Lifestyle – The Anatomy of Sleep

There are two basic types of sleep, rapid eye movement—REM sleep, and non-rapid eye movement—NREM sleep.

NREM sleep is the deep sleep cycle and REM sleep is the active sleep cycle. Sleep occurs in a series of recurring sleep stages and each stage varies according to what is happening in the brain and body. Each stage of sleep is vital with each playing a different part in preparation for the day ahead.

Non-REM sleep includes the following 4 stages:

Stage 1 (Transition to sleep) – This lasts about five minutes. The eyes move slowly under the eyelids, muscle activity slows down, and it is easy to be awakened.

Stage 2 (Light sleep) – This is the first stage of true sleep, lasting from 10 to 25 minutes. Eye movement stops, heart rate slows, and body temperature decreases.

Stage 3 (Deep sleep) – You are difficult to awaken, and if you are, you do not adjust immediately and often feel groggy and disoriented for several minutes.

Stage 4 (More intense deep sleep) – This is the deepest stage of sleep. Brain waves are extremely slow. Blood flow is directed away from the brain and towards the muscles, restoring physical energy.

REM sleep occurs about 70 to 90 minutes after falling asleep and is the stage where dreaming occurs. Eyes move rapidly, breathing is shallow and the heart rate and blood pressure increase.

The amount of time spent in each stage of sleep changes as the night progresses. For example, most deep sleep occurs in the first half of the night. Later in the night, the REM sleep stages become longer, alternating with light Stage 2 sleep.

Deep sleep, especially Stages 3 and 4, is a time when the body repairs itself and builds up energy for the day ahead. It plays a major role in maintaining health, stimulating growth and development, repairing muscles and tissues, and boosting the immune system. In order to wake up energized and refreshed, getting quality deep sleep is vital. Factors that can affect deep sleep are: being awakened during the night regardless of the reason, working night or swing shifts, and smoking or drinking in the evening.

Just as deep sleep renews the body, REM sleep renews the mind. REM sleep plays a key role in learning and memory. During REM sleep, the brain consolidates and processes information learned during the day, strengthens memory, and replenishes its supply of chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine that boost the mood during the day.

REM sleep in adult humans typically occupies 20–25 percent of total sleep with the amount of REM sleep varying considerably with age. A newborn baby spends more than 80 percent of total sleep time in REM sleep. During a normal night, about four or five periods of REM sleep is usually experienced. These periods are quite short at the beginning of the night and longer toward the end.

Being deprived of adequate deep sleep, the body will try to make it up first, at the expense of REM sleep. Furthermore, studies have shown that when sleep is deprived, the body becomes “more efficient” at sleep and moves to Stage 3 and REM sleep faster than patients who are not sleep deprived. This allows more time in the critical sleep of Stages 3, 4 and REM sleep.

The effects of sleep deprivation are serious and affect both the body and mind. The most damaging effects of sleep deprivation are from inadequate deep sleep with inadequate REM sleep mostly affecting mood and social interactions. Effects of this varies from irritability, tiredness, social ineptness, “cracking” under stress, memory loss, bad concentration, strange appetite change (always hungry, never hungry), and increased risk of occupational or vehicle injury. Many medical diseases are associated with chronic, longterm sleep deprivation. These include high blood pressure, frequent infections, activity intolerance, heart attack, heart failure, stroke, obesity, attention deficit disorder, and behavioral and social problems.

Knowing that these serious symptoms can result from sleep deprivation and especially chronic, long term sleep deprivation, doesn’t it make sense that we should make time in our busy schedules for adequate sleep? If we make time to sleep, and are right with the Lord, we can claim the promises of Scripture: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8. “When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.” Proverbs 3:24.

Children’s Story – A Plucky Boy

The boy marched straight up to the counter. “Well, my little man,” said the merchant complacently (he had just risen from such a glorious good dinner), “what will you have today?”

“Oh, please, sir, mayn’t I do some work for you?”

It might have been the pleasant blue eyes that did it, for the man was not accustomed to parley with such small gentlemen, and Tommy wasn’t seven yet, and small of his age at that. There were a few wisps of hair along the edges of the merchant’s temples, and, looking down on the appealing face, the man pulled at them. When he had done tweaking them, he gave the ends of his cravat a brush, and then his hands traveled down to his vest pocket. “Do some work for me, eh? Well, now, about what sort of work might your small manship calculate to be able to perform? Why, you can’t look over the counter.”

“Oh, yes I can, and I am growing, please, growing fast; there, see if I can’t look over the counter!”

“Yes, by standing on your toes; are they coppered?”

“What, sir?”

“Why, your toes. Your mother could not keep you in shoes if they were not.”

“She can’t keep me in shoes anyhow, sir,” and the voice hesitated. The man took pains to look over the counter. It was too much for him; he couldn’t see the little toes. Then he went all the way around.

“I thought I should need a microscope,” he said very gravely, “but I reckon if I get close enough I can see what you look like.”

“I’m older than I’m big, sir,” was the neat rejoinder. “Folks say I’m very small of my age.”

“What might your age be, sir?” responded the man, with emphasis.

“I’m almost seven,” said Tommy, with a look calculated to impress even six feet nine. “You see, my mother hasn’t anybody but me, and this morning I saw her crying because she could not find five cents in her pocketbook, and she thinks the boy who took the ashes stole it—and—I—have—not—had—any—any breakfast, sir.” The voice again hesitated, and tears came to the blue eyes.

“I reckon I can help you to a breakfast, my little fellow,” said the man, feeling in his vest pocket. “There, will that quarter do?”

The boy shook his head. “Mother wouldn’t let me beg, sir,” was the simple answer.

“Humph! Where is your father?”

“We never heard of him, sir, after he went away. He was lost, sir, in the steamer Oily of Boston.”

“Ah! that’s bad. But you are a plucky little fellow, anyhow. Let me see,” and he puckered up his mouth, and looked straight down into the boy’s eyes, which were looking straight into his.

“Saunders,” he asked, addressing a clerk, who was rolling up and writing on parcels, “is Cashier No. 4 still sick?”

“Dead, sir; died last night,” was the low reply.

“Ah, I’m sorry to hear that! Well, here’s a youngster that can take his place.” Mr. Saunders looked up slowly, then put his pen behind his ear, then his glance traveled curiously from Tommy to Mr. Towers.

“Oh, I understand.” said the latter.

“Yes, he is small, very small, very small indeed, but I like his pluck. What did No. 4 get?”

“Three dollars, sir,” said the still astonished clerk.

“Put this boy down for four. There, youngster, give him your name, and run home and tell your mother you have got a place at $4.00 a week. Come back on Monday and I’ll tell you what to do. Here’s a dollar in advance; I’ll take it out of your first week. Can you remember?”

“Work, sir, work all the time?”

“As long as you deserve it, my man.”

Tommy shot out of that shop. If ever broken stairs that had a twist through the whole flight creaked and trembled under the weight of a small boy, or perhaps, as might be better stated, laughed and chuckled on account of a small boy’s good luck, those in that tenement house enjoyed themselves thoroughly that morning. “I’ve got it, mother! I’m took. I’m a cash boy! Don’t you know when they take parcels the clerks call, ‘Cash’? Well, I’m that. Four dollars a week! And the man said I had real pluck, courage, you know. And here’s a dollar for breakfast; and don’t you ever cry again, for I’m the man of the house now.”

The house was only a little 10 foot x 15 foot room, but how those blue eyes did magnify it! At first the mother looked confounded; then she looked—well, it passes my power to tell how she did look as she took him in her arms and hugged him and kissed him, the tears streaming down her cheeks. But they were tears of thankfulness.

The Signs of the Times, vol. 19, September 11, 1893.

Keys to the Storehouse – Red Flags

Every repentant sinner appears at the door of the Most Holy Place. Have you been to that door this morning—where Jesus is? Were you there last night?

“Day by day the repentant sinner brought his offering to the door of the tabernacle and, placing his hand upon the victim’s head, confessed his sins, thus in figure transferring them from himself to the innocent sacrifice.” The Great Controversy, 418.

Are you a sinner? It may be that you don’t recognize yourself as a sinner or have anything for which to be sorry. Or maybe you don’t think you have denied Him in any of your actions or words.

We are told in Romans 3:23 that, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”—come short of God’s character.

Do you suppose that you may have overlooked something? Or are sins, because of repetition, no longer sins in your mind, and you are thinking all is well? God does not want us to be deceived. Several red flags are brought to our attention in the following paragraph so that we may ponder the path of our life before it is too late.

“A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ would deny Him, whatever the profession. Men may deny Christ by evilspeaking, by foolish talking, by words that are untruthful or unkind. They may deny Him by shunning life’s burdens, by the pursuit of sinful pleasure. They may deny Him by conforming to the world, by uncourteous behavior, by the love of their own opinions, by justifying self, by cherishing doubt, borrowing trouble, and dwelling in darkness. In all these ways they declare that Christ is not in them.” The Desire of Ages, 357. (Emphasis supplied.)

Have you overlooked anything in your life that has not been brought to the door of the Most Holy Place where Jesus is waiting to hear from you?

Sinners do not have eternal life. Each time the law of God is broken, whether it be physical, mental or spiritual laws, that guilty person is living on “death row” waiting for execution, unless or until those sins have been confessed and repented of.

Have you been to the Most Holy Place today to confess, repent of and transfer that sin and guilt to the Most Holy Place and to receive the Holy Spirit, the life of Jesus, in your soul? Go to Him in sincerity, confess, repent, remove the clutter and invite Him into your heart and plead for His Holy Spirit. Why? Because, “The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul.” God’s Amazing Grace, 195.

“Those who are begotten unto a new life by the Holy Spirit, have become partakers of the divine nature, and in all their habits and practices, they will give evidence of their relationship to Christ. When men who claim to be Christians retain all their natural defects of character and disposition, in what does their position differ from that of the worldling? They do not appreciate the truth as a sanctifier, a refiner. They have not been born again.” The Review and Herald, April 12, 1892. (Emphasis supplied.)

Have you been to the Most Holy Place today?

My precious Jesus, I come humbly to the door of the Most Holy Place to repent of my behavior that has denied entrance of Thy life, through the Holy Spirit, into my soul. You have opened my eyes to see that I have sinned and fallen short of Thy character. Forgive me. As I lift my soul heavenward I sincerely desire to be filled with Your life through the influence of Thy Holy Spirit. I choose Your life and not death. Amen.

The Destroying Effect of Evil Speaking and Gossip

Gossip—small talk, hearsay, rumor, scandal—is the major element used by Satan to destroy love and unity within the church.

“Gossipers and news carriers are a terrible curse to neighborhoods and churches. Two thirds of all the church trials arise from this source.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 465.

We read from God’s holy word the following, “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.” Numbers 12:1.

From the pen of inspiration we are given an insight into this whole experience. God’s servant records: “Moses felt the importance of the great work committed to him as no other man had ever felt it. He realized his own weakness, and he made God his counselor. Aaron esteemed himself more highly, and trusted less in God. He had failed when entrusted with responsibility, giving evidence of the weakness of his character by his base compliance in the matter of the idolatrous worship at Sinai. But Miriam and Aaron, blinded by jealousy and ambition, lost sight of this. Aaron had been highly honored by God in the appointment of his family to the sacred office of the priesthood; yet even this now added to the desire for self-exaltation. ‘And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath He not spoken also by us’ [Numbers 12:2]? Regarding themselves as equally favored by God, they felt that they were entitled to the same position and authority.

“Yielding to the spirit of dissatisfaction, Miriam found cause of complaint in events that God had especially overruled. The marriage of Moses had been displeasing to her. That he should choose a woman of another nation, instead of taking a wife from among the Hebrews, was an offense to her family and national pride. Zipporah was treated with ill-disguised contempt.

“Though called a ‘Cushite woman’ (Numbers 12:1, R.V.), the wife of Moses was a Midianite, and thus a descendant of Abraham. In personal appearance she differed from the Hebrews in being of a somewhat darker complexion. Though not an Israelite, Zipporah was a worshiper of the true God. She was of a timid, retiring disposition, gentle and affectionate, and greatly distressed at the sight of suffering; and it was for this reason that Moses, when on the way to Egypt, had consented to her return to Midian. He desired to spare her the pain of witnessing the judgments that were to fall on the Egyptians.

“When Zipporah rejoined her husband in the wilderness, she saw that his burdens were wearing away his strength, and she made known her fears to Jethro, who suggested measures for his relief. Here was the chief reason for Miriam’s antipathy to Zipporah. Smarting under the supposed neglect shown to herself and Aaron, she regarded the wife of Moses as the cause, concluding that her influence had prevented him from taking them into his counsels as formerly. Had Aaron stood up firmly for the right, he might have checked the evil; but instead of showing Miriam the sinfulness of her conduct, he sympathized with her, listened to her words of complaint, and thus came to share her jealousy.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 383, 384.

Evidence before us is the fact that Miriam’s jealousy produced evil speaking and gossip, but how did she and Aaron come to be affected by jealousy?

  1. In the appointment of the seventy elders, Miriam and Aaron had not been consulted, and their jealousy was excited against Moses.
  2. At the time of Jethro’s visit, while the Israelites were on their way to Sinai, the ready acceptance by Moses of the counsel of his father-in-law had aroused in Aaron and Miriam a fear that his influence with the great leader exceeded theirs.
  3. In the organization of the council of elders, they felt that their position and authority had been ignored.
  4. Because they had been chosen to aid Moses, they regarded themselves as sharing equally with him the burden of leadership, and they regarded the appointment of further assistance as uncalled for.

This seeming disregard of their authority by Moses fanned into operation the flames of jealousy or envy which ultimately gave rise to evil speaking and gossip, and this spirit of evil speaking and gossip that was now alive and active, due to irresponsible attitudes of Miriam and Aaron, would have soon leavened the whole camp of Israel. Ever keep in mind the fact that jealousy is an attribute of Satan, which means that gossip is of Satan and therefore will only produce a harvest of cruel deeds. We are counseled:

“Envy is one of the most satanic traits that can exist in the human heart, and it is one of the most baleful in its effects. Says the wise man, ‘Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?’ Proverbs 27:4. … ‘Where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.’ James 3:16.

“It should not be regarded as a light thing to speak evil of others or to make ourselves judges of their motives or actions. ‘He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.’ James 4:11. There is but one judge—He ‘who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.’ 1 Corinthians 4:5. And whoever takes it upon himself to judge and condemn his fellow men is usurping the prerogative of the Creator.” Ibid., 385.

As a name, Miriam belongs to a family of words having different root-form; all of which suggest bitterness, Mary, Maria. Miriam, then, the same as Mary, means bitterness or rebellion. This she lived out in the prime of her days!

Let’s examine closer Miriam’s life in relation to this incident. Miriam was the eldest child of Amram and Jochebed, and the sister of Aaron and Moses. Miriam owed much to her ancestry. She was the daughter of godly parents and the sister of two of Israel’s greatest figures. We have no biblical evidence that Miriam was ever married. Her interests were not matrimonial; they were national. Her mission was not domestic; it was patriotic. Miriam is wellknown as a prophetess, and she was highly respected in Israel. The Bible, we can all agree, is an honest book that gives only the truth. It tells the naked truth of those it describes. Blemishes, as well as beauties, are revealed in spite of the person! Miriam, for instance, rebelled against the mission of her life, namely to protect and labor in association with God’s leader whom she had been the means of saving for his country.

Miriam was, above all things, a faithful patriot, with a love for her country greater than the love for her renowned brother. Jealousy led Miriam to reject both the position of Moses as the leader of Israel and his partner in the wife he took unto himself. She found the management and marriage of Moses most distressing, most annoying! Miriam as a church member and more so as a leader became careless and irresponsible because of envy, which led her to turn against her own brother. Isn’t this the same attitude that many of us who profess to be Christians display towards each other who are namely our brothers and sisters?

It was not so much feminine jealousy on Miriam’s part as patriotic jealousy, which gave rise to her gossiping spirit. She was a confirmed member of the Hebrew race and set against any foreign alliance. How often do we, as confirmed Seventh-day Adventists, become troubled concerning those who have come in and joined us who were of a different faith or of another Adventist church? How often are we affected because of their rise to authority within the precincts of the church? We share our burdens with each other about the intruders positioning themselves in our church to take away our positions and belittle our authority.

But Miriam’s greatest offense was her sarcastic rejection of the leadership of her brother, Moses. Hitherto she had been a symbol of unity, cooperation, and support as she shared in the triumphs and hopes of Israel. Now, unfortunately, she is prominent as a leader of discord, division and discontent. “It was envy,” Ellen White wrote, “that first caused discord in heaven, and its indulgence has wrought untold evil among men.” Ibid. So Miriam was now doing the service of Satan. Was this her original desire and intention? Did she desire to bring division, discord and strife between herself and her younger brother?

From the book The Desire of Ages, 323 is found sobering counsel: “Closely connected with Christ’s warning in regard to the sin against the Holy Spirit is a warning against idle and evil words. The words are an indication of that which is in the heart. ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ [Matthew 12:34]. But the words are more than an indication of character; they have power to react on the character. Men are influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. They are deceived by their words, and come to believe that true which was spoken at Satan’s instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too proud to retract it, and try to prove themselves in the right, until they come to believe that they are.”

You will notice that Aaron is paired with Miriam in this ungodly ordeal. We know from the record that Miriam was the instigator and spokes-woman in the revolt. The Holy Scripture says, “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses.” Numbers 12:1.

Why is it that Miriam did not seek out Moses and express to him her concern? Why did she seek out Aaron, in whom she found a listening ear? Well, it is no doubt because she and Aaron shared a closer relationship, because when Moses was away growing up in the palace and the wilderness, Aaron was there with her. Miriam knew well her brother’s weak and strong points of character, one who would quickly sympathize and agree even if it was wrong, and who would understand, one who would not be quick to oppose, condemn and rebuke.

Miriam understood Aaron and Aaron understood Miriam! For the little she knew of Moses, he was too exact, unbending and regimental as well as overly religious. Aaron was far easier to talk with! It is on this basis, against this background, that we have this cooperative effort.

Personal jealousy and fear of their own respective leadership are mingled in their question, “Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?” Numbers 12:2. What we see here is that Miriam and Aaron aspired to a joint partnership in state power and in the government of Israel, but they failed! Miriam’s chief error consisted in her effort to break down the God-given authority of Moses and thereby imperil the unity and hope of the nation. This would most effectively be accomplished through the same method that Lucifer used in heaven, namely gossip, evil surmising and evil speaking.

No doubt, this will be the result in every church in which members cherish the Miriam and Aaron Syndrome. In every church where the spirit of gossip and evil speaking is encouraged; unity, love, trust and hope are destroyed. It has been said that one of the torments of jealousy is that it can never turn away its eyes from the thing that pains it.

Up to this time Moses was unaware of the evil work being done by the two closest persons to him in his leadership, but God knew, for the Holy Scripture declares, “The Lord heard it.” Numbers 12:2. God heard the evil conversation of Miriam and Aaron. He will always hear the gossipers in conversation, and He will certainly pay for the work done by such individuals!

“And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud, and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them; and he departed. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.” Verses 4–10.

Many times gossipers seek to conceal themselves and their accomplice, but God in time will reveal such individuals the way He knows best and in most cases for their good and the benefit of His church. We are told in the book Patriarchs and Prophets that, “This manifestation of the Lord’s displeasure was designed to be a warning to all Israel, to check the growing spirit of discontent and insubordination. If Miriam’s envy and dissatisfaction had not been signally rebuked, it would have resulted in great evil.” Ibid., 385.

Notice that the very one whom Miriam was gossiping about was the same one who had to pray for her in order that she be spared. This spirit that Moses possessed should be the same spirit all share who are victims of gossip and evil speaking.

The significance of God’s attitude concerning the discipline of Miriam is worth noting. In spite of His forgiving mercies, she never escaped a lesser discipline; she, being a temporary leper, was shut out of the camp for seven days. Due to Miriam’s ungodly behavior the church was brought to a halt for one week at least! It’s no different today, for the progress of the church will be greatly affected by gossipers and evil-surmisers. Indeed, “Gossipers and news carriers are a terrible curse to neighborhoods and churches. Two thirds of all the church trials arise from this source.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 465.

Is it possible that the confidence Moses placed in Aaron and Miriam had been shaken as to make him walk alone from that point onward? Well, Miriam accepted her discipline, repented of her sins, and remained faithful until death.

“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.” Numbers 20:23–26.

“Aaron’s work for Israel was done. Forty years before, at the age of eighty-three, God had called him to unite with Moses in his great and important mission. He had co-operated with his brother in leading the children of Israel from Egypt. He had held up the great leader’s hands when the Hebrew hosts gave battle to Amalek. He had been permitted to ascend Mount Sinai, to approach into the presence of God, and to behold the divine glory. The Lord had conferred upon the family of Aaron the office of the priesthood, and had honored him with the sacred consecration of high priest. He had sustained him in the holy office by the terrible manifestations of divine judgment in the destruction of Korah and his company. It was through Aaron’s intercession that the plague was stayed. When his two sons were slain for disregarding God’s express command, he did not rebel or even murmur. Yet the record of his noble life had been marred. Aaron committed a grievous sin when he yielded to the clamors of the people and made the golden calf at Sinai; and again, when he united with Miriam in envy and murmuring against Moses. And he, with Moses, offended the Lord at Kadesh by disobeying the command to speak to the rock that it might give forth its water. …

“For his sin at Kadesh, Aaron was denied the privilege of officiating as God’s high priest in Canaan—of offering the first sacrifice in the goodly land, and thus consecrating the inheritance of Israel.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 425, 426.

If there was hope for the gossipers Miriam and Aaron, then there is certainly hope for every gossiper today! Jesus stands today and says to each one, “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you.” Jeremiah 3:13, 14.

I firmly believe that Aaron and Miriam will be in heaven, simply because they repented and submitted themselves to God’s discipline. Why not follow in the footsteps of Aaron and Miriam? Amen!!!

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

Out of Position

“It is those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement who receive the benefits of His mediation in their behalf, while those who reject the light which brings to view this work of ministration are not benefited thereby.” The Great Controversy, 430.

This means that if we do not understand the mediation that is going on right now in the Most Holy Place of the sanctuary, we cannot act in faith. We know that, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. Unless we have scriptural evidence to rest our faith upon, shall we ask for something we do not understand?

Throughout the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy it is stated very clearly that those who reject the light, which brings to view this work of ministration, are not benefited thereby. They do not receive the benefit or the power available from the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary.

In A.D. 31 when the disciples understood the work of Christ and saw Him ascend into heaven and the angel told them that this same Jesus would return unto them, they immediately went into the upper room and prayed for Pentecostal power for the benefits that Christ was doing in the Holy Place. At that time when they prayed for that power, they received it. They knew what their Saviour was doing, and they received the benefit of His mediation in the Holy Place. Many believe that we do not need to understand anything about the sanctuary or the Most Holy Place or what kind of position we need in this time and that we are going to be benefited by a latter rain power, even salvation. Many have no idea about 1844 and the prophecies but believe they are going to receive the divine outpouring of grace.

“The condition of the unbelieving Jews illustrates the condition of the careless and unbelieving among professed Christians, who are willingly ignorant of the work of our merciful High Priest.” The Great Controversy, 430. Professed Christians are willingly ignorant of these things, even though they have the books on their shelves.

“In the typical service, when the high priest entered the Most Holy Place, all Israel were required to gather about the sanctuary and in the most solemn manner humble their souls before God, that they might receive the pardon of their sins and not be cut off from the congregation. How much more essential in this antitypical Day of Atonement that we understand the work of our High Priest and know what duties are required of us.” Ibid., 430, 431.

What would happen then, if someone went to the sanctuary on the Day of Atonement and said, “I am not going to humble my soul in solemn reverence before God by fasting and praying. I am going to come and thank and praise God and be thankful that I am saved by grace. I am going to put on my best robes and sing to the Lord as if I am already in heaven.” If they did this, they would be removed from the camp, because although they may have had a form of worship, it was not acceptable for the occasion; therefore, they would be out of position. That kind of worship would not be acceptable and could not be allowed in the congregation of Israel at that time. That was not the necessary work that was to be for that time.

We are told very clearly how much more essential it is in this antitypical Day of Atonement that we understand the work of our High Priest and know what duties are required of us.

“Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour’s mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure, to display, or to gain seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of the word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God.” Ibid., 488.

“All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill.” Ibid.

There are duties that we need to understand and partake of right now. There is a position that God requires us to fill, but because many are willingly ignorant allowing Satan to encumber and to distract their minds, they are out of position. Many are in positions of leadership in the church but out of position with God. There are even people in positions in the home as fathers, mothers and children, but they are out of position. They are not in a spiritual condition to be that witness whom God needs during this time, having an understanding of the things that have been prophesied for these last days.

In Revelation 3, we see in the church of Laodicea (meaning a people judged), an illustration of the last church, the last generation that lives before Christ comes, in the time of the judgment. “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:14–16.

It does not say they will be spued out of the church. They may be part of a congregation, holding positions of trust, and still be spued out of the mouth of God. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (verse 17).

They are poor and blind and naked because of the lack of understanding of the necessary soul work for this time in which we are living. Jesus Christ is right outside the door of their hearts knocking and seeking entrance (Revelation 3:20). For some reason many can see themselves as being rich, but they cannot see their spiritual condition. They do not understand what is going on in the heavenly sanctuary and how to be in harmony with that work of soul searching. They are busy in the church doing certain works that are causing Jesus to say, “I have to spue you out of My mouth unless you repent; unless you receive Me into the heart; unless you overcome and move away from this carnal idea of what spirituality is; as you sit in the last church.” You are out of position. You need to understand that there are duties required of you. You do not understand what Christ is doing in the Most Holy Place right now. You do not understand the position in which you need to be, a co-laborer with Jesus, understanding the work of our great High Priest so that you may benefit from His mediation.

I have heard it said over and over again that we are living in the end of time, and we need to awaken to the fact that we have liberty in Christ. The Bible says there are some people who will preach liberty but it will lead to destruction. While preaching that they are in liberty and freedom, they continue in the bondage of sin. Many people understand liberty in Christ to mean do as they please. At this most solemn time in earth’s history instead of receiving the robe of Christ’s righteousness, they choose their own apparel, as did Adam and Eve when making their garments from fig leaves, and adorn their mortal bodies, their corruptible house of clay—which will one day die. People will adorn these things with gold, pearls and all kinds of costly accessories and say that this is their liberty in Christ because they are praising the Lord in the beauty of holiness. This kind of wisdom does not come from above. The last church gets this kind of wisdom from below, and it is earthly and devilish. This is not found in the word of God but is found in those who do not know what duties are required of them right now. They do not know the position they are to occupy right now.

Paul describes those who had liberty in Christ. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” I Timothy 2:9, 10.

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; … Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel, But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands.” I Peter 3:1, 3–5. It was not by the wearing of jewelry that women were known to be married, but by a meek and quiet spirit showing respect to their families. There has been a worldliness that has permeated the church so that the church is reflecting the world instead of following the Lamb whithersoever He goes and reflecting Him.

All through the word of God the same message is clear that God is a holy God. We are not going into a less holy place but entering by faith into the Most Holy Place. The Bible says very clearly in Revelation 14 that the message of this church claims to be wide awake, but God says that they are asleep. This church has a message that they are keeping the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. So if they are keeping the commandments of God, note what the first commandment says, beginning in Exodus 20:3–5: “Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.”

Many people today make an idol out of their homes, cars and apparel, which consumes the majority of their salary. They are slaves to the banks who own them.

We just want to do our own thing and exercise liberty in Christ! “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” Isaiah 4:1.

Jacob, in the word of God, clearly describes these strange gods in the very first book of the Bible. “And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, [Bethel means the house of God, you are going to worship before God] and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother. Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments.” Genesis 35:1, 2.

Right here Jacob commands his household to put away the strange gods and change their garments. What were those strange gods? “And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem” verse 4.

Some people believe that the strange gods in their hands were statues of Buddha but these could not have been in their ears. In this verse the earrings were equated with the strange gods. God commanded not to have any strange gods before Him (Exodus 20). Some say that it is okay to wear jewelry because the high priest wore a crown of jewels. We live in the time of the antitypical Day of Atonement. This is a time for all to gather around the sanctuary and in a most solemn manner come before God with fasting and prayer to seek Him that He may be found and call upon Him while He is near. On the typical Day of Atonement, God’s people did not adorn themselves; neither did the priests wear their crowns but a specific dress for that occasion. When the high priest entered in before God in the Most Holy Place, he wore clothing whereby no glory was given to himself.

Right now we believe that Jesus is in the Most Holy Place, and we as sons and daughters of God here on earth should be holy within.

When Christ entered the Holy Place in A.D. 31 and was anointed, that anointing fell upon the disciples on earth, and they preached and lived with Pentecostal power. They understood the work of Christ and they were in position, praying and fasting and waiting for Him without gold and pearls and costly array. When they received this outpouring of His Holy Spirit, they went forth and preached a message in harmony with what Christ was doing.

We believe that Christ has entered the Most Holy Place; He is our High Priest and is ministering before the Ark of the Covenant in the presence of God. If this is the type, let’s see how He was dressed so that we will know how we should dress. Remember, on a daily basis the priest would wear a golden mitre and have diamonds upon his chest.

“And the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the Lord, and died; And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” Leviticus 16:1, 2.

What holy place was within the veil? A veil separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy in which the mercy seat was on top of the Ark of the Covenant. Aaron could enter the Holy Place at all times to offer the daily offering; however, there was only one day each year when he could enter the Most Holy Place. On that day, the Day of Atonement, he would have to go through a special cleansing and be dressed in a certain way.

“Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.” Leviticus 16:3, 4.

His holy gold in-wrought coat with the golden breastplate with all of the diamonds and the golden mitre were to be put aside for the holy linen garment that was devoid of gold, silver and precious stones. We are called to be a holy generation. We are living in the most holy period of time, and are solemnly gathered around the sanctuary. In type, God shows us what we should be doing while Jesus ministers in the Most Holy Place. There is to be no gold or silver—even in New Testament times they did not put on those things as they were not in harmony with the Holy Place ministry. To enter into the Most Holy Place, there was a humbling of their dress and they wore simple linen garments.

There is an interesting description of Lucifer before his fall: “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:11–15.

Lucifer was adorned with all of these brilliant stones and this contributed to his selfish pride causing his fall from heaven. In verse 17 it says, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.”

And we poor mortals feel that we could put on all this decoration without impunity and not be lifted up when an angel, the highest angel in heaven, fell because he was so beautiful! If iniquity is found in us as it was found in Satan, even that which is good becomes corrupt or a curse. When sin is no more and we receive an immortal body and our hearts and minds are changed completely, we will be given a golden crown and walk on streets of gold. At that time these precious stones will not produce pride but gratitude to God who is truly a God of beauty. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” Genesis 2:7. God created man in perfection and He claimed that His work was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). There was no need to add to his beauty by a covering of precious stones; he was already perfect. It is only in our enfeebled state due to sin that people feel the need to decorate their bodies with jewelry, tattoos and body piercings. God had scattered the precious stones all over the earth, and because of man’s greed and selfishness, they became a curse to him. The worldwide flood buried all of those treasures, and ever since, man has sought to dig them back out of the earth where they were hidden.

Does this mean that God cannot use a person to witness for him just because of a little thing such as a ring or an earring or a little stud in his/her tongue? Is God so particular?

“Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.” James 4:17. “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent.” Acts 17:30.

God, in His mercy, winks at our ignorance, but now, in this judgment hour, the message is going forth to everybody to repent and to turn away from their idols and prepare to receive the latter rain power.

Is God particular? Ask Cain who thought it would be all right to offer the fruit of his field instead of the required blood sacrifice.

Is God particular? Ask Saul who thought it would be alright to offer sacrifices himself instead of waiting on Samuel.

Is God particular? Ask Judas who thought he could make a few quick dollars selling his Lord.

Is God particular? Put your own name here _______________.

Very soon, all decisions will have been made. Some people will cast in their lot with Cain, Saul and Judas who were deceived into thinking they could make up their own rules. No one will want to share the page of their record of which it will be said that even with all that God had done for them, they are still castaways—they chose to be out of position.

The temptation is so great for this generation who want to do as they please, dress how they wish, wear their earrings, wedding rings and nose rings. Who wants to look different than those around us? It should be remembered that it was the slaves in Bible times that had their ears bored through. However changing is worldly fashion! How blind can we be?

Examine your own heart today and make your election sure while the door of mercy is still open. Take note of the two women described in Revelation 12 and 17: the pure woman clothed with light with her feet on the moon and the crown of stars compared to the harlot decked with gold, pearls and costly array and riding on a beast.

“Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” I Corinthians 7:1.

The Lord is coming. Are you entering by faith into the Most Holy Place? Are you in position, ready to do as the Lord commands and be ready for the final battle? Let us reflect Jesus in all that we do, even in our outward appearance to show that Christ is truly upon the throne of our hearts.

John R. Cofer is a medical evangelist and may be contacted at: 661-209-7142. For more information see www.gospelofhealth.org.

The Door – What Does it Represent?

Within the Bible passage of John 10:1–30 there are many wonderful lessons, one of which is the study on the door. Every person who is saved must go through this door.

Jesus tells the story in which He says:

  1. The person who does not go through the door of the sheepfold, but goes up or gets in some other way, is a thief and a robber.

Still today, if a person enters another’s house other than by the door it is because they do not belong there and they are there for no good reason. They are most probably a thief or a robber.

  1. The one that goes through the door is the shepherd of the sheep. (See John 10:2.)
  2. Jesus says, I myself am the Door of the sheep. (See John 10:7.) How can Jesus be the Door and yet go through the door?
  3. Remember, Jesus said He is the Door. “Through Me, if anybody enters in, he will be saved.” John 10:9. This is good news. If you go through this door, you will be saved. There are no exceptions. Not one person who goes through this door will be lost.
  4. The sheepfold has only one door. Everybody in the fold who has not gone through the door is a thief and a robber.
  5. The fold is the church, but the only people who are actually members of the church are the ones who have gone through the door. Suppose a robber comes to your house entering through the window. Though he may be in the house, he is not a member of your household.

In the same way the fold is the church, and only those who have entered through the door are actually members, all others in there do not really belong. Even though they may look like part of the flock, they are not, but imposters.

  1. The Shepherd is the Door. Remember, Jesus said that He was the Door.
  2. If you go through a door, there is both a time before going through it and a time after going through it.
  3. Jesus said He went through the door. That means there was a time before Jesus went through the door and there was a time after He went through the door.
  4. Everyone who gets into the sheepfold without going through the door will be lost, because they are a thief or a robber. The book of Revelation makes it very clear that there will be no thieves or robbers in heaven.
  5. The fold is the church and the door is the entrance into the church. All who enter through the door will be saved without exception.
  6. In Matthew 17, Jesus warned to beware of wolves that are in sheep’s clothing. There are wolves in sheep’s clothing within the church and although they profess to be members of the church, they are not members of the household of God; they are the children of the devil dressed in sheep’s clothing. One way to identify them is by their backbiting. Sheep do not backbite.
  7. At some time all of the sheep must go through the door.

Remember, all who go through the door receive eternal life—without exception. So what does the door represent and what does it mean to go through it? Jesus said that He was the Door but He also said that He went through the door. Since Jesus went through the door, there was a time before He went through the door and a time after He went through it. Since there was a time before He went through, we know for sure that the door does not represent the divinity of Christ, because there never has been a time when Christ was not divine.

“Christ was one with the Father before the foundation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplendent with divine, original glory.

“Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent Son of God. … In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God. …

“His divine life could not be reckoned by human computation. The existence of Christ before His incarnation is not measured by figures.

“Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore. The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. [He was with the Father, but He was a distinct person from all eternity. There never was a time when that was not so.] He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by Him as His right.

“He was equal with God, infinite and omnipotent.” The Faith I Live By, 46.

The following tells us that Jesus was Jehovah. In John 8:56–59, it says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he saw it and was glad. Then the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.’ Then they took up stones to throw at Him.”

Why did they take up stones to throw at Him? Because the Jews knew the significance of what He had just said but which some people today do not understand.

“With solemn dignity Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM’ [John 8:58].

“Silence fell upon the vast assembly. The name of God, given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence, had been claimed as His own by this Galilean Rabbi. He had announced Himself to be the self-existent One.” The Desire of Ages, 469, 470.

There are many references in the Bible that indicate very clearly that Jesus Christ is Jehovah. But because that is the case, the door cannot represent Christ’s divinity because He said He went through the door. There was a time before and a time after He went through the door.

Both the Shepherd and the sheep all go through the door, and all who will be saved, also have to go through it. The door cannot represent our humanity, because there has never been a time in our existence when we have not been human. The door cannot represent either divinity or humanity, so what does it represent?

In an article written in The Review and Herald, March 10, 1892, Ellen White states, “The only way in which salvation could be provided for man was through the union of divinity with humanity. Christ in human flesh alone could bridge the gulf that sin had made.”

Notice, Jesus was divine, but man could not be saved by His divinity alone. He must also become a man so His divinity could join with our humanity.

We are also told: “Christ came to our world, sent of God to take human nature upon him. The mysterious union was to be formed between human nature and the divine nature. … The great condescension on the part of God is a mystery that is beyond our fathoming. The greatness of the plan cannot be fully comprehended, nor could infinite Wisdom devise a plan that would surpass it. It could be successful only by the clothing of divinity with humanity, by Christ becoming man, and suffering the wrath which sin has made because of the transgression of God’s law.” Ibid., October 22, 1895.

There is a door that the Shepherd (Christ) entered through (John 10:2). There was a time that He was fully divine, but when He entered through the door, He was not only divine, but also a human being. The door then represents a union of divinity and humanity. Jesus said that only those who enter that way will be saved. It takes more than mere humanity to enter through that door. Jesus entered by uniting His divinity to our humanity. We must enter by uniting our humanity with His divinity. This unity is clearly taught in the Bible and is the only way.

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” II Peter 1:2–4. It goes on to say that if you will do this you will have an abundant entrance into the kingdom of God.

“In Christ dwelt all the fullness of the God-head. But the only way in which He could reach men was to vail His glory by a garb of humanity. The angels beheld the hiding of His glory, that divinity might touch humanity.” The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1898.

That is what it meant for Jesus to go through the door. He is the Door. He took our humanity upon His divinity so that He became both divine and human. Without the union of divinity with humanity the plan of salvation will not work. To enter through the door, humanity must be united, linked up, part of, His divinity. We are to become partakers of the divine nature.

“Divinity took the nature of humanity, and for what purpose? That through the righteousness of Christ humanity might partake of the divine nature. This union of divinity and humanity, which was possible with Christ, is incomprehensible to human minds. The wonderful things to take place in our world—the greatest events of all ages—are incomprehensible to worldly minds; they cannot be explained by human sciences.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 332.

Our minds cannot understand how we can become a partaker of divine nature. The Bible says that spiritual things are spiritually discerned.

There are many Christians today who do not seem to understand this and think that all you have to do is say, “I believe in Jesus” and that is it. That is not it! You must go through the door. Belief is wonderful if you understand the meaning of the Greek word—to make a commitment.

“The powers of heaven shall be shaken. Christ is coming in power and great glory, but His coming is not such a mystery as the things to take place before that event. Man must be a partaker of the divine nature in order to stand in this evil time, when the mysteries of satanic agencies are at work. Only by the divine power united with the human can souls endure through these times of trial.” Ibid.

Have you gone through the door? There is a wide difference between a pretended union and a real connection with Christ. Jesus illustrates this fact in the parable of the vine (John 15). He said He was the vine and we are the branches. The outer branches that are not connected directly to the vine get cut off and thrown into the fire.

This represents those who are in the fold but have not gone through the door. They profess Christianity, they may belong to a church or may be an elder, a preacher, an evangelist, or have some other position, but they have not gone through the door. They do not have that inner connection where the life of the vine comes into the branch. If the inner life of the vine reaches out to the branch, it is alive and bears fruit. But if the branch is connected to the vine with just an outer connection and not a living connection, then it dies and will be cut off. All who are in the fold but have not gone through the door are thieves and robbers and are only there temporarily.

“To know the truth, to claim union with Christ, and yet not to bring forth fruit, not to live in the exercise of constant faith—this hardens the heart in disobedience and self-confidence. Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness, all depend on our union with Christ and the degree of faith we exercise in Him. … Everyone who is united to Christ will depart from all iniquity.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 48, 49.

“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands having this seal. The Lord knows those who are His and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” II Timothy 2:19.

Those connected to Christ will depart from all lawlessness. Those entering the fold by jumping the fence do not belong there.

“Every individual, by his own act, either puts Christ from him by refusing to cherish His spirit and follow His example, or he enters into a personal union with Christ by self-renunciation, faith, and obedience.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 46.

How does a person enter into a union with Christ?

Renounce self—no longer trust self. This is one of the most difficult things for people who are successful. After talking to the rich young ruler, Jesus told His disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:24). Because we are human, we have a tendency to judge others as well as ourselves by outward appearance, but to enter through the door requires a change of heart and a new spirit. You cannot go through the door by just changing your appearance. Nicodemus, one of the religious leaders in the time of Christ, became sarcastic when Jesus told him he was not ready to go to heaven (John 3). Jesus said that unless you are born of the water and the spirit, unless you receive a new spirit and a new heart, there is no way to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

That new spirit, the divine spirit, is made manifest when you go through the door. Humanity linked up with divinity! Many people have a desire to be a Christian but are often trapped in one of their darling sins. They have not gone through the door and received the Holy Spirit, which gives power to do certain things that before have been impossible and to stop doing those things that previously you had not been able to stop.

The gospel is offered as a free gift to all. There are people in prison for all manner of sin—murder, rape, theft, to mention just a few. When the person, guilty of any sin, is willing to go through the door and receive the Holy Spirit, he/she will receive a new heart and a new mind and will begin to live a new life. The blood of Jesus Christ, which can take away all uncleanness, will forgive his/her sins. There are many people who want to be saved in their sins without going through the door. They consider their sins not too big, and if the rapist and the murderer can be saved, well, they never robbed a bank or murdered anyone or did anything really bad! Surely their little sins would be overlooked. No! Jesus told Nicodemus that unless he was born of the Holy Spirit; unless he went through the door, he was not really part of the church, but just playing church.

“For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one spirit.” I Corinthians 12:13. Baptism by water is a symbol. The Jews had symbols. Every sacrificed lamb represented Jesus. John said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29. Jesus was the true Lamb of God. Many people offered animal sacrifices having the symbol without understanding what that symbol represented. Caiaphas, the high priest and the leaders of the Jewish church all offered animal sacrifices and will still be lost because they only knew the symbol and not the real thing.

All who put their trust in Jesus, surrendering their lives totally to the sovereignty of Jesus Christ and receive His Spirit, will be saved, but there will be many people who have been baptized by water who will be lost. Baptism by water is a symbol, but unless baptized by the Holy Spirit, they are just playing church.

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ ” Acts 2:38. Paul met some others who had been baptized by John but did not understand the baptism of the Holy Spirit so they were re-baptized (Acts 19:1–7). After going through the door, becoming united with the divine nature, care must be taken to stay connected with Christ.

“This spiritual relation can be established only by the exercise of personal faith. This faith must express on our part supreme preference, perfect reliance, entire consecration. Our will must be wholly yielded to the divine will, our feelings, desires, interests, and honor identified with the prosperity of Christ’s kingdom and the honor of His cause, we constantly receiving grace from Him, and Christ accepting gratitude from us.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 229.

“All Christ’s followers have as deep an interest in this lesson as had the disciples who listened to His words. In the apostasy, man alienated himself from God. The separation is wide and fearful; but Christ has made provision again to connect us with Himself. The power of evil is so identified with human nature that no man can overcome except by union with Christ. Through this union we receive moral and spiritual power.” Ibid., 230.

It is impossible to overcome sin without going through the door and entering into Christ.

“A union with Christ by living faith is enduring; every other union must perish. Christ first chose us, paying an infinite price for our redemption; and the true believer chooses Christ as first and last and best in everything. But this union costs us something. It is a union of utter dependence, to be entered into by a proud being. All who form this union must feel their need of the atoning blood of Christ. They must have a change of heart. They must submit their own will to the will of God. There will be a struggle with outward and internal obstacles. There must be a painful work of detachment as well as a work of attachment. Pride, selfishness, vanity, worldliness—sin in all its forms—must be overcome if we would enter into a union with Christ. The reason why many find the Christian life so deplorably hard, why they are so fickle, so variable, is that they try to attach themselves to Christ without first detaching themselves from these cherished idols.” Ibid., 231.

In order to attach yourselves to Christ you must be detached from the world—detatched from everything that involves sin.

Jesus says the way that leads to destruction is broad but the door of salvation is narrow. Entering through this door, sins must be left outside. Are you willing to do that? This is why there are a lot of Christians who want to jump over the fence and get into the fold another way. They are not willing to go through the narrow door, too narrow for their baggage. The Lord is soon going to clean house and all the thieves and robbers will be cast out.

Do you still want to go through the narrow door where all sins must be left on the outside? All who enter there will be saved without exception. No matter how weak you are, when united with divine power, the blood of Jesus Christ will cleanse you from all uncleanness and the power of the Holy Spirit will give you the power to live a new life. You will have a new heart and a new spirit with new desires and everything will be changed. Paul said that if any man is in Christ Jesus, old things are passed away and he is a new creation (II Corinthians 5:17). Do you want that experience in your life?

If you are willing to go through the door, the Lord is willing to give you the Holy Spirit that will empower you to live a different kind of a life. Whatever your struggle in this life, if you are willing to go through the door, there is no problem that Jesus cannot solve through the power of the Holy Spirit, as long as you are willing to make a commitment.

We thank God that there is a door to salvation and that if we are willing to make a complete commitment of our lives to Jesus Christ He will give to us the Holy Spirit so that we may receive a new heart, a new spirit, a new mind and a new life.

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

Editorial – How to be Ready for the Loud Cry

“We are to throw aside our narrow, selfish plans, remembering that we have a work of the largest magnitude and highest importance. In doing this work we are sounding the first, second, and third angel’s messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming of that other angel from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 406.

“Our watchword is to be: Onward, ever onward. The angels of God will go before us to prepare the way. Our burden for the ‘regions beyond’ can never be laid down until the whole earth shall be lightened with the glory of the Lord.” Ibid., 29.

“The missionary spirit needs to be revived in our churches. Every member of the church should study how to help forward the work of God, both in home missions and in foreign countries. Scarcely a thousandth part of the work is being done that ought to be done in missionary fields. God calls upon His workers to annex new territory for Him. There are rich fields of toil waiting for the faithful worker. And ministering angels will co-operate with every member of the church who will labor unselfishly for the Master.” Ibid., 29.

“God desires to refresh His people by the gift of the Holy Spirit, baptizing them anew in His love. There is no need for a dearth of the Spirit in the church. In the future the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. A holy influence is to go forth to the world from those who are sanctified through the truth. The earth is to be encircled with an atmosphere of grace.” The Southern Watchman, September 5, 1905.

“During the loud cry, the church, aided by the providential interpositions of her exalted Lord, will diffuse the knowledge of salvation so abundantly that light will be communicated to every city and town. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of salvation. So abundantly will the renewing Spirit of God have crowned with success the intensely active agencies, that the light of present truth will be seen flashing everywhere.” The Review and Herald, October 13, 1904.

“If God’s people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting. The refreshing or power of God comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by doing the work which God bids them, namely, cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 619.

(From the pen of Ellen White, emphasis supplied.)