God and Man

Today’s post was written especially for aboveveryname by a lovely seven year old girl, who is a Present Truth believer, and who along with her family, enjoy fellowship with Absolute Certainty. 

There are lots of differences between God and man. 

One of them is that God is holy and man is not. Although people like Pharisees claim that they are holy, they are not. 

Another difference is that man lives a worldly life and God lives a heavenly life.

Next, thinking back to the Bible times, God parted the Red Sea, probably most of the people thought that Moses did it, but, it was not Moses, it was God, the Almighty God.

Again, in the Bible times, when you think back to the story of Paul, the people of Lystra thought that he was a god because he had healed a crippled man, but it was not done with Paul's power, but with God's power.

And of course, there are more differences than that, but the point is that there are differences between God and man. 

The Spirit of God is more powerful than man. And when Jesus comes, Satan will be defeated and the Christians will rise up out of the grave. 

God and man will then be together forever. 

All To Help Us

When Moses made the earthly copy of the heavenly temple, he filled it with angels. Figures of cherubim were embroidered in the gorgeous curtain which formed the ceiling, in the veil at the entrance to the sanctuary, and in the second veil. Above the mercy seat two golden angels stood with bowed heads. Wherever the priest ministered, angels surrounded him. 

When John saw the temple above, he “heard the voice of many angels round about the throne” (Revelation 5:11). As Daniel beheld the judgement in session he observed angel ministers in attendance, “ten thousand times ten thousand” (Daniel 7:10). References in Hebrews 12:22 and 1:14 describe them as “an innumerable company of angels” and “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.” The expressions “for them” and “for us” recur frequently in Hebrews (see 6:20; 7:25; 9:12, 24; 10:20). 

The love of the Father, the gift of the Son, and the ministry of the Spirit—all are working in our behalf. The Saviour’s incarnation, His sacrifice on the cross, and His mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary—all are in our behalf. Now we see that God’s host of angels are all working in our behalf too. These messengers form the channel of communication between heaven and earth. You remember the dream at Bethel in which Jacob saw the mystic ladder with the angels of God ascending and descending. The ladder represented Jesus, who links heaven and earth together, and under His direction the angels work constantly to bring us blessings from the upper world. 

At the head of His army of angels God has placed two special leaders who stand at either side of His throne. In the ancient sanctuary the golden cherubim above the mercy seat represented them. Gabriel is on the right hand, filling the position from which Lucifer fell. Christ calls him His angel (see Revelation 1:1; Desire of Ages, p. 99). As a token of His special love, He appoints Gabriel to bring the messages to His people. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches” (Revelation 22:16). If the Saviour were to appear personally on earth as He did two thousand years ago, we would treasure His every word. The Scriptures insist that the message Gabriel brings is “the testimony of Jesus.” 

The same process is also called “the spirit of prophecy,” because the angel appears to the prophet in vision and the prophet writes out the message for the church. Note each link in the wonderful chain of communication: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw” (Revelation 1:1, 2).

 

As John beheld the glorious vision he fell at Gabriel’s feet. But the angel reminded him that he and John were fellow servants in communicating the “testimony of Jesus,” which “is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Gabriel had served with the former prophets, and now he had brought to John a message for the church (see Revelation 22:8, 9). 

“When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8). Enthroned as Priest and King in the temple above, Jesus poured upon the early church the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whose guidance the New Testament was written. The same angel that had brought messages to Isaiah and Daniel now appeared to Peter, Paul, and John with messages direct from Jesus. So the New Testament as well as the Old is the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy.

 

Both the Old and New Testaments promise the special manifestation of the gift of prophecy in the last days (see Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17, 18; Revelation 12:17; 19:10). God sent the manifestation of the spirit of prophecy in the great Advent movement to make ready a people prepared for the Lord—a people who can stand without an intercessor after the sanctuary closes. 

James White presents this clearly in the old book Life Sketches of James and Ellen White (1888 edition), pages 430, 431: “ ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be’ (Revelation 22:11, 12).

 

“This proves that probation will close, that every case will be decided and fixed, before the Lord comes to give rewards. And so it surely must be, for as his priesthood is entirely on the throne of his Father, it must close before his coming in his kingdom. But no one could be saved if the advocacy of Christ were closed before the Judgment were decided in favour of the saints. 

“And what a thought! Probation closed; the priestly work of Christ forever ended; and the time of trouble to be passed through! The mass of the people think that if a person is prepared to die, he is prepared for the coming of the Lord. But they do not consider the difference between dying, and standing alive to meet the Lord at his appearing. It is one thing to die in Christ, to yield our spirits to him while he is pleading for us before his Father’s throne, and quite a different thing to stand in the time of trouble, after Jesus has ceased to plead in man’s behalf; after his priesthood is closed, and he is preparing to come to redeem his own, and to take vengeance on his foes. 

“They who now realize these things will bless Heaven that means has been devised in the mercy of God for the perfecting of the saints, and that we are not left without direct help from on high to carry on such a work as that which lies before us.” 

Now I’d like to discuss the relation of this gift to the Bible and to the Ten Commandments. In earlier chapters we studied God’s new covenant promise to write His law in our minds and in our hearts, for the law contains the whole duty of man, everything that God requires. In the Old and New Testaments God has given us a pair of glasses which, properly focused, magnify the law so that we can understand God’s will in its broad applications to the problems of human life. 

Did you ever see someone reading a book, using not only a pair of glasses but also a reading glass? Why? His eyes needed special help. Similarly, in these last days when the result of six thousand years of sin has impaired our vision, Heaven has sent us special help—the writings of Ellen G. White. Her books magnify the Bible, which, in turn, magnifies the Ten Commandments. 

If someone says, “Why do I need the ‘spirit of prophecy’ when I have the Bible?” I would remind him that if everyone had fully kept the Ten Commandments, we wouldn’t need the detailed instruction in the Old and New Testaments. But if I were lost in a wilderness and someone should point out a guide who knew the way home, I don’t think I would say, “If I had only stayed on the path, I wouldn’t have needed the guide; so I will not listen to him now!” I need all the assistance I can get from Jesus at the mercy seat. He has sent special help because I need it. 

Very soon after His entrance into the most holy place, Jesus sent His angel to Portland, Maine, where He gave to young Ellen Harmon a vision of the remnant traveling the pathway of light from 1844 to the city of God. at message gave many of the early Adventists assurance and hope. In a later vision God revealed that she was to receive His messages and deliver them for the Master. The thought overwhelmed her. How could she, a frail girl of seventeen with limited education and poor health, undertake such a work? But Jesus assured her, “I will be with you.” 

In obedience to His command, she took up the pen and for seventy years wrote out the messages Gabriel brought from heaven. Those messages do not take the place of the Bible. Rather, they magnify God’s Word. Hence, those who know Ellen G. White’s books the best love the Bible the most, for in all these pages they hear Jesus speaking in words of love, reproof, instruction, and comfort. 

In our world where every wind of doctrine blows, all kinds of ideas abound regarding how to be saved. But in the writings of Ellen G. White we find broad, balanced counsels leading us away from a cold legalism on the one hand and from an extreme emphasis on faith without works on the other hand. Steps to Christ has helped millions understand and experience righteousness by faith. Indeed, all her inspired volumes shed rays of light on the practical problems of victorious living. 

Early Writings and The Great Controversy floodlight the work of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary, particularly His closing ministry in the most holy place. Especially Early Writings, pages 250-261, and GC 409-435, 479-491, make these truths crystal clear. The angel who comes from the most holy place directs us to the most holy place.

 

Another of the great blessings that have come through this gift is health reform. Many of the concepts revealed over a century ago have now been confirmed by scientific research. Outstanding men and women in the world around us have marvelled as they have read such books as The Ministry of Healing and Counsels on Diet and Foods. Recent studies indicate that Seventh-day Adventists in general enjoy better health and longer life than those who do not know and follow these counsels. 

Truly we are a rich people if this gift is “confirmed” in us—if we are assured of its authority and delight in following its counsels. We should avail ourselves of the help Jesus has provided through special messages of love to His remnant church. Thus, we shall “come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7). R&R WDF

Names of Christ - Desire of All Nations

For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while,and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. Haggai 2:6,7

See DA in EGW Writings App

Conditions To Our Asking - 2

There are conditions to the fulfillment of God's promises, and prayer can never take the place of duty. “If ye love Me,” Christ says, “keep My commandments.” “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” John 14:15, 21. Those who bring their petitions to God, claiming His promise while they do not comply with the conditions, insult Jehovah. They bring the name of Christ as their authority for the fulfillment of the promise, but they do not those things that would show faith in Christ and love for Him.

Many are forfeiting the condition of acceptance with the Father. We need to examine closely the deed of trust wherewith we approach God. If we are disobedient, we bring to the Lord a note to be cashed when we have not fulfilled the conditions that would make it payable to us. We present to God His promises, and ask Him to fulfill them, when by so doing He would dishonor His own name.

The promise is “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. And John declares: “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.” 1 John 2:3-5.

One of Christ's last commands to His disciples was “Love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34. Do we obey this command, or are we indulging sharp, unchristlike traits of character? If we have in any way grieved or wounded others, it is our duty to confess our fault and seek for reconciliation. This is an essential preparation that we may come before God in faith, to ask His blessing. COL 143,144

Present Crisis: Progressive Sunday Law

A great crisis awaits the people of God. A great crisis awaits the world. The most momentous struggle of all the ages is before us. Events which for more than half a century we have, upon the authority of the prophetic Word, declared to be impending, are now taking place before our eyes. An amendment to the Constitution restricting liberty of conscience, has long been urged upon the legislators of the nation; and the question of enforcing Sunday observance has become one of national importance. Are we ready for the issue involved in the Sunday movement? 

Many who are working for Sunday enforcement have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath, and the false foundation on which the Sunday institution rests. And they are blinded to the results of Sunday legislation.They do not see that it would be a blow against religious liberty. But any movement in favor of religious legislation is really an act of concession to the Papacy, which for so many ages has steadily warred against liberty of conscience. Sunday owes its existence as a so-called Christian institution to the “mystery of iniquity;” and its enforcement will be a virtual recognition of the principles which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with the Papacy; it will be giving life to the tyranny which has long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active despotism. 

As this struggle progresses, it may appear to human sight that Satan is triumphant and that truth is overborne with falsehood and error. In the country which has been an asylum for the conscience-oppressed servants of God and defenders of His truth, religious freedom may be placed in jeopardy, and the people over whom God has spread His shield, may meet suffering and trial. But God would have us recall His dealings with His people in the past, to save them from their enemies, and trust in Him. He has always chosen extremities, when there seemed no possible hope for deliverance from Satan's workings, for the display of His power. Man's necessity is God's opportunity.  

While the Protestant world is making concessions to Rome, and danger is increasing on every hand, let us arouse to comprehend the situation, and to see the contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen lift up the voice, and give with clearness the message which is present truth for this time. “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall pre- pare himself to the battle?” Let us show the people where we are in prophetic history, and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense of the value of the religious liberty they have so long enjoyed. ST November 28, 1900 (5T 711-717)

Whereas I Was Blind, Now I See - 1

John 9:1-7

It was generally believed by the Jews that sin is punished in this life. Every affliction was regarded as the penalty of some wrongdoing, either of the sufferer himself or of his parents. It is true that all suffering results from the transgression of God's law, but this truth had become perverted. Satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God,—as punishment arbitrarily inflicted on account of sin. Hence one upon whom some great affliction or calamity had fallen had the additional burden of being regarded as a great sinner.

Thus the way was prepared for the Jews to reject Jesus. He who “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” was looked upon by the Jews as “stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted;” and they hid their faces from Him. Isaiah 53:4, 3.

God had given a lesson designed to prevent this. The history of Job had shown that suffering is inflicted by Satan, and is overruled by God for purposes of mercy. But Israel did not understand the lesson. The same error for which God had reproved the friends of Job was repeated by the Jews in their rejection of Christ. DA 471

To Help Open the Way

More and more, as time advances, our people will have to leave the cities. For years we have been instructed that our brethren and sisters, and especially families with children, should plan to leave the cities as the way opens before them to do so. Many will have to labor earnestly to help open the way. But until it is possible for them to leave, so long as they remain, they should be most active in doing missionary work, however limited their sphere of influence may be. CL 24

Cut It Off

“If thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee.”—Matthew 5:30

To prevent disease from spreading to the body and destroying life, a man would submit to part even with his right hand. Much more should he be willing to surrender that which imperils the life of the soul. 

Through the gospel, souls that are degraded and enslaved by Satan are to be redeemed to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God. God's purpose is not merely to deliver from the suffering that is the inevitable result of sin, but to save from sin itself. The soul, corrupted and deformed, is to be purified, transformed, that it may be clothed in “the beauty of the Lord our God,” “conformed to the image of His Son.” “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Psalm 90:17; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 2:9. Eternity alone can reveal the glorious destiny to which man, restored to God's image, may attain.

 

In order for us to reach this high ideal, that which causes the soul to stumble must be sacrificed. It is through the will that sin retains its hold upon us. The surrender of the will is represented as plucking out the eye or cutting off the hand. Often it seems to us that to surrender the will to God is to consent to go through life maimed or crippled. But it is better, says Christ, for self to be maimed, wounded, crippled, if thus you may enter into life. That which you look upon as disaster is the door to highest benefit. 

God is the fountain of life, and we can have life only as we are in communion with Him. Separated from God, existence may be ours for a little time, but we do not possess life. “She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” 1 Timothy 5:6. Only through the surrender of our will to God is it possible for Him to impart life to us. Only by receiving His life through self-surrender is it possible, said Jesus, for these hidden sins, which I have pointed out, to be overcome. It is possible that you may bury them in your hearts and conceal them from human eyes, but how will you stand in God's presence? 

If you cling to self, refusing to yield your will to God, you are choosing death. To sin, wherever found, God is a consuming fire. If you choose sin, and refuse to separate from it, the presence of God, which consumes sin, must consume you.

 

It will require a sacrifice to give yourself to God; but it is a sacrifice of the lower for the higher, the earthly for the spiritual, the perishable for the eternal. God does not design that our will should be destroyed, for it is only through its exercise that we can accomplish what He would have us do. Our will is to be yielded to Him, that we may receive it again, purified and refined, and so linked in sympathy with the Divine that He can pour through us the tides of His love and power. However bitter and painful this surrender may appear to the willful, wayward heart, yet “it is profitable for thee.” 

Not until he fell crippled and helpless upon the breast of the covenant angel did Jacob know the victory of conquering faith and receive the title of a prince with God. It was when he “halted upon his thigh” (Genesis 32:31) that the armed bands of Esau were stilled before him, and the Pharaoh, proud heir of a kingly line, stooped to crave his blessing. So the Captain of our salvation was made “perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10), and the children of faith “out of weakness were made strong,” and “turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:34). 

MB 60-62