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The Humanity of Christ is Everything

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“The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. This is to be our study.”

Selected Messages, Book 1, 244

We started this series several months ago with 1 Timothy 3:16: “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Another text speaks of the same mystery found in 1 Timothy, but the language is completely different. “I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:24–27

Friends, if I do not understand the truth about the nature of Christ, then I will not understand what it means for Christ to be in me, the hope of glory, and that has serious implications.

Let’s continue our study of the mystery of godliness, focusing on Galatians 4, starting with verses 4 and 5.

“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.”

This is a simple and straightforward text, yet there is, in Adventism, tremendous controversy and misunderstanding over it. This is because we often read into the text something that it does not actually say. Some Adventists have interpreted that when the Bible says “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,” as meaning that Christ was born under the law of sin. You and I are born under the law of sin; in fact, every human being, save One, that has ever lived and is alive in the world today is born under the law of sin. The Spirit of Prophecy talks at great length about this and I challenge you to search it out for yourself.

In the Bible, the word law can apply to a number of different things and this is where the problem arises among conservative, Protestant Christians. They take New Testament texts that refer to the law or laws and apply them to the ten commandments—the law of God—when the texts could be referring to the law of the Lord, the law of Moses, or even the Torah. We have to be careful which interpretation of the word law we are adopting when we speak of the nature of Christ. Jesus was born under the law, just not the law of sin.

The first section of the Hebrew Bible is called the Torah. The Torah is the law, written by Moses and followed by the Jews as the law. The ten commandments are contained within the Torah, and oftentimes, the New Testament talks about the Torah, referring to it as the whole law of Moses. So, it is important to know which law the Bible is referring to: the law of the Lord, the law of God (the ten commandments), or the law of Moses.

But Paul writes in Romans 7 about “another” law which is not one of these three, but rather the law of sin. If you recall, we previously learned that Adam was originally created and lived in perfect harmony, not only with the law of God, but also with the nature of God. The principles of righteousness were written on his heart. Adam’s natural thoughts and feelings, his disposition and affections were in harmony with the nature and law of God; he reflected the character of God. Adam was created under the law of God.

But when he sinned, his nature, once governed by the principles of righteousness, was changed, and thereafter governed by the principles of selfishness. This new nature, governed by the law of sin, became the nature of all mankind.

We are born under the law of sin, but Jesus was born under the law of God. He was born to be the embodiment of the law of God. How could He be the ultimate example of a life lived in perfect obedience to the law of God if He was not born under the law of sin, the same law that governs us?

Let’s see how this can be true. “Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, ‘Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!’ But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’ Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’ ” Luke 1:26–35

What these texts say cannot be said about any human being except Jesus Christ. “He was born without a taint of sin, but came into the world in like manner as the human family.” Lift Him Up, 345. He grew in His mother’s womb and when the fullness of time was accomplished, He was delivered into this world, born with a physical body the same as all human beings.

Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit and a human woman. So here’s the question, what did He inherit from Mary? We find the answer in Romans 1:3, “Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh.” And Hebrews 10:5, 10, “Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: ‘Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You have prepared for Me.’ … By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Remember, that the words flesh, nature, and law can have more than one meaning, and to know the correct meaning, we have to know the context of the scripture. So, what does the word flesh in Romans 1:3 refer to?

This is what Ellen White says are the attributes of human beings: “We have reason, conscience, memory, will, affections—all the attributes a human being can possess.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 112

Now let’s look at what she says about Christ:

“We should consider the fact that to Christ our nature was a robe of humiliation and suffering. He humbled Himself to become a man, so that a body should be found, a Lamb without blemish should be provided as a sinless offering, that God might be just and the Justifier of him that believeth in Jesus. Humanity was in union with divinity.” The Signs of the Times, June 18, 1896

“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. A human body, a human mind, with all the peculiar properties, He was bone, brain, and muscle. A man of our flesh, He was compassed with the weakness of humanity.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 182

These two references make it clear that the word flesh, in this context, refer to His physical, human body and mind.

“The circumstances of His life were of that character that He was exposed to all the inconveniences that belong to men, not in wealth, not in ease, but in poverty and want and humiliation. He breathed the very air man must breathe. He trod our earth as a man. He had reason, conscience, memory, will, and affections of the human soul which was united with His divine nature.” Ibid.

So from our reading in Galatians 4 and from Inspiration, we find that Jesus received from His mother a human body and mind—prepared by God—with all the attributes possible for a human being to possess. He was made to be the Lamb without blemish, without the taint of sin, that a sanctified offering might be found. Christ’s humanity did not exist before He was conceived and born of Mary.

“His [Christ’s] human nature was created; it did not even possess the angelic powers. It was human, identical with our own.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 111

Jesus had existed as a divine person throughout the ceaseless ages. In His divinity, He was not under the law of God. As the author of the law, He was above it. But when He was made of a woman, He was made in subjection to the law of God. He became a child of humanity, instructed by the Holy Spirit as every child may be, and a servant under the government of His Father until the time appointed for Him to receive His kingdom.

The foundation of God’s government in heaven and throughout His earthly dominion is His law, and it has two ruling principles: to love God supremely and to love our fellow human beings as ourselves. “The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all created beings depended upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love—homage that springs from an intelligent appreciation of His character.” The Great Controversy, 493. The authority of God is backed by His law which requires all created intelligences to be in subjection to its claims.

God sent His Son made under the law, placed under the jurisdiction, power, and control of His government and His law. To be subject to God’s law, Jesus had to have a human body, because in His divinity alone, He was not under or subject to the law.

This raised the question in Ellen White’s time, and still today, when Jesus was tempted, was it possible for Him to yield to the temptation? In fact, there are many Protestant theologians who believe that it was impossible for Christ to fail, impossible for Him to yield to temptation.

But Mrs. White says in answer to this question: “The point you inquire of me is, In our Lord’s great scene of conflict in the wilderness, apparently under the power of Satan and his angels, was He capable, in His human nature, of yielding to these temptations?

“I will try to answer this important question: As God He could not be tempted: but as a man He could be tempted, and that strongly, and could yield to the temptations.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 129

Notice how particular and definite she is in detail. Was Christ God? Yes He was. In His divine nature as God He could not be tempted (James 1:13–15).

“For a period of time Christ was on probation. He took humanity on Himself, to stand the test and trial which the first Adam failed to endure. Had He failed in His test and trial, He would have been disobedient to the voice of God, and the world would have been lost.” The Signs of the Times, May 10, 1899

From these references we can know that Christ was identical to us in His humanity, including not only bone, brain and muscle, but also all the attributes a human being can possess—conscience, memory, will, and affections—with the vital exception that His humanity did not possess the taint of sin.

We have studied that the law of God is an expression of His very nature, the embodiment of the great principle of love, the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. Mrs. White says that His law is a transcript of His character and the only correct standard of holiness.

“Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God, and ‘God is love.’ 1 John 4:16. It is conformity to the law of God, for ‘all Thy commandments are righteousness’ (Psalm 119:172), and ‘love is the fulfilling of the law’ (Romans 13:10). Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 18

God’s law is truth, the embodiment of the great principle of love, the foundation of His government in heaven and on earth, a transcript of His character, the security of life, happiness, and peace. God’s law is righteousness and the only correct standard of holiness, but to sinners that law is a ministry of condemnation and death.

The law of God is broad in its requirements, and man is under the obligation to keep it, not only outwardly, but in his thoughts, emotions, intents, and feelings of the heart and soul.

“If the law extended to the outward conduct only, men would not be guilty in their wrong thoughts, desires, and designs. But the law requires that the soul itself be pure and the mind holy, that the thoughts and feelings may be in accordance with the standard of love and righteousness.” The Review and Herald, April 5, 1898

Notice that the soul and the mind are closely connected. “The mind controls the whole man. All our actions, good or bad, have their source in the mind. It is the mind that worships God, and allies us to heavenly beings.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 426. The law of God requires that the soul itself—the inward thoughts, feelings, motives, and desires—not just the outward actions, be pure and in harmony with it.

There are two powers seeking to control in this world. Satan is in a vicious and violent battle to control the minds and souls of men. He spends all of his time trying to figure out how to accomplish it. We need to understand this warfare and how we must cooperate with the heavenly agencies.

“The law requires righteousness—a righteous life, a perfect character; and this man has not to give. He cannot meet the claims of God’s holy law.” The Desire of Ages, 762

The reason we cannot meet the claims of God’s law is not complicated. When Adam yielded to temptation, man became carnal, and when he had a son, his son was then born in his carnal image. All of us are born as partakers of the satanic nature. Adam’s natural allegiance belonged to his Creator, but he became a traitor, and as the legal representative of the race, laid its homage as a willing offering at the feet of the enemy, who then took control of man’s mind. Knowing this, it is easy to look back through history and understand how man was, and still is, capable of some of the most horrendous thoughts and actions.

How is it that mankind has become so degraded? There is but one explanation: the devil controls the human mind. Selfishness is the law of Satan’s kingdom, and when man chose him as his ruler, he came under the jurisdiction of the law of self, the law of sin. Selfishness replaced love in man’s heart and became the ruling principle of his life.

The law of God requires righteousness, and not one of Adam’s posterity is born inheriting righteousness, because Adam disobeyed and entailed sin upon his posterity (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 6, 3). Righteousness is holiness, a likeness to God. “No man inherits holiness as a birthright, nor can he, by any methods that he can devise, become loyal to God.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 310. From the moment of conception, we are, by nature, transgressors of God’s law. We do not possess the righteousness, the holiness, nor the allegiance to God that the law demands.

But what does the Bible say regarding the humanity of the only begotten Son from the moment that He was conceived? “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Ghost will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you: therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.’ ” Luke 1:35

Referring to this scripture, Mrs. White says, “These words do not refer to any human being, except to the Son of the infinite God.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1128. It was essential that from the moment of conception, Jesus had to be righteous, holy, and have an allegiance to God, all the things which the law demands. He had to meet the claims and the requirements of the law of God from the moment of conception, because He came to fulfill the law. “Jesus volunteered to meet the highest claims of the law, that He might be the justifier of all who believe on Him. We look to the cross, and see in Jesus a fully satisfied and reconciled God.” The Review and Herald, September 2, 1890

“Christ did not possess the same sinful, corrupt, fallen disloyalty we possess, for then He could not be a perfect offering.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 131. From the moment of His conception, Jesus Christ had not one sinful thought, desire, or propensity. If He had, it would be impossible for Him to be our Saviour; He would be unable to justify us, nor to forgive our sins.

Paul, speaking of Jesus, says, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:9, 10

“The glory of Christ is His character, and His character is an expression of the law of God. He fulfilled the law in its every specification.” The Signs of the Times, December 12, 1895

“The facts of this history are not fable, but a living, acting, experience. To deny this would rob Jesus of His greatest glory—allegiance to God—which enshrouded Him as a garment in this world on the field of battle with the relentless foe, and He is not reckoned with the transgressor.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 16, 183

Jesus came to this world to reveal what the apostle Paul says was hidden in the mind of God from the beginning. The inhabitants of the unfallen worlds could not understand it; the devil and the people of this world do not understand it; but Jesus came to reveal it.

He couldn’t do it as an angel, and He couldn’t do it as God. “Christ came in human form to show the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds and of the fallen world that ample provision has been made to enable human beings to live in loyalty to their Creator.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 227. What a wonderful promise!

“Christ came to vindicate the sacred claims of the law.” Pacific Union Recorder, December 17, 1903

“He came to manifest the nature of His law, to reveal in His own character the beauty of holiness.” Education, 76

There is attractiveness like no other in studying the life and character of Jesus. People who lack spiritual understanding might say He was just a good man. He was a man, but He was a perfect man, for in His humanity, “God embodied His own attributes in His Son.” The Youth’s Instructor, September 16, 1897

Jesus, as a man, was God’s goodness, wisdom, power, purity, truthfulness, spirituality, benevolence, and love. “In Him, though human, all perfection of character, all divine excellence, dwelt.

“The words of Christ were full of deep meaning as He put forth the claim that He and the Father were of one substance, possessing the same attributes.” The Signs of the Times, November 27, 1893

“The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving Him.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 18

From childhood to manhood, Christ taught that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the Truth because He did not, by one act of disobedience, separate Himself from God. The source of His peace was the power of the Holy Spirit who was upon Him and in control of His mind. Disobedience would have separated Him from God, just as disobedience separated the first Adam from God.

“Christ is called the second Adam. In purity and holiness, connected with God and beloved by God, He began where the first Adam began.” The Youth’s Instructor, June 2, 1898

Christ’s obedience to the law, was not merely an outward compliance. Jesus was the very expression of God’s law in His nature, with the great principle of love in His heart. If we have this same principle of love implanted in our hearts, then the image of our Saviour will be reflected in us, and we will be ready for Jesus to come again.

“Let it never be forgotten that the teacher must be what he desires his pupils to become.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 58 [Author’s emphasis.]

“None need fail of attaining, in his sphere, to perfection of Christian character. By the sacrifice of Christ, provision has been made for the believer to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness. God calls upon us to reach the standard of perfection and places before us the example of Christ’s character. In His humanity, perfected by a life of constant resistance to evil, the Saviour showed that through cooperation with Divinity, human beings may in this life attain to perfection of character. This is God’s assurance to us that we, too, may obtain complete victory.” The Acts of the Apostles, 531

In closing, Galatians 4:4 says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.”

Born of a woman, embodied with the very attributes of God’s nature, born under the law of God, filled with love, righteousness, and holiness, Jesus came to confront the master deceiver and save mankind.

We must understand who Jesus is, what He is like and then, we must claim the promise that His character will be worked out in us, and we will be perfected by the power of the Holy Spirit. Alone, we are helpless, but with His divine grace and power, our hearts and minds can be changed to be in harmony with His.

[Emphasis supplied.]

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.

Honey – Is It a Clean Food?

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Can I eat honey? Isn’t honey an “animal by-product” since it comes from bees?

First, bees do not make honey. No, it’s true.

But bees do process nectar from the flowers that becomes honey. Here is how it works.

Honeybees fly from flower to flower collecting nectar. They have two stomachs: the honey stomach and the midgut. When the nectar is collected, it enters the honey stomach. It can take up to 1,000 flowers’ worth of nectar to fill a bee’s honey stomach. If a bee is hungry, the section between the midgut and the honey stomach opens and some of the nectar moves into the midgut. In this second stomach, the nectar is then converted to energy for the bee. Once the honey stomach is filled, the bee will return to the hive and the honey-making commences.

In the hive, the bee will regurgitate the nectar from the honey stomach and it is then passed, mouth-to-mouth, among the bees in the hive to reduce the moisture content. Each bee will chew the nectar for about a half an hour, using natural enzymes (invertase and glucose oxidase) to convert the complex sugar in nectar into simple sugar. Enzymes are organic compounds that speed up a biochemical reaction.

Nectar is about 80% water. Through this process, the moisture content of the nectar is reduced to about 20 percent. With the reduction in moisture and the help of the enzymes, honey is made. The glucose oxidase enzyme is a natural preservative which limits the ability of bacteria and other microorganisms to grow in the honey and spoil it. The honey is then stored in the cells within the hive until it is needed.

Fun Fact: Hydrogen peroxide is also made from glucose oxidase.

Honeybees do not hibernate in the winter. They remain in their hives, huddled together to keep warm, and feast on the sweet honey they have hoarded for weeks. Honeybees produce more honey than they will need to survive during the winter months, and it is the remaining honey that is collected by beekeepers and sold in stores.

Unlike a cow, whose milk is produced in a process that ultimately causes the mammary glands to make milk, the bee is simply a storage facility and manufacturing plant, if you will. The nectar is collected from the flowers and stored in the honey stomach. It is then processed outside the bee and the glucose oxidase is added, thus making honey.

One More Fun Fact: The oldest evidence of honey was found in ancient Georgia (Eastern Europe) in 2003 and was determined to be about 5,500 years old. It had been stored in ceramic vessels in the tomb of a noblewoman. Three types of honey were found—meadow flower, berry, and linden. Originally thought to be the oldest honey found, archaeologists found a jar of honey in the tomb of King Tutankhamun. They tasted it and found it to still be sweet. Its low water content and acidic pH kept it from spoiling.

When bees are on the search for nectar, flying from flower to flower, their bodies brush against the flowers and pick up pollen. In this way, bees transfer pollen enabling the different flower species to reproduce.

Raw honey has been used as a remedy for centuries and provides a number of health benefits and medicinal uses. Many of these benefits are specific to raw honey, as the process of pasteurization destroys many of the beneficial nutrients.

A Good Source of Antioxidants

Raw honey contains a variety of plant chemicals that act as antioxidants. These protect the body from the damaging effects of oxidative stress caused by free radicals. Antioxidant compounds called polyphenols can have an anti-inflammatory affect against conditions associated with oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between harmful free radicals and antioxidants, and can be involved in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, Parkinson’s, and Alzheimer’s, as well as cancer and heart disease. Raw honey can also contain bee pollen and propolis which can have a protective effect for the respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and nervous systems.

Nutrition

One tablespoon of raw honey contains approximately 64 calories, 17 grams of sugar, and smaller amounts of micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, and zinc, among others. It is also a source of amino acids, enzymes, and other compounds. Honey also may have a slight benefit over regular sugar in blood sugar maintenance. However, while it may be slightly better for the diabetic than sugar, it still should be consumed in moderation.

Antibacterial and Antifungal Properties/Heals Wounds

The propolis in raw honey has antifungal and antibacterial properties and can be significant in the treatment of both internal and topical ailments.

Phytonutrient Powerhouse

These compounds in raw honey have been found to have immune-boosting and anticancer benefits. However, the pasteurization process can destroy these nutrients.

Help for Digestive Issues

Honey is sometimes used to treat diarrhea. It contains prebiotics, which nourish the good bacteria that live in the intestines.

Soothe a Sore Throat and Cough

Honey is an old sore throat remedy. Add it, along with some lemon, to hot tea when you feel a cold coming on.

Brain Benefits

The polyphenols in honey may be able to counter inflammation in the hippocampus, where our memories are stored, thereby being a benefit to brain health.

There is a risk that raw honey could carry harmful bacteria which could result in botulism poisoning. For this reason, raw honey should never be given to an infant less than a year old. In adults, there could be a short period of diarrhea and vomiting, followed by constipation and other, perhaps, more severe symptoms, such as blurred vision and muscle weakness.

Honey doesn’t expire quickly, but it can become contaminated. It should be stored in tightly sealed containers away from light and extreme temperatures. If the color of your honey has drastically changed or smells off, it should be thrown out.

Last Fun Fact: In 2017, bees produced 158 million pounds of honey in the United States alone.

Bee pollen is a mixture of flower pollen, nectar, enzymes, honey, wax, and bee secretions. It is loaded with nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, lipids, and over 250 other active substances. Bee pollen is produced by young bees, who then take it back to the hive and store it until it ferments. Then it becomes bee bread—the bread of the hive—which supplies food for the bees. But what does it do for man?

Used as a medicine, bee pollen contains antioxidants. It can lower the risk factors for heart disease, high blood lipids and cholesterol. It may boost liver function, and it can reduce inflammation and swelling.

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure enlightening the eyes … More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.” Psalm 19:7, 8, and 10, last part

Why would God compare His law to the sweetness of honey were it not a clean food and healthful for the body?

Sources: livescience.com/how-do-bees-make-honey; mydelicioussweets.com/whats-the-oldest-honey-ever-found; healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/top-raw-honey-benefits; healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-honey; Wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxidative-stress; beeculture.com/the-chemistry-of-honey

Question: Can eating cheese keep me out of heaven?

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Question:

Can eating cheese keep me out of heaven?

Answer:

If you have already read John Pearson’s article Following Counsel, then you know that Sister White is very specific regarding the consumption of cheese: Counsels on Diet and Foods, 370; Testimonies, Vol. 2, 68; Counsels on Health, 114; The Ministry of Healing, 302, to name a few.

The decision to eat, or not eat, cheese, as with all things that the Bible and Inspiration provide counsel for, is a matter of obedience.

“Obey, obey, for Christ’s sake and for your own soul’s sake. Obey that which your conscience tells you is truth. Accept the grace and righteousness of Christ. God is tenderly calling you, ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28–30). If you refuse the invitation to repentance, to freedom from sin, the great day of God will find you hopeless, shelterless, disobedient, a transgressor of His law. He will not then be able to give you a place in His kingdom. God help you to come now, is my prayer.” This Day With God, 153

“We must make it our lifework to understand the will of God. … Your every word and action is to be in accordance with the will of God … .” Our Father Cares, 272

“It is by following in the path of obedience in simple faith that the character attains perfection. …

“Christ has promised us sufficient power to reach this high standard. He says, ‘Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it. If ye love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive’ (John 14:13–17). …”

“We cannot overestimate the value of simple faith and unquestioning obedience.” That I May Know Him, 116

If God asks me to do, or not to do, anything for which the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy provide clear direction, then I must obey, for nothing in this world should be more important to me than obedience to God. Disobedience is an outward expression of selfishness within and a sign that I have not surrendered my will to God. Obedience is the outward expression of my love for and surrender to Him.

I Must Tell Jesus

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Each morning, before we start the workday here at Steps to Life, we have staff worship. Part of our worship is singing a hymn. Recently, we sang I Must Tell Jesus, and after having sung the hymn, we contemplated what tragedy or discouragement might have befallen the writer of the song to elicit such a heartfelt declaration. I determined to see if I could find out.

I Must Tell Jesus was written, both lyrics and music, by Elisha (E. A.) Hoffman. He was born in 1839 in the town of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania.

In 1864, at the age of 24, Elisha served in the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1865, he married Susan Orwig, who died in 1875. In 1879, he married Emma Sayres Smith. In total, he had three children, sons Orey and Harry, and daughter Florence.

He worked for eleven years in the Evangelical Association’s publishing house. In 1868, following in his father’s footsteps, he was ordained in the Presbyterian Church. He served as a minister for over 60 years in Ohio, Illinois, and Michigan, spending 33 of those years as pastor of the Benton Harbor Presbyterian Church.

He is credited with writing over 2,000 hymns, such as Are You Washed in the Blood?; Leaning on the Everlasting Arms; and I Must Tell Jesus. He was both lyricist and composer of his songs.

While serving a church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, he visited a woman who had faced a number of struggles. He relates his visit with her thusly:

“There was a woman to whom God had permitted many visitations of sorrow and affliction. Coming to her home one day, I found her much discouraged. She unburdened her heart, concluding with the question, ‘Brother Hoffman, what shall I do?’ I quoted from the word, then added, ‘You cannot do better than to take all of your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.’

“For a moment she seemed lost in meditation. Then her eyes lighted as she exclaimed, ‘Yes, I must tell Jesus.’ As I left her home, I had a vision of that joy-illuminated face, and I heard all along my pathway the echo, ‘I must tell Jesus. I must tell Jesus.’ ”

Upon arriving home, he wrote the words of this beloved hymn and composed the tune he titled “Orwigsburg” after his birthplace. I Must Tell Jesus first appeared in the Pentecostal Hymns hymnal in 1894.

Perhaps some might find the song simplistic or repetitious, since in the four stanzas, with their refrains, the phrase “I must tell Jesus” is repeated twenty-one times. But I think it would be true to say that, sometimes, we most definitely need to be reminded—and reminded again—that Jesus alone is the One who can help us.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

Elisha Hoffman retired from the ministry in 1922, and died at the age of 90 on November 5, 1929, in Chicago, Illinois.

Sources: dianaleaghmatthews.com/i-must-tell-jesus; hymnary.org/person/Hoffman_Elisha; wordwisehymns.com/2011/12/02/i-must-tell-jesus; Wikipedia; hymnologyarchive.com/elisha-hoffman

I must tell Jesus all of my trials;

I cannot bear these burdens alone;

In my distress, He kindly will help me;

He ever loves and cares for His own.

 

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone;

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.

The Hippopotamus

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How fast can a hippo swim? Can Hippos drown? Are Hippos dangerous? What do Hippos eat?

Hippopotamus is a Greek word meaning “river horse.”

Hippos are semi-aquatic, meaning they live in the water, but not all the time. They are found most often in slow-moving rivers and lakes in the Sahara Desert in Africa. They live in groups with a dominate bull and 5-30 cows and calves.

In spite of its body weight and composition compared to other aquatic mammals, a hippo lives and survives most of its life in the water, spending up to 16 hours a day in the water. Technically, they are not accomplished swimmers nor can they float. They walk or gallop always maintaining some kind of contact with the bottom or side of the river bed, propelling themselves locomotion-style—at almost five miles per hour—through the water, holding their breath for up to five minutes.

Hippos weigh 3,000-9,000 pounds and are 9.5-14 feet long, making them the third-largest land animal behind the elephant and rhinoceros. Male hippos grow throughout their lives, while females reach their maximum weight at around the age of 25.

Their skeletal structure is graviportal, adapted to carrying great weight. Their dense bones and low center of gravity allow them to sink and move along the bottom of the water. They usually trot on dry land, but if you think you could outrun such a big beast, be warned—hippos can gallop up to 20 mph. For reference, the fastest human, Usain Bolt, can run 23.4 mph.

Hippos’ eyes, ears, and nostrils are placed high at the top of their skulls so that they will be above water while the hippo rests submerged. Being nocturnal creatures, hippos spend the day in the water, but venture on land at sunset to eat leaves and grass, their favorite food—adults can eat up to 150 pounds of it per day. Notwithstanding the fact that their diet is primarily vegetarian, hippos will, on occasion, eat meat, and, therefore, are considered to be omnivores.

Hippos’ skin is about two inches thick and demands moisture. They cannot survive long on land because their bodies begin to dehydrate. They do not have sweat glands, but do have special glands in their skin which secrete a reddish, oily fluid, sometimes called “blood sweat.” This substance, however, is neither blood nor sweat. It is a secretion containing acids that inhibit the growth of disease-causing bacteria, as well as providing a sunscreen effect.

Hippos live an average of 40-50 years in the wild, but there have been hippos in zoos or wildlife sanctuaries that have exceeded 50 years. Because of their pig or cow-like appearance and peaceful meandering in the water, as observed in exhibits in countless zoos around the world, it is hard to believe that they have a violent and aggressive character. But they can be quite ferocious, which earns them the label of predator. They have powerful jaws with tusks and very big teeth that are capable of snapping a canoe in half. Thus they are classified as one of the most deadly creatures on the planet.

Bull hippos are territorial and mark both their water and land territory with their feces. Even though hippos spend their days in the water sleeping and quietly resting from the heat, don’t let their yawning fool you. A yawning hippo is feeling threatened, and the yawn is meant to warn other animals they are getting too close to its territory, and gives the unsuspecting animal a good, up-close look at those huge tusks and teeth.

Hippos actually sleep underwater. Due to their reflexes, they surface every 20-30 minutes, inhaling fresh air before submerging again, all without ever waking up.

Since hippos are so ferocious and deadly, who are they afraid of? Despite the thickness of their skin, a hippo can be killed with a gun, making man a dangerous predator. But in the wild, young hippos and calves are the easy, natural prey of crocodiles, lions, and hyenas.

Sources: hippohaven.com/how-fast-can-a-hippo-swim; thebigzoo.com/are-hippos-herbivores; kidadl.com/facts/are-hippos-omnivores-explore-why-they-like-to-eat-both-meat-and-grass; teacherscollegesj.com/are-hippo-skins-touch; onpolemotorsports.com/why-is-hippo-skin-bulletproof; animalways.org/hippos-are-the-deadlist-animals;timesmojo/can-hippo-breathe-under-water; Wikipedia/hippopotamus; a-z-animals.com/blog/hippo-size-just-how-much-does-a-hippo-weigh

Jesus, Save Yourself

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“Let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. … He saved others; Himself He cannot save.”

Matthew 27:42

The first part of this scripture can be viewed as a challenge. Convince us. Save Yourself and we will believe. But the second part of the scripture is an admission.

For three and a half years Jesus had gone about preaching, teaching, healing, casting out demons, feeding the hungry—both in body and spirit—and performing, in the name of His Father, all manner of miracles, including raising the dead to life. The people had to admit that there was something extraordinary about Jesus. And by virtue of all these things He did for others, they acknowledged, whether they realized it or not, that He had the power to save; but all this was not enough.

They demanded one more miracle: that He should come down from the cross and save Himself. Sadly, they were asking Him to do the one thing He couldn’t do. Oh, He could have left the cross. He could have said, “I’m not going to do this. Let these people suffer their own consequences.”

We find this in The Story of Jesus, 143, “Christ could have come down from the cross. But if He had done this, we could never have been saved. For our sake He was willing to die.”

And “Christ could have come down from the cross. But it is because He would not save Himself that the sinner has hope of pardon and favor with God.” The Desire of Ages, 749

The fact is, Jesus didn’t have to go through all He went through. He could have left man to his own fate, the fate he willingly chose and continues to choose for himself. Jesus struggled with this decision beginning in the Garden of Gethsemane.

“The humanity of the Son of God trembled in that trying hour. He prayed … for His own tempted, agonized soul. The awful moment had come—that moment which was to decide the destiny of the world. The fate of humanity trembled in the balance. Christ might even now refuse to drink the cup apportioned to guilty man. It was not yet too late. …

“… But now the history of the human race comes up before the world’s Redeemer. He sees that the transgressors of the law, if left to themselves, must perish. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power of sin. The woes and lamentations of a doomed world rise before Him. He beholds its impending fate, and His decision is made. He will save man at any cost to Himself. … His prayer now breathes only submission: ‘… Thy will be done.’ ” Ibid., 690, 693

Jesus could not come down from the cross, otherwise we would have been lost. “Christ suffered all this that He might obtain your salvation, and mine. By His life of sacrifice and death of shame, He has made it possible for us to take hold of divinity … growing into His likeness until you shall stand before Him perfected.” The Review and Herald, January 14, 1909

We must understand that Jesus’ death on the cross was a voluntary act. Faithful always to do the will of His Father in regard to the keeping of the law, His sacrifice had to be, and was, voluntary; no obligation or requirement was placed upon Him (see Lift Him Up, 24). It was His love for man that made Him go. There was no other way that man could be saved. What a blessed thought that Jesus came to save us because He wanted to, no matter the cost to Himself.

Jesus, how can we thank You for the sacrifice You have made so that we might one day be with You in paradise. Purify us, give us the desire and strength to follow Your example, so that one day soon, when You look at us, You will see only Yourself.

[Emphasis supplied.]

Story – The Promise of a Song

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Ellie edged her chair closer to the grown ups who were visiting in the kitchen. Grandpa, Grandma, and Aunt Lily had stopped by for a visit, and although she didn’t always understand the conversation, she loved to listen. She found that she learned a lot of things that way.

The topic this evening was about something related to church and that got her mind to thinking about singing during Sabbath morning worship services. Although Ellie was only five years old, she very much loved to sing. She thought about the fact that her dear Grandpa was a song leader in their church and how much she liked when he led a song.

At Ellie’s church the song leaders all sat around a table near the center of the church. They took turns choosing a song and then leading it for the congregation. Ellie didn’t always know the songs that were chosen. They sang out of a little black hymnbook that had lots of songs with hard words and tunes she didn’t recognize. However, in the back of this little songbook was a section called, “The Appendix” and here were hymns that were familiar to her and she was always pleased when a song was announced from that part of the book. While she couldn’t read yet, her favorite song, number 8 in the hymnal, was “Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.” When that particular song was announced on a Sabbath morning, she always felt a twinge of excitement. She would be able to help along with this song!

I wish we would sing that song again, thought Ellie. It’s been a long time since we have.

Then a sudden thought struck her. Why couldn’t she ask Grandpa to choose that song next Sabbath?

Yes, I will ask him and see what he says about that idea, she smiled to herself. She decided to wait until her grandparents were ready to leave. She followed Grandpa out the door and as he walked across the porch, she quickly stepped up next to him. “Grandpa,” she asked, “Do you think you could lead the song ‘Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us’ this next Sabbath? I would really like to sing it again!” She felt suddenly shy at having asked such a question, and she ducked back toward the doorway of the house.

Grandpa smiled down at her. “I think I can do that. Is that a song you like?” His eyes twinkled at Ellie. “I’ll be happy to lead that one just for you.”

Ellie could scarcely wait for church the following Sabbath. She would get to sing her song. Grandpa said he would choose it and she had no doubt he would do as he said.

Sabbath morning, she waited eagerly for the song service to begin. The first and second songs were ones that were not familiar to her. Then came time for the third one. “Let’s sing hymn number 8,” announced the song leader. Ellie’s heart sang. They were going to sing her favorite song. Her Grandpa had honored her request. Her eyes shone as she joined in the singing of the beautiful song. It was a lovely hymn that spoke of Jesus’ care as a Shepherd and a Friend, and how He would always keep His children close to Himself.

Later, after church was over and they were on their way home, Ellie remarked to her mother, “Grandpa chose that one song, just like I asked him to!”

Ellie’s mom looked a bit startled. “You asked him to lead a song today? When did you ask him?”

“Yes, I did. The other evening when they visited, I asked him if he could lead it today and he said he would. And he did!” Ellie said with delight.

Mom had a strange look on her face, and she was quiet for a moment.

“Did you know that Grandpa and Grandma weren’t there today? At the last minute they decided to visit elsewhere this morning for church.” Mom smiled tenderly at her little daughter. “It seems that God knew what a little girl’s heart was desiring and He led another brother to choose the song you like so much. That’s so amazing, isn’t it?” Ellie nodded. To think that Grandpa wasn’t even at church today, and still they sang her favorite song anyway! It gave her such a special feeling to know that Jesus cared for her that much.

Today, Ellie is a grown-up woman and has children of her own. Whenever she thinks about how Jesus cares for all His children, she especially remembers how God cared about one little five-year-old girl and the song she loved so much. As her mother said, and still does, “Of course God cares. He loves all the little children of the world.”

Saviour, like a Shepherd lead us,

Much we need Thy tender care.

In Thy pleasant pastures feed us,

For our use Thy folds prepare:

Blessed Jesus! blessed Jesus!

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

Blessed Jesus! blessed Jesus!

Thou hast bought us, Thine we are.

The Heartbeat of the Remnant, Vol. 27, Issue 2, Summer 2022, Eileen H. Wenger, 18, 19

Called to Victory

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Comfort ye, comfort ye, My people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned; for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. … O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. … Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall; but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

Let those who are engaged in the Master’s service study these eloquent words. What is the object of divine compassion?—The uplifting of fallen humanity. For this purpose messengers from the throne of God are sent to this earth. In Second Kings, we read how holy angels came on a mission to guard the Lord’s chosen servants. The prophet Elisha was in Dothan, and thither the king of Israel [Syria] sent horses and chariots and a great host to take him. “And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? And he answered, Fear not; for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw; and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

Angels of God came down in mighty power, not to rule or exact homage, but to minister to those who should be heirs of salvation. They came in mighty power to camp round about the Lord’s faithful servants.

Depend on this: If you study the word of God with a sincere desire to gain knowledge, God will fill your soul with light. The mysteries of heaven will become the treasures of your mind. Your work will be approved by God, and your influence will be a savor of life. Never complain. Let not your lips utter perverseness. Do not talk darkness because appearances are against you. We are in a world of sin and crime. As we work for the Master, we shall feel pressure for want of means, but God will hear and answer our petitions. Let your language be, “The Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.”

Look on the bright side. If the work is hindered, be sure that it is not your fault, and then rejoice in the Lord, even though the experience through which you are passing may be hard and grievous. Heaven is full of joy. It resounds with the praises of the One who has made such a wonderful sacrifice for the redemption of man. Should not the church on earth be full of praise? Should not Christians publish throughout the world the joy of serving Christ?

The Lord desires us to be strong in His strength and joyful in His love. Thus we reveal the power of redeeming grace. We may triumph in the keeping power of the Redeemer. Through faith in Him we may gain victory after victory over self.

Those who enter heaven must learn on earth the song of heaven, the keynote of which is praise and thanksgiving. Only as they learn this song can they join in singing it with the heavenly choir.

Never let your courage fail. The Christian always has a strong helper in the Lord. When, because you are unable to obtain the needed help, you come to a pause in your earnest efforts, cast your burden on the Lord. Be content to leave it there, knowing that He is faithful who has promised. The What and How of the Lord’s helping we know not; but this we do know: The Lord will never fail those who put their trust in Him. When He has fully proved His workers, He will bring them forth refined as gold tried in the fire.

The lessons that God sends will always, if well learned, bring help in due time. “Tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

Put your trust in God. Pray much, and believe that in His good work the Lord will guide you step by step. Trusting, hoping, believing in the Lord, holding fast the hand of Infinite Power, you will be more than conquerors. In God you will have victory and success. You will see the salvation of the Lord.

Work in faith, and leave the results with God. Pray in earnest faith, and the mystery of God’s providence will bring its answer.

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” At times it may seem that you cannot succeed. Hindrances will come. You will be tested and tried. But work and believe, putting faith and life and hope and courage into your work. After you have done what you can, wait for the Lord, declaring His faithfulness, and He will bring His word to pass. Wait not in fretful anxiety, but in undaunted faith and unshaken trust.

“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” Atlantic Union Gleaner, August 20, 1902

What is in Your Bag?

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How often have you packed for a trip and included more than you needed and maybe forgot what you needed most?

In this life, if we are to be children of God, we must, by His power, rid ourselves of our worldly baggage. Pride, selfishness, fear, impatience, passion (including appetite and anger)—so many things that we carry around with us every day. But as we give up, or lay off, these things, what is necessary for us to have in our heavenly suitcase for this worldly journey that will take us to, and follow us into, eternal life?

“God has called His people to glory and virtue, and these will be manifest in the lives of all who are truly connected with Him. Having become partakers of the heavenly gift, they are to go on unto perfection, being ‘kept by the power of God through faith’ (1 Peter 1:5).” Reflecting Christ, 313

We are told in the Spirit of Prophecy that Christ is ready to hear, ready to render assistance, that “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, faith, and charity are the elements of the Christian character. …

“As you receive the Spirit of Christ and grow, you will bring forth fruit [Galatians 5:20–25]. These graces increase faith, deepen conviction, and love is made perfect.” As a result, you will “more and more reflect the likeness of Christ in all that is pure, noble, and lovely. …

“This fruit can never perish, but will produce after its kind a harvest unto eternal life.” Sons and Daughters of God, 32

“It is the glory of God to give His virtue to His children. He desires to see men and women reaching the highest standard; and when by faith they lay hold of the power of Christ, when they plead His unfailing promises, and claim them as their own, when with an importunity [perseverance] that will not be denied they seek for the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be made complete in Him.” The Acts of the Apostles, 529–530

“A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under the instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine attainment with them to the heavenly mansions.” Child Guidance, 161

The Bible tells us in Matthew 5:48 that God wants us to be as perfect in our sphere as He is in His. What does this mean? “The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of constant advancement. We have an object to gain, a standard to reach, that includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character.” Testimonies, Vol. 8, 64

Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” Matthew 16:24–25

“It is love of selfish ease, love of pleasure, your self-esteem, self-exaltation that prevents you from learning the precious life lessons in the school of Christ. It is the Christian’s duty not to permit surroundings and circumstances to mold him; but to live above surroundings, fashioning his character according to the divine Model. … We are to surrender the will, the heart, to God, and become acquainted with Christ. We must deny self, take up the cross, and follow Jesus. Not one of us can reach heaven, save by the narrow, cross-bearing way. But how many wear the cross as an ornament of the person, but fail to bear the cross in practical, everyday life?” The Review and Herald, September 22, 1891

We read above that we are to have a character formed “in the divine likeness.” But how do we achieve that? We are given this guidance, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:5–11

“We have a part to act in this work. Let none think that men and women are going to be taken to heaven without engaging in the struggle here below. We have a battle to fight, a victory to gain. God says to us, ‘Work out your own salvation.’ How? ‘With fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure’ (Philippians 2:12, 13). God works, and man works. … Thus only can we be partakers of the divine nature.” In Heavenly Places, 59

So, we are told that there will be a struggle that we must engage in, “a battle to fight, a victory to gain.” I think we all know what this entails. It is by the process of sanctification that we are made ready to spend eternity with Christ. We must strive daily with our nature to resist the natural desires of the sinful heart as well as those cultivated desires acquired over a lifetime of sin. It is only by keeping God’s commandments that it truly can be known that we love Him. Jesus Himself said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). And God does not leave us alone in this work, in fact, there is no victory without Him, for “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6).

“Sanctification is the work, not of a day or of a year, but of a lifetime. The struggle for conquest over self, for holiness and heaven, is a lifelong struggle. … Paul’s sanctification was the result of a constant conflict with self. He said, ‘I die daily’ (1 Corinthians 15:31). … It is by unceasing endeavor that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. Christian integrity must be sought with resistless energy, and maintained with a resolute fixedness of purpose. …

“Man, in the work of saving of the soul, is wholly dependent upon God. …

“The Spirit of God does not propose to do our part, either in the willing or the doing. … As soon as we incline our will to harmonize with God’s will, the grace of Christ stands ready to cooperate with the human agent; but it will not be the substitute to do our work independent of our resolving and decidedly acting. … It is only the human agent accepting the light, arousing the energies of the will, realizing and acknowledging that which he knows is righteousness and truth, and thus cooperating with the heavenly ministrations appointed of God in the saving of the soul.” In Heavenly Places, 26, 27

“Your obedience to God’s commandments will prove your right to an inheritance with the saints in light. All who would reach this standard of character, will have to employ the means that God has provided to this end. If you would inherit the rest that remaineth for the children of God, you must become a co-laborer with God. You are elected to wear the yoke of Christ,—to bear His burden, to lift His cross. You are to be diligent ‘to make your calling and election sure.’ Search the Scriptures, and you will see that not a son or a daughter of Adam is elected to be saved in disobedience to God’s law. The world makes void the law of God; but Christians are chosen to sanctification through obedience to the truth. They are elected to bear the cross, if they would wear the crown.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 125

Friends, if we are to make a successful journey to heaven, we must allow the Holy Spirit to complete the work of conversion in our lives. We must submit our will to God and seek only to do His will. We must confess and repent and rely upon the grace and power that He provides daily. It is through His Spirit that we are made able to do that which He asks us to do. We must pray and study His word and obey His commandments. As a result, the fruit of the Spirit will be manifest in our lives. And as we continue on from justification through sanctification, taking up our cross and following after Christ, the remaining attributes of a true Christian will grow in our lives: faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. Love for God enough to always do as He asks and love enough for our fellow man that through us they can see the love of a God who gave His life so that they could be saved. These are the things that must be in our heavenly bag.

“Remember that it was your sins that made the cross necessary. When you accepted Christ as your Saviour you pledged yourself to unite with Him in bearing the cross. For life and for death you are bound up with Him, a part of the great plan of redemption.” Lift Him Up, 58

“The transforming power of Christ’s grace molds the one who gives himself to God’s service. Imbued with the Spirit of the Redeemer, he is ready to deny self, ready to take up the cross, ready to make any sacrifice for the Master.

“The cross … is to be lifted and borne without a murmur or complaint. In the act of raising it, you will find that it raises you. You will find it alive with mercy, compassion, and pitying love.” Sons and Daughters of God, 245

How to Overcome the Devil

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“So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.’ ”

Revelations 12:9–12

Why are there so many tears and disasters? So much worry, sorrow, pain, suffering, and death? The answer is in these scriptures. Satan was cast down, set loose on this earth to wreak havoc, and the Bible says that he will deceive the whole world. Every man and woman has been deceived at some time by this arch deceiver.

I wish that we could, just in the smallest degree, understand the significance of his deceitfulness. From the time you were born, he has studied your life, and for whatever reason, by one means or another, he has become a master artist at deceiving you. Every time we sin, we have been deceived into thinking that Satan’s plan is superior to God’s plan.

Some time ago, I was studying the Bible with a woman in Pennsylvania. Every doctrine we studied from the Bible—the state of the dead, the Sabbath, and many other doctrines—she accepted.

But when we began to study diet—pork specifically—she began to have issues. You see, diet is the downfall of so many people. We all know that the Bible says pork is an unclean food, unfit for mankind to eat, and those who are holy and pure do not eat pork or any other food the Bible identifies as unclean.

Sadly, this woman liked pork. You can see how the devil’s deceptions were working against her. If she didn’t like pork, then it would have been no temptation to her and, like all the other doctrines she had so eagerly accepted, she would have gladly given up unclean foods including pork. But she did like pork, and soon she began the process of rationalization.

Perhaps you have done the same thing. So-and-so does something that is wrong, so it’s okay for me to do it, too. Unfortunately, friends, the old adage, “two wrongs don’t make a right” is absolutely true. Excusing our sin by pointing out someone else’s, doesn’t make our sin any less sinful, nor does it deliver us from the resultant consequences.

Still, the devil wanted to keep her from fully and faithfully following Jesus, and to do this he had a terrible deception ready to use against her. Remember, he is the master deceiver. He had studied this woman her whole life and knew just what he should do.

About a month into our studies together, in fact it was during the same time that she was struggling with the truth regarding diet, she had lost her six-year-old daughter, and, oh, how she grieved over the death of her child. It is dangerous to reject truth because we sacrifice the protection of Jesus completely and leave ourselves open to all kinds of deception.

In her home, the daughter’s bedroom was at the top of the stairs on the second floor. One day, she looked up those stairs, still grieving, and for one fleeting moment, she saw her daughter standing there looking at her, smiling, and then she was gone. In that moment, she knew that her daughter was all right, that she was in heaven, and had come down to give her assurance and peace.

Also, in that moment, she decided that the Bible was wrong, or at least the way we were interpreting it was wrong. But the Bible doesn’t need an interpreter, for it plainly says regarding the dead, “The dead know not anything, neither have they any more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.” Ecclesiastes 9:5

The devil’s deception was so powerful that she believed she had truly seen her daughter, and she was so truly deceived that she determined that everything she had learned and accepted to that point was wrong, and she rejected everything. Satan knew right where to strike. Tragically, this woman loved her daughter and unclean foods more than she loved the truth, and unless she repents of her rejection and again accepts the truth, it will cost her salvation.

Satan has a master file of your life and mine. He has traced every event. He and his angels have studied every aspect of your life. They know your special desires, weaknesses, and insecurities. They know what offends and irritates you the most, and how to upset you.

Is There Anything That Can Cause You to be Lost?

Is there anything in this world that means more to you than the truth as it is in Jesus Christ? Your spouse and children? Family or friends? A job, a position of power, wealth, or possessions? Are you proud of your looks? Do you enjoy the flattery of the world? Do you desire attention? Have you been driven to a dark place because of illness, loneliness, or discouragement?

Is there anything that could cause you to give up the truth and turn away from the Holy Spirit? If there is, then rest assured Satan will bend all his power to bring about your destruction.

God wants you to be happy, but if you seek to follow Him, know that the devil will pull out all the stops to work against you. He has a temptation, probably more than one, that is tailor-made just for you. You see, not all temptations are successful against all people. While one person may struggle with addiction to smoking, drinking, or drugs, another may struggle with gambling or pornography, and another with pride and envy. Yes, the devil has a specific portfolio of temptations for each of us.

We will all be tempted, tested, during our lifetime. No one can expect to have a free ride to the pearly gates. Sooner or later, we will have to meet the devil face to face. We are never alone because the Holy Spirit is always with us to provide the power we need to overcome him. But, just as Jesus did in the wilderness of temptation, we will have to face the devil in battle, and we must be prepared to be conquerors.

The Only One

“The great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world.” Revelation 12:9

Except for One.

Of all of the people who have ever lived in the world, there was only One who was never deceived, the Man Christ Jesus. There is no one who has ever been tempted more than He.

For more than thirty years, Satan had prepared, focusing all his energies into the destruction of Jesus. Throughout His entire life, he had sought to weaken Jesus, to cause Him to give up His faith and confidence in His Father. The time had come. Jesus was about to have that face-to-face confrontation that we ourselves will one day have with Satan.

“Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” Luke 4:1, 2

John the Baptist had baptized Jesus in the Jordan, and the Father had declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. But now God was leading Jesus to the wilderness for the fight of His human life. God took Him to the wilderness and left Him there, with no food or shelter, nothing but the hard ground for a bed, and no earthly protection against wild beasts or other dangers. Jesus had the power to provide for Himself, but the Father had ordained that He should come to earth and live as an ordinary man, trusting completely in Him for all of His needs.

Satan determined that Jesus would be overcome, understanding that “he must either conquer or be conquered. … All the energies of apostasy were rallied against the Son of God. Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell.” The Desire of Ages, 116

Turn These Stones

Even in His weakened and starved condition, Jesus’ trust in God remained strong and He continued to pray until a beautiful angel came to Him, an answer, it seemed, to His prayer.

“He claimed to have a commission from God to declare that Christ’s fast was at an end. As God had sent an angel to stay the hand of Abraham from offering Isaac, so, satisfied with Christ’s willingness to enter the bloodstained path, the Father had sent an angel to deliver Him; this was the message brought to Jesus. The Saviour was faint from hunger, He was craving for food, when Satan came suddenly upon Him. Pointing to the stones which strewed the desert, and which had the appearance of loaves, the tempter said, ‘If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.’ ” Ibid., 118

God accepted Your sacrifice here in the wilderness. He has accepted Your submission to His will. Now He has given You permission, “ ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’ ” Matthew 4:3

Let’s look at this temptation. Yes, it was a test on appetite. But this angel said something, just a small word, that should give anyone a clue that he might not be what he appeared to be: “If.” “If You are the Son of God … .” Would God treat His Son this way? is the insinuation. An angel from heaven would know who Jesus is. This angel was not sent from God. Jesus discerned who he was. Imagine the added temptation for Him not to show this imposter just exactly who He is.

Why was Jesus not deceived as mankind usually is? Jesus recognized Satan because His relationship with and faith in His Father prevented even His humanity from being deceived.

But why is mankind so easily deceived?

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception, among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10

Without a saving relationship with Jesus, we will be unable to see Satan for who he is. He will come to us in a way that looks good, but it won’t be good, and if we do not have a love for the truth, we will be deceived.

Jesus loved truth more than He loved life itself. He would rather die than sacrifice even one of God’s precepts. God had said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” This was the word of God regarding who Jesus was. Knowing who Satan was from the beginning, Jesus did not enter into controversy with him. He would not parley with temptation and simply replied to Satan, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’ ” Luke 4:4

If You Will Worship Me

From there Satan took Jesus up on a high mountain. From this vantage point, he showed Him all the kingdoms of the world laid out in all their glory, along with all the people who lived in them, the very people Jesus had left heaven for, those He had come to save.

Satan said, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

In that moment, Jesus saw a narrow path strewn with stones and thorns and thistles. As the path stretched tortuously up, He saw a cross, and hanging on that cross is a man; He sees Himself. Here is the choice: a mere act of homage or the cross.

Without hesitation, Jesus replies, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Luke 4:8

At the Cross

I am so happy that Jesus chose the cross, for it was through that choice that He gained the victory over Satan and his temptations and deceptions, and brought victory to us. For it is by that blood that we are saved and can find salvation from the temptations and deceptions Satan will surely bring to each one of us.

Do you spend time with the cross every day? Do you suppose that you can overcome Satan on your own? Do you think you are strong enough? It was at the cross that Satan was overcome. If we are to find victory over Satan and his deceptions, then we must go to the cross.

Revelation 12 says that Satan will deceive the whole world, but there are some who gain the victory.

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb (Christ) and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.’ ” Verses 10, 11

Christ gained the victory on the cross, and it is to the cross that we also must go to find victory. It is accomplished by the union of the divine and human, uniting our lives with the life of Christ.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?’ ” Matthew 16:24–26

How few today have found that personal victory over Satan. Have we? Can we know that we have experienced the same victory that we find in the life of Christ?

“Communion with Christ—how unspeakably precious! Such communion it is our privilege to enjoy if we will seek it, if we will make any sacrifice to secure it.” Maranatha, 74

Oh, Taste and See

What we need is an experimental religion. Putting God to the test, claiming His promises and finding them true. Think of the three worthies, who refused to eat from the king’s table. They did what was right, and they were blessed as a result and were a living testimony for all around them. Daniel continued to pray three times a day in spite of the king’s decree, knowing he would be thrown in the lion’s den. But He trusted that God would save Him, and He did.

“Experience is knowledge derived from experiment. Experimental religion is what is needed now. … Some—yes, a large number—have a theoretical knowledge of religious truth, but have never felt the renewing power of divine grace upon their own hearts. … They believe in the wrath of God, but put forth no earnest efforts to escape it. They believe in heaven, but make no sacrifice to obtain it. … They know a remedy for sin, but do not use it. They know the right, but have no relish for it. All their knowledge will but increase their condemnation. They have never tasted and learned by experience that the Lord is good.

“To become a disciple of Christ is to deny self and follow Jesus through evil as well as good report. … Every darling indulgence that hinders our religious life must be cut off. … Will we put forth efforts and make sacrifices proportionate to the worth of the object to be attained?” Ibid.

That’s when it becomes yours. That’s when you’ve experimented with the promises of God and found them true. That’s when you develop a testimony. Not one in twenty, we are told, have an experimental knowledge of religion (Messages to Young People, 384). Oh, they may know how God delivered the Israelites from Egypt, about Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness, Bible stories like Daniel and the lion’s den, but they have never had an experience like that, nor have they ever relied fully and only on the naked promises of God for deliverance. They have never sacrificed everything for a personal knowledge of God’s saving power.

We are not saved by good sermons nor by listening to CDs, watching DVDs, or reading books. Going to church will not save us. Even physically being with Jesus, as the disciples were, will not save us. We must have a close, intimate relationship with Jesus, a joining of the divine with the human. The experiences and trials that we live through in this life are meant to teach us that we can and must trust in God.

So, Here’s the Question

Do I have this experience, a testimony of victory in my own life? Remember what Revelation 12:11 says, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb (Christ) and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Think again of the three worthies, standing before the golden image on the plain of Dura. How easy it would have been to just kneel and pray to God. They wouldn’t have been worshiping the image, but their testimony would have looked the same as everyone around them. It would have appeared that they were worshiping the image. It would have shown lack of faith in God. Instead, they did what they knew was right, at the very real risk of their lives, believing that God would save them if it was His will to do so, and they learned that God is faithful to those who put their faith in Him.

What would you have done?  Would you have knelt and prayed to God, rationalizing that you weren’t really worshiping that image? You could have come away from that experience saying, “Well, the Lord saved me from death.” But you wouldn’t have had a testimony. The three worthies received their testimony by going into the fiery furnace. They put their faith in God to the test, they did what was right even though it would mean death, and they found that He is faithful.

We have a testimony when we lose our job rather than work on the Sabbath. We have a testimony when to human eyes there are more bills to pay than money to pay them with and we still pay tithe first. We have a testimony when we pray and ask God for healing, but accept whatever His answer might be, even if it is not healing. When everything is against us and we have nothing but trust in God’s promises, then we have a testimony.

Too many of us do not have a testimony to bear for God because we have never tried Him. We bow down to the idol because we are afraid of the fiery furnace.

“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. They were urged upon Him in as much greater degree as His character is superior to ours. With the terrible weight of the sins of the world upon Him, Christ withstood the test upon appetite, upon the love of the world, and upon that love of display which leads to presumption. These were the temptations that overcame Adam and Eve, and that so readily overcome us.” The Desire of Ages, 116, 117

Our testimony comes when we stand the test through the strength of God, and though Satan works to deceive the world, we overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. When Jesus’ wilderness experience becomes ours, when the divine has united with the human, then we can overcome the devil.

Friends, Satan is seeking to deceive the whole world, and he is successfully doing so for much of it today. But he can be overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony.

I invite you, morning by morning, to come to the foot of the cross, meditate upon the sacrifice of Christ, and then step out on the promises of God and determine to do what God says, come what may, and see how the Lord will work, so that you also might have a testimony.

[Emphasis supplied.]

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, with his wife Lillian, founded Steps to Life. In July 1991, Pastor Marshall and his family met with tragedy as they were returning home from a camp meeting in Washington state, when the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all on board.