” it (as part of the same process that regenerates a tail) in order to save itself.

Frostbite can lead to tissue damage and the eventual loss of a tail.

Certain diseases like mange make the skin dry and brittle and can cause the tail to fall off.

So, can a squirrel’s tail grow back? Yes, it can; through a process known as autotomy. It may take several weeks, months, even a year or more for the tail to fully regrow, and the squirrel will have a short, stubby tail that grows longer and fuller as time passes, until it reaches its original length. But an interesting fact about autotomy is that it also enables the squirrel to voluntarily shed the tail.

While it’s nice to have a tail again, it’s not an exact replica of the original one. The color and texture might be slightly different, and the hair will be shorter, not as full as the original, but it will have all the necessary characteristics needed for the squirrel to survive and communicate.

DID YOU KNOW? There are other creatures in our world who have the ability to regenerate parts of their bodies: starfish, grasshoppers, sand dollars, Axolotls, certain lizards, crabs, octopi, frogs, and earthworms, to name a few.

Besides its tail, the squirrel has a few other unique anatomical features.

  • Its sharp claws help it to climb trees and grasp onto branches.
  • It has long incisors that continue to grow throughout its life.
  • Its jaw muscles are strong enough to crack open nuts and other hard foods.
  • Its large eyes provide excellent vision that can detect movement more than 100 feet away.
  • It has excellent hearing that can detect a predator even before it sees it.
  • Its fur provides insulation and camouflage.
  • Its small size helps it to move quickly and quietly.

Some additional interesting facts about the squirrel:

A group of squirrels is called a dray or a scurry.

Squirrels are generally small ranging from 4 inches to 5-1/2 inches, weighing less than an ounce. But there is another species of squirrel, the Bhutan giant flying squirrel that reaches 4 feet in length.

A tree squirrel has the ability to descend a tree, head first. It accomplishes this by rotating its ankles 180 degrees. Its hind feet are then pointing backward and able to grip the tree bark from the opposite direction.

Squirrel hair is prized in fly fishing for tying fishing flies.

Squirrels live in just about every habitat around the globe. They are predominately herbivores living on seeds, pine cones, fruit, fungi, and nuts, but will occasionally eat insects, bird eggs, and small vertebrates. In the wild, they live 5-10 years. In captivity, they can survive up to 20 years.

Baby squirrels are born altricial (in a helpless condition), naked, toothless, and blind. A little like human babies. Mom is responsible, in most species, for looking after the young. A squirrel baby is weaned at 6-10 weeks, and fully mature by the end of its first year.

Squirrels, like pigeons and certain faunas, are synanthropes, living near and benefiting from humans and their environmental modifications.

Just as the squirrel can have a new chance in life by growing a new tail, we have the chance for a new life in Christ Jesus when we accept Him as our Lord and Saviour.

Sources: a-garden-diary.com/do-squirrels-tails-grow-back-what-happens-if-they-come-off; squirrelsatthefeeder.com/squirrel-tail; wildinformer.com/do-squirrel-tails-grow-back; wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirrels; facts.net/gallery/25-animals-that-can-regenerate-body-parts

Have You Considered My Servant?

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“Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ …

“And the Lord said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.’ ” Job 1:8, 12

So Satan caused marauders to steal Job’s oxen, donkeys, and camels, and kill his servants. He made a fire to come down and burn up all his sheep and shepherds and a great storm collapsed the house and killed all of Job’s children.

Job’s response? “ ‘The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.’ In all this, Job did not sin nor charge God with wrong.” Verses 21, last part, 22

Then, the Lord allowed Satan to go a little farther. He said, “Behold, he is in your hand, but spare his life.” Job 2:6

Now, Satan afflicts Job with boils, leaving him with only a complaining wife who suggests he curse God and die. Still, Job responds to his wife in the same manner, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.” Verse 10, last part

Then, his three miserable friends try to convince him that he must be a sinful man and that God is punishing him. Still, he replies, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.” Job 13:15

This habit of complete trust in God enables Job to assert in faith, “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:25–27

Someone might ask about chapters 3, 6, 10, and others where it seems Job has lost faith. He curses his birth, finds no comfort, and looks for understanding to that always sought-after answer. Why? An answer that is all too often not available—yet! He speaks of what he has lost, and later in the book, he challenges God. God’s response: “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.” Job 38:4

I think we’ve all been in Job’s situation at some point. The circumstances may have been different, but we still have asked: Why? Remember where all this trouble came from? Satan accused God that Job only served Him because He had made him rich and protected him. I wonder if Job lost faith or if he just couldn’t see as God does.

Think of the confidence God had in Job. It was God who started the conversation with Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job?” Job still had some things he needed to see about himself, and God, through this trial, allowed him to see them. In the end, Job answered the Lord, “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. … Therefore, I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. … I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore, I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:2–6

Lord, help us to have the faith of Job and transform us so that we might be worthy for You to ask, “Have you considered My servant?”

Story – Judging from Appearances

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The train was waiting at a station of one of our western railroads. The baggage master was busy with his checks. Men, women, and children were rushing for the cars, anxious to get seats before the locomotive pulled away.

A man, carelessly dressed, was standing on the station platform, seemingly giving little attention to what was going on. It was easy to see that he was lame; and at a hasty glance, one might have supposed that he was a man of neither wealth nor influence.

The conductor gave him a contemptuous look, and slapping him familiarly on the shoulder, called out, “Hello, Limpy! Better get aboard, or the train will leave you behind.”

The man made no reply. As the train started to move, the man climbed on the last car and walked quietly in and took a seat.

The train had gone a few miles when the conductor appeared at the door of the car where our friend was sitting. Passing along taking tickets, he soon discovered him. “Your ticket, quick!”

“I don’t pay,” replied the lame man quietly.

“Don’t pay?”

“No, sir.”

“We’ll see about that. I shall put you off at the next station.” And he seized his valise.

“Better not be so rough, young man,” returned the stranger.

The conductor released the bag momentarily and, seeing that he could do no more, passed on to collect the fare from the other passengers. As he stopped at a seat a few paces off, a man who had heard the conversation asked, “Do you know who that man is to whom you were speaking?”

“No, sir.”

“That is Peter Warburton, the president of the road.”

“Are you sure?” asked the conductor, trying to conceal his worry.

“I know him.”

The young man’s face became red, but with a strong effort, he controlled himself and continued collecting fares as usual.

Meanwhile, Mr. Warburton sat quietly in his seat. None of those near him could interpret the expression on his face or tell what his next movement would be. He could get the young man fired simply by telling the directors what had transpired. Would he do it? Those who sat near him waited curiously to see what would happen.

Presently, the conductor came back. He walked up to Mr. Warburton’s seat and took his books from his pocket, the bank bills and tickets he had collected, and laid them beside Mr. Warburton.

“I resign my place, sir,” he said.

The president looked over the accounts, motioned him into the vacant seat behind him, and said, “Sit down. I want to talk to you.”

The young man sat down, and in a soft-spoken voice, this is what the president said to him.

“My young friend, I have no wish for revenge. You have been imprudent. Your manner would have been injurious to the company if I had been a passenger. I could fire you, but I will not. In the future, remember to be polite to all you meet. You cannot judge a man by the coat he wears, and the poorest should still be treated with kindness. Take up your books, sir. If you change your conduct, nothing that has happened will injure you.”

“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” John 7:24

“Do not look at [the] appearance. … For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Sabbath Readings from the Home Circle, Vol. 2, ©1877, 116–120

Christ Our Life

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There is no way to reach the city of God but by the cross of Calvary. As we lift this cross, which is covered with shame and reproach in the eyes of men, we may know that Christ will help us; and we need divine aid. The sinner has lived in sin; he must die to sin, and live a new life of holiness to God. Paul wrote to the Colossians: “Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” The apostle here refers to the death to sin, the death of the carnal mind, and not to the death of the body.

Let me emphasize the importance of making Christ our hope and refuge every day of our lives. It is a pleasing fable that is presented to us in this age, that if we only believe in Christ, that is all that is required; works have nothing to do with our acceptance with God. Many trample the law of God under their feet, cherishing in their hearts the delusive thought that it is not binding on them. This is not the truth. In the resurrection all will come forth, they that have done good and they that have done evil, and the fate of each will be decided according as his works have been. All good works spring from genuine faith, and the fruits in the works show the character of the faith. Hence it is by our works that we shall be judged.

We each have a work to do in character-building. As we advance in this work, Satan stands ready to oppose us, and there are crosses to take up, and obstacles to be overcome; but our efforts may be a success. When we take hold on the merits of Christ, we shall overcome. He has made it possible for everyone to gain eternal life. Many, looking forward to the solemn realities of the future, tremble in their hearts as they question, How will it be with me in the Judgment? To what fate shall I awaken, when all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live? This is a question for us to decide each for himself. All stand on an equal footing. We are all free moral agents; we may accept God’s terms—keep His commandments and believe on Christ—and live; or we may disbelieve, pursue our own course, and perish.

The distance from earth to heaven may seem very great, for sin has fixed a great gulf; it has separated man from God, and has brought woe and misery upon the human race. But Christ throws Himself into the gap. He it is that opens communication between man and God. … When He bowed upon Jordan’s bank, the heavens opened before Him, and a voice was heard, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear ye Him.” The Spirit of God, like a dove of burnished gold, descending, rested upon the divine Mediator, and communication between heaven and earth, broken off because of sin, was resumed, and heaven opened before the transgressor.

The God of the universe has given our cases in the Judgment into the hands of His Son, One who is acquainted with our infirmities, and knows that we are but dust. He has taken our nature upon Him, and has Himself felt the force of our temptations; He has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. When man rebelled, Christ became his surety and substitute. He undertook the combat with the powers of darkness; and when through death He destroyed him that had the power of death, the highest honors were bestowed upon Him. He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and sat down at the right hand of God—the very Jesus who had borne the curse of sin for us. And there was given Him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. To Him God has delegated His power; He has the keys of death and the grave.

And they that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth. Jesus shall come, and the angels of God with Him; and the glory of His appearing shall flash on human eyes as the vivid lightning or as a consuming fire. He will descend with a shout and with the voice of a great trumpet, and those that hear that vivifying voice will spring rejoicing from the grave. And they will recognize the voice that awakens them to immortal life as that of Him who said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” It is the voice of Him who stood with tear-dimmed eyes at the grave of Lazarus, and who wept over Jerusalem, saying, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.” The last thing that the dying saint recognized as he fell under the power of the destroyer was the pangs of death; but as he springs from his dusty bed he exclaims, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” It is then that Christ is admired of all them that believe.

Now we have opportunity to prepare for the solemn scenes before us. We may be converted to God, and have a change of character; but when Christ shall come there will be no time for this. … We cannot afford to live a single day in sin; for “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Then let us so live that when He comes He may crown us with glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life.

More than eighteen hundred years have elapsed since He who spake as never man spake, and could utter only truth, declared: “The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” The trump of God has not yet sounded; that voice so full of power has not yet penetrated the sepulchers; that hour so full of promise to the people of God has not yet arrived; but it must come, it is not far in the future. Some of us will doubtless be living when the voice that is heard everywhere, even to ocean depths and the sunless caverns of earth, shall be heard, echoing from sea to sea, from valleys and from mountains, calling to life the sleeping dead. There will be a reappearance of every human being that has gone into the grave. The aged who sank under the hand of death with the burden of years upon them, manhood in its prime, youth in the early bloom of life, and the little child—all shall awake, and shake off the fetters of the tomb. But not all shall awake to everlasting life. “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”

Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, January 15, 1889

Mitochondria Strengthened

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In the September issue of LandMarks, we Iearned that Mitochondria, though very small—about the size of 1 to 3 grains of sand—are found in most of the cells of the body, and are primarily known for the vital role of producing the energy needed by our bodies to work, but they do so much more.

Unfortunately, our modern lifestyle and common health issues tend to magnify problems that damage our mitochondria and lessen the benefits that help them.

What damages or weakens mitochondria?

Let’s look at some of the worst things for well-functioning and healthy mitochondria.

  • Fried foods, many commercially baked goods, some vegetable oils, microwave popcorn, frozen pizza, commercially made and refrigerated bread, biscuits, and rolls are prevalent in the American diet. All these foods contain high levels of trans fats, which enhance mitochondria’s production of reactive oxygen species, increasing cell death.
  • Americans live fast-paced, non-stop lifestyles full of stress.
  • Alcohol and smoking both affect the whole body and, in particular, these tiny, delicate mitochondria. Mitochondria become diseased, and the structure and function of these little giants are altered with regular consumption of these two health destroyers.
  • Mold and mitochondria are closely linked. Certain species of mold produce mycotoxins which can damage mitochondria and interfere with other cellular processes. This can result in a range of health problems, including allergic reactions and respiratory issues. It is important to prevent mold growth in the home and workplace.
  • Exposure to heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and thallium, also affects the structure and function of mitochondria, including its ability to remove diseased mitochondria. These metals are found in our environment and in the foods we eat.
  • The American on-the-go lifestyle affects the quality and quantity of our sleep. In addition, our circadian rhythm becomes confused by the lack of sunlight and the artificial lights illuminating our homes. The blue light emanating from computer screens, televisions, and cellphones damages the mitochondrial DNA, increasing free radicals that can cause photochemical damage to the eye’s retina.
  • Americans today are very sedentary. Lack of exercise, fresh air, and plenty of water leaves us sleep deprived.
  • Americans consume too much sugar, which weakens and damages mitochondria and negatively stresses our bodies.
  • Overconsumption of sugar and fat, along with stress and inadequate sleep, lead to cardiovascular issues and diabetes, both of which are rampant in our society. High blood sugar inhibits the liver’s ability to metabolize fat and increases the body’s insulin resistance. It can also result in fatty liver. High blood sugar also impairs mitochondrial energy metabolism by triggering the “cell danger response.” The mitochondria then switch from energy production and its many other functions to concentrate on determining what is endangering the body and protecting it from the danger.
  • Our consumption of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids has drastically changed. During the early history of man, these fatty acids were consumed at a ratio of 1 to 1. However, today, most people consume a larger quantity of omega-6, and while it is necessary for good health, too much increases inflammation and inflammatory diseases. Problems develop in the outer membrane of the mitochondria, reducing energy production and activating the cell danger response. Obesity impairs the mitochondria, and studies now show that an imbalance of omega-6 to omega-3 increases the risk of obesity.
  • Consistent irregularity in meal times—though not to be confused with intermittent short-term fasting (Matthew 6:16-18, Esther 4:16)— and exposure to extreme heat or cold also damage mitochondria.

What strengthens or improves the mitochondria?

Now that we have looked at many things that can damage mitochondria and interfere with their proper function, let’s look at the other side of the coin, what improves the health and performance of our mitochondria.

  • A healthy lifestyle that involves early morning sunshine is valuable. Early morning sunshine helps set the body’s circadian rhythm, which then brings the good restorative sleep we need when it becomes dark.
  • The light/dark cycles help establish the production of melatonin and this, too, helps our sleep cycle. In addition, melatonin supports the health of the mitochondria and, if healthy, the mitochondria will make its own melatonin. The mitochondria-created melatonin is kept inside the mitochondria rather than being released into the blood stream, and this mitochondria melatonin “bathes” the mitochondria all night.
  • Melatonin production is hindered by the artificial and blue lights in our homes. To minimize the damage you can wear blue-blocking glasses when using electronic devices or switching to lights that emit red, dim orange, or yellow light at night. It is also important to have complete darkness in the bedroom during the sleep hours. If you are unable to do this, consider an eye mask.
  • Adequate levels of melatonin improve the health and function of mitochondria, decrease the risks of cancer, and increase the ability of the body to fight antioxidant damage. Melatonin is indeed a sleep hormone, but is very much a mitochondrial hormone that helps them do their many jobs so much better.
  • Daily exercise, if possible in the sunshine and fresh air, is also very helpful to your mitochondria. Exercise can increase muscle size and strength. Muscles contain a higher number of mitochondria, more than many other types of tissue in the body. Researchers have shown that high amounts of physical activity in adults ages 65 to 70 can have mitochondrial capacity similar to 25 to 30-year-old adults. Stay active throughout the day; your mitochondria will thank you.
  • Because of our hectic lifestyles, stress is detrimental to our mitochondria; however, some stress generates new mitochondria via mild cold or hot exposure by having a warm bath, a warm and cool shower, or warm and cold mitten friction.
  • Chronic over-breathing—breathing too much or too quickly—caused by stress or anxiety lowers your CO2 levels and hinders oxygen delivery at the cellular level. This, too, is very damaging to mitochondria that needs lots of oxygen to produce the energy necessary to carry out their many functions.
  • Moderation even in good things and avoidance of all hurtful influences such as tobacco and alcohol strengthens our powerhouse cells.
  • A diet that discourages heart disease and diabetes will greatly improve mitochondrial health. Avoiding hurtful kinds and quantities of fat and decreasing sugar intake, consuming good proteins, greens and fresh, crunchy vegetables are all very helpful. A decrease in blood sugar is often achieved by eating greens and the fibrous, crunchy vegetables at the start of a meal. For example: broccoli sprouts when consumed are very neuroprotective, have anti-cancer effects, boost detoxification, and improve mitochondrial health. Supplementing your diet with riboflavin and the other B vitamins, plus coenzyme Q10 and carnitine is also beneficial to mitochondrial health.

Moral of the Story—be good to your mitochondria and they will keep you safe and healthy.

Note: The content of this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any illness or medical condition, nor is it meant to serve as medical advice or as information to facilitate self-treatment. As always, please discuss any potential health-related decisions with your personal physician.

Sources: medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320875#aging; Wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitochondrion; sciencenotes.org/mitochondria-definition-structure-function; btl.science/blogs/news-1/worst-things-for-mitochondria-function; my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15612-mitochondrial-diseases; phys.org/news/2020-03-trans-fats-cell-death.html; “Eat for Energy: How to Beat Fatigue, Supercharge Your Mitochondria, and Unlock All-Day Energy,” by Ari Whitten; TheEnergyBlueprint.com; newhealthadvisor.org/Foods-High-in-Trans-Fat.html; my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23424-heavy-metal-poisoning-toxicity; healthline.com/nutrition/optimize-omega-6-omega-3-ratio#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3; sleepfoundation.org/bedroom-environment/what-color-light-helps-you-sleep; desbio.com/the-mold-mitochondria-connection-why-it-matters-for-your-health

Let Us Hear the Conclusion of the Whole Matter

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My expertise is accounting. I realized that the most expert accountant ever is our Creator, who keeps the most accurate record books that anyone has ever kept. The result of that record-keeping is noted in the scripture found in Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good, or evil.” The righteous Judge will assess the value of every work I have ever performed and determine its worth, weighed against His perfect law.

In secular accounting, there is what I call the master equation: Assets minus liabilities equal net worth. Stated another way, the value of what you own (assets), minus what you owe (liabilities), equals your net worth.

In accounting, things of value are called assets. For example, cash is an asset. Theoretically, any time you spend that cash, you gain something of equal value. It might be another asset, such as food or clothing. It might be a service, such as a doctor’s visit. Or it might be relief from a liability, which decreases your liabilities and increases your net worth. It’s sad to say, but some folks have a negative net worth due to outstanding debts. More about that later.

Fortunately, God does not keep His heavenly records the same way secular accountants do, something we need to recognize if we are to appreciate the value of a soul.

The First Transaction

Inspiration describes the ultimate accounting transaction, the payment of the debt we incurred as the result of Adam’s fall:

“It is at an immense cost that we have been placed on the high vantage ground where we can be liberated from the bondage of sin, which has been wrought by the fall of Adam. … Never can we understand the value of the human soul until we realize the great sacrifice made for the redemption of the soul upon Calvary.” Christ Triumphant, 215. One asset, Christ’s life, was exchanged for another asset, the human soul.

In business law, consideration is “a promise, performance, or forbearance bargained by a promisor in exchange for their promise.” Consideration is the main element of a contract. Without consideration by both parties, an agreement cannot be enforceable.

In the simplest terms, a consideration is the benefit a party to the contract receives from the deal negotiated in the contract. It’s the answer to the question: “What does each party receive by entering this contract?”

A legally binding and legitimate contract must include the consideration, or the expectation of each individual or entity who is a party to the contract.

In most cases, a consideration comes in one of the following ways:

  1. The promise to do something that you are not already legally obligated to do.
  2. The promise not to do something that you otherwise would have the right to do.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2

Verse 2 sets before us the greatest accounting transaction ever. Christ gave His life, an incredibly valuable asset, for the joy of seeing you and me saved from a life of sin.

Although there was no legal obligation for Christ to pay with His life for my sin, payment had to be made. “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. What did Christ purchase by His sacrifice? “Eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Hebrews 12:2 shows us the consideration that each party in the agreement included in the contract. Remember, consideration can be a promise to do something you are not legally obligated to do. Christ was not legally obligated to give His life for mine, but He agreed to do so. Our part of the contract is to believe in Him as our Redeemer.

One party to the contract is those involved in easily besetting sin, but who overcome and receive eternal life. The other party to the contract is Christ, who received absolute and inexplicable joy knowing that there are those who have and will accept His sacrifice and have chosen and chose to follow Him, thereby fulfilling both parts (the giving and receiving) of the contract.

“The vows which we take upon ourselves in baptism embrace much. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we are buried in the likeness of Christ’s death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection, and we are to live a new life. Our life is to be bound up with the life of Christ. Henceforth the believer is to bear in mind that he is dedicated to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. He is to make all worldly considerations secondary to this new relation. Publicly he has declared that he will no longer live in pride and self-indulgence. He is no longer to live a careless, indifferent life. He has made a covenant with God. He has died to the world. He is to live to the Lord, to use for Him all his entrusted capabilities, never losing the realization that he bears God’s signature, that he is a subject of Christ’s kingdom, a partaker of the divine nature. He is to surrender to God all that he is and all that he has, employing all his gifts to His name’s glory.

“The obligations in the spiritual agreement [contract/covenant] entered into at baptism are mutual. As human beings act their part with wholehearted obedience, they have a right to pray: ‘Let it be known, Lord, that Thou art God in Israel.’ The fact that you have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is an assurance that, if you will claim Their help, these powers will help you in every emergency. The Lord will hear and answer the prayers of His sincere followers who wear Christ’s yoke and learn in His school His meekness and lowliness.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 98, 99

This passage speaks in detail about the covenant, the contract, between God and mankind, and the mutual contractual obligations found in the contract. Mutual obligations are the essence of a legal contract in business law—the consideration of each party in the contract. Our part—acknowledging the supremacy of the Godhead. Their part—providing help in every emergency. And I will assert that this help is not restricted to emergencies. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

The Consideration that Separates

Scripture and Inspiration provide many other examples of this amazing transaction.

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:21–28

These texts provide at least three examples of an accounting transaction. First, verse 24 states that we are justified by His grace. One thing of value, His grace, provides for another thing of value, our justification.

Verse 25, the transaction with a capital T is noted: God set forth His Son as payment for sins that were previously committed. His payment entitles Him to my service on His behalf.

Verse 28 describes justification as a highly valued asset. It is provided for by faith, another valued asset, given by God to each of us. With exercise, the seed of faith grows into a fruit-bearing plant.

John also makes note of this incredible transaction.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:7–10

Of course, we find the ultimate transaction in John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

This text is the best of many that provide examples of the consideration required for a contract to be considered legal and enforceable in business law. Christ gave His life as payment. In return, our belief in Him is required for the everlasting life provision of the contract to be fulfilled.

Another way—a more painful way—to look at this transaction is that Christ gave His life, and in return, He received my sins and the resultant penalty—the shedding of His blood—required as payment for my sins. A penalty so severe that it caused Him to cry out in agony, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me.” Matthew 27:46

It is consideration of the point at which He was separated from His Father by our sins and experienced the second, eternal death that should make us realize the absolute sinfulness of sin and the unavoidable consequences of engaging in it.

The Overcoming Transaction

In Revelation 2 and 3, we are given seven promises as rewards for those who are successful at overcoming. This set of transactions requires the same consideration as our part of the transaction. These are the promises made to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3.

To Ephesus, the patient and hard-working, is the promise that they will eat the fruit from the tree of life in the garden of Eden. “When the tide of iniquity overspread the world, and the wickedness of men determined their destruction by a flood of waters, the Hand that had planted Eden withdrew it from the earth. But in the final restitution, when there shall be ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ it is to be restored more gloriously adorned than at the beginning.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 62. If we are patient and hard-working saints, we then can anticipate the same reward.

To Smyrna, who suffers for Christ’s sake, is promised the crown of eternal life, being spared from the second death. This promise is also made to the saints who bear the characteristics of the Smyrnans and who have overcome the assaults from the synagogue of Satan.

To Pergamos, a two-fold promise is given. The overcomers who maintain their faith, even amid the enemy’s fiery darts, will be privileged to eat of the hidden manna, and Jesus will give a white stone, written with a new name, which no man knows except the one who receives it. It will be interesting to discover God’s assessment of us as He gives us each a new name. I wonder if this will be a name in confidence between each saint and his Maker or if it will be shared with all.

To Thyatira, whose patience exceeds their works and who overcome by doing the works of Jesus until the end, will receive power over the nations. “You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Psalm 2:9

To Sardis, the overcomers whose lives are undefiled, reflecting an unspotted character, will receive garments of white, with their names retained in the book of life, and Christ will “confess” their names in heaven, acknowledging their right to be there.

To Philadelphia, the untainted ones who keep God’s command to persevere, He promises to keep them from the hour of trial, which soon will come upon the entire world, testing all who dwell on Earth (Revelation 3:10).

This promise is multi-faceted. He who overcomes, I will:

  1. make him a pillar in the temple of My God;
  2. he shall go out no more;
  3. I will write on him the name of My God;
  4. give the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God;
  5. I will write on him My new name.

To Laodicea, he who overcomes even as I also overcame, will sit with Me in My throne.

“The heavenly temple, the abiding place of the King of kings, where ‘thousand thousands [one million] ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand [100 million] stood before Him’ (Daniel 7:10), that temple filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration—no earthly structure could represent its vastness and its glory.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 357

Seven times we are admonished to overcome. What must we overcome?

“There is work, earnest work, to be done for the Master. The evils condemned in God’s word must be overcome. You must individually battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit,” and you should become skillful in its use, if you would cut your way through the hosts of opposition and darkness.” Christian Education, 117

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10–17

A surface reading of this passage seems to contradict God’s word and inspired writings. Inspiration says that we are to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. But Ephesians says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

It has been said that these apparent contradictions arise because of our lack of understanding rather than there being an actual contradiction. Note that in Ephesians, the actual phrase states, “… we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” “Flesh and blood” is a commonly-used idiom for people. What Paul is telling the Ephesians is that our warfare is not with other people, but with higher authorities, particularly the rulers of the darkness of this world. Granted, those rulers of darkness use people as their weapons, but it is essential that we realize that our real battle is not with the agents of Satan, but rather with Satan himself. And only the word of God can give us the victory over him.

Inspiration is telling us that the flesh that we must overcome is our own carnal nature, the natural, innate cravings of our physical existence.

It is interesting to note how often in both Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy our natural character, the one we are born with, is spoken of as fallen, impure, and corrupt. Nowhere, exactly nowhere, in either source of divine enlightenment, is it stated or even implied that we are born completely innocent and pure and that at some indeterminate point our characters suddenly become corrupt. What is often termed as the “age of accountability” should more correctly be viewed as the point at which we realize that we are sinners, not by action alone, but also by nature. That our sinful actions are simply an outward display of our inward condition.

“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” Matthew 12:34, 35

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” Matthew 15:18

“ ‘How degenerate is your heart!’ says the Lord God, ‘seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot.’ ” Ezekiel 16:30

“The propensities that control the natural heart must be subdued by the grace of Christ before fallen man is fitted to enter heaven and enjoy the society of the pure, holy angels.” The Acts of the Apostles, 273

“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 they reap corruption.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 41

“… the evil tendencies of the natural heart can be overcome only by earnest effort in the name and strength of Jesus.” Ibid., 56

“The servants of Christ are not to act out the dictates of the natural heart.” The Desire of Ages, 353

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Ephesians 2:1–3

Clearly, the natural heart is imbued with Adam’s sinful character.

A Transaction by Faith

Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8 all detail another interesting transaction involving Jesus.

“On the way to the ruler’s house, Jesus had met in the crowd a poor woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her means upon physicians and remedies, only to be pronounced incurable. But her hopes revived when she heard of the cures that Christ performed. She felt assured that if she could only go to Him she would be healed. In weakness and suffering, she came to the seaside where He was teaching, and tried to press through the crowd, but in vain. Again she followed Him from the house of Levi-Matthew, but was still unable to reach Him. She had begun to despair, when, in making His way through the multitude, He came near where she was.

“The golden opportunity had come. She was in the presence of the Great Physician! But amid the confusion she could not speak to Him, nor catch more than a passing glimpse of His figure. Fearful of losing her one chance of relief, she pressed forward, saying to herself, ‘If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.’ As He was passing, she reached forward, and succeeded in barely touching the border of His garment. But in that moment she knew that she was healed. In that one touch, was concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness gave place to the vigor of perfect health.

“With a grateful heart she then tried to withdraw from the crowd; but suddenly Jesus stopped, and the people halted with Him. He turned, and looking about asked in a voice distinctly heard above the confusion of the multitude, ‘Who touched Me?’ The people answered this query with a look of amazement. Jostled upon all sides, and rudely pressed hither and thither, as He was, it seemed a strange inquiry.

“Peter, ever ready to speak, said, ‘Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?’ Jesus answered, ‘Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.’ The Saviour could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless throng. Such trust should not be passed without comment. He would speak to the humble woman words of comfort that would be to her a wellspring of joy—words that would be a blessing to His followers to the close of time.

“Looking toward the woman, Jesus insisted on knowing who had touched Him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward tremblingly, and cast herself at His feet. With grateful tears she told the story of her suffering, and how she had found relief. Jesus gently said, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.’ He gave no opportunity for superstition to claim healing virtue for the mere act of touching His garments. It was not through the outward contact with Him, but through the faith which took hold on His divine power, that the cure was wrought.

“The wondering crowd that pressed close about Christ realized no accession of vital power. But when the suffering woman put forth her hand to touch Him, believing that she would be made whole, she felt the healing virtue.” The Desire of Ages, 343–347

Her faith called forth Christ’s virtue—His healing power. Christ offered her healing; she believed she would be healed, and she was. Healing had been acquired by faith.

I who have nothing and owe what I can never repay, am loved by He who has everything and was willing to sacrifice it all to pay what I could not. My value is now seen by the light that illuminates His blood-stained face, His nail-scarred hands, and His voice that cried out—for me—“It is finished.” My part in this transaction is to believe, surrender, and obey. God’s is to redeem and transform.

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

Satan’s Five Discouragements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Health Problems

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

Financial Problems

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

Hypocrisy

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

My Own Defects of Character

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

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

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

False Theology

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

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

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

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

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

The Reunion of God’s Family

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December 22 – 28, 2024

Key Text

“And it will be said in that da: Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us.” Isaiah 25:9

Study Help: Testimonies, Vol. 6, 308–312

Introduction

“Christ takes His people to the city of God, and the earth is emptied of its inhabitants.” The Great Controversy, 657

Sunday

1 CHRIST’S RETURN

1.a. Three events—(1) genuine repentance and conversion is seen among Christ’s followers, (2) their confessed sins are blotted out in the investigative judgment, (3) they receive the “latter rain” in the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in fullness—are to take place in these last days. What will be the fourth and most important event? Acts 3:19, 20; Psalm 50:3

Note: “The King of kings descends upon the cloud, wrapped in flaming fire. The heavens are rolled together as a scroll, the earth trembles before Him, and every mountain and island is moved out of its place.” The Great Controversy, 641, 642

1.b. What will then happen to those who have died in Christ and have been approved in the investigative judgment? John 5:28, 29 first part; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–16

Note: “Amid the reeling of the earth, the flash of lightning, and the roar of thunder, the voice of the Son of God calls forth the sleeping saints. He looks upon the graves of the righteous, then, raising His hands to heaven, He cries: ‘Awake, awake, awake, ye that sleep in the dust, and arise!’ Throughout the length and breadth of the earth the dead shall hear that voice, and they that hear shall live.” The Great Controversy, 644

Monday

2 “RECOMPENSED AT THE RESURRECTION OF THE JUST”

2.a. What is written about the reward reserved for the patriarchs? Hebrews 11:13, 39, 40. When will the righteous be rewarded? Luke 14:14. What will they hear from many lips?

Note: “The redeemed will meet and recognize those whose attention they have directed to the uplifted Saviour. What blessed converse they have with these souls! ‘I was a sinner,’ it will be said, ‘without God and without hope in the world, and you came to me, and drew my attention to the precious Saviour as my only hope. And I believed in Him. I repented of my sins, and was made to sit together with His saints in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.’ Others will say: ‘I was a heathen in heathen lands. You left your friends and comfortable home, and came to teach me how to find Jesus and believe in Him as the only true God. I demolished my idols and worshiped God, and now I see Him face to face. I am saved, eternally saved, ever to behold Him whom I love. I then saw Him only with the eye of faith, but now I see Him as He is. I can now express my gratitude for His redeeming mercy to Him who loved me and washed me from my sins in His own blood.’

“Others will express their gratitude to those who fed the hungry and clothed the naked.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 311

2.b. What did Christ say about Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? When will they be rewarded? Luke 20:37, 38. And what about the prophet Daniel? Daniel 12:13. And King David? Acts 2:34, 35. Is there any proof in the Bible that they are already in heaven?

Note: “The fact that David remains in the grave until the resurrection proves that the righteous do not go to heaven at death. It is only through the resurrection, and by virtue of the fact that Christ has risen, that David can at last sit at the right hand of God.” The Great Controversy, 546

2.c. There are three exceptional cases mentioned in the Bible. Genesis 5:24 (Hebrews 11:5); Jude 9; 2 Kings 2:11 (Matthew 17:1–5). Explain.

Tuesday

3 NEW BODIES, NEW HOMES

3.a. Where are the saints who were raised at the resurrection of Christ? Matthew 27:52, 53; Ephesians 4:8; Revelation 4:4; 5:8, 9

Note: “As Christ arose, He brought from the grave a multitude of captives. The earthquake at His death had rent open their graves, and when He arose, they came forth with Him. They were those who had been colaborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth. Now they were to be witnesses for Him who had raised them from the dead. …

“They ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death and the grave. These, said Christ, are no longer the captives of Satan; I have redeemed them. I have brought them from the grave as the first fruits of My power, to be with Me where I am, nevermore to see death or experience sorrow.” The Desire of Ages, 786

3.b. What is the evidence that the apostles are not in heaven? What is Christ preparing for them and for us? John 14:1–3. When will they, together with us, receive the promised reward? 2 Timothy 4:7, 8 

3.c. What do we know about the new bodies that the saints will have? 1 Corinthians 15:35, 38, 42–44; Philippians 3:21

Note: “Our personal identity is preserved in the resurrection, though not the same particles of matter or material substance as went into the grave. The wondrous works of God are a mystery to man. The spirit, the character of man, is returned to God, there to be preserved. In the resurrection, every man will have his own character. God in His own time will call forth the dead, giving again the breath of life, and bidding the dry bones live. The same form will come forth, but it will be free from disease and every defect. It lives again bearing the same individuality of features, so that friend will recognize friend. There is no law of God in nature which shows that God gives back the same identical particles of matter which composed the body before death. God shall give the righteous dead a body that will please Him.” Maranatha, 301

Wednesday

4 CHRIST COMES TO “EXECUTE JUDGMENT”

4.a. Christ comes “to execute judgment.” John 5:27; 2 Timothy 4:1; Jude 14, 15. What destiny will be given to the two classes of people at the executive judgment? Matthew 25:31–46; 13:41–43

Note: “Christ on the Mount of Olives pictured to His disciples the scene of the great judgment day. And He represented its decision as turning upon one point. When the nations are gathered before Him, there will be but two classes, and their eternal destiny will be determined by what they have done or have neglected to do for Him in the person of the poor and the suffering.” The Desire of Ages, 637

4.b. What will the wicked, filled with terror, do on that great day? Isaiah 2:19–21; Revelation 6:15–17

Note: “At the coming of Christ the wicked are blotted from the face of the whole earth—consumed with the spirit of His mouth and destroyed by the brightness of His glory. Christ takes His people to the city of God, and the earth is emptied of its inhabitants. … ‘The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled; for the Lord hath spoken this word.’ ‘Because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate; therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned.’ [Isaiah 24:3, 5, 6.]

“The whole earth appears like a desolate wilderness.” The Great Controversy, 657

4.c. How will the saints rejoice—and how soon? Isaiah 25:9

Note: “I have also been pronounced a deceiver because I have said, ‘The Lord will soon come; get ready, get ready, that ye may be found waiting, watching, and loving His appearing.’ But in the Revelation, I read this statement, ‘Behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be.’ ‘Behold, I come quickly: Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.’ ‘Behold, I come quickly: Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.’ Was the One who bore this testimony a deceiver, because the ‘quickly’ has been protracted longer than our finite minds could anticipate? It is the faithful and true Witness that speaks. His words are verity and truth.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 179

Thursday

5 CHRIST’S GLORY, A CONSUMING FIRE

5.a. What will become of the living saints at the coming of Christ? 1 Corinthians 15:51–53

Note: “The living righteous are changed ‘in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.’ At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal and with the risen saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels ‘gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.’ Little children are borne by holy angels to their mothers’ arms. Friends long separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the city of God.” The Great Controversy, 645

5.b. What will happen to all others? Isaiah 66:15–18; 2 Thessalonians 1:6–8; 2 Peter 3:7, 10–12; Luke 17:28–30. Is there any proof that they will have a second chance to be saved?

5.c. What effect will the coming of Christ have on the saints? Philippians 3:18–21

5.d. Where will the resurrected saints and the living righteous meet Christ? 1 Thessalonians 4:17 Where are their new homes? Psalm 15:1; Hebrews 12:22, 23; Revelation 21:2–4

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

  1. Describe in the right sequence the four events mentioned in Acts 3:19, 20.
  2. When will the patriarchs and prophets receive their reward? What evidence shows that they are not yet in heaven?
  3. Specify the exceptional cases found in the Bible.
  4. What will be preserved in the resurrection, and what will not be preserved? Explain.
  5. Explain why the glory of Christ’s coming will destroy the wicked but not the saints.

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