The Desire of Ages--51--The Light of Life

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear friends!  Grace when allowed into the heart empowers the repentant sinner to obey the law of God.

  In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan's control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God. 

[Beacon]

"The fact that although they could find no sin in Christ the Jews would not receive Him proved that they themselves had no connection with God."

"They did not recognize His voice in the message of His Son."

"They thought themselves passing judgment on Christ; but in rejecting Him they were pronouncing sentence upon themselves. "He that is of God," said Jesus, "heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."     
"The lesson is true for all time."

"Many a man who delights to quibble, to criticize, seeking for something to question in the word of God, thinks that he is thereby giving evidence of independence of thought, and mental acuteness."

"He supposes that he is sitting in judgment on the Bible, when in truth he is judging himself."

I pray that none of us are like the person describled in this chapter. My prayer is that "WE" ALL may be willing to allow Jesus to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords in our daily lives.
===========================
1
I致e wandered far away from God,
  Now I知 coming home;
The paths of sin too long I致e trod,
  Lord, I知 coming home.
    Coming home, coming home,
  Nevermore to roam;
Open wide Thine arms of love;
    Lord, I知 coming home.
2
I致e wasted many precious years,
  Now I知 coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears,
  Lord, I知 coming home.
3
I知 tired of sin and straying, Lord,
  Now I知 coming home;
I値l trust Thy love, believe Thy word;
  Lord, I知 coming home.
4
My soul is sick, my heart is sore,
  Now I知 coming home;
My strength renew, my hope restore:
  Lord, I知 coming home.
5
My only hope, my only plea,
  Now I知 coming home;
That Jesus died, and died for me;
  Lord, I知 coming home.
6
I need His cleansing blood, I know,
  Now I知 coming home;
O wash me whiter than the snow;
  Lord, I知 coming home.

Lyrics:William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)
Music:William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!

Happy Sabbath!!

This fresh revelation of the loveliness of Jesus nearly moved me to tears this morning as I think of the over eight billion souls on this little planet--all of whom Jesus loves, created for a purpose, and yearns to save! Oh, let His love constrain us to be true missionaries to go wherever the Holy Spirit leads so that the light of the world, Jesus, can shine into their hearts a saving knowledge of His character! As the soul surrenders fully to Christ, the light that shone upon the soul in blessing becomes the light that illuminates and converts the once sin-darkened heart, giving a new heart in its place, making it possible to experience all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing in humble, affectionate obedience to all of God's commandments!

"'That was the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.' The world has had its great teachers, men of giant intellect and wonderful research, men whose utterances have stimulated thought, and opened to view vast fields of knowledge; and these men have been honored as guides and benefactors of their race. But there is One who stands higher than they. 'As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.' 'No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.' John 1:12, 18. We can trace the line of the world's great teachers as far back as human records extend; but the Light was before them. As the moon and the stars of the solar system shine by the reflected light of the sun, so, as far as their teaching is true, do the world's great thinkers reflect the rays of the Sun of Righteousness. Every gem of thought, every flash of the intellect, is from the Light of the world. In these days we hear much about 'higher education.' The true 'higher education' is that imparted by Him 'in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.' 'In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.' Colossians 2:3; John 1:4. 'He that followeth Me,' said Jesus, 'shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.'" {The Desire of Ages, page 464, paragraph 4}

Let us walk in the light of the truth God has for us! Let us gladly do His will and go forward in ministry to be a blessing to this world, for Jesus has shown the way! He is now our high priest in the heavenly sanctuary, preparing a place for us, and calling us to give to the world the Three Angels' Messages of Revelation 14:6-12! Jesus is coming soon!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear brothers!!  Jesus is the Light of Life! He is the Living Water that we may drink of. He is pouring out light today to those who are seeking truth or who are still open to truth. What made Israel God's chosen people? They were given great light. Along with the light comes responsibility. Those who are blessed with this great light and reject it will suffer more when judgment is rendered. We who have been given great light today ought to consider the blessing and the curse that exists because we are not blind to this truth. Many are blind to their true condition when rejecting truth.

The people who beheld the Saviour at His advent were favored with a fuller manifestation of the divine presence than the world had ever enjoyed before. The knowledge of God was revealed more perfectly. But in this very revelation, judgment was passing upon men. Their character was tested, their destiny determined.
     The manifestation of divine power that had given to the blind man both natural and spiritual sight had left the Pharisees in yet deeper darkness. Some of His hearers, feeling that Christ's words applied to them, inquired, "Are we blind also?" Jesus answered, "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin." If God had made it impossible for you to see the truth, your ignorance would involve no guilt. "But now ye say, We see." You believe yourselves able to see, and reject the means through which alone you could receive sight. To all who realized their need, Christ came with infinite help. But the Pharisees would confess no need; they refused to come to Christ, and hence they were left in blindness,--a blindness for which they were themselves guilty. Jesus said, "Your sin remaineth." 

There two groups being formed today in the world and in the church. Jesus is pouring out more truth more rapidly. Every person makes a decision to accept and follow this new truth or reject it. Soon all will have formed characters that will never be changed. We will then understand that the filthy ones will remain filthy and the holy ones will remain holy for they are "sealed." We choose where we end up, in a world with sin, or after the thousand years will be raised up from the grave to confess Jesus was right and to be destroyed by fire for each and every sin. Satan will burn the longest. If we withhold this truth, then how will you answer their question, "you knew this and did not tell me?"