Cost of Our Salvation

Sorrow filled Heaven when Adam and Eve broke God’s law and sinned. All realized that humanity was lost, and that they were doomed to misery, sickness and death. There was no way of escape – the entire human family must die eternally.

Then I saw the lovely Jesus and saw his expression of sympathy and sorrow. Soon I saw Jesus approach the exceeding bright light that enshrouded God the Father. Jesus was in close converse with Him. The anxiety of the angels was intense. Leaving the Father, Jesus' face was calm, free from all perplexity and doubt, and shone with benevolence and loveliness, such as words cannot express.

Jesus then told the holy angels that a way of escape had been made for lost humanity. Jesus said He had been pleading with His Father, and had offered to give His life a ransom, to take the death penalty upon Himself. Through Jesus - humanity might find pardon by the merits of His blood so they could have God’s favor and be saved, and live for eternity in total peace and joy.

Said the angel, “Do you think the Father yielded up His dearly beloved Son without a struggle? No! It was even a struggle with the God of Heaven, whether to let sinful humanity die, or to give His beloved Son to die for them.”

But nearly all would hate and reject Jesus, only a few would receive Him as the Son of God.

Throughout His life on earth, and also on the cross, Jesus would endure almost every cruelty and suffering that Satan could inspire wicked men to inflict. Jesus would die the cruelest of deaths; not merely agony of body, but also mental agony – that which bodily pain could not compare. The weight of the entire world’s sins would be upon Him.

It was impossible for God to alter or change His law to save lost humanity; therefore, God allowed His beloved Son to die for humanity’s sins. Nothing but the death, resurrection and intercessions of God’s Son, Jesus, would pay the debt and save lost humanity.

Then, at the end of the world, Jesus will come the second time to take to Heaven all those who love and trust Him.

based on Early Writings, pp 149-152, E G White

Temptation

In going to Heaven Jesus did not take Himself totally away from humanity and all its problems. On the contrary, Jesus is better able to help us now than ever.

 Because Jesus suffered so much we may be sure He understands when we suffer. Because He was tempted so fiercely we may know for certain that He can help us when we are tempted.

“For we don’t have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but One [Jesus Christ] who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then, with confidence, come near God’s throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16.

A Long, Cold Winter?

The Christian’s sojourn in this world may be fitly compared to the long, cold winter. Here we experience trials, sorrows, and disappointments, but we should not permit our minds to dwell upon these.

 Let us rather look forward with hope and faith to the coming summer when we shall be welcomed to our Eden home [Heaven and the Earth made New], where all is light and joy, where all is peace and love.

 Our High Calling, 158, E G White

Fascination with Angels

Angels from the worlds of light are near to those who in humility seek for Divine guidance. P 141


Angels from the courts above will attend the steps of those who come and go at God’s command. P 48


Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. P 668


The above quotes are from The Desire of Ages by Ellen G White

Our Dear Father

In order to strengthen our confidence in God, Christ teaches us to address Him by a new name, a name entwined with the dearest associations of the human heart. He gives us the privilege of calling the infinite God - our Father.

  Christ’s Object Lessons, 141, E G White

Don't Worry

If you have given yourself to God you have no need to be anxious for tomorrow. God knows the end from the beginning. The events of tomorrow, which are hidden from your view, are open to the eyes of God.

When you try to manage your life, and depend only on your own wisdom for success, you are taking a burden which God has not given you. You may well have anxiety and anticipate danger and loss. But when you really believe God loves you, you will stop worrying about the future. When you trust God – then your troubles and torments will disappear, for your will is swallowed up in the will of God.

Only one day at a time is yours, and during the day you are to live for God. Cast all your cares, purposes and plans upon Christ, for He cares for you.

 “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11.

Based on Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, pp 100-101, E G White

Moral Freedom

"God valued humanity's moral freedom of so great worth that He gave His life to restore it to all who choose to accept it. As soon as there was a human sinner there was a promise of a divine Savior, and a star of hope illumined humanity's future."

  by Hulda Crooks in Conquering Life's Mountains page 100

Angels are Ever Present

Angels are ever present where they are most needed, with those who have the hardest battle with self to fight, and whose surroundings are the most discouraging.

  Desire of Ages 440, E G White

His Heart of Love

Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him, you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children.

“The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them.

Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice.

  Steps to Christ, 100, Ellen G White


(He is silently planning for thee in love, for it matters to Him about you.)

Self-Respect

Many struggle with feelings of self-worth and value in God’s sight.

The Lord has given each one of us a sense of self-respect, and this must not be opposed…. God wants us to respect ourselves.

It is not the will of your heavenly Father that you should ever be under condemnation and darkness. It is not pleasing to God that you should demerit yourself. …

While we should not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, Holy Scripture does not condemn a proper self-respect. …child of God, we should have a conscious dignity of character, in which pride and self-importance have no part.”

  Daughters of God p 141-142, Ellen G White

Jealousy & Envy

“Jealousy is as cruel as the grave.” Song of Solomon 8:6


“Let us walk properly...not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 13:13


“Love is patient and is kind, love does not envy.” 1 Corinthians 13:4


“For we ourselves were once foolish...living in malice and envy.” Titus 3:3


“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing will be there.” James 3:16


“But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts… this is not from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.” James 13:14-15

“Thereby lay aside all...envy and all evil speaking... desire the pure truth of the Word, that you may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:1

COMFORT for the Sorrowing

Not now, but in the coming years,
It will be in the better land,
We’ll read the meaning of our tears,
And there we will understand.

We’ll catch the broken thread again,
And finish what here we began;
Heaven will the mysteries explain,
And then, ah then, we will understand.

Then trust in God through all thy days;
Fear not, for God does hold thy hand;
Though dark thy way, still sing and praise,
For in Heaven we will understand.
By Julius L. Tucker, in Comfort for the Sorrowing


We are on the verge of entering the Home that the Master referred to when He said, “Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in Me. In My Father’s kingdom are many mansions; if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you…. I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  John 14:1-3.

COUNTRY LIFE

Awhile back we were farm sitting near Aurora, Nebraska. As we were riding the horses down the country road some people drove by and did a lot of waving, pointing and hooting. Andy turned around to see what was behind us. What a sight! All the farm animals: a goat, dogs, cats, and chickens were following us! We turned the horses around and the farm animals followed us back to the barnyard.

After securing the farm animals we rode our horses on and came by an irrigated field. Andy said underground irrigation water was very cold and refreshing that came from deep wells, and he was serious because he grew up on a farm and knew such things. Being thirsty, Debra got off her horse and tasted the water as it came out of the pipes. The water was warm and tasted awful! After riding another 50 yards we learned why the water tasted so bad! - it was being pumped out of a green, murky, scummy pond! Luckily Debra did not get sick!

The Elevator

Jeremy, an eight year old friend of ours, came to visit for a weekend. He is fond of fossils so we took him to the University museum to see their collection.

Jeremy had never been to a museum before and was very excited and kept us on the go for about two hours. When it was time to go up to the second level Debra suggested we take the freight elevator as her bad leg was aching. Jeremy seemed frightened by the elevator, let alone ride on it.

He asked, "Don't you know what this is, Debbie?" She assured him she knew what an elevator was. "Don't you know what kind of an elevator it is, Debbie?" "Yes, Jeremy, it is an Otis elevator. Now please get on," Debra replied.

Jeremy entered cautiously. The elevator slowly ascended. Unexpectedly its rear door opened and closed. Jeremy squealed and began bouncing around.

"Jeremy! Do you have to go to the bathroom?," Debra exclaimed.

"No!," he cried, obviously frightened by the elevator. "But when is it going to happen?"

"When is what going to happen, Jeremy?," Debra answered.

"You know, it!," he screamed.

"Jeremy," Debra said trying to remain calm, "I don't know what you are talking about. The main door will open any moment."

When we reached the second level the main door opened and Jeremy rushed out, skidded on the freshly waxed floor, and fell down panting.

"Jeremy!," she called, obviously concerned for his physical and mental state of being. "What is wrong?"

"Debbie! Don't you know? Can't you read the signs? It says fright elevator!"

Muffling her laughter she explained, "Jeremy, the sign says freight elevator."

"Oh," he replied, "let's go see some more fossils."