nature

Nature Nugget — Attractive but Poisonous Creatures

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Throughout the animal kingdom, many creatures have bright colors as a warning to would-be predators that they are poisonous. For example, the Coral Snakes of the southern parts of North America have rings of bright red, yellow, and black. They are relatives of the Cobras and, like them, are capable of injecting a powerful neuro-toxin into their victims through short, fixed fangs near the front of their mouths. This neurotoxin they inject attacks the nervous system causing paralysis and respiratory failure.

The Monarch Butterfly is another creature that uses bright colors to warn that it is poisonous. When it was a caterpillar, it fed on the leaves of the poisonous Milkweed plant and stored up toxins from this plant in its body tissues. It has bright orange and black wings to warn birds and other predators that it is poisonous and not to be eaten.

In Central and South America, the Poison-dart Frogs are colored in various bright colors such as reds, yellows, and blues to warn that they have poisonous skin secretions that can cause death in just a few minutes if eaten. Some species are so deadly that just touching them can result in death. Some Indian tribes in South America use these skin secretions to tip their darts and arrows, to make them more lethal.

 

Poisonous Sins

 

Even though these creatures are attractive to look at, they are none-the-less poisonous and deadly. Sin is the same way. It is very attractive but the end results are deadly. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 16:25.

“God has made ample provision for His people; and if they rely upon His strength, they will never become the sport of circumstances. The strongest temptation cannot excuse sin. However great the pressure brought to bear upon the soul, transgression is our own act. It is not in the power of earth or hell to compel any one to do evil. Satan attacks us at our weak points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the assault, God has provided help for us, and in His strength we may conquer” Patriarchs and Prophets, 421.

 

Nature – The Electric Eel

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All living things produce electricity. In most animals and plants, the pulses of electric current are so tiny that special instruments are needed to detect them. But some fishes are able to produce enormous amounts of electricity—enough to stun or even kill.

The most powerful of these electric fishes is the electric eel. It can discharge up to 650 volts—enough to kill a person on contact. (The electric current used in houses in U.S. is usually 120 volts.)

Electric eels live in the shallow, muddy waters of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers of South America. They are not related to other kinds of eels and resemble them only in their snakelike shape. The electric eel has no dorsal or tail fins, as other fish do. It swims with the aid of a long anal fin, which runs nearly the whole length of the underside of its body. It can swim backward, forward, up and down, with equal ease. These eels are air-breathers and must come up to the water’s surface frequently, approximately every 10 minutes or so.

The electric eel is like a living storage battery. All of its normal body organs are crowded into the front fifth of its body. The remaining four-fifths is packed with more than 5,000 tiny electric generators.

The electric eel uses its electricity in several ways. When it swims, a small “battery” in its tail sends out weak electric pulses at a rate of 20 to 50 a second. They bounce off objects and come back to special pits in the eel’s head. It uses electric “echoes” in much the same way that bats and whale sharks use sound to navigate. Scientists believe the eel may use these pulses to communicate with other eels.

It is fortunate that the electric eel has this ability to navigate by electricity. As it grows older, its eyes are damaged by its own electricity, and it becomes blind. Actually, eyesight is not too useful in the dark and muddy waters in which it lives.

If an enemy threatens the electric eel, or a frog or some other possible prey is in the water nearby, the eel acts promptly. It turns on the powerful “main battery” that fills most of its body. Discharges lasting about 0.002/second are sent out in quick succession. The eel can continue discharging at a rate of up to 150 pulses/second without showing any signs of tiring. Fishes and frogs are killed by the eel’s strong electric shocks. A larger animal—even a horse that has come down to the water to drink—may be stunned and drown. But except for the gradual damage to its eyes, the eel does not seem to be affected by the electricity, with vital organs located in the front of their bodies and the rest covered by fatty tissue which acts as an insulator.

Young eels produce very little electricity. The larger they grow, the more powerful their electrical shocks become.

Excerpts from Nature’s Champions, Alvin and Virginia Silverstein, © 1980, 16, 17.

Pray that the mighty energies of the Holy Spirit, with all their quickening, recuperative, and transforming power, may fall like an electric shock on the palsy-stricken soul, causing every nerve to thrill with new life, restoring the whole man from his dead, earthly, sensual state to spiritual soundness.

God’s Amazing Grace, 312

Food For Life — Designer Surroundings

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The Creator chose for our first parents the surroundings best adapted for their health and happiness. He did not place them in a palace or surround them with the artificial adornments and luxuries that so many today are struggling to obtain. He placed them in close touch with nature and in close communion with the holy ones of heaven.

“In the garden that God prepared as a home for His children, graceful shrubs and delicate flowers greeted the eye at every turn. There were trees of every variety, many of them laden with fragrant and delicious fruit. On their branches the birds caroled their songs of praise. Under their shadow the creatures of the earth sported together without a fear.

“Adam and Eve, in their untainted purity, delighted in the sights and sounds of Eden. God appointed them their work in the garden, “to dress it and to keep it.” Genesis 2:15. Each day’s labor brought them health and gladness, and the happy pair greeted with joy the visits of their Creator, as in the cool of the day He walked and talked with them. Daily God taught them His lessons.

“The plan of life which God appointed for our first parents has lessons for us. Although sin has cast its shadow over the earth, God desires His children to find delight in the works of His hands. The more closely His plan of life is followed, the more wonderfully will He work to restore suffering humanity. The sick need to be brought into close touch with nature. An outdoor life amid natural surroundings would work wonders for many a helpless and almost hopeless invalid.

“The noise and excitement and confusion of the cities, their constrained and artificial life, are most wearisome and exhausting to the sick. The air, laden with smoke and dust, with poisonous gases, and with germs of disease, is a peril to life. The sick, for the most part shut within four walls, come almost to feel as if they were prisoners in their rooms. They look out on houses and pavements and hurrying crowds, with perhaps not even a glimpse of blue sky or sunshine, of grass or flower or tree. Shut up in this way, they brood over their suffering and sorrow, and become a prey to their own sad thoughts.

“And for those who are weak in moral power, the cities abound in dangers. In them, patients who have unnatural appetites to overcome are continually exposed to temptation. They need to be placed amid new surroundings where the current of their thoughts will be changed; they need to be placed under influences wholly different from those that have wrecked their lives. Let them for a season be removed from those influences that lead away from God, into a purer atmosphere . . .

“The pure air, the glad sunshine, the flowers and trees, the orchards and vineyards, and outdoor exercise amid these surroundings, are health-giving, life-giving . . .

“It has a wonderful power to heal diseases caused by the excitements and excesses of fashionable life, a life that weakens and destroys the powers of body, mind, and soul . . .

“Out of doors, amid the things that God has made, breathing the fresh, health-giving air, the sick can best be told of the new life in Christ. Here God’s word can be read. Here the light of Christ’s righteousness can shine into hearts darkened by sin.” Ministry of Healing, 261–266.

Basic Nut Milks

1 c. nuts (almonds or cashews)

4 c. distilled water

1/2 t. sea salt

1/2 c. date pieces

1 t. vanilla

Whiz in blender until creamy and smooth. For thicker milk, increase the nuts.

 

Food for Life — The Things of Nature

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“Everything in nature is diligent, and moving steadily onward, setting us an example. Notwithstanding the plants and shrubs are thirsting for showers, yet they cannot stop to complain, and cease their efforts to flourish. They obey nature’s laws, to do the very best they can under every circumstance. They thirst to be refreshed with water, yet they strike their roots down deeper, reaching down far to gather the moisture, that they may retain life, freshness, and beauty.

“These things of nature teach us the useful lesson, not to be easily discouraged under disadvantageous circumstances, but to continue to put forth efforts, and to do the very best we can. Although vegetation is almost fainting for the summer showers, yet the good things of the vegetable kingdom do not decide to stand still, and do nothing, until everything is favorable. There is a power in nature which we can see, if we will, in vegetation. The shrubs and plants struggle to live under discouraging circumstances, and seem to be making the best of everything, and concealing every appearance of want and unhappiness, under a smiling, refreshing aspect, reflecting to us the beautiful in their opening buds and blossoms. If we would learn the lessons nature is teaching us we should be more hopeful and have less wearing anxiety and crushing care.” The Health Reformer, June 1, 1871.

“We are in a world of suffering. Difficulty, trial, and sorrow await us all along the way to the heavenly home. But there are many who make life’s burdens doubly heavy by continually anticipating trouble. If they meet with adversity or disappointment they think that everything is going to ruin, that theirs is the hardest lot of all, that they are surely coming to want. Thus they bring wretchedness upon themselves and cast a shadow upon all around them. Life itself becomes a burden to them. But it need not be thus. It will cost a determined effort to change the current of their thought. But the change can be made. Their happiness, both for this life and for the life to come, depends upon their fixing their minds upon cheerful things. Let them look away from the dark picture, which is imaginary, to the benefits which God has strewn in their pathway, and beyond these to the unseen and eternal.

“For every trial, God has provided help. When Israel in the desert came to the bitter waters of Marah, Moses cried unto the Lord. The Lord did not provide some new remedy; He called attention to that which was at hand. A shrub which He had created was to be cast into the fountain to make the water pure and sweet. When this was done, the people drank of the water and were refreshed. In every trial, if we seek Him, Christ will give us help. Our eyes will be opened to discern the healing promises recorded in His word. The Holy Spirit will teach us how to appropriate every blessing that will be an antidote to grief. For every bitter draft that is placed to our lips, we shall find a branch of healing.

“We are not to let the future, with its hard problems, its unsatisfying prospects, make our hearts faint, our knees tremble, our hands hang down. ‘Let him take hold of My strength,’ says the Mighty One, ‘that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.’ Isaiah 27:5. Those who surrender their lives to His guidance and to His service will never be placed in a position for which He has not made provision. Whatever our situation, if we are doers of His word, we have a Guide to direct our way; whatever our perplexity, we have a sure Counselor; whatever our sorrow, bereavement, or loneliness, we have a sympathizing Friend.

“If in our ignorance we make missteps, the Saviour does not forsake us. We need never feel that we are alone. Angels are our companions. The Comforter that Christ promised to send in His name abides with us. In the way that leads to the City of God there are no difficulties which those who trust in Him may not overcome. There are no dangers which they may not escape. There is not a sorrow, not a grievance, not a human weakness, for which He has not provided a remedy.” Ministry of Healing, 247–2490

Spaghetti Sauce

In a large frying pan place:

3 cups distilled water

3 large green peppers, thinly sliced

3 large onions, thinly sliced

6-8 cloves of garlic

2 T. Italian seasoning

1 4 oz. can sliced olives

1 4 oz. can sliced mushrooms

2 t. sea salt

1 T. Sweet Basil

Bring to a boil and saute until soft. The add:

3 15 oz cans of Tomato Sauce

½ cup (heaping) date sugar or fruit source, granulated

Bring again to a boil and continue to simmer for one hour. For a little thicker sauce, 2 to 4 tablespoons of Arrowroot Powder may be added.

This sauce is delicious with sliced Nut Meat, as well as whole grain pasta of any kind. Another interesting combination, and a favorite in our family, is to combine the Whole Wheat Spaghetti which has been pre-cooked, with the cubed Nut Meat. This dish, with a salad, is a meal in itself.

 

Food for Life — Nature Is The Place For Mankind

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“May has come, with all her beauties of the sunshine, clothing nature with a glorious dress. Mother earth has laid off her brown mantle, and wears her cheerful robes of green. The trees and shrubs upon the lawn are decorated with their opening buds and flowers of varied tints. The peach and cherry are covered with blossoms of pink and white, and the pure music from a thousand of nature’s happy and cheering songsters, unite to awaken joy and thankfulness in our hearts.

“May is indeed here, to cheer and bless us, Let us, all who can, go out of doors, and be cheerful, happy, and healthy, as we behold the charming beauties of nature. We may look up through the attractive glories of nature, to nature’s glorious God, and, as we read his love to man in nature, we may become cheerful, thankful, pure, and holy.

“The feeble ones should press out into the sunshine as earnestly and naturally as do the shaded plants and vines. The pale and sickly grain-blade that has struggled up out of the earth in the cold of early spring, puts on the natural and healthy deep green after enjoying for a few days the health-and-life-giving rays of the sun. Go out into the light and warmth of the glorious sun, you pale and sickly ones, and share with vegetation its life-giving, healing power. Let what your ears hear of the music of the birds, and what your eyes see of the green grass, and shrubs, and trees, beautified with their fragrant blossoms, and God’s precious flowers of every hue, lift that leaden weight off your spirits, and cheer that sad heart, and smooth that troubled brow.

“Mothers, encourage the children to go out into the air and sunshine. What if they do tan, and exchange the pale, sallow complexion for the healthful brown? Let them have health and happiness, which are the only foundation of real beauty. Lovely May is here. Enjoy her, all you who can, while she is with us.” The Health Reformer, May 1, 1871.

“In the building of houses it is especially important to secure thorough ventilation and plenty of sunlight. Let there be a current of air and an abundance of light in every room in the house. Sleeping rooms should be so arranged as to have a free circulation of air day and night. No room is fit to be occupied as a sleeping room unless it can be thrown open daily to the air and sunshine . . .

“Whoever sleeps in a sunless room, or occupies a bed that has not been thoroughly dried and aired, does so at the risk of health, and often of life.

“In building, many make careful provision for their plants and flowers. The greenhouse or window devoted to their use is warm and sunny; for without warmth, air, and sunshine, plants would not live and flourish. If these conditions are necessary to the life of plants, how much more necessary are they for our own health and that of our families and guests!

“If we would have our homes the abiding place of health and happiness we must place them above the miasma and fog of the lowlands, and give free entrance to heaven’s life-giving agencies. Dispense with heavy curtains, open the windows and the blinds, allow no vines, however beautiful, to shade the windows, and permit no trees to stand so near the house as to shut out the sunshine. The sunlight may fade the drapery and the carpets, and tarnish the picture frames; but it will bring a healthy glow to the cheeks of the children.” The Ministry of Healing, 274, 275.

Millet Burgers

2 Cups cooked Millet

1 large Onion sauteed

¾ Cup Grapenuts

1 Cup Tofu, mashed

½ Cup chopped Walnuts

2 Tbsps. Rice Flour

1 tsp. Garlic Powder

1 Tbsp. Vegex Broth

Cook millet overnight in a small crock-pot (1 cup Millet to 4 cups Water.) Mix all ingredients thoroughly and drop by dipper onto non-stick baking sheet and flatten with a fork. Bake at 350º for 20 to 30 minutes.

 

Nature Nugget — Luminescent Creatures

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Bioluminescence is the ability of certain living things to give off light and is the result of chemical processes that go on in their tissues. Most luminescent animals are found in the oceans, especially in the deeper depths where no sunlight can reach. Numerous creatures such as fish, shrimp, jellyfish, squid and plankton have luminescent parts of their bodies which they use in various ways, such as to lure prey, attract mates, communicate and to defend themselves.

Luminescent lights, near the eyes of one deep sea fish, shine forward like a flashlight, allowing the fish to see where it is going and helping it find its prey. Another species has a luminescent lure which it uses to attract smaller fish, thus bringing them close enough to capture. Some fish have the ability to turn their lights on and off. You may be familiar with how a squid defends itself from predators by squirting out a black inky cloud to confuse the predator and cover its trail so it can escape. Well, there is a deep sea species of squid that does the same thing except it squirts out a luminescent cloud in defense.

Terrestrial examples of bioluminescence are fireflies, glowworms and certain fungi that grow on dead wood. Fireflies, also called lightning bugs, use their flashing lights to attract mates. In the tropics, fireflies are often placed in jars and used as lanterns. In Cuba, women sometimes attach luminescent click beetles to their clothing as ornaments.

We as Christians need to be more luminescent. Jesus says, “Ye are the light of the world . . . Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14, 16.

“The word was spoken to me, ‘Speak to the people all the words that I shall give thee. Wake up the mighty men. Let them become fully aroused, that they may with pen and voice stir up the people to whom God has given great light, that they may let their light shine forth in clear, steady rays to the world. A world is to be warned; and when the third angel’s message goes forth with a loud cry, minds will be fully prepared to make decisions for or against the truth.” 1888 Materials, 510.

What a solemn responsibility we have in regard to the light we have been entrusted with. Let us share this light with others, for the Lord will not come until this light is shared with the whole world.

The Sabbath

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The Blessings of Sabbath Keeping

Marvelous blessings have been promised for each one who keeps the Sabbath holy.

When the Sabbath was instituted in the Garden of Eden after six days of creating this earth, there was great joy in heaven. The next day, the seventh day, was set aside as a day of rest, a weekly reminder given to man as a blessed day in which he could honor his Creator in the form of worship. In Job 38:4–6 God asks Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Who determined its measurements? Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone?” God here is referring to the time when the Sabbath was instituted. Notice verse 7: “When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” Here it is made plain that there are many intelligences in the universe beside those in this world. Revelation also gives reference to these intelligences in other worlds: “Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them!” Revelation 12:12.

This world is the only one in God’s creation that has fallen into sin and because of that, we are quarantined from the rest of the universe. God has put a wall of separation between us so that we cannot visit unfallen worlds. But the day is coming for those who are saved when it will be possible to travel all over the universe and visit unfallen worlds.

God’s Creative Power

At the conclusion of creation week, “God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it [made it holy].” Genesis 1:31; 2:1–3. God Himself marked the beginning of the first Sabbath which came at the end of the first week of creation. The Bible does not teach that this world came into existence through long ages of time but came into existence in the literal seven days of creation. Psalm 33 tells how the world was created: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” “For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Verses 6, 9. The creator God is the One we worship.

That same creative power was demonstrated when Jesus was here on earth. At the tomb of Lazarus when Jesus spoke, “Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43), and he who was dead came forth.

There are approximately one trillion cells in our body and each one of these cells has a spark of life, an electrical charge, which changes when a person dies. When Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth,” a trillion cells came to life. That same power was involved in the creation of the world, which the Sabbath commemorates.

The Christian religion is a miracle religion. The Sabbath is a sign, first of all, that you worship God as the Creator. Our world is marred by sin which has fractured our relationships, not only with God but also with each other. People are living in broken homes with broken hearts and with broken relationships. If there ever was a time when the human family needed a Creator, one Who can speak and change people’s lives, it is today. The Sabbath is a sign, a sign of a relationship. It is a sign of worshipping God as the Creator. All of the patriarchs kept the Sabbath—Adam, Noah and Abraham, even before the commandments were given to Moses on the mount. The Sabbath commandment begins with, Remember (Exodus 20:8). The Sabbath was not instituted at Sinai, but rather a reminder of something that was established at creation. God has placed a limit on human work. He says that six days are for you to do all your work, but you are not to work on the Sabbath. Verses 9, 10. In His wisdom, God knew there would be some workaholics who would work eight days a week if they could and expect the same of their children or employees, but no one could be happy spending all their life working. He, therefore, placed a limit on work and said to do it all in six days, but on the seventh day you need to rest.

Keeping the Sabbath changes homes and also marriages. There are many people today who never spend much time together. God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence and He placed a check on the separation that selfishness would bring into families. In many families, the husband and father is gone from home all week and He said, There is one day a week that you are not to be out doing your work and gaining your livelihood—you are to rest.

What are we to do on this day of rest?

“Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” Exodus 31:13–18.

The Sabbath is a sign of relationship, a sign that we worship God as the Creator and that we honor His law and government. It is also a sign that God will sanctify and make us holy and obedient. In the book of Numbers we see some of the blessings that God has promised to those who keep the Sabbath. If we are keeping the Sabbath, we can claim this promise for ourselves, and it is one of the most wonderful promises that God has ever laid in record in His holy book.

“This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: ‘The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.’ So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:23–27. That promise is only for Sabbath keepers. Another promise given to those who keep the Sabbath is, “The Lord will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways. Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you. And the Lord will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you. The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.” Deuteronomy 28:9–13.

In Psalm 95:1–7, we find a call to worship on the Sabbath. “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hand formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand.” (Compare verses 7–11 with Hebrews 3 and 4.) If you keep the Sabbath, God is your Shepherd and you are the sheep of His pasture; He has promised to take care of you. Some of the most wonderful promises found in the Bible are given to those who keep the Sabbath.

The world, influenced by the man of sin, has sought to tear the Sabbath from its place in God’s law and replace it with a common working day. A breach has been made in God’s law, as was foreseen in Bible prophecy. Daniel 7, 8 and 11 make it very clear that it was the Roman power that made a breach in God’s law, but the Bible also predicts that there will be some people in the last days who will repair this breach. “Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The restorer of Streets to Dwell in.” Isaiah 58:12. Notice who is going to be the repairer of the breach: “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the Lord honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Verses 13, 14. Those who keep the Sabbath and call it a delight will be the repairers of the breach. God wants the Sabbath to be a delight. We can never get out of the Sabbath that delight, if we are trampling on it; if we are doing our own ways, finding our own pleasure, or speaking our own words.

Relationships where little attention is shown to each other causes separation. Spend more time with the Lord and get to know Him. He has set aside one day in seven each week. The Bible says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy.” Psalm 16:11. If you want joy in your life look at the last part of verse 11: “At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” If you want joy and pleasure in your life then spend time with the Lord.

God has set His seal upon His royal requirement and the Sabbath is going to be the issue in the great conflict soon to take place in our world. Soon, Sabbath observance will be the sign of obedience to God’s government. The sign of rebellion or the mark of the beast will be Sunday observance. The Bible predicted thousands of years ago that Sabbath keeping will be the issue at the end of the world.

Blessing for Home and Family

The Sabbath is truly a test of faith. Many are concerned that they will not be able to provide for their families if they cannot work on the Sabbath, but Jesus said, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Matthew 6:25–33.

If you keep the Sabbath and put God first, He has promised to supply your every need. This is not always accomplished in the way in which we expect, and many people have lost jobs or been threatened to lose them because of keeping the Sabbath, but God has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. He has access, not only to the resources of this world, but also to all the resources of the universe, and more. If necessary He can create resources to supply your need. Millions of Israelites were fed in the desert for forty years with Moses leading them. There were no gardens, no supermarkets, no stores, no orchards, no grain fields, no farms—nothing but desert, yet none of God’s people went hungry. God stands behind every promise that He has made and it is impossible for Him to lie (Hebrews 6:18).

Genesis 1:5 says that, “The evening and the morning were the first day.” So is the evening and the morning the commencement of the seventh day, the Sabbath. “From evening to evening [sunset to sunset], you shall celebrate your Sabbath.” Leviticus 23:32, last part. The idea that the day begins at midnight is not Biblical and came from the pagan Roman Empire.

How do we get ready for the Sabbath?

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8. The only person who can keep the Sabbath holy is a person who is holy. We do not have holy flesh, but we can develop a holy character—one that is in harmony with God’s law. Thus a spiritual preparation is involved in getting ready for the Sabbath, for we cannot keep it holy if we have any sin on our conscience.

Before the Sabbath, review your actions over the past week and confess any wrongs, encouraging family members to do the same. As any differences are confessed and forgiven, all grudges will be let go and love and acceptance will be experienced in the family circle benefiting all. Once you have chosen to obey God, to do His will and confess any sins, you can be certain there is One in heaven who is your Advocate. “These things I write unto you,” John said, “that you sin not, And if any man sin, we have an Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous.” I John 2:1. He is willing to forgive and cleanse, making you clean and then you can keep the Sabbath holy. “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” James 5:16.

In many of our families today, healing is needed because hearts are broken and relationships are fractured. The Sabbath was given as a sign that God is our Sanctifier, that He will re-create our lives and make us holy. It is when we are made holy that we become happy. Confessing sins done one to another before the Sabbath mends broken relationships and changes everything.

The Sabbath is a memorial of creation and a weekly reminder of the re-creation of the new man who has been born again. That, to my understanding, is the most important preparation for the Sabbath. We must be sanctified to keep the Sabbath holy and this must be prepared for by confessing our sins and praying for one another that we may be healed.

Friday, the sixth day of the week, is the special preparation day for the Sabbath. “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Tomorrow is a Sabbath rest, a holy Sabbath to the Lord. Bake what you will bake today, and boil what you will boil; and lay up for yourselves all that remains, to be kept until morning.’ ” Exodus 16:23. Cleaning homes and food preparation is to be done the day before. This does not mean that it is wrong to warm food on the Sabbath. God commanded a Sabbath rest for all and by preparing food beforehand allows all to worship freely without any burden.

How To Present Ourselves on the Sabbath

Sabbath, as we read in Psalm 95, is the day God ordained that we should come into His presence for worship. If one had an appointment to talk to the United States president or the British monarch at 9:30 in the morning they certainly would not wear the same clothes they had just worn while changing the oil in their car. In fact, they would put on the best and cleanest that they had available. So, when we come into God’s presence to worship, it is the most special event and we should be neat and trim, pure within and without.

“On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all the clothing is in readiness and that all cooking is done. Let the boots be blacked and the baths be taken. It is possible to do this. If you make it a rule you can do it. The Sabbath is not to be given to the repairing of garments, to the cooking of food, to pleasure seeking, or to any other worldly employment. Before the setting of the sun let all secular work be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 355.

Let all bitterness and wrath and malice be expelled from the soul before the Sabbath begins. The mind as well as the body should be withdrawn from worldly business. To keep the Sabbath holy means eternal salvation. By putting away all bitterness and malice and being reconciled to our brethren, either in the church or at home, we are coming into harmony with the God of creation. We are preparing for our eternal home where there will be no strife, or bitterness or malice. There will be no hatred, animosity, or cold, hardhearted feelings. Heaven is a place to be desired. The Sabbath was given even to sinful man as a reminder of what heaven is like and as an encouragement to prepare to be ready for that place. “Therefore the Lord God of Israel says: ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father would walk before Me forever’; but now the Lord says: ‘Far be it from Me; for those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed.’ ” 1 Samuel 2:30. This is a wonderful promise that you can claim. If you have ever been in trouble and had a problem in your home, in your marriage or with your children that seemed to be totally unworkable unless a miracle should happen then claim this promise, “Those who honor Me, I will honor.” Divine power will come to your rescue and heal your life. The Lord says, “Those who honor Me, I will honor.” That promise is for the Sabbath keepers.

The Sabbath a Family Day

The Sabbath was designed to be a family day, a time we spend with the Lord and with each other at home. First, as already mentioned, if we have sinned, we need to confess to each other. After this come together in family worship to begin the Sabbath. Worship can be one of the happiest times in your family. Read stories from the Bible, making it age appropriate, and sing praises to God. Encourage the playing of instruments if available. These special family worship times bond families together. When Jesus was on earth He was often found singing praises to His heavenly father. And don’t forget to pray; communication with heaven is the lifeline of power in the Christian.

On Friday nights, do not go to bed late so you will not wake up fresh and alert Sabbath morning for the special blessing that the Lord has for those who worship Him on His holy day. It is always easy and a temptation to lie in and have a lazy day on Sabbath but this is not what God intended. Consider Who is present when you come to the house of worship on the Sabbath day. The Lord of glory is present to bring His blessings, accompanied by His holy angels. How offensive would it be in the presence of Jesus to fall asleep and miss the blessing of the Word preached that day.

A Delightful Day for the Children

Children need to be helped to keep the Sabbath with enjoyment. Family worships should be kept interesting and not too long that they overrun the attention span of the children. Encourage them to bring their Bibles to worship, allowing them to read one, two or three verses. Sing a song that is familiar and that they enjoy, and have prayer together. By yourself, you can pray as long as you please, but if you have a family and children, keep prayers short and specific, not to weary the children, and should be no longer than the example that Jesus gave. Study this model prayer in Matthew 6:9–13 and pattern your prayer after it.

The Sabbath is a time to spend with our children and families, or if we do not have a family of our own, it is a time to spend with the family of God and with our friends. It can be one of the happiest and most blessed times of the week.

The Sabbath in Heaven

What a happy thought and one of my favorite topics to think about. Consider the number of relatives and friends who you cannot visit on Sabbath because they have died. In heaven all are going to come together, every Sabbath, to worship the Lord (Isaiah 66:22, 23). We are going to be organized there as families. It is going to be a wonderfully happy and blessed time.

When I was a child growing up, on Friday nights my father would pray for our family that we would all be saved without the loss of one. God wants to save all of our families, without any losses. For that to be the case we all must be there. It is important to be saved so that in heaven your family will not be short even one. The Sabbath is a family time to be together with those you love best and those who love you best and would just not be the same if one were missing.

Nature Study

God created the Sabbath after the six days of creation. A time was set aside for the study of what He had made. This is a wonderful occupation for the Sabbath, especially in pleasant weather to study creation and the Creator who made it.

There are many different aspects of nature to enjoy that appeal to each one’s interest. Some enjoy observing birds, while others enjoy studying the stars. Watch the new growth in spring and enjoy the fragrance and beauty of the flowers in summer. Point out the amazing diversity and describe to the children God’s great work of creation, that everything was created holy and beautiful for our enjoyment.

The Sabbath is a time when we can explain to our children the plan of salvation. Tell them that God so loved the world that when sin entered He had a plan already prepared so that we could be redeemed. He sent His only begotten Son to save us because He loved us so much. Tell the children the story of Bethlehem, the story of the child Jesus and how He behaved while still a child—that He was obedient to His parents and an example of obedience to all who will be saved in the kingdom of heaven (Luke 2:51). Teach them that Jesus knows about all of their trials, temptations and struggles and is ever ready to help them.

Children love stories, so tell them Bible stories and how Jesus has worked in your own life and family. We have nothing to fear for the future unless we forget the way the Lord has led us in the past. Make the Sabbath the most enjoyable day of the week for yourself and your family, a time of delight. In that way our homes and our hearts will be healed and we will have the joy that was given to the first human family.

This world at present with all its crime and debauchery is a nightmare. Sin has brought disaster and unbelievable unhappiness which has ruined everything, but God has a plan to remake this world the way He originally designed it to be.

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.” Isaiah 65:17.

Notice what Isaiah 65:18–20 says: “But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, And joy in My people; The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, Nor the voice of crying. No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, Nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days; For the child shall die one hundred years old, But the sinner being one hundred years old shall be accursed.” These next verses refer to the new earth. “They shall build houses and inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; They shall not plant and another eat; For as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, And My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Verses 21, 22.

That is a place to be desired. “ ‘They shall not labor in vain, Nor bring forth children for trouble; For they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, And their offspring with them. It shall come to pass That before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,’ Says the Lord.” Verses 23–25.

Do you want to be there? The Sabbath is a foretaste of what heaven will be like. “ ‘For as the new heavens and the new earth Which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:22, 23.

I want to challenge you today to make a decision and say, “Lord, I am going to follow—I am going to obey You and I am going to be there.”

Sometime ago I was visiting a man in prison whose mother had died when he was very young. This man was not a Christian but I asked him the question, Would you like to see your mother again?

He said that he would and that his mother had been a Christian. I told him that someday soon Jesus is going to come in the clouds of the sky in the same way that He left. When He comes, He is going to look down on this world with His hands outstretched and say: “Awake, Awake, Awake, you that sleep in the dust and arise.” When He speaks those words every child of God who has died will come back to life. Millions and millions of people, from all generations all over the world, will instantly come to life. It will be one of the greatest demonstrations of divine power that has ever been displayed in all eternal ages. Jesus has already demonstrated that power once when He raised Lazarus.

I told this man that when Jesus speaks those words his mother will wake up and she will look for him.

Someday soon when Jesus comes, there is going to be somebody, maybe several people, looking for you. They are going to look for you and be so happy if you are there and you will be able to spend eternity together. You will keep the Sabbath forever with all of God’s children, but if you are not there, they will be sad.

God created us to be sociable creatures and not just to exist as separate little atoms. When one chooses to follow God in the way of obedience by keeping His Sabbath, it will have an effect on other people in the family, on friends and it will also influence other people to be obedient to God and to be ready for His soon appearing.

Who will be looking for you on that great day? Don’t disappoint them.

Remember, eternal salvation is involved in keeping the Sabbath holy. The Sabbath will be a time of great delight throughout eternity. Make sure you are there!

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

Bible Study Guides – God’s Spirit and Providence

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January 22, 2012 – January 28, 2012

Key Text

“The Lord God hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.” Isaiah 50:5.

Study Help: Historical Sketches, 189.

Introduction

“Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us.” Steps to Christ, 93.

1 WATCHING HOW GOD WORKS

  • What does God intend us to realize through the varied circumstances of our daily life? Psalms 33:5; 107:43.

Note: “God speaks to us through His providential workings and through the influence of His Spirit upon the heart. In our circumstances and surroundings, in the changes daily taking place around us, we may find precious lessons if our hearts are but open to discern them.” Steps to Christ, 87.

“God’s providence is a continual school, in which He is ever leading men to see the true aims of life.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 444.

  • How does faith in Christ affect the way we see things? Titus 1:15; Matthew 13:13, 16.

Note: “We are not to go through human wisdom, which is termed foolishness, to seek true wisdom. For men to learn science through man’s interpretation, is to obtain a false education, but to learn of God and Jesus Christ is to learn the science of the Bible.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 414, 415.

“In that which seems to the worldling an inexplicable mystery, God’s children see light and beauty.

“God speaks in His word, and fulfills this word in the world. We need now to seek to understand the movements of God’s providence.” The Review and Herald, February 6, 1900.

2 A CALL TO PURITY

  • What principle continually affects spiritual vision? Matthew 5:8.

Note: “The first great lesson in all education is to know and understand the will of God. Take the knowledge of God with you through every day of life. Let it absorb the mind and the whole being. God gave Solomon wisdom, but this God-given wisdom was perverted when he turned from God to obtain wisdom from other sources. … The confusion in education has come because the wisdom and knowledge of God have not been honored and exalted by the religious world. The pure in heart see God in every providence, in every phase of true education. They vibrate to the first approach of light which radiates from the throne of God. Communications from heaven are made to those who will catch the first gleams of spiritual knowledge.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 414, 415.

“It is the pure in heart who shall see God in His true character, as a God of love. He who has the love of God shed abroad in his heart, will reflect the purity and love which exist in Jehovah, and which Christ represented in our world. He who has the love of God in his heart has no enmity against the law of God, but renders willing obedience to all His commandments, and this constitutes Christianity.” The Youth’s Instructor, July 26, 1894.

  • In order to develop keener spiritual vision, what must we seek? I John 3:2, 3; Hebrews 9:14.

Note: “The pure in heart shall see God. This seeing God in a clear, spiritual light is salvation to the soul of every believer. As soon as a soul decides to die to self, the new light begins and grows stronger and more decided until he is able to endure the sight of Him who is invisible. And as he sees God, he becomes fashioned in character after the divine similitude.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 369.

“When the Lord speaks to us, saying, ‘Go forward,’ it is not for us to stand and talk of difficulties, but promptly to obey, knowing that God understands the nature of every difficulty. If those in His service will stop talking unbelief and magnifying difficulties, and will move forward in humble obedience, God, in His providence, will co-operate with the finite efforts of man, and thus testify to the world of His omnipotence.” The Review and Herald, November 1, 1898.

3 RESPONDING TO PROVIDENCE

  • In a parable about a rich farmer, what warning does Christ give us? Luke 12:14–21.

Note: “He [the rich man] did not think of God, from whom all his mercies had come. He did not realize that God had made him a steward of His goods that he might help the needy. He had a blessed opportunity of being God’s almoner, but he thought only of ministering to his own comfort.

“The situation of the poor, the orphan, the widow, the suffering, the afflicted, was brought to this rich man’s attention; there were many places in which to bestow his goods. He could easily have relieved himself of a portion of his abundance, and many homes would have been freed from want, many who were hungry would have been fed, many naked clothed, many hearts made glad, many prayers for bread and clothing answered, and a melody of praise would have ascended to heaven. The Lord had heard the prayers of the needy, and of His goodness He had prepared for the poor. (Psalm 68:10.) Abundant provision for the wants of many had been made in the blessings bestowed upon the rich man. But he closed his heart to the cry of the needy.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 256.

  • What is often the hidden cause of apparently mysterious misfortunes, and why should we find in them a call to prayer? Malachi 3:8; Haggai 1:4–10.

Note: “Those who are selfishly withholding their means need not be surprised if God’s hand scatters. That which should have been devoted to the advancement of the work and cause of God, but which has been withheld, may be entrusted to a reckless son, and he may squander it. A fine horse, the pride of a vain heart, may be found dead in the stable. Occasionally a cow may die. Losses of fruit or other crops may come. God can scatter the means He has lent to His stewards, if they refuse to use it to His glory. Some, I saw, may have none of these losses to remind them of their remissness in duty, but their cases may be the more hopeless.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 661, 662.

  • How do we too often hurt Christ—and our own selves—by resisting His voice? Malachi 3:9, 10; Proverbs 3:9, 10.

4 LIGHT POURING FROM HEAVEN

  • What must God’s children realize about vital, practical messages He is continually sending to us? Isaiah 30:21; Jeremiah 42:2, 3.

Note: “The human family is the object of the special care of God and heavenly beings. Man is not left to become the sport of Satan’s temptations. All heaven is actively engaged in the work of communicating light to the inhabitants of the world, that they may not be left in the darkness of midnight without spiritual guidance. An Eye that never slumbers or sleeps is guarding the camp of Israel. Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of angels are ministering to the needs of the children of men. Voices inspired by God are crying, This is the way, walk ye in it.” My Life Today, 88.

  • How do we too often hurt ourselves by turning from God’s voice? Isaiah 55:2; 59:1, 2.

Note: “How few of those who claim to believe the truth carry it out practically in their characters. He who possesses the Christlike spirit will possess the child-like faith. God’s blessing is on those who hear and those who recognize the light which He sends, who behold the traces of His footsteps and hear His voice.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 587.

  • How should the servant of God respond to the voice of the Almighty? Isaiah 50:4, 5. How far did Christ’s submission extend? Isaiah 50:6, 7; Matthew 26:67.

Note: “Christ was continually receiving from the Father that He might communicate to us. … Not for Himself, but for others, He lived and thought and prayed. From hours spent with God He came forth morning by morning, to bring the light of heaven to men. Daily He received a fresh baptism of the Holy Spirit. In the early hours of the new day the Lord awakened Him from His slumbers, and His soul and His lips were anointed with grace, that He might impart to others.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 139.

  • When God speaks to our heart through difficult Providences and frustrating disappointments, how should we respond—and why? Romans 8:18; I Peter 1:7.

Note: “Through trial and persecution the glory—the character—of God is revealed in His chosen ones.” The Acts of the Apostles, 576.

5 THE CROSS IN THE PATH

  • What warning should we heed from the bitter reaction of Judas when the ways of Christ crossed against his material lusts? Matthew 26:6–11, 14, 15.

Note: “Genuine self-denial will be practiced by all who follow Christ. Judas undertook to follow Christ, and at the same time to carry out his selfish, covetous plans. He had the same privileges as had the other disciples. He had the same privileges of hearing the lessons of Christ, which plainly presented practical godliness; but he was not always pleased with the plain truth. It cut him, and instead of taking up personal labor with Judas Iscariot, he found fault with the words and works of Christ, and criticized His plain teachings. Instead of being transformed in character, he was cultivating self-love, self esteem, and the love of money.” Our High Calling, 287.

  • What founding principles underlie the entire Christian experience? Luke 9:23.

Note: “The believers in Christ, hated and persecuted by the world, are educated and disciplined in the school of Christ. On earth they walk in narrow paths; they are purified in the furnace of affliction. They follow Christ through sore conflicts; they endure self-denial and experience bitter disappointments; but thus they learn the guilt and woe of sin, and they look upon it with abhorrence.” The Acts of the Apostles, 576, 577.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 What are four ways through which God speaks to us?

2 How can we clear the way for greater spiritual discernment?

3 When God speaks either by a still, small voice or by His providence, how must we respond?

4 How can we be sure that God is leading us even when circumstances are hard?

5 Why does the scene of Calvary need to affect our everyday decisions?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – The Book of Nature

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January 15, 2012 – January 21, 2012

Key Text

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:3.

Study Help: Child Guidance, 53–60.

Introduction

“There are lessons to be learned in God’s book of nature.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 307.

1 AWE-INSPIRING THOUGHTS

  • What was the prophet Nehemiah inspired to say about nature? Nehemiah 9:6.

Note: “There is beauty in the valley’s awful grandeur, in the solemn, massive, cleft rocks; there is majesty in the towering mountains that look as if they touched the heavens. There are the lofty trees with their delicately formed leaves; the spires of grass, the opening bud and blossoming flower, the forest trees, and every living thing. They all point the mind to the great and living God. Every faculty of our being testifies that there is a living God, and we may learn from the open book of nature the most precious lessons in regard to the Lord of heaven.

“In this study the mind expands, is elevated and uplifted, and becomes hungry to know more of God and His majesty. We have awakened in our hearts feelings not only of reverence and awe but of love, of faith, of trust and entire dependence upon One who is the giver of all good. And as I look at His marvelous works and see the evidences of His power I instinctively inquire, ‘What is man that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?’ Psalm 8:4. …

“Why should we not converse more earnestly, and in a heavenly frame of mind, in regard to God’s gifts in nature? He has made all these things, and designs that we shall see God in His created works. These things are to keep God in our remembrance and to lift our hearts from sensual things and bind them in bonds of love and gratitude to our Creator.” Our High Calling, 250.

2 PONDERING THE PINNACLES

  • With what thoughts should we let nature inspire us? Psalms 19:1–3; 143:5, 6.

Note: “The great Architect has formed and fashioned the scenes of nature that they may have an important bearing upon man’s intellectual and moral character. These are to be God’s school to educate the mind and morals. Here the mind may have a vast field for study in the display of the majestic works of the Infinite One.” Our High Calling, 252.

“We have looked upon the lofty, terraced mountains in their majestic beauty, with their rocky battlements resembling grand old castles. These mountains speak to us of the desolating wrath of God in vindication of His broken law; for they were heaved up by the stormy convulsions of the flood. They are like mighty waves that at the voice of God stood still—stiffened billows, arrested in their proudest swell. These towering mountains belong to God; He presides over their rocky fastnesses. The wealth of their mines is His also, and so are the deep places of the earth.

“If you would see the evidences that there is a God, look around you wherever your lot may be cast. He is speaking to your senses and impressing your soul through His created works. Let your heart receive these impressions, and nature will be to you an open book, and will teach you divine truth through familiar things. The lofty trees will not be regarded with indifference. Every opening flower, every leaf with its delicate veins, will testify of the infinite skill of the great Master Artist. The massive rocks and towering mountains that rise in the distance are not the result of chance. They speak in silent eloquence of One who sits upon the throne of the universe, high and lifted up. ‘Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world’ [Acts 15:18.] All His plans are perfect. What awe and reverence should His name inspire!” Ibid., 251.

  • What message is written in every element of God’s creation? Psalm 121:1, 2.

Note: “The hand that sustains the worlds in space, the hand that holds in their orderly arrangement and tireless activity all things throughout the universe of God, is the hand that was nailed to the cross for us.” Education, 132.

3 BASIC YET SUBLIME

  • Name two elements in nature that serve as object lessons of faith. I Samuel 2:2; Psalms 36:6; 125:1, 2.

Note: “God is Himself the Rock of Ages, a refuge for His people, a covert from the storm, a shadow from the burning heat. He has given us His promises, which are more firm and immovable than the rocky heights, the everlasting hills. The mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed; but His kindness shall not depart, nor His covenant of peace be removed from those who by faith make Him their trust. If we would look to God for help as steadfastly as these rocky, barren mountains point to the heavens above them, we should never be moved from our faith in Him and our allegiance to His holy law.” Our High Calling, 251.

  • What can we learn from the rocks?

Note: “The rocks are among the precious things of earth, containing treasures of wisdom and knowledge. In the rocks and mountains are registered the fact that God did destroy the wicked from off the earth by a flood.” Our High Calling, 252.

  • What question posed to Job humbles even the most self-confident? Job 38:16–18. What should God’s creatures as well as the sights and sounds of nature make us realize? Job 12:7–10.

Note: “From the solemn roll of the deep-toned thunder and old ocean’s ceaseless roar, to the glad songs that make the forests vocal with melody, nature’s ten thousand voices speak His praise. In earth and sea and sky, with their marvelous tint and color, varying in gorgeous contrast or blended in harmony, we behold His glory. The everlasting hills tell us of His power. The trees that wave their green banners in the sunlight, and the flowers in their delicate beauty, point to their Creator. The living green that carpets the brown earth tells of God’s care for the humblest of His creatures. The caves of the sea and the depths of the earth reveal His treasures. He who placed the pearls in the ocean and the amethyst and chrysolite among the rocks, is a lover of the beautiful. The sun rising in the heavens is a representative of Him who is the life and light of all that He has made. All the brightness and beauty that adorn the earth and light up the heavens, speak of God.” The Ministry of Healing, 411, 412.

4 THE PURPOSE OF MOUNTAINS

  • When contemplating the grandeur of the mountains, what should we ever keep in mind? Psalms 65:5, 6; 90:2; Hebrews 11:3.

Note: “The varied scenery in the towering mountains and rocky heights, the deep mountain gorges with their rapid, noisy streams of water coming from the mountains above, the many cataracts that come tumbling down from the tops of the mountains, the waters breaking as they strike the rocks, and scattering into spray like a veil, render this scenery altogether one of surpassing beauty and grandeur.

“Mountains contain God’s blessings. I have seen men and women look upon the majesty of mountains as though they were really a deformity of nature. They would sigh and say, ‘How needless! Let me have the level plain, the broad prairies, and I should be happy.’ The mountains contain treasures of blessings which the Creator bestows upon the inhabitants of the earth. It is the diversity in the surface of the earth, in mountains, plains, and valleys, which reveals the wisdom and the power of the great Master Worker. And those who would banish from our earth the rocks and mountains, the wild gorges and the noisy, rushing streams, and the precipices, as unsightly deformities in nature, and would have a smooth level—their senses are too limited to comprehend the majesty of God. Their minds are bound about with narrow ideas.

“God, the great Architect, has built these lofty mountains, and their influence upon climate is a blessing to our world. They draw from the clouds enriching moisture. Mountain chains are God’s great reservoirs, to supply the ocean with its water. These are the sources of the springs, rills, and brooks, as well as the rivers. They receive in the form of rain and snow, the vapors with which the atmosphere is charged, and communicate them to the parched plains below. We should look upon the irregular mountains of the earth as God’s fountains of blessings from which flow forth the waters to supply all the living creatures. Every time I look upon the mountains I feel gratitude to God. My heart is lifted up in praise to Him who knows the wants and needs of man. If the earth had been a uniform level there would be stagnant marshes.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, 306, 307.

  • How can “mountains” of difficulties be removed? Matthew 17:20, 21.

5 MINDFUL OF THE DELICATE

  • Just as the Lord bids us contemplate the majesty of the mountains and oceans, to what else does He point us? Matthew 6:28, 29.

Note: “The great Master Artist calls our attention to the soulless flowers of the field, pointing out the beautiful tints and the wonderful variety of shades one flower may possess. …

“The Lord our Creator expends as much care, wisdom, and time upon the tiny flower as upon the great things He creates. In the tiniest flowers are seen a beauty and perfection that no human art can copy. The delicate tracery of the tinted rose, as well as the stars in the heavens, shows the penciling of the great Master Artist.” Our High Calling, 254.

  • What lesson can we learn from the variety of plants and flowers? Romans 12:4–6; I Corinthians 12:14–18, 22.

Note: “From the endless variety of plants and flowers, we may learn an important lesson. All blossoms are not the same in form or color. Some possess healing virtues. Some are always fragrant. There are professing Christians who think it their duty to make every other Christian like themselves. This is man’s plan, not the plan of God. In the church of God there is room for characters as varied as are the flowers in a garden.” Our High Calling, 254.

PERSONAL REVIEW QUESTIONS

1 Why is it important for our spirituality to spend much time outdoors?

2 What can we learn from the hills and mountains?

3 Name some interesting lessons we can learn from the rocks.

4 What environmental benefits stem from God’s design in making mountains?

5 What understanding does God want us to gain from the variety of flowers?

© 2005 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Health – Animal Sense

by

Among one of the marvels of God’s creation that science has recently discovered is the ability of different animals to sense illness in humans. I have heard or read about dogs detecting undiagnosed illnesses such as cancer or warning their owners of an impending high blood pressure or epileptic attack. Some dogs are even able to detect the presence of human remains when they are buried, are able to trace their owners and make long journeys to be re-united with them. Other animals are able to sense impending storms and even earthquakes.

Even though animals were not given the intelligence that human beings were given to reason right from wrong, they were given remarkable instincts to know what their body needs when it becomes sick. The following article provides some interesting insights.

“Animals wounded in the wild or stricken by disease possess a remarkable ability to treat their ailments, according to new research that has important implications for humans.

“Examples of this new work include observations of capuchin monkeys that rub their fur with millipedes containing insect-killing chemicals called benzoquinones; chimpanzees who eat the pith of the plant Vernonia amygdalina to kill off intestinal worms; and domestic cats which eat houseplants or chew woolly jumpers to make themselves sick and so rid their bodies of poisons.

“Even more surprisingly, scientists have found that some creatures are adept at helping people to overcome diseases. ‘Dogs are particularly good at this,’ said Professor Keith Kendrick, of the Babraham Institute in Cambridge. ‘They have a stunning sense of smell and can detect when chemical changes occur in their owners. Dogs can tell long before the event when a person is going to have an epileptic fit. Obviously that is a talent with very important implications.’

“Another favourite animal cure that has recently been uncovered by scientists is eating clay to absorb toxins and pathogens – one favoured by mountain gorillas and chimpanzees. ‘The stuff is excellent if you have had a stomach bug or something similar,’ said Dr. Cindy Engel, whose book, Wild Health, is published by Phoenix.

“The effectiveness of animal self-medication is also revealed in studies by William Karesh of the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York. He and his colleagues have studied a range of wild animals and found that most were in remarkably good condition. Blood tests carried out by Karesh revealed that extremely unpleasant viruses and bacteria, infections that usually kill domestic animals but which had been dealt with by their wild counterparts, had infected most of these creatures.

“This discovery may explain why many wild animals become sick and die in captivity – because insufficient attention is paid to their living conditions.

“Another example of animal’s self-medicating prowess is provided by elephants which make pilgrimages to a cave complex at Mount Elgon, an extinct volcano in western Kenya. They dig out the soft rock in the cave walls, grind and then swallow it. And the reason? Sodium is a vital ingredient in stimulating bodily defenses against toxins that major herbivores will encounter in many of the plants they eat.” www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2003/jan/26/health.science

Here are a few more interesting insights from an article called The Wild Side of Animal Senses:

“Radar, compasses, and infrared detectors are all man-made contraptions that enable humans to stretch beyond our natural senses. They allow us to detect things in our environment that we otherwise could not sense. But these gadgets are far from original. An examination of the sensory world of animals reveals that nature invented them long before we did.

“About Animal Senses – Our senses tell us what we need to know about our environment. They help to keep us out of danger and enable us to find food and shelter. As humans, our senses include sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. But other animals need different information about the world to survive than we do. As a result, they can have senses that are very different from our own: ecolocation, infrared vision, electric sense, and magnetic sense.

“Ecolocation – Toothed whales (a group that includes dolphins), bats, and some shrews use ecolocation to navigate their surroundings. Each of these animals emits high-frequency sound pulses and, in turn, detects the echoes produced by those sounds. Special ear and brain adaptations enable them to build a three-dimensional picture of their surroundings, much like radar. Bats, for example, have enlarged ear flaps that gather and direct sound towards thin, supersensitive eardrums.

“Infrared Vision – Rattlesnakes and other pit vipers use their eyes to see during the day. But at night they use infrared sensory organs to detect and hunt warm-blooded prey. These infrared ‘eyes’ are cuplike structures that form crude images as infrared radiation hits a heat sensitive retina.

“Electric Sense – Electric fields are used in numerous ways by animals. Electric eels and some rays have modified muscle cells that produce an electric charge strong enough to shock and sometimes kill their prey. Other fish use weaker electric fields to navigate murky waters or to monitor their surroundings. For instance, bony fish and some frogs have a lateral line, a row of sensory pores in the skin that enables them to detect electrical current in water.

“Magnetic Sense – Together, the flow of molten material in the earth’s core and the flow of ions in the atmosphere generate a magnetic field that surrounds the earth. Amazingly, a number of animals are able to sense this magnetic field. Just as a compass helps us navigate by detecting magnetic north, animals who possess magnetic sense are able to identify direction and navigate long distances. Behavioral studies have revealed that many animals including honeybees, sharks, sea turtles, rays, homing pigeons, migratory birds, tuna, and salmon all have magnetic sense.

“The details of how these animals actually feel the earth’s magnetic field are not yet known. Researchers have found, though, that each of these animals has deposits of magnetite in their nervous systems. Magnetites, small magnet-like crystals, align themselves with magnetic fields and might act like microscopic compass needles. These crystals may be the key to revealing how animals sense magnetic fields.” http://animals.about.com/cs/zoology/a/aa061801a.htm

It is a blessing to be part of God’s most wonderful creation and to continue to learn awesome insights of life on this earth.