November 13, 1900

Walk in the Light

EGW

“Now is my soul troubled,” Christ declared, “and what shall I say?” The Saviour came to this world as a man, his divinity allied to humanity. He found its inhabitants under the jurisdiction of Satan, who claimed to be the god of this world. He saw those for whom he had given his life intent upon self-glorification. He saw those who should have followed their convictions of right seeking to evade the truth, which he presented to them in plain, distinct lines.RH November 13, 1900, par. 1

Satan rebelled against God in the heavenly courts. As no one could live in heaven in opposition to God, he was expelled. So great were his powers of deception that he carried with him a large number of the heavenly beings. With these sympathizers he came to this earth, determined to carry on the war against God. And when Christ came, he found the apostate working with the children of men, trying in every way to deceive them, that they should not obey the truth.RH November 13, 1900, par. 2

This filled Christ's heart with sorrow. “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” he asked. “Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?” He saw that those for whom he had labored were filled with hatred against the truth of God. For them he had stepped down from his position as Commander of the heavenly host, laying aside his royal robe and kingly crown, and clothing his divinity with humanity. Yet they despised and rejected him. They lived lives of disobedience, refusing to hear and obey the word of God. It was in view of all this that Christ said, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say [more than I have said]?” He saw the trial before him. He saw the humiliation he was to endure at the hands of the impenitent, blinded Jews. He saw that those for whom he had done so much were soon to crucify him. “For my love they are my adversaries,” he declared.RH November 13, 1900, par. 3

Jesus was indeed heaven's greatest gift to our world. But the treasures of truth he brought were rejected because to receive them involved a cross. The Light of heaven, he came to this world to shine amid the darkness of sin. But the people chose darkness rather than light, and the way of disobedience rather than the path of obedience. They would not heed the invitations, the warnings, and the cautions sent them. They abused their privileges and mercies.RH November 13, 1900, par. 4

The climax was almost reached. The time for the Jews to take sides for or against Christ had come. The hour of grace was fast passing. The wrath of God was fast filling the cup of his indignation.RH November 13, 1900, par. 5

Christ saw the retribution that was to come upon the Jews as a result of their course of action,—their rebellion against God, and their hatred of the Roman power, which they were compelled to obey. Had the Jews been loyal to God, the armies of heaven would have shielded them from their adversaries. They brought their ruin upon themselves. Christ saw them mustering their forces for the defense of Jerusalem. But God was not their helper. The invisible host of heaven was not fighting in their behalf. Christ saw the beautiful temple, in which the Jews had taken such pride, consumed by fire till it was only a heap of smoldering ashes. He saw the nation scattered. He saw its rich men despoiled of the wealth gained by fraud and disobedience. He saw the people dispersed through foreign countries, the acknowledged citizens of none, a people without any sure abiding place. He listened to the wail of anguish that rose as their children's children were hunted from place to place, always refused protection or relief. This brought such grief to his heart that he exclaimed, with tears, “Now is my soul troubled.” With quivering lips he breathed the prayer, “Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy name.”RH November 13, 1900, par. 6

“Then there came a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.” Christ and his disciples, with the Greeks who had received the truth, heard the words spoken from heaven, and Jesus said, “This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes. Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.” It was Christ's death on the cross that struck Satan's death knell.RH November 13, 1900, par. 7

“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” Wonderfully significant words! Henceforth there would be no partition wall between Jew and Gentile. The gospel would be preached to all nations. Will all hear the message of salvation?—They will; for Christ has said it. And if they obey his gracious words, they will be claimed by God in the day when he makes up his jewels. “I will spare them,” he says, “as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.” All are drawn. Not one is left without conviction. Christ gives everyone evidence. But not all accept the evidence. Many show plainly that it is not evidence they want, but an excuse for disregarding a plain “Thus saith the Lord.” Instead of fearing and trembling before God, rejoicing that they have the privilege of listening to warnings and reproof, some inwardly wish that light had never come to them, to bring them to the test of decision.RH November 13, 1900, par. 8

“Yet a little while is the light with you,” Christ continued. “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him: that the saying of Esaias the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spake, Lord, who hath believed our report? and to whom hath the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said again, He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” Whence came their hardness of heart?—Through transgression. The parable of the unfaithful husbandmen shows plainly that the Jews carried out their ambitious desires till the love and fear of God departed from them.RH November 13, 1900, par. 9

No one is to understand from this scripture that God arbitrarily blinded the eyes and hardened the hearts of the Jews. It was Christ's work to soften hard hearts. But if men resisted the work of Christ, the sure result would be that their hearts would become hardened.RH November 13, 1900, par. 10

Christ quoted a prophecy which more than a thousand years before had predicted what God's foreknowledge had seen would be. The prophecies do not shape the characters of the men who fulfill them. Men act out their own free will, either in accordance with a character placed under the molding of God or a character placed under the harsh rule of Satan.RH November 13, 1900, par. 11

God tested the Jews to see if they would believe on his Son, or listen to the false charges made against him by the Pharisees, charges originating in the mind of Satan, whose effort it is to intercept every ray of divine light.RH November 13, 1900, par. 12

God gave the Jewish people wonderful light, wonderful evidence of his majesty, his power, his truth. It was not long since Christ had given them a crowning evidence of his divinity. He had raised from the grave a man who had been dead four days. Lazarus came forth from the tomb to testify to the mighty power of Jesus of Nazareth.RH November 13, 1900, par. 13

No greater evidence than this could have been given. Would not the rulers who had before been convinced in regard to the Saviour's divinity now believe in him and confess him? Was not the miracle he had performed wonderful enough to lead them to do this? It was indeed enough to banish all prejudice even in the most unbelieving. But the hearts of the Jewish leaders were filled with the bitterest opposition, and instead of yielding to their convictions, they were maddened because Christ had done something which they could not possibly refute. In their stubbornness, self-exaltation, and proud boasting, they would not humble themselves to confess that they were in error. “Though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him.”RH November 13, 1900, par. 14

The first step in resistance of light leads to the second, and the second to the third, until no light, however strong, no evidence, however plain, has any effect. If a man is humble and teachable, his opposition will melt away, and his heart will be softened. Christ shows him the threshold of heaven, flushed with living glory. But his glory, which softens the contrite heart, only hardens the heart that will not yield to its rays. Truth shining upon a heart determined to resist, only leads to further resistance.RH November 13, 1900, par. 15

“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him.” Why did they not then bring joy to his heart by acknowledging him?—“Because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” How pitiful is this statement! The maintenance of their dignity was of greater weight with them than the performance of their duty to exert an influence on the side of truth and righteousness.RH November 13, 1900, par. 16

The Light of the world, Christ shows us the way to heaven, pointing out the advantage of treading in the path of obedience. John bears witness of him, saying, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, ... full of grace and truth.” “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”RH November 13, 1900, par. 17

The time of most solemn responsibility for the Jewish nation was when Christ was among them. It was then that the last test was given to them as a nation. Light from the living oracles of God shone upon them. Jesus spoke to them, and did among them works which no man ever had done or could do. But they would not receive him. This generation is passing over the same ground. Today Christ is saying to many, You would none of my counsel. You rejected my invitation to enlist on the Lord's side. You chose to be numbered with transgressors. Of those who reject the truth he is saying, If you are destroyed, you are responsible. You would not come unto me that you might have life.RH November 13, 1900, par. 18

The tempter offers his flattering bribes to all who will listen to him. He tells men and women that if they obey the Sabbath command, they will lose their position in the world, and in the church. He presents before them many objections to an acceptance of the truth, telling them that their lives will be made unpleasant, that their reputation will suffer. Thus he tempted the Jews in Christ's day, and many who were inclined to follow the Saviour turned away from him for fear of temporal loss.RH November 13, 1900, par. 19

Christ has given his people messages of warning to give to the world. As these messages are presented, many are convinced of the truth. Then they begin to think of the sacrifice that obedience to the truth will involve. Truth makes its impression upon the heart, and is recommended by the conscience. But men begin to speculate. Why are there so few who believe this truth? they ask. Have any of the ministers or learned men believed it?RH November 13, 1900, par. 20

Many refuse to obey the truth through fear that they will lose their standing in the world. They allow the inconveniences in the pathway of truth to prevent them from following the Saviour. They do not realize that to reject truth means to lose eternal life.RH November 13, 1900, par. 21

The heavenly intelligences watch with intense interest the struggle between tempter and tempted. It is a life-and-death question that is being settled. Christ knows this, and before those whose souls are trembling in the balance, he holds up the sure test of obedience or disobedience, saying, “He that loveth his life”—his good name, his reputation, his money, his property, his business—“shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” He who hates the life which is lived in transgression of God's law, he who accepts the divine requirements, leaving God to take care of the consequences, will gain eternal life. “If any man serve me,” Christ declares, “let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.”RH November 13, 1900, par. 22