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The Gecko and Chuckwalla Lizards

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The Gecko and Chuckwalla lizards are found in the southwestern United States. The Gecko lizard has an amazing ability to run upside down across the ceiling regardless of what the ceiling is made of and can run sideways across a wall, again regardless of the content of the wall. This has confounded scientists for some time. We have known for some time that the pads of the feet of the Gecko lizard are covered with little fine fibers, but this did not explain how the lizard could walk upside down on the ceiling.

Able to take pictures of the lizard’s toe pad magnified to 35,000 times, the electron microscope was able to reveal the answer. At the end of each of these fine fibers, there was a microscopic suction cup, each measuring eight-millionths of an inch in diameter. These suction cups allow the Gecko to run upside down on the ceiling and not fall off. These suction cups also present a challenge: how do they maintain suction and then release it so the little lizard can walk across the ceiling and not be forever stuck in the same place? His feet are specifically designed so that the tips of the toes bend or curl upward so that he can peel off the suction cups gradually at each step and not get so firmly stuck to the surface as to remain stuck.

Another very interesting lizard is the Chuckwalla lizard. The second-largest lizard species in the United States, its body shape is reflected in its scientific name, Sauromalus, which means flat lizard.

This lizard has skin across its back, almost like a blanket, and can change its colors throughout the day depending on its need for warmth. In the early morning, when it is cool, the lizard is dark-colored, allowing it to absorb heat from its surroundings. As the day warms up, the lizard changes to a light sandy color, allowing it to reflect heat and not burn up in the desert sun.

Another interesting design built into his body, allowing him to live in the desert, is a desalination (salt removal) factory in its nose! When the salt in his blood gets too high, the blood is shunted through this nasal factory, and the excess salt is removed. The lizard then sneezes out pure salt crystals, keeping the salt in its blood at levels compatible with life.

A third interesting fact about this lizard is its ability to protect itself from predators. When in danger, the lizard will run into the crevice of a rock and expand its body like a blowfish. Its body enlarges to perfectly match the crevice in the rock, and then it cannot be pulled from the crevice.

Evolutionists can find no fossil record that the feet of the Gecko evolved. So, it seems evident that they were perfectly formed to meet the needs of this little lizard. Neither can they find fossil evidence of the Chuckwalla adapting its life-saving mechanisms randomly and over time. These remarkable lizards clearly point to intelligent design by their Creator and not evolution.

Adapted from Incredible Creatures That Defy Evolution, Volume 1 by Dr. Job Martin

I Shall Know Him

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Fanny Crosby was one of, if not the most prolific hymn writer in the history of Christianity. We have all had the privilege of singing and listening to many of her more than 8,000 hymns. What a legacy for a woman blind from the age of eight.

Near the end of the 19th century, Fanny was visiting the Lake Chautauqua Institute in Western New York State. A place for Christian fellowship, great preaching and singing, it was here that she met John R. Sweney.

Having a rest on the front porch of the hotel after a busy day at the camp meeting, John asked Fanny an interesting question.

“Fanny,” he asked, “do you think we’ll recognize our friends in heaven?”

Initially, she answered yes. But then she added, “John, that’s not what you really want to know. You wonder how an old lady who has been blind all her life could even recognize one person, let alone her Lord and Saviour.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought and I don’t think I’ll have a problem. But if I do, when I get to heaven, I’m going to look around and when I see the one who I think is my Saviour, I’m going to walk up to Him and say, ‘May I see Your hands?’ When I see the nail prints in the hands of my Saviour, then I’ll know I’ve found my Jesus.”

“Oh Fanny,” John said, “that would make a great song.”

The next morning, bright and early, Fanny met John for breakfast and before they went their separate ways, she dictated the words of this great hymn; a hymn about heaven and the hope of every Christian—at last to see Jesus face to face. What a wonderful day that will be!

I Shall Know Him

When my life work is ended, and I cross the swelling tide,

When the bright and glorious morning I shall see

I shall know my Redeemer when I reach the other side,

And His smile will be the first to welcome me.

 

Oh, the soul-thrilling rapture when I view His blessed face

And the luster of His kindly beaming eye;

How my full heart will praise Him for the mercy, love, and grace

That prepared for me a mansion in the sky.

 

Oh, the dear ones in glory, how they beckon me to come,

And our parting at the river I recall;

To the sweet vales of Eden they will sing my welcome home,

But I long to meet my Saviour first of all.

 

Thro’ the gates of the city in a robe of spotless white,

He will lead me where no tears will ever fall;

In the glad song of ages, I shall mingle with delight,

But I long to meet my Saviour first of all.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him

And redeemed by His side, I shall stand.

I shall know Him, I shall know Him,

By the print of the nails in His hand.

Source: Barryshymns.blogspot.com/2010/01/i-shall-know-him

Crisis

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Opioids, violence, sexual abuse, domestic abuse, racism, pandemic, voting rights, abortion, nuclear testing, global warming, war, child trafficking, suicide, disease, socialism, communism, politics, natural disasters, social disorder. Crisis! Crisis! Crisis!

It seems there is a new crisis every day and the people of the world are crushed by the weight of it all. But what is the real problem? Where do all these crises come from?

In a word: sin. Sin affects the natural world, it is the natural state of the human heart and the great desire of our nature. It is no wonder that there is a great dearth of faith in this world, often even among God’s own people.

“Satan desires to keep you in the lowlands of sin, but will you not decide that you will go free? Will you not say: ‘Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling’?” The Signs of the Times, August 8, 1892

Without sin, the world would be a perfect place, and, just as God designed it to be, we would be a perfect people.

In spite of the wickedness that seems to permeate everything around us, we have the assurance that Jesus is coming again and that sin and all who hold it dear will soon be gone.

“The chaos caused by sin will not last forever. Someday we will live as God intended—in peace, love, and happiness. Death and sorrow will be banished forever. And best of all, you can be a part of that amazing new world!” Darkness Before Dawn, 52

“The powers of darkness are arrayed against you. Satan desires to see you deserting your Leader. He would be greatly pleased to see you disappointing the One who has done so much for you. Do not yield to his temptations. Fight bravely against his suggestions. Remember that God and Christ and the heavenly angels are fighting with you.” The Youth’s Instructor, January 1, 1903

Lord, as You calmed the sea, calm our fears and doubts. Fill our hearts with Your peace. Help us to trust You during this time of progressing wickedness. Keep us faithful so that when all these crises have ended, we will be standing inside the holy city of God, with You.

The Strength of Clinton

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When Clinton Stevens was eleven years old, he was taken very sick with pneumonia. During convalescence, he suffered an unexpected relapse, and his mother and the doctor worked hard to keep him alive.

“It is ten to one if he gets well,” said Dr. Bemis, shaking his head. “If he does, he will never be very strong.”

Mrs. Stevens smoothed Clinton’s pillow even more tenderly than before. Poor Clinton! He had always been such a rollicking, rosy-cheeked lad. Surely it was hard to bear.

The long March days dragged slowly along, and April was well advanced before Clinton could sit at the window and watch the grass grow green on the slope of the lawn. He looked frail and delicate. He had a cough, too, a troublesome “bark,” that he always kept back as long as he could.

The bright sunlight poured steadily through the window, and Clinton held up his hand to shield his eyes. “Why, Ma Stevens!” he said, after a moment, “Just look at my hands! They used to be regular hands, but now are as thin and white as a girl’s. It does not look like I would pull many weeds for Mr. Carter this summer, does it?”

Mrs. Stevens took his thin hands in her own patient ones. “Never mind, dearie,” she said, “they will grow plump and brown again, I hope.” A group of schoolchildren were passing by, shouting and frolicking. Clinton leaned forward and watched them till the last one was gone. Some of them waved their caps, but he did not seem elated.

“Mother,” he said, “I believe I will go to bed if you will help me. I guess I am not quite so strong now as I used to be.”

Clinton did not pull weeds for Mr. Carter that summer, but he rode around with the milkman and did a little outdoor work for his mother, which helped him to mend. One morning in July, he surprised the village by riding out on his bicycle, but he overdid it, and it was several weeks before he again appeared. His cough continued, though not as severe as in the spring, and it was decided to let him go to school in the fall.

Dr. Bemis told Mrs. Stevens that the school room would be a good place to test Clinton’s strength. And he was right. In no other place does a young person’s strength develop or debase itself so readily, for honor or dishonor. Of course, the doctor had referred to physical strength, but moral strength is much more important.

Clinton was a bright lad, given his age. Although he had not looked into his books during the summer, he was placed in the same grade he had left when taken sick. He did not find much difficulty keeping up with his studies except spelling. Whenever he received a perfect mark on that subject, he felt that a real victory had been won.

About Christmas time, the regular examinations were held. The teacher offered a prize to each grade; the pupil receiving the highest average in all studies would receive the prize. Much excitement, no little speculation, and a great deal of studying ensued. Clinton felt fairly confident over all his studies except spelling. So he carried his spelling book home every night, and he and his mother spent the evenings in wrestling with the long and difficult words.

Examination day came at length, and the afternoon for the seventh grade spelling test was at hand. The words were to be written, and handed in. Across the aisle from Clinton sat Harry Meyers. Several times when the teacher pronounced a word, Harry looked slyly down into the palm of his hand. Clinton watched him, his cheeks growing pink with shame. Then he looked around at the others. Many of them had some dishonest device for copying the words. Clinton swallowed something in his throat, and looked across at Billy Matthews, who pursed up his lips and nodded, as if to say that he understood.

The papers were handed in, and school was dismissed. On Monday, after the morning exercises, Miss Brooks gave out the prizes to the three grades under her care. “I have now to award the prize for the highest average to the seventh grade,” she said. “But first I wish to say a few words on your conduct during the recent examination in spelling. I shall censure no one in particular, although there is one boy who must set no more bad examples. No one spelled all the words correctly — Clinton Stevens the least of any — making his average quite low; yet the prize goes to him. I will tell you why” — as a chorus of O!  greeted her ears. “Spelling is Clinton’s hardest subject, but he could easily have spelled more words right had he not possessed sufficient strength to prevent him from falling into the way followed by some of you.”

As Clinton went up the aisle for his prize, he felt like crying, but he managed to smile instead. A few days before, Harry Meyers had ridiculed him because he was not strong enough to throw a snowball from the school house to the road; now the teacher had said he was strong.

Clinton’s Aunt Jennie came to visit the family in December, bringing her little daughter Grace with her. Grace was obsessed with pulling other people’s hair, and Clinton was her favorite. She began on him cautiously, then aggressively. Clinton stood it for a while and then asked her, politely but firmly, to stop. She stopped for a half a day.

One night, Clinton came home from school pale and tired. Some of the boys had been taunting him on his spare frame and imitating his cough, which had grown worse as the winter advanced. Sitting down by the window, he looked out at the falling snow. Grace slipped up behind him and gave his hair a sharp tweak. He struck out hastily and hit her. She was not hurt, only very much surprised, but she began to cry lustily, and Aunt Jennie came hurrying in and took the child in her arms.

That night, after supper, Clinton went into the sitting room and called Grace to him. “I want to tell you something,” he said. “I am sorry that I hit you, and I ask your pardon. Will you forgive me?” Grace agreed quickly and said shyly, “Next time I want to pull someone’s hair, I will pull my own.”

Aunt Jennie was in the next room and overheard the conversation. “It strikes me, Sarah,” she said to Mrs. Stevens later, “that Clinton is a remarkably strong boy for one who is not strong. Most boys would not have taken the trouble to ask a small girl to forgive them, even if they were completely wrong. But Clinton has a strong character.”

One August night, when Clinton was thirteen, the boys planned to have a corn roast. “We will get the corn in old Carter’s lot,” said Harry Meyers. “He has just acres of it and can spare a bushel. Will you go with us, Clinton?”

Clinton hesitated. “No,” said he, “I guess not; and I should think if you want to roast corn, you could get it out of your own gardens. But if Mr. Carter’s corn is better than any other, why not ask him?”

“O, come, now,” retorted Harry, “do not let it worry you! Half the fun of roasting corn is in taking it. Don’t come, Clinton. You are too nice, Mr. Coughin.”

Clinton’s cheeks flushed red, but he turned away without a word. When Mr. Carter quizzed Billy Matthews, and found out all about it, Clinton was made very happy by the old man’s words: “Not every boy will take the stand you took. You ought to be thankful that you have the strength to say no.”

In the fall, when Clinton was fifteen, his health began to fail noticeably, and Dr. Bemis advised a little wine “to build him up.”

“Mother,” said the boy, after thinking it over, “I am not going to touch any wine. I can get well without it, I know I can. I do not want liquor,” he continued. “ ‘Wine is a mocker,’ you know. Did you not tell me once that Zike Hastings, over in East Bloomfield, became a drunkard by drinking wine when he was sick?”

“Yes, Clinton, I believe I told you so.”

“Well, then, I do not want any wine. I have seen Zike Hastings too many times.”

In December, Aunt Jennie and Grace made their annual visit. With them came Uncle Jonathan, who took a great liking to Clinton.

“My boy,” he said one day, placing a big hand on the lad’s shoulder, “early in the new year, Aunt Jennie and I start for the Pacific Coast. Would you like to go with us?”

“Well, I guess I would!” gasped the surprised boy, joyfully clasping his hands.

“Very well, then, you shall go,” returned Uncle Jonathan, “and your mother, too.”

Clinton began to feel better before they were outside of Pennsylvania. When they had crossed the Mississippi and reached the prairies, his eyes were sparkling with excitement. The mountains gave him new life. Uncle Jonathan watched him with pleasure. “Tell me,” he said one day, when they were winding in and out among the Rockies, “what has given you so much strength of character?”

“Why, it was this way,” said Clinton, bringing his eyes in from a chasm some hundreds of feet below: “One day, when I was beginning to recover from that attack of pneumonia, I saw a lot of the boys romping along, and I felt pretty bad because I could not romp and play, too. Then I thought that if I could not be strong that way, I could have the strength to do right, so I began to try.”

“Succeeded admirably,” said Uncle Jonathan approvingly. “And, really, my boy, I see no reason why you should not shout and play to your heart’s content in a few months.”

And Uncle Jonathan’s words proved true; within a few months, Clinton grew well and strong in the sun-kissed California valley. But throughout his life, he would have reason to be glad that he learned the value of the strength gained by resisting temptation, controlling one’s spirit, and obeying the Lord’s commands.

Stories Worth Re-Reading, Benjamin Keech, ©1913, 23–28

Rectifying Wrong

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“Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.” Matthew 18:15

As you go to the one you suppose to be in fault, see that you speak in a meek and lowly spirit, for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. The erring can in no other way be restored than in the spirit of meekness and gentleness and tender love. Be careful in your manner of speaking. Avoid everything in look or gesture, word or tone of voice, that savors of pride or self-sufficiency. Guard yourself against word or look that would exalt yourself or set your goodness and righteousness in contrast to their failings. Beware of the most distant approach to disdain, overbearing, or contempt. With care, avoid every appearance of anger, and though you use plainness of speech, yet let there be no reproach, no railing accusation, no token of warmth, but that of earnest love.

Above all, let there be no shadow of hate or ill will, no bitterness or soreness of expression. Nothing but kindness and gentleness can flow from a heart of love. Yet all these precious fruits need not hinder your speaking in the most serious, solemn manner, as though angels were directing their eyes upon you, and you acting in reference to the coming judgment.

Bear in mind that the success of reproof depends greatly upon the spirit in which it was given. Do not neglect earnest prayer that you may possess a lowly mind, and that angels of God may work upon the hearts before you, which you are trying to reach, and so soften them by heavenly impressions that your efforts may avail. If any good is accomplished take no credit yourself. God alone should be exalted. God alone hath done it all. …

All your efforts to save the erring may be unavailing. They may repay you evil for good. They may be enraged rather than convinced. What if they hear to no good purpose and pursue the evil course they have started to follow? This will frequently be the case. Sometimes the mildest and tenderest reproof will have no good effect. In that case the blessing you wanted another to receive by pursuing a course of righteousness, ceasing to do evil and learning to do well, will return into your own bosom. If the erring persist in sin, treat them kindly and leave them with your heavenly Father. This Day With God, 105

The Most Costly Thing in the World

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The Diamond

The Hope Diamond is a blue diamond found in the Kollur Mine in Golconda, India, before 1666, when Jean-Baptiste Tavernier purchased it in its uncut form. It weighed 112 3/16 carats.

Tavernier sold the diamond to King Louis XIV of France in 1668.

In 1673, the court jeweler recut the stone, making it 67 1/8-carat. It became known as the Blue Diamond of the Crown or the French Blue. The stone was set in gold and suspended on a neck ribbon worn by the king on ceremonial occasions.

Louis XV had the stone reset in 1749 as a ceremonial piece for the Order of the Golden Fleece. When Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette attempted to flee France in 1791, the Hope Diamond was given to the French government.

Stolen in 1792, it was found in 1812 in the possession of Daniel Eliason, a London diamond merchant.

Its next owner was Henry Philip Hope, from whom the diamond takes its name. Upon Henry Hope’s death in 1839, the diamond passed to his nephew, Henry Thomas Hope, and ultimately to the nephew’s grandson, Lord Francis Hope.

From this point forward, the diamond had several owners, including Mrs. Evalyn Walsh McLean of Washington, D.C. She bought it and had it mounted as a headpiece on a three-tiered circlet of large white diamonds by Pierre Cartier in 1911. The diamond remained in her possession until 1947.

After her death, Henry Winston, Inc., of New York City, purchased Mrs. McLean’s jewelry, including the Hope diamond necklace. For ten years, the diamond was part of exhibits and charitable events around the world. On November 10, 1958, Winston donated the diamond to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C., where it remains on permanent exhibition today.

The diamond alone weighs 45.52 carats. The pendant is set with 16 pear-shaped and cushion-cut white diamonds, and the chain contains 45 white diamonds. Its estimated value is $200-$350 million.

The Yacht

The History Supreme is the most expensive yacht in the world, and its features and amenities are the reason why. Gold and similar precious metals are used inside and out. One wall of the primary bedroom is made of meteorite, and another is made into a 24-carat gold Aquavista Panoramic Wall aquarium. The primary bathroom has a meteorite embedded in one wall. The yacht holds the bones of a Tyrannosaurus Rex, a bottle embedded with an 18.5-carat diamond estimated to be worth $45 million, and an iPhone encrusted with 500 cut diamonds.

The History Supreme is 30 meters long, apparently short for a luxury yacht. It has never been seen in any major port, and rumors suggest that it doesn’t exist and is simply a publicity stunt. It reportedly belongs to Malaysia’s richest man, Robert Kuok, and was designed by Stuart Hughes in England. The estimated value of the yacht is $4.8 billion.

The Degree

One might think Yale, Harvard, or Stanford Universities would be the most expensive places to obtain higher education, but they’d be wrong. Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, holds the record as the most expensive college tuition in the United States for a four-year degree.

For this whopping tuition, you receive high-quality, education–rigorous academic programs with distinguished faculty and a wide range of graduate and undergraduate programs. Northwestern is a leading research institution where students can participate in cutting-edge research projects, often with renowned experts.

The university provides a strong alumni network that can be invaluable for career opportunities and mentorship. It also has state-of-the-art facilities, including libraries, laboratories, and recreational centers. Career counseling and health services are also available to students. The tuition for certain four-year degrees is between $85,000.00 and $90,000.00.

The Horse

Champion thoroughbred racehorse Fusaichi Pegasus, nicknamed Fu Peg, was born on April 12, 1997, and purchased by Fusao Sekiguchi as a yearling for $4 million. He won the Kentucky Derby in 2000. Then he was sold to Irish breeder Coolmore Stud for $70 million.

For over a decade before his death, he was part of Coolmore’s breeding operation. Fu Peg retired from stud duty at the end of the 2020 season and died on May 23, 2023, euthanized because of issues attributed to old age. He was 26 years old.

The Car

The Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail is the most expensive car available today.

It is a hard-top convertible with 1,603 separate hand-finished wood pieces. The exterior is painted using a process that takes 150 iterations of the color before it is perfect and will change color depending on the sunlight. Direct sun – vibrant color. Shade or cloud cover–a purplish-black hue. The interior is dark crimson with an almost velvet-like finish. It requires four years to build the car. The purchase price is $30 million.

So, what is the most costly thing in this world?

Sin. From the day that sin entered this world, mankind has suffered for just a slight deviation from God’s instruction.

“To Eve, it seemed a small thing to disobey God by tasting the fruit of the forbidden tree, and to tempt her husband also to transgress; but their sin opened the floodgates of woe upon the world. Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences that will result from one wrong step?” Our Father Cares, 170

Redemption came at a staggering price, a price beyond comprehension, but heaven paid that price. Why? Because God is love, and true love engenders respect, faith, trust, and obedience. We do not have that kind of love, nor can we make it. Therefore, man is destined to live loving only himself unless he humbly surrenders and a miraculous transformation occurs in his nature and heart.

The natural, unregenerated heart of mankind wants the most while giving very little of itself, and it doesn’t take much for terrible consequences to result.

Archduke Ferdinand of Austria

Except for a wrong turn, Archduke Ferdinand, the presumptive heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, and his wife might not have died on June 28, 1914, and WWI might have been averted or at least delayed.

There were two assassination attempts that day. First, the would-be assassin threw a bomb into the Duke’s car, but the chauffeur was able to deflect it away. Several innocent bystanders and members of the Duke’s entourage were injured, but he and his wife were safe.

After arriving at a place of safety, the Duke insisted on visiting those who had been injured. However, the chauffeur made a wrong turn, and before he could turn the vehicle around, the assassin, hiding out in a café right next to their car, was able to shoot the Duke and his wife. Thus began “the war to end all wars.”

The Fall of Constantinople

In 1453, the Ottomans launched a campaign against Constantinople. The Byzantines defended the city and had a good chance of winning, even though the Ottomans had the numerical advantage and significant firepower—namely cannons. However, Constantinople had thick, high walls that could withstand, at least for a while, the onslaught of the Ottomans. If the Byzantines could hold on long enough, allies from Europe were on their way and would have turned the tide of the battle.

Unfortunately, the Byzantines wasted their bravery and skill because of a critically foolish mistake: someone forgot to close a gate. When the Ottomans took the gate and hoisted their flag above its tower, chaos ensued, the defenders’ resistance faded away, and the Ottomans successfully took the city.

Discovery of the New World

When Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492, he headed west toward Japan, some 3,000 miles away. He thought that if he sailed to Japan and beyond just a little more, he would reach the Indies. The problem was Columbus had made a very significant mathematical error. He miscalculated the size of the globe. Japan was, in fact, 12,000 miles away, and because of this error, he had made, most likely, the most momentous mistake in history.

The Bismarck

On February 14, 1939, a state-of-the-art battleship was launched from Hamburg, Germany. The 823-foot Bismarck was intended to herald the rebirth of the German surface battle fleet. Once the order was given for her to break out into the Atlantic Ocean, she would be almost impossible to track down, and consequently, she was able to wreak havoc on the Allied convoys to Britain.

The British Home Fleet mounted a search to locate the Bismarck, and on May 24, the British battle cruiser Hood and battleship Prince of Wales located her near Iceland. The ensuing battle was ferocious. The Hood exploded and sank, with only three of her 1,421 crewmen surviving. The Bismarck escaped and fled to occupied France.

On May 26, the Bismarck was sighted and crippled by British aircraft. The  next day, three British warships attacked her, inflicting heavy damage. The pride of the German navy was a floating wreck. The order came to scuttle the ship, and she quickly sank, taking all but 115 of her 2,221 crewmen with her.

How were the British able to destroy the Bismarck? Her rudder had been damaged during the battle, and she could only sail in a circle. She couldn’t run, so she became an easy target.

The Costliest Thing

People think it’s just a little thing, a little white lie. A husband doesn’t want to hurt his wife’s feelings if he tells her how she really looks in that dress. Admirable. What harm can it do? But when a friend says, “Girl, why are you wearing that dress? It doesn’t look that good on you.” Then, the most important trust, next to trust in God, is damaged. How can the wife trust what her husband says? What damage does a little white lie do to the husband who spoke it?

“The least departure from truthfulness and rectitude is a transgression of the law of God. Continual indulgence in sin accustoms the person to a habit of wrongdoing, but does not lessen the aggravated character of the sin. God has established immutable principles, which He cannot change without a revision of His whole nature. If the word of God were faithfully studied by all who profess to believe the truth, they would not be dwarfs in spiritual things. Those who disregard the requirements of God in this life would not respect His authority were they in heaven.” To Be Like Jesus, 175

Sin’s consequences are the most damaging and costly. Eve took a bite of the fruit. And then she took the fruit to Adam. We all have an influence, either directly or indirectly. Everything we say and do is either spoken or done to someone or observed, read, or heard by someone. Many people fail, as did Adam, when given the choice between the demands of our human nature and obeying God. The Bible says that if we love anyone or anything more than God, we are not worthy of Him (Matthew 10:37, 38; Exodus 20:3).

“Whatever have been the little sins indulged [they] will ruin the soul, unless they are overcome. The small sins will swell into the greater sins.” The Review and Herald, May 24, 1887

“Adam and Eve suffered the terrible consequences of disobeying the express command of God. They might have reasoned: This is a very small sin, and will never be taken into account. But God treated the matter as a fearful evil, and the woe of their transgression will be felt through all time.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 311, 312

“But God in heaven is weighing moral worth. He will judge righteously. … God’s people must arise, and gird themselves with the whole armor of righteousness.” The Review and Herald, May 24, 1887

There Are Always Consequences

Sin has caused the most significant and costly consequences. Man lost his relationship with God, separated forever from Him in whom we delight, unable to live in the presence of the Almighty God—instead trading righteousness and holiness for selfishness, darkness, and ultimate destruction and death, as easily as Esau traded his birthright for a bowl of stew—causing the Prince of heaven to leave His glorious home above to come to this sin-darkened world so that man might be holy once again.

“Adam yielded to temptation, and as we have the matter of sin and its consequences laid so distinctly before us, we can read from cause to effect and see the greatness of the act is not that which constitutes sin; but the disobedience of God’s expressed will, which is a virtual denial of God, refusing the laws of His government. …

“The law of self is erected, human will is made supreme, and when the high and holy will of God is presented to be obeyed, respected, and honored, the human will wants its own way, to do its own promptings, and there is a controversy between the human agent and the Divine.” Christ Triumphant, 25

Friends, sin is sin. It doesn’t matter if it is big or small; it’s all sin. It ruins the soul of the one in whom it dwells, and its consequences affect family, friends, and even the world. But there is an antithesis to sin—God’s love—a love so strong that God made a plan. If we choose, the execution of the plan provides the way to restore us—body, soul, mind, and spirit—to His likeness. All the world’s languages cannot adequately express what God has done for us, nor the enormity of the price that He and all of heaven paid to ensure our salvation.

“As a transgressor of the law, man was condemned as hopelessly ruined; for he was the enemy of God, without strength to do any good thing; but Christ came to reveal to him the justice and love of God, to give repentance to Israel and remission of sins. When the sinner beholds Jesus lifted up upon the cross, suffering the guilt of the transgressor and the consequences of sin, he beholds God’s abhorrence of evil in this fearful manifestation, and sees His love for fallen man: ‘For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’

“The Lord could have cut off the sinner and utterly destroyed him; but the costlier plan was chosen. In His great love He provides hope for the hopeless in giving His only-begotten Son to bear the sins of the world. Since God has poured out all heaven in that one rich gift, He will withhold no needed aid from man. All the agencies of heaven are at the command of the believing soul, that he may be successful in the warfare against the powers of darkness. He who believes in Jesus Christ as fully able to save his soul, believes the gospel, and hath eternal life.” The Signs of the Times, June 27, 1892

“Jesus suffered the extreme penalty of the law for our transgression, and justice was fully satisfied. The law is not abrogated; it has not lost one jot of its force. Instead, it stands forth in holy dignity, Christ’s death on the cross testifying to its immutability. Its demands have been met, its authority maintained.

“God spared not His only-begotten Son. To show the depth of His love for man, He delivered Him up for us all. ‘Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ (John 1:29). Behold Him dying on the cross. Behold Him who was equal with God, mocked and derided by the mob. Behold Him in Gethsemane, bowed under the burden of the sins of the whole world.

“Was the penalty remitted because He was the Son of God? Were the vials of wrath withheld from Him who was made sin for us? Without abatement the penalty fell upon our divine-human Substitute.

“Hear His cry, ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Mark 15:34). He was treated as a sinner, that we might be treated as righteous, that God might be just, and yet the Justifier of the sinner. …

“The love existing between the Father and His Son cannot be portrayed. It is measureless. In Christ, God saw the beauty and perfection of excellence that dwells in Himself. Wonder, O heavens, and be astonished, O earth, for God spared not His own Son, but gave Him up to be made sin for us, that those who believe may be made the righteousness of God in Him. …

“Language is too feeble for us to attempt to portray the love of God. We believe it, we rejoice in it, but we cannot comprehend it.” In Heavenly Places, 15

“It was in consequence of sin that man was shut out from the throne of God, but Christ steps in and pays the price, and through His merits man is brought back in favor with God. …

“Christ with His long human arm encircles the fallen race, while with His divine arm He grasps the throne of the Almighty, thus uniting earth with heaven, and fallen, finite man with the Infinite God. And this earth, which was divorced from heaven, is again united with heaven. A communication is opened with heaven through Jesus Christ [so] that man, who was fallen, is brought back again into favor with God. …

“And now the question is, Will man fasten his thoughts upon the things of eternal interest and work in harmony with God? … Heaven we want, every one of us. You cannot afford to lose heaven. You cannot afford to have the gates of paradise closed to you. You want heaven, eternal life.

“Then what will you do in order to obtain it? You must be obedient to all of God’s commandments. It is the only moral standard and rule that God has given for the use of His subjects. He has rules and statutes, and it is for man to obey them.” Sermons and Talks, Vol. 2, 32, 33

We cannot comprehend the love that condescended to leave glory to come to this world of darkness and sin, offering salvation to a dying race. God gave. Jesus came. And soon He will return. His death paid the most costly price, and His life shows us the way. Are we following? Have we chosen to be changed? Do we want heaven? Then, we must accept His salvation and be recreated in the image of God.

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

The Tree of Life – The Dream of Humanity

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Ever since he was expelled from paradise, man has had a longing for eternity, for immortality, for health and youth, a desire that has existed since the moment when man lost access to the tree of life. When we see children suffering from cancer from birth, when we notice the inexorable degeneration of human bodies in the aging process, the more we dream of a world in which man will regain immortality, in which he will again be able to eat fruit from the Tree of Life and drink from the River of the Water of Life. Biotechnology companies, Eastern philosophers and Western visionaries propose various “crazy” solutions, all completely utopian, for people who love their independence from God and at the same time dream of immortality.

The Promise of Immortality

Since the dawn of time, philosophers have sought the philosopher’s stone, from which the elixir of life could be made—an elixir that would grant immortality to anyone who drank it. In the Edenic paradise, humanity chose independence from God, deceived by the devil with the vision of becoming immortal and at the same time becoming like God. Having lost access to the Tree of Life, humanity has attempted to achieve immortality independently of God by creating its own version of the Tree of Life. Hence the search for the philosopher’s stone, the fountain of youth, and other avenues to immortality.

It seems no era has been as obsessively focused on this idea as modern Western culture. Today, people still die, but according to the prophets of transhumanism, humanity is on the verge of achieving divine status through access to an artificial Tree of Life—a fusion of genetic engineering, technology, artificial intelligence, and pharmacology. Transhumanism is nothing more than an attempt to attain salvation through human effort alone. At its core, however, this ideology is built on a foundational error, based on a false vision of humanity. These efforts always lead to tragedy.

Transhumanism, as promoted by its prophets like Yuval Noah Harari, possesses qualities of a global quasi-religious system encompassing all of humanity. At the heart of this system is the idea of the transhuman and their evolution towards the superhuman or posthuman. In any case, transhumanism has global aspirations. The desire to create a global system of governance is also shared by New Age followers, Freemasons, and the papacy.

When Symbol Meets Reality

The Tree of Life is a powerful archetype that has endured through the ages, permeating various cultures, religions, and philosophies. Though the human heart is corrupted by sin, deep within human existence lies a profound desire and longing for immortality—a yearning for God, even if not always consciously recognized.

In Mesopotamian tradition, the Tree of Life often accompanies royal figures and appears in architectural decorations. As a mythological motif, the Tree also appeared in the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, Persia, India, and other cultures. It represents a universal symbol of life, growth, and the connection between the earthly and the divine, reflecting humanity’s ancient quest for immortality and the sacred.1 In various religious traditions, the motif of the Tree of Life is connected to the concept of the World Tree, or the Cosmic Tree, which supports the universe. In this conception, the Tree of Life, as the World Tree, represents the spherical structure of the cosmos with its three fundamental realms: the heavens, the earthly world, and the underworld—the realm of the dead. In each of these religious narratives, the idea of a “center” is embodied in the tree, representing absolute reality, the source of life, and sanctity. Thus, the World Tree stands at the center of the universe, serving as the axis mundi, or the world axis. In this sense, it is the holiest of the holy places, a connection point between the divine and the earthly, symbolizing the interrelationship of all existence.2

In many religious traditions and mythologies, the creation of the world begins at a “center,” where the energy of life and the source of all reality are concentrated. This is similarly reflected in the biblical narrative found in the Book of Genesis—where the central point of the created world is the garden of Eden, or Paradise. Within the garden, the central element is the Tree of Life. “As the creation of the world begins in a certain center, it follows that the creation of man could only have occurred in that same place, which is the most real and alive.”3

The Mystery of King Pakal the Great

In the Mexican city of Palenque, one of the largest Mayan cities, there is a stepped pyramid with the Temple of the Inscriptions. Intensive excavation work only began there after World War II. In 1949, the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century on the continents of both Americas was made.

An access point to a mysterious corridor filled entirely with rubble was uncovered. Archaeologists excavated the passage for three years. The corridor, 25 meters long, descended below the base level of the pyramid. At the end of the corridor was a tomb chamber. Inside, they discovered the sarcophagus of the ruler of this place, Pakal the Great.

Within the sarcophagus lay his skeleton, adorned with a decorative jade mask over his face. Only after some time did archaeologists realize that the most valuable find in the Temple of the Inscriptions was not Pakal’s body but the lid of his sarcophagus. They began to examine it more closely.4 On this slab is a beautiful relief depicting the king’s likeness, as popularized by Erich von Däniken, who saw in it the figure of an astronaut traveling in a spaceship. However, the relief on the slab illustrates the Tree of Life—the World Tree, which serves as the main axis of all creation. This aligns with the beliefs of the Maya, who thought that the universe consists of the earth, the heavenly realm, and the underworld.

The world of the living, or Earth, was divided into four quadrants organized according to the cardinal directions. At the center of the world grows the Tree of Life—the World Tree. This tree symbolizes the interconnectedness of all existence, embodying the balance and unity of the cosmos as understood by the Maya.5 At the top of the tree carved on the sarcophagus is Itzamná, the creator god, depicted as the Heavenly Bird. We also see King Pakal in a strange, curled position.

During his life, Pakal was symbolically connected to the tree through an umbilical cord, but death severed this bond. The king is not sitting inside a rocket; rather, he is falling from the Tree of Life toward the underworld—the land of the dead, symbolized by the open maw of the Earth Monster. At the same time, the king’s position expresses the belief in resurrection, as it resembles the posture of a person rising from the grave. The slab features two figures—Adam and Eve—connected by their noses, which can be seen using a mirrored reflection. In the center, we see their hands. Eve’s hand reaches for the fruit from the tree and passes it to Adam, who takes it in his hand. The Maya believed that the first couple lived in a perfect epoch in human history, which ended with a great flood. This suggests that the relief depicts not only Pakal’s death and his hope for resurrection but also the fall of the first parents, which resulted in the loss of access to the Tree of Life.

The relief from Palenque narrates the same story as the first book of the Bible. Humanity must die because it has lost access to the Tree of Life, yet it dies in the hope of resurrection. The bird at the top of the tree points to the heavenly kingdom and to God, who is humanity’s only hope for eternal life.6 On the slab of Pakal’s sarcophagus, one can observe another extraordinary image—an additional layer of interpretation. In this interpretive layer, Pakal becomes a sacrificial figure who undergoes transformation—he dies, is buried in the earth, and rises to new life. His death becomes an act of creation. This transformation symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, reflecting the Maya belief in the interconnectedness of existence. The act of dying is not seen merely as an end but as a necessary step toward regeneration and renewal. In this context, Pakal’s death is not a defeat; rather, it is a significant transition that allows him to assume a new role within the cosmic order. This narrative resonates with the broader themes of sacrifice and the creative power inherent in death, echoing ancient ideas of resurrection and the eternal cycle of life.7 This interpretation aligns with the beliefs of the Maya, who considered ancient kings to be the heirs of the first ruler of the earth, the first father. As his successors, they also represented a type pointing toward a future Messiah, who would sacrifice himself for humanity. Thus, the imagery on Pakal’s sarcophagus is particularly intriguing for us Christians.

There is no doubt that the plan of salvation was once known to all people. However, over time, it became distorted and misrepresented. The connections between Pakal’s transformation and the concept of sacrifice reflect a deeper, universal truth about the human condition and the longing for redemption. This resonance with the Christian narrative suggests that the themes of death, resurrection, and sacrifice transcend cultural boundaries, hinting at a shared understanding of the divine plan throughout history.8

The Tree of Life in the Bible

The Tree of Life first appears in the Book of Genesis when God places humanity in the garden of Eden: “And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9). It then appears again in Genesis 3:22–24 alongside the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which is central to the narrative. Here, humanity becomes a living being formed by God from the dust of the earth, into which He breathes His own breath of life. Thus, one could say that Genesis 2:4–9 is rich with life. God creates humanity, fills it with life, and places it in an ideal environment—the beautiful garden.

The motif of the Tree of Life returns in the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). In this way, the motif of the Tree of Life frames the entire biblical narrative, appearing at both the beginning and the end of the Scriptures. It seems that the mention of such a rich and meaningful symbol as the Tree of Life should appear quite frequently throughout the Bible. However, aside from the passages in Genesis and a few references in Revelation, it appears only in the book of Proverbs. This is indeed surprising.

Upon closer examination of the Tree of Life, not only in terms of its physical reality but also from a symbolic perspective, we begin to understand that the Tree of Life represents the eternal life that God desired to grant humanity. This understanding positions the motif of the Tree of Life as one of the most powerful themes in the Bible, creating a perfect bookend in the first and last books of the Bible while simultaneously permeating the entire biblical revelation.

Revelation of the Tree of Life

Let’s take a closer look at the biblical frame (the beliefs and principles rooted in the Bible that set the frame of what we believe about God). The creation of the world by God, with the Tree of Life in the middle of the garden, located in the heart of Eden, and situated in the center of the earth, opens the biblical frame. The creation of a new heaven and a new earth by God, in the midst of which lies the New Jerusalem, and at the center of which is the river of the water of life and the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:1, 2)—this is not the end of the biblical frame. At the very center of the sin-purged universe, in the very heart of the New Jerusalem, John sees not just a sign of God’s presence, but the throne of God and ultimately God Himself, not just a sign of His presence. It is God, who will dwell with the saved, who ultimately closes the biblical frame. If this is the case, there must be another event, a central event around which the entire biblical revelation revolves. This event is essential for the emergence of a new heaven and a new earth. An absolute prerequisite for our return to God’s presence, back to our lost heavenly home, and renewed access to the Tree of Life is the event that took place on Golgotha. This is the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We can read about this in the letter to the Hebrews: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” Hebrews 10:19, 20. Furthermore, the Lord Himself solemnly declares: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life

It is clear that the Tree of Life symbolizes eternal life, to which each of us now has access because of what happened on another tree on the hill of Golgotha. Through the death of Jesus on that tree of the cross and His resurrection three days later, we all can have access to eternal life by accepting, through faith, the sacrifice of the Son of God. If the death of Jesus on the tree of the cross opens the way for us to eternal life, then there is no other option but to identify Jesus Christ with the Tree of Life symbolically. As it is written, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. There is no alternative for salvation and eternal life except through God—Jesus Christ. The source of all life is found in God—Jesus Christ. He is the Tree of Life, He is the River of Living Water, He is the Bread of Life, and He is Eternal Life.

The Cross of Christ: The Axis Connecting Heaven and Earth

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the tree of the cross stands at the very center of biblical revelation. In that sense, the tree of the cross is a symbol for the Tree of Life. Since ancient times, the cross has been a cosmic symbol of the axis connecting heaven and earth. By choosing the cross as the visual symbol of their faith, Christians intended it to always remind them that it stands at the center of their belief. For the center of Christian faith is neither the birth of Jesus, nor His youth, His teachings, His ministry, His resurrection, or His authority, but rather His death on the cross.9 The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is the central event of God’s revelation recorded in the Bible, permeating the entire Scripture. It is a pivotal event in the history of the world and the universe; it is the heart of Christian theology and faith. This central event has cosmic dimensions and consequences, offering the promise of eternal life to those who accept God’s grace and love revealed on the cross of Golgotha in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ through faith.

Promise

Now we live in a world full of pain and suffering, sadness and illness, old age and death. It is a world that desperately cries out for rescue. This is not the world that was meant to be humanity’s destiny. God promises to restore to redeemed humanity everything that Adam and Eve lost. In the book of Isaiah, the Lord makes a solemn promise to fallen humanity: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.” Isaiah 65:17, 18.

Endnotes:

1A. Arno, Drzewo życia, published June 18, 2021, https://przekroj.org/sztuka-opowiesci/drzewo-zycia/, accessibility: 16.09.2024

2M. Eliade, Traktat o historii religii, publishing house Opus 1993, pp. 365, 366

3Ibiden, p. 364

4W. Boguch, Pakal z Palenque, published May 7, 2022, www.tunguska.pl/pakal-z-palenque/, accessibility: 16.09.2024

5D. Davies, Maya Gods and Religious Beliefs, www.mayaarchaeologist.co.uk/public-resources/maya-world/maya-gods-religious-beliefs/#easy-footnote-bottom-2-7289, accessibility: 16.09.2024

6A. J. Palla, Starożytne samoloty, zabawki czy rzeczywistość, publishing house Znaki Czasu, published June 2008

7K. Rollins, It’s Not An Alien Astronaut: Part II, published May 11, 2023, https://misfitsandheroes.wordpress.com/2023/05/11/its-not-an-alien-astronaut-part-ii/, accessibility: 17.09.2024

8A. J. Palla, Dlaczego składano ofiary z ludzi, publishing house Znaki Czasu, published April 2009

9J. R. W. Stott, Kristův křiž, published by Porta libri 2003, pp. 15, 16

Marcin Watras lives in Katowice, Poland. He is interested in the philosophy of religion and trends in society. He works for the European Union.

Sovereignty – Supreme Power or Authority

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Faithful stewardship

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A Good Conscience

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Church Commitment

by

January 19 – 25, 2025

Key Text

“For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.” Ephesians 5:29, 30

Study Help: Testimonies, Vol. 6, 91–99

Introduction

“Very close and sacred is the relation between Christ and His church—He the bridegroom, and the church the bride; He the head, and the church the body. Connection with Christ, then, involves connection with His church.” Education, 268

Sunday

1 OUR NEED OF BAPTISM

1.a.      What earnest appeal do the Scriptures make to every human being? Proverbs 23:26

1.b.     Why is it so important to have a wholehearted commitment to the Lord? Matthew 12:30; James 1:6–8

1.c.      Why is it so meaningful to commit ourselves to Christ publicly? Romans 10:9; Luke 9:26. How does Inspiration identify this commitment?

Note: “An obligation, too often lightly regarded—one that to the youth awakened to the claims of Christ needs to be made plain—is the obligation of church relationship.” Education, 268

1.d.     Why is baptism so significant? Mark 16:16. What illustrates its urgency? Acts 22:16

Note: “Christ has made baptism the sign of entrance to His spiritual kingdom. He has made this a positive condition with which all must comply who wish to be acknowledged as under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 91

Monday

2 NOT JUST A FORMALITY

2.a. What does baptism signify? Romans 6:3–10

Note: “In baptism, we are given to the Lord as a vessel to be used. Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world. Self is by profession dead to a life of sin. The waters cover the candidate, and in the presence of the whole heavenly universe the mutual pledge is made. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, man is laid in his watery grave, buried with Christ in baptism, and raised from the water to live the new life of loyalty to God. The three great powers in heaven are witnesses; they are invisible but present.” The Seventh–day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, 1074

2.b.     What is the church’s duty toward all candidates for baptism? Acts 10:47-48

Note: “All who believe are to be gathered into one church.” The Desire of Ages, 821

“There is need of a more thorough preparation on the part of candidates for baptism. They are in need of more faithful instruction than has usually been given them. The principles of the Christian life should be made plain to those who have newly come to the truth. None can depend upon their profession of faith as proof that they have a saving connection with Christ. We are not only to say, ‘I believe,’ but to practice the truth. It is by conformity to the will of God in our words, our deportment, our character, that we prove our connection with Him. Whenever one renounces sin, which is the transgression of the law, his life will be brought into conformity to the law, into perfect obedience.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 91, 92

2.c.      With what attitude should this thorough examination be done? Proverbs 15:33; Jude 20–23

Note: “The test of discipleship is not brought to bear as closely as it should be upon those who present themselves for baptism. It should be understood whether they are simply taking the name of Seventh-day Adventists, or whether they are taking their stand on the Lord’s side, to come out from the world and be separate, and not touch the unclean thing.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 95

Tuesday

3 UNITED ON PRESENT TRUTH

3.a.      How has Christ bidden us teach new believers all aspects of present truth, not neglecting vital point? Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 9:26. Give some examples.

Note: “One of the points upon which those newly come to the faith will need instruction is the subject of dress. Let the new converts be faithfully dealt with. Are they vain in dress? Do they cherish pride of heart? The idolatry of dress is a moral disease. It must not be taken over into the new life. In most cases, submission to the gospel requirements will demand a decided change in the dress. …

“The knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, expressed in character, is an exaltation above everything that is esteemed in earth or in heaven. It is the very highest education. It is the key that opens the portals of the heavenly city. This knowledge it is God’s purpose that all who put on Christ by baptism shall possess. And it is the duty of God’s servants to set before these souls the privilege of their high calling in Christ Jesus.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 96, 97

3.b.     What is God’s will for us to understand about the church? Ephesians 1:17–23; Ephesians 5:29–32; 1Corinthians 12:13 

3.c.      What promises are assured to all who are truly converted and baptized into His body? Acts 2:38; 2Corinthians 6:17-18; Ephesians 2:18-19

Note: “Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world. Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the service of Satan and have become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 91

3.d.     After baptism, what must we keep in mind at every step of our Christian journey—even for the rest of our life? Romans 6:11–18; John 15:4–7; Matthew 24:13

Wednesday

4 THE DEPTH OF THIS COMMITMENT

4.a.      Baptism is a sign of our commitment to Christ. From this time on, as members of His body, what is implied in our commitment to one another? Galatians 6:2, 10 and 1Thessalonians 5:11 and Hebrews 10:24-25

Note: “The followers of Christ should not praise and flatter one another; for Satan will do a plenty of this work, and if persons have a high opinion of their own ability, it will prevent them from learning in the school of Christ. Let none censure and condemn others; for in doing this they are colaborers with him who is the accuser of the brethren, who would steal from their hearts every particle of love for one another. Christians will not seek to tear one another down in order to build up self, but all will endeavor to strengthen and encourage one another.” Gospel Workers (1892), 459, 460

4.b.     Besides the ever-needed encouragement, what else is often necessary in showing Christian love for a brother or sister, and why? Leviticus 19:17

4.c.      Why is this vital in maintaining the purity of God’s church? 2Chronicles 7:14

Note: “When the church is in difficulty, when coldness and spiritual declension exist, giving occasion for the enemies of God to triumph, then, instead of folding their hands and lamenting their unhappy state, let its members inquire if there is not an Achan in the camp. With humiliation and searching of heart, let each seek to discover the hidden sins that shut out God’s presence.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 497

“We repeat, God holds the church responsible for the sins of its individual members. When coldness and spiritual declension exist, God’s people should put away their pride and self-confidence and self-exaltation, and should come to the Lord in sorrow and humility, not charging Him with injustice, but seeking wisdom to understand the hidden sins which shut out His presence.” The Signs of the Times, April 21, 1881

4.d.     With what spirit must this unavoidable work be performed? Galatians 6:1

Thursday

5 A MOST TENDER UNION

5.a.      What characteristic must we cultivate which—if ever kept in mind—could prevent many apostasies? Leviticus 19:18; James 5:9

Note: “He who says or does anything that tends to separate the members of Christ’s church is counterworking the Lord’s purpose. … True religion unites hearts, not only with Christ, but with one another in a most tender union.” Gospel Workers (1915), 484

5.b.     What ordinance helps us develop this quality, and with what important occasion is it conducted? John 13:13–15; Luke 22:14–20 and 1Corinthians 11:23–29

Note: “This ordinance [of feet washing] does not speak so largely to man’s intellectual capacity as to his heart. His moral and spiritual nature needs it.” The Review and Herald, June 14, 1898

5.c.      What should be intertwined with everything pertaining to the church? John 13:34, 35 and 1Corinthians 14:40. How does this apply to church business meetings?

Note: “In our business meetings, it is important that precious time should not be consumed in debating points that are of small consequence. The habit of petty criticism should not be indulged; for it perplexes and confuses minds, and shrouds in mystery the things that are most plain and simple. How does Jesus, our Counselor, whom we have invited to be present at these meetings, look upon these things? If there is that love among brethren which will lead them to esteem others better than themselves, there will be a giving up of their own ways and wishes to others. It is our duty to study, daily and hourly, how we may answer the prayer of Christ, that His disciples may be one, as He and the Father are one.” Gospel Workers (1892), 230

Friday

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1          How can we work together to better prepare baptismal candidates?

2          How can we avoid the danger of mistaking too much familiarity—which breeds contempt—for precious unity—which breeds love?

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