Lest We Think We Stand (Part 3)

Lest We Think We Stand (Part 1)

Lest We Think We Stand (Part 2)

Like Adam, his sons had to be tested, to prove whether or not they would believe and obey God's word. As sons and daughters of Adam, it is no different for us today. We too must be tested.

Cain's attitude is very prevalent in our world. He was willing to render obedience, but only on his terms, which, ultimately, was no obedience at all. 

"He would come in his own merits. He would not bring the lamb, and mingle its blood with his offering, but would present his fruits, the products of his labour. He presented his offering as a favour done to God, through which he expected to secure the divine approval. Cain obeyed in building an altar, obeyed in bringing a sacrifice; but he rendered only a partial obedience. The essential part, the recognition of the need of a Redeemer, was left out." (PP* 72) 

Isn't this so often the way we think? We attempt to serve God in our own strength, trying to do something for Him, instead of availing ourselves of the abundant Provision He has made for us. Yet, in spite of all this, God does not leave us to ourselves. He is merciful far beyond what we could ever comprehend, "not willing that any should perish". (2 Peter 3:9)

Throughout the entire story we God is thus working with Cain, giving him the opportunity to confess his sin and repent. In his anger, on the verge of committing the first murder in human history, God was reasoning with this unreasonable man, warning him that "sin lieth at the door". (Gen 4:7) And even though he rejected these divine warnings, God still offered him another chance.

"Notwithstanding that Cain had by his crimes merited the sentence of death, a merciful Creator still spared his life, and granted him opportunity for repentance." (PP 78)

Oh, Love that will not let me go! Even His judgements are not what we deserve, but are just and good, always with our very best interest in mind. Why do we question? Why do we doubt the One who wants our happiness even more than we ourselves do?

"The dark history of Cain and his descendants was an illustration of what would have been the result of permitting the sinner to live on forever, to carry out his rebellion against God...The divine sentence cutting short a career of unbridled iniquity, and freeing the world from the influence of those who had become hardened in rebellion, was a blessing rather than a curse." (PP 78)

And thus we see the sad depiction of what man truly is without Christ. But in Abel's life of faith is shown the completely contrasting principle.

"Through the shed blood he looked to the future sacrifice, Christ dying on the cross of Calvary; and trusting in the atonement that was there to be made, he had the witness that he was righteous, and his offering accepted...Abel chose faith and obedience; Cain, unbelief and rebellion. Here the whole matter rested." (PP 72)

Likewise, we are left with a choice. 

"Cain and Abel represent two classes that will exist in the world till the close of time...It is only through the merits of Jesus that our transgressions can be pardoned. Those who feel no need of the blood of Christ, who feel that without divine grace they can by their own works secure the approval of God, are making the same mistake as did Cain...True faith, which relies wholly upon Christ, will be manifested by obedience to all the requirements of God..." (PP 72, 73)

Christ IS our only hope. But the path of obedience is by no means easy.
 

"In all ages the wicked have hated those who were better than themselves. Abel’s life of obedience and unswerving faith was to Cain a perpetual reproof...The brighter the heavenly light that is reflected from the character of God’s faithful servants, the more clearly the sins of the ungodly are revealed, and the more determined will be their efforts to destroy those who disturb their peace...Whenever, through faith in the Lamb of God, a soul renounces the service of sin, Satan’s wrath is kindled." (PP 74, 75)

But this is the path which our Saviour trod, and He has promised that He will be with us until the end (see Matt 28:20). Will we accept the honour of walking with Him?

* PP (Patriarch and Prophets) 

A Date Of Note

I have always been fascinated by sequences in dates.

11-11-11.....10-11-12.....12-12-12 

And now, today. The last time this will happen for a long time:

11-12-13!

This drew my attention once again to another, much more important event, of which we know "neither the day nor the hour" (Matt 25:13). Not merely a once-in-a-lifetime event, this will only happen once in all eternity.

Will we be ready?

Lest We Think We Stand (Part 2)

Lest We Think We Stand (Part 1)
Lest We Think We Stand (Part 3)

Eve’s own words played a great role in her demise. She added to God's words, saying that they were not to touch the fruit (Genesis 3:3). This, however, was not the case. He had simply said, “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) Hence, when Eve touched the fruit, feeling no adverse effect, the serpent used this against her, convincing her that eating it would be of no greater consequence.  She based her faith on very shaky ground, and sure enough, it crumbled beneath her.

Yet, to all appearances, we have not learned from this tragic lesson. Still we place our faith in mere mortals, exalting human words and works as the standard for our lives. We place far too much confidence in self, the very thing we should be most distrustful of. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9) We must pray like David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23, 24)

 
Then we continue to one of the saddest parts in this tragic history. Eve brings Adam the fruit. Unlike her, he is not deceived. He recognized this as the work of the enemy God had warned of. Now he must make his decision, a terrible struggle raging in his mind. Though he had enjoyed the companionship of God and angels, He lost sight of these blessings in comparison to his love for Eve. Adam loved gift more than Giver. In the crisis his true priorities,  who was most important to him, was revealed. (see Patriarch and Prophets p 56)

Our hearts are so deceitful. "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12  Our course may, to all outward appearance, seem harmless, but we must beware. We cannot ignore the fact that the enemy uses those very things which are in and of themselves good to draw us away from the Source of all Life.

What do we automatically reach for when we have nothing else to do, when no one else is looking? Who has our hearts? Where do our thoughts constantly turn? The answers to these questions are vital in determining the direction of our lives, and, ultimately, our eternal destination.

Christ must have the heart. Our sweetest thoughts must be of Him (see Steps to Christ p 58). If this is not the case, don't despair! Pray. Plead. Wrestle. Never give up until this is true for you. The battle is not easy, but, praise God, Jesus has won the victory where human beings failed. In His strength we will overcome, if we only persevere. Keep coming to Him who will in no wise cast out.

 

“When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to tills end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man's best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit. But He will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him, and yet are disloyal to His Father's commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we need to hear a great deal more about works. Many are deceiving their own souls by living an easy-going, accommodating, crossless religion. But Jesus says, ‘if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.’ ”

(1 SM 382 )

Our Lord is merciful, faithful. He knows our very inmost hearts, and He is just and fair in His judgements. But may we not be guilty of abusing that mercy, of deceiving our own souls. 

 

 

 

Lest We Think We Stand (Part 1)

One fateful decision, history forever changed. Many are the lessons we must learn from the temptation and fall of our first parents. We cannot afford to keep making the same mistakes they did.

Angels had counselled Eve not to leave Adam’s side, yet when she realised she was alone, she ignored her apprehension, and, dismissing her fears, she decided to rely on her own strength and wisdom to discern and withstand evil (see Patriarchs and Prophets p 54).

How often don’t we make the same mistake. We miss the Saviour’s presence, but instead of returning to Him for strength to meet the trials we face, we decide to tackle them in our own strength. No sooner do we start, and we fall. Hard.

If human beings in a perfect, sinless state did not have the power to discern the snares of the enemy, how can we, after 6,000 years of degeneration, have the audacity to think we’ll be fine? If they couldn’t tell right from wrong, and see through the sophistries of the devil when he was new to his work of deception, how dare we think we can overcome after he has had millennia to practice and perfect it to a fine art?

Our ONLY safety is in constant surrender to Christ.

Time and again we will have to fall at His feet, plead for His forgiveness. We just cannot afford to give in. We must persevere. Keep coming to Him, despite our mistakes and failures. It is an age-old lie of Satan that we have gone too far for God to forgive us. This is what he told the angels who had united with him in his rebellion. But there was still hope for those who had been blinded by his deceptions (see Patriarchs and Prophets p 41).

The greatest danger is our delay. We know not what the morrow may bring.

"To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Hebrews 3:15

After his transgression, we find God asking Adam a number of questions, giving him ample opportunity to confess his guilt, but instead of sorrowful penitence, Adam attempted to cast blame...on Eve...on God. (see Patriarchs and Prophets p 57)

When we have erred, the worst thing we can do is avoid the conviction, passing the buck, attempting to just carry on with life as previous. Thus our hearts become hardened, and, should we come to repent later, it is so much harder to come back to God than if we had done it immediately.

God wants to restore our connection to Him. He desires our salvation even more than we ourselves do. Give your will, your thoughts, your feelings, your selfish heart to Him now. (They aren't worth keeping anyway!)

Lest We Think We Stand (Part 2)

Lest We Think We Stand (Part 3)