Amen, Jim! What a loving God we behold each day!
We begin anew this morning reading from The Desire of Ages. Some may wonder why would we read from this Book every day. We could devote the time to reading the Bible or reading other inspired Books. But, we continue reading that which we read every day. Why? Why give up reading new material we have never before read? There are still articles in the Review and Sabbbath Herald I have never read. There are also manuscripts I have not read. Why not seek new information rather than reading that which I have been reading for over 30 years?
There is a truth Satan has been successful at keeping from professing Christians. We have discovered it and another truth. The two are so important that our very souls are dependent upon us walking in that light. The first truth is found in both this Book and in the Bible. There are three places in Scripture where I see it so profoundly revealed. But, we find it throughout the Bible. Here are the three places:
The first is one simple verse. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:18. Let me shorten the verse a little so all may see it clearly. We all beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image. What is the glory of the Lord? It is His character. What is His image? It is His character. Therefore, if we will behold His character, His Words, and deeds we shall be changed into His character of righteousness. In other words we shall become like Him in words and deeds. We may obtain the Living Water Christ gave to the woman at the well, and so may others. We may obtain the "wedding garment" which allows us into heaven. We may possess the righteousness of Christ. We may have it not only imputed to us, we may have it imparted to us. How? By beholding the character of our Lord which is His life.
We find this truth also in The Desire of Ages. " It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross. As we associate together, we may be a blessing to one another. If we are Christ's, our sweetest thoughts will be of Him. We shall love to talk of Him; and as we speak to one another of His love, our hearts will be softened by divine influences. Beholding the beauty of His character, we shall be 'changed into the same image from glory to glory.'" Page 83.
A second place we find this truth in Scripture is in the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus in the Garden. And, we find the second truth that is often hidden from man and many professing Christians. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.... Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again....And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:3,5,6,7,14,15.
There is no eternal life unless a man be born again of the Spirit of God. When we come into the world we are born of the flesh which is fallen. It cannot enter heaven until there is a new birth wherein the Spirit of God enters into the heart of man. Then he becomes a partaker of God's divine nature, he is converted from a sinner to a saint. " Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." 2 Peter 1:4. There is an exception to this truth that we find in Scripture. A baby with a fallen nature can come into the world filled with the Spirit of God. It is dependent upon the parents being filled with the Spirit of God. " For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy." 1 Corinthians 7:14.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh and must be born again of the Spirit. We must have the Spirit of God in order to have eternal life. How do we receive the Spirit of God? How are we converted? Jesus revealed 2 Corinthians 3:18 to Nicodemus but He sent him back to a lesson given to Israel in the Exodus from Egypt. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." The uplifted serpent was a representation of Jesus. He was made sin for us, that we might live We must look upon Jesus uplifted on the cross if we want to have life. It is by beholding Jesus that we are transformed in character. Let us "look and live."
The third place we find in the Bible a reference to beholding Jesus that we might have life is found in the Book of John. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." Verses 47-51. We must feed upon Jesus. We must drink His blood and eat His flesh if we want to have spiritual life. We eat bread if we want to have physical life, but we need to learn of Christ if we want spiritual life. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. It is a revelation of His character. The Word became flesh and dwelt among man.
This is why we spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of our Savior. This is why we are daily reading this most beautiful revelation of His character. Please come and see. Taste of the Goodness of our God. Join with us and receive the blessings God wants to pour out upon His children.