Chapter 19

David Lin

Before the inception of sin, God had already formulated an effective plan of action to meet the contingency. See Ephesians 1:4. In the Bible record we can discern the "manifold wisdom of God," (Ephesians 3:10), in His dealings with Satan and with men.

God deals with Satan on equal terms, like an honest chess-player abiding by all the rules of the game. He does not employ His divine powers to gain an unfair advantage over His antagonist. Only thus can He demonstrate the superiority of truth over error, and of righteousness over iniquity. Truth must prevail on the strength of truth alone. The story of Job is an example. God gave Satan every possible opportunity to prove his point, so that the integrity of Job, without God's intervention, could have truest expression. In the end it was seen that with all protecting fences removed, Job's faith in God prevailed. His experience proved the invincibility of a character modeled after the divine pattern. God will permit Satan to test us in like manner, and that will be our chance to honor God.

God also deals with man on equal terms, in that He draws near to us as the Son of man, walking and talking with us as a man among men, to reveal to our finite senses what kind of a man God is. "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father"--not in His unapproachable majesty, but in His graciousness, tenderness and righteousness. Even in Old Testament times He appealed to men to "Come now, and let us reason together." And when confronting the Jews who called Him a blasphemer, Christ did not lash back with words of rebuke and condemnation, but quoted Psalm 82:6 to point out their wrong, and then patiently reasoned thus: If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not, but if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him. John 10:37-38

Christ knew that He displayed no outward grandeur to impress men with His divinity, for He had veiled His majesty for the very purpose of appealing to man's love of truth alone. But in order to arrive at truth, man must exert his reasoning powers and not be fooled by appearances. These words of Christ were meant to teach men to use their minds and to think things through. A paraphrase of His words would be: "I know you won't believe Me just because I claim to be God. I don't blame you, because in outward appearance I am just a man. But if you consider My works and recognize that they fulfill what the Scriptures say about the Messiah, you will believe."

That is what we mean by God meeting man on equal terms: talking with him as man to man. And His purpose is the same as in His dealings with Satan: truth must stand on its own merits and prevail against error. To bring out this point God once came down on Mount Sinai to reveal His majesty and proclaim His law. The smoke and thunderings and lightnings struck men with awe, so that they shook and trembled and asked that God would never again speak to them directly. They promised to obey His law and keep the covenant.

But how long did their promise last? Less than 40 days. Why? Because they had been moved by fear, not by love. After the fearful impressions wore off, they reverted to their idolatry.

A similar example is found in the New Testament. When the mob came to arrest Jesus, He asked, "Whom seek ye?" They said, "Jesus of Nazareth." He said, "I am He." "As soon then as He had said unto them, I am He, they went backward and fell to the ground." What made those tough desperados fall to the ground? It must have been some fearful sight to convince them Jesus was no common mortal. But the apparition was momentary. They rose again to their feet. Did any of them repent and acknowledge Him the Son of God? No. They forgot about it instantly and went right ahead in their murderous course. Both these examples serve to show that all men, including the most wicked, can be awed into submission by an outward manifestation of divine power, but its effect is transitory. What God wants is true worship and obedience that springs out of a converted heart, and that can be effected only through the transforming power of truth applied by the Holy Spirit.

This basic principle is involved in the incarnation. He who declared Himself to be "the way, the truth and the life" came to our world with no outward show to substantiate a seemingly boastful claim. Not only did He present no physical manifestations of divinity, but He even lacked the recognition of the religious authorities, which He might have secured by attending the rabbinical schools. That is, Christ not only stripped Himself of divine majesty, but also denied Himself the advantage of worldly prestige. He resolved to prevail purely by the force of truth alone, because "God desires us to receive the truth on its own merits--because it is the truth," Testimonies to Ministers, 106. The beauty of a character "full of grace and truth" must be the only attraction to draw all men unto Himself.

In adopting this principle of action, God used the light of truth, which also has the function of repelling those who hate it. For the propagation of truth always has a polarizing effect. "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." John 3:20-21

Once an upright young man wanted to find an ideal lover. He despised the girls who fell for dandified fops and married for money. He wanted a girl who appreciated moral worth above worldly values. He asked God to lead him to such a girl, and wore plain clothes purposely to keep vain and frivolous girls at a distance. One day he came across one who seemed to meet his standard, so he approached her and introduced himself. On the first date he wore ordinary work clothes and apologized for not being better dressed, explaining that he could not afford good clothes because he worked on a farm and had to support father and mother. He gave her the impression of a boy who worked hard for a living and honored his parents. Would she love such a character? Well, she didn't snub him, but naturally wished he would dress better, so offered to give him some money to buy a suit of clothes for the next date. He gratefully accepted her gift. But the next week he came still dressed in work clothes, apologizing for his failure to buy new clothes because his mother suddenly fell ill and he had to use the money for medicine. How heavy a disappointment could the girl endure? She didn't chide him, but graciously gave him another sum to buy a suit of clothes. The third time he again failed to meet her expectation. He explained that the crops of the farm where he worked were suddenly attacked by pests and due to a shortage of cash, he lent out the money to buy insecticide. But he assured the girl that he could get the money back next week and buy the clothes. Would she be exasperated? Well, her patience and graciousness were indeed taxed to the limit. But she appreciated the unselfishness of her boy friend, believed his story, and looked forward to the next date. When she saw him the fourth time, he was still dressed in work clothes, and she was almost ready to cry and turn away, but he assured her that he had the money, but didn't know what kind of clothes would suit her taste, so would she be willing to go shopping with him?

After letting his girl friend select a suit of clothes for him, the young man said to her, "You've been so generous in giving me a suit of clothes. Now it's my turn to buy you something. Tell me what you like, and I'll buy it for you." The girl picked a brooch made of glass beads, because she knew he couldn't afford anything expensive. But he said, "Now let me pick something for you. He took her to the jewelry department and bought the most expensive wrist watch he could find. Only then did the girl realize that this poor boy was a rich man's son.

This parable illustrates the way Jesus picks His bride. He laid aside His glory and came to earth as a poor peasant in search of a bride who prizes moral worth above worldly attractions. He knew He would disappoint all who are interested in outward show. In fact it was His purpose to repel the vain and superficial, and to attract the meek and honest in heart. He wanted men and women who could see through His crude exterior and say with Nicodemus, "Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God." He looked for people who could recognize the value of the truths He taught regardless of the travel-worn clothes He wore. "They that wear soft raiment are in king's palaces." An honest heart can recognize truth on its own merits, even as an experienced jeweler can pick out a genuine diamond from among a pile of fakes.

Christ declared His mission to the world in these words: "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice." John 18:37. This heavenly Bridegroom determined to have a Church made up exclusively of "every one that is of the truth." He will be satisfied with nothing less. And when the men and women who prize the truth above earthly pleasures and material wealth have been gathered to Him, Christ will present them with a city of gold. But before He does so He will test their love for Him by disappointments and trials. He will gladly accept their gifts and offerings. In the end He will surprise every faithful soul with the exceeding weight of glory and riches which He has reserved for all who love His appearing.

That is how God works. He did that in the past; He does it today. Now that the heavenly Bridegroom is about to bring His bride to perfection so that He can present her to His Father in the beauty of holiness, He is lavishing upon her all the riches of His truth. He in whom is hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge has in these last days opened the windows of heaven to pour upon His people a flood of new light. And what human instrument has He chosen to do this? As in olden days the Christmas angels passed by the learned rabbis of Jerusalem to announce the Saviour's birth to a group of shepherds in the field, so in 1844 He ignored the educated theologians to pick an unschooled maiden to speak for Him. That is characteristic of God's way of working.

Christ was a stone of stumbling to the men who expected the Messiah to be a more imposing character. Said the prophet, "He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel." Isaiah 8:14. The inhabitants of Nazareth stumbled over Him and said, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James and Joses and of Juda and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at Him." Mark 6:3. The Jews in Jerusalem stumbled over His lack of a formal education, saying, "How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?" John 7:15. Men also stumbled over His virgin birth, saying sneeringly, "We be not born of fornication." John 8:41. Others stumbled over His obscure origin, saying, "Search, and look, for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet." John 7:52. "We know not from whence He is." John 9:29. Still others despised His lack of official recognition: "Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on Him?" John 7:48. Yet what was a stumbling block to unbelievers was a sanctuary and a rock of salvation to the faithful, as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Sion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed"! Romans 9:33. Said Jesus, "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me." Matthew 11:6

Today Christ the Faithful and True Witness comes again as a stone of stumbling in the Spirit of Prophecy writings. "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7. But many souls are offended over the earthen vessels. A psychologist affirms that E. G. White was mesmerized. One physician diagnoses her ailments and declares that her visions resulted from epileptic fits. A Ph.D. dissertates on modern philosophy to suggest that Ellen White might have been deluded. Another one-time Adventist preacher reasons in three logical steps that her claim to divine inspiration is a lie and outright blasphemy. Then comes a scientifically minded scholar who proposes to settle the question by computing the amount of plagiarism in The Desire of Ages with an electric brain.

Thus the skeptics rage and the scholars imagine a vain thing. They take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed saying, "Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us."

"He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision." For "God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and . . . the weak things of the world to confound the . . . mighty, and base things of the world, and things which are despised . . . and things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Corinthians 1:27-29. Such has been God's consistent manner of working since antiquity.

Again Christ says, "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." Does Ellen White fail to measure up to men's expectations? Do they all deem her a deceiver and a blasphemer? That is not strange. "If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" When men accused Christ of blasphemy, He bade them examine His works. Today we also ask all who accuse Ellen White of blasphemy to examine her works. Then we will examine their works. "By their fruits ye shall know them." If it is indeed possible to determine with a computer the extent of plagiarism in a book, perhaps it is also possible to compute the number of souls it has won for Christ. After having computed all the good works accomplished by the Ellen G. White writings we should then compute the number of souls The White Lie has led to perdition, and you will have the answer to the question, "Who is a blasphemer--Ellen White, or Walter Rea?" Says the Faithful and True Witness, "If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works." That is fair enough.

There is a place in the Rocky Mountains of North America called the "Great Divide." The term is in fact applicable to the entire mountain range, which forms a long watershed. Rain and snow falling on its ridge trickle in opposite directions: rivulets flowing eastward arrive in the Atlantic Ocean; those going west into the Pacific.

The E.G.White writings also constitute a Great Divide, because they are an offense to the proud, but a godsend to the meek. This dividing function of truth is described in many ways in the Bible. Concerning Christ it was said, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel; and for a sign to be opposed . . . that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." Luke 2:34-35 NASB. "And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken, but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Matthew 21:44. "For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." Proverbs 8:35-36

These texts are also applicable to the testimony of Jesus, which has already caused many to fall and many to rise. Nothing is plainer than the truth that our attitude to these writings will decide our eternal destinies. Let every soul take the right attitude. Believe no man's word for it. Examine these books for yourself. Read them prayerfully and ask yourself, Will I stumble over these messages or will they help me to rise to a higher spiritual plane?

David Lin

November 10, 1982

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