Author: Jay4Jesus

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ⁷But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”    1 John 1:6, 7.
 
In the dictionary, the definitions of darkness are given as the absolute or comparative absence of light, secrecy, concealment and blindness.
The definition of light:  The energy that helps us to see things all around us. Something that makes vision possible.

What does the word of God teach us about light and darkness? What revelation does the Bible give us concerning light and darkness and more specifically, the message that Jesus gave?
Recorded for us in Genesis is an introduction to Light and Darkness.  Here the word of God portrayed the distinct contrast between the two and forever separated them by Day and Night.

“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. ³ And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. ⁴ And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. ⁵ And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:2-5.

Darkness: Absence of light. Night.
Light: Goodness. Dispels darkness. Day.

To continue, we look at John 3:17-21.  “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.¹⁹ And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.²⁰ For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.²¹ But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”

Darkness: Evil. Secrecy. Unbelief.
Light: Revelation of Jesus Christ. Truth. Love.

Isaiah 60:1,2: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. ² For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”

The words of Jesus declare the same in John, Matthew and in Luke:
“Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12.
“For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. ⁸ All these are the beginning of sorrows.”  Matthew 24:7, 8. 
“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; ²⁶ Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” Luke 21:25, 26.

Darkness: Ignorance of God. Hatred. Violence. Natural disasters. Confusion. Fear. Sorrow. Wars.
Light: Sinlessness. Life. Work of God.  

A distinct picture should be forming in our minds about light and darkness, but it continues to be made clear as we let the word of God speak, as we examine the message that our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ gave us by his life.
“ This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: ⁷ But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”  1 John 1:5-7.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”  James 1:17.

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: ¹³ Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”  Colossians 1:12-14.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; ¹⁵ And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”  Hebrews 2:14, 15.

“To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”  Luke 1:79.

“He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”  1 John 2:10, 11.

Darkness: Death. Hatred. Lies. Bondage. Works of the Devil. Blindness. Sin.
Light: Love. Fellowship. Consistency. Righteousness. Forgiveness. Peace.

In summary:

Since God is light and in Him is no darkness at all, (1 John 1:5), then in God and Jesus Christ is no sin, no evil, no hatred and no death.  They are the source of love, righteousness, peace, goodness and life.

How do we know which of the two, light or darkness, has greater influence in our lives? 
John explained clearly in 1 John 2:8-11, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth. ⁹ He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. ¹⁰ He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. ¹¹ But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

Matthew 6:22, 23 said, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. ²³ But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Closing gem from Ellen White in Our High Calling (OHC), “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If there were no light, there would be no shade. But while the shade comes by the sun, it is not created by it. It is some obstruction that causes the shadow. So darkness emanates not from God, but is the result of an intruding object between the soul and God…. Disregard of the light that God has given brings the sure result. It creates a shadow, a darkness that is more dark because of the light which has been sent…. If a man withdraws himself from light and evidence, and yields to Satan’s seducing arts, he himself draws the curtain of unbelief about him, so that light cannot be distinguished from darkness. More light and evidence would only be misunderstood by him. The greater the evidence, the greater will be the indifference. This will lead the deceived soul to call darkness light and truth error.^{38Manuscript 56, 1898.} OHC 26.2
Satan is constantly working to lead men to deny the light. It is but a step from the straightforward path to a diverging one, in which Satan leads the way, and where light is all darkness, and darkness light…. It is a dangerous thing to open the heart to unbelief, for it drives the Spirit of God away from the heart, and Satan’s suggestions come in…. We must … avoid the first admission of doubt and unbelief.^{39Letter 104, 1894.} OHC 26.3

Let us purpose in our hearts to walk in the light that has been sent and still shines, while there is grace. 

I do readings from inspired writers as part of my devotion.  I plan to be more consistent as I strive to draw closer to God daily.  As I read the words, many times my heart is drawn out in need and my mind is agitated to ponder deeply and to reassess my purpose and focus in life.  The word of God says, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Mark 8:36, Matthew 16:26.
Have you ever pondered those words? Can all we have gained or hope to gain in this world and this life, be better than what God offers and missing out on heaven?  I guess to answer that question, you would first have to believe that heaven is real and that living for an eternity is also real.  Wrap your mind around living for eternity!!
My contribution to this blog that we have started is to not only bring original thought but to share the inspired pages which, if already well-spoken, need not be reinvented but to be shared for others to consider and enjoy.  Hopefully to inspire a deeper understanding of just how much God loves us and how truly wonderful He is.
With that said, this post is an excerpt from one of my favorite books written by the most prolific American female author, Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages (DA).  This is an inspired work on the life of Jesus Christ. The first chapter, God with Us, is worth the purchase of this book alone.  Truly!!  The excerpt is from Chapter 34, The Invitation, where it is beautifully illustrated God’s request for us to come to Him. 

“Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give your rest.”  Matthew 11:28. 
These words of comfort were spoken to the multitude that followed Jesus. The Saviour had said that only through Himself could men receive a knowledge of God. He had spoken of His disciples as the ones to whom a knowledge of heavenly things had been given. But He left none to feel themselves shut out from His care and love. All who labor and are heavy-laden may come unto Him. DA 328.2
Tenderly He bade the toiling people, “Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” DA 328.4
In these words Christ is speaking to every human being. Whether they know it or not, all are weary and heavy-laden. All are weighed down with burdens that only Christ can remove. The heaviest burden that we bear is the burden of sin. If we were left to bear this burden, it would crush us. But the Sinless One has taken our place. “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6. He has borne the burden of our guilt. He will take the load from our weary shoulders. He will give us rest. The burden of care and sorrow also He will bear. He invites us to cast all our care upon Him; for He carries us upon His heart. DA 328.5

The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as the Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are our wants, and where lies the strength of our temptations; for He was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. He is watching over you, trembling child of God. Are you tempted? He will deliver. Are you weak? He will strengthen. Are you ignorant? He will enlighten. Are you wounded? He will heal. The Lord “telleth the number of the stars;” and yet “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:4, 3. “Come unto Me,” is His invitation. Whatever your anxieties and trials, spread out your case before the Lord. Your spirit will be braced for endurance. The way will be opened for you to disentangle yourself from embarrassment and difficulty. The weaker and more helpless you know yourself to be, the stronger will you become in His strength. The heavier your burdens, the more blessed the rest in casting them upon the Burden Bearer. The rest that Christ offers depends upon conditions, but these conditions are plainly specified.  They are those with which all can comply.  He tells us just how His rest is to be found. DA 329.1

“Take My yoke upon you,” Jesus says. The yoke is an instrument of service. Cattle are yoked for labor, and the yoke is essential that they may labor effectually. By this illustration Christ teaches us that we are called to service as long as life shall last. We are to take upon us His yoke, that we may be co-workers with Him. DA 329.2
The yoke that binds to service is the law of God. The great law of love revealed in Eden, proclaimed upon Sinai, and in the new covenant written in the heart, is that which binds the human worker to the will of God. If we were left to follow our own inclinations, to go just where our will would lead us, we should fall into Satan’s ranks and become possessors of his attributes. Therefore God confines us to His will, which is high, and noble, and elevating. He desires that we shall patiently and wisely take up the duties of service. The yoke of service Christ Himself has borne in humanity. He said, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8. “I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” John 6:38. Love for God, zeal for His glory, and love for fallen humanity, brought Jesus to earth to suffer and to die. This was the controlling power of His life. This principle He bids us adopt. DA 329.3There are many whose hearts are aching under a load of care because they seek to reach the world’s standard. They have chosen its service, accepted its perplexities, adopted its customs. Thus their character is marred, and their life made a weariness. In order to gratify ambition and worldly desires, they wound the conscience, and bring upon themselves an additional burden of remorse. The continual worry is wearing out the life forces. Our Lord desires them to lay aside this yoke of bondage. He invites them to accept His yoke; He says, “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” He bids them seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and His promise is that all things needful to them for this life shall be added. Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of God supreme will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet. DA 330.1

“Learn of Me,” says Jesus; “for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest.” We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God. DA 330.2

In the heart of Christ, where reigned perfect harmony with God, there was perfect peace. He was never elated by applause, nor dejected by censure or disappointment. Amid the greatest opposition and the most cruel treatment, He was still of good courage. But many who profess to be His followers have an anxious, troubled heart, because they are afraid to trust themselves with God. They do not make a complete surrender to Him; for they shrink from the consequences that such a surrender may involve. Unless they do make this surrender, they cannot find peace. DA 330.3

It is the love of self that brings unrest. When we are born from above, the same mind will be in us that was in Jesus, the mind that led Him to humble Himself that we might be saved. Then we shall not be seeking the highest place. We shall desire to sit at the feet of Jesus, and learn of Him. We shall understand that the value of our work does not consist in making a show and noise in the world, and in being active and zealous in our own strength. The value of our work is in proportion to the impartation of the Holy Spirit. Trust in God brings holier qualities of mind, so that in patience we may possess our souls. DA 330.4

Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping, their lives to His ordering, will find peace and quietude. Nothing of the world can make them sad when Jesus makes them glad by His presence. In perfect acquiescence there is perfect rest. The Lord says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” Isaiah 26:3. Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory—character—of Christ will be received into the Paradise of God. A renovated race shall walk with Him in white, for they are worthy.” 

“For they are worthy”.  Love those words.  I want to be worthy to meet Christ in peace, to stand in His presence and live with Him throughout eternity.  What about you? 

My last post was entitled “Early Will I seek Thee”.  I hope that you enjoyed reading and meditating upon those inspiring words as I enjoyed writing and sharing with you.  As I continue to read E.M. Bounds on Prayer, I will share certain excerpts that I believe will challenge us, make us consider our walk with God and our prayer life.  Is it a prayer life that pants and thirsts after righteousness, as David uttered in Psalms 42:1,2  “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?”

I will begin with a quote from Charles Spurgeon:
“We must remember that the goal of prayer is the ear of God.  Unless that is gained, the prayer has utterly failed. The uttering of it may have kindled devotional feeling in our minds, the hearing of it may have comforted and strengthened the hearts of those with whom we have prayed, but if the prayer has not gained the heart of God, it has failed in its essential purpose.” 

Excerpts from E.M. Bounds on Prayer, Chapter 3:

“In prayer, man’s access to God opens everything, and makes his impoverishment his wealth.  We have seen how prayer changes the purposes of God, and stays or moves His mighty hand.  All things are available to man through prayer.  Man is given the privilege to command God, who has all this authority and power, in accordance with the demands of God’s earthly kingdom.  Look again at the passage in Psalm 2, beginning with verse eight:
“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.  Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”  Psalms 2:8,9.  
Heaven, with all that is has, is under obligation to carry out the ultimate, final, and glorious purposes of God.  Why, then, is the time so long in carrying out these wise benedictions for man?  Why, then, does sin reign so long?  Why are the oath-bound covenant promises so long in coming to their gracious end?  Sin reigns, Satan reigns, sighing marks the lives of many; all tears are fresh and full. 
Why is all this so?  Because we have not prayed to bring the evil to an end; we have not prayed as we must pray.  We have not met the conditions of prayer. 
More praying, and better praying, is the key to the whole matter.  The more time we spend in prayer, and the more preparations we make to meet God, the more we will commune with God through Christ.  But our manner of praying, and the things about which we pray, are not entirely pleasing to God.  Baptist philosopher John Foster has said, “More and better praying will bring the surest and readiest triumph to God’s cause; feeble, formal, listless praying brings decay and death.” 

What, then, are we to do?  We must prepare ourselves to pray, to be like Christ, and to pray like Christ.  We must meet the conditions of prayer.  We can begin to examine the conditions of prayer by reading these verses from Isaiah:
“Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.  I have made the earth, and created man upon it:  I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.”  Isaiah 45:11, 12.

Ask of Me. Ask of God.  We have not rested on prayer.  We have not made prayer the sole condition.  There has been a violation of the primary condition of prayer.  We have not prayed correctly.  We have not prayed at all.  God is willing to give, but we are slow to ask.  The Son, through His saints, is ever praying (see Hebrews 7:25), and God the Father is ever answering.
 Ask of Me.  In the invitation is conveyed the assurance of an answer; the shout of victory is there and may be heard by the listening ear.  The Father holds the authority and power in His hands.  How easy is the condition, and yet how slow we are in fulfilling the condition!  Nations are in bondage; the uttermost parts of the earth are still not possessed.  The earth groans (see Romans 8:22); the world is still in bondage; and Satan and evil hold sway. 
Ask of Me.  The Father holds Himself in the attitude of Giver, and a petition to God the Father empowers all agencies, inspires all movements.  The Gospel is divinely inspired, and behind all its inspirations is prayer.  Standing as the endowment of the enthroned Christ is the oath-bound covenant of the Father:  “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Psalms 2:8.  And men shall prayer to Him continually.  See Psalms 72:15. 
But not all praying is true praying.  The driving power, the conquering force in God’s cause, must be God Himself.  “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3), is God’s challenge to pray.  Prayer puts God in full force into His own work. “Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me” (Isaiah 45:11), is God’s carte blanche to prayer.  Faith is only omnipotent when on its knees; and when its outstretched hands take hold of God, then it draws upon the utmost of God’s capacity, for only a praying faith can get God’s “all things whatsoever.” 

“…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.  And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.”  James 5:16-18.
But why do we not obtain results by our praying?  Why are our prayers not answered?  Our lack of results, and the cause of all our feebleness in faith, was explained by the apostle James in these words:  “Ye have not, because ye ask not.  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”  James 4:2, 3.
Oneness with Christ is the glorious climax of spiritual attainment, because we can then “ask what we will, and it shall be done unto us” (John 15:7).  Therefore, we must be one with Him.  We must pray in His name, for prayer in Jesus’ name puts the crowning crown on God; it glorifies Him through the Son and pledges the Son to give to men “whatsoever” and anything they ask.  That is the whole truth, in a nutshell.” 

What a wonderful promise that we can ask anything in Jesus’ name as it is in God’s will because He knows what is best. 
I will share again, but may God richly bless and strengthen us in our prayer life and to do His will. 

I have struggled for years with getting to bed on time, that is at least by 10 pm.  May be different for others.  As a physician I know the benefits of getting a good night’s rest.  It is during those hours of inactivity that the body has time to heal, rejuvenate and restore.

However, there is also a very important reason to get to bed early, so that we can rise early.  It is for our spiritual health.  Just as the physical body heals, rejuvenates and restores, so it is with our spiritual body when we rise early to meet with God in prayer. 

The Psalmist, David wrote “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee…”  Psalms 63:1  and “My voice shalt thou hear early in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up”.  Psalms 5:3

I will share a chapter from the book, E.M. Bounds on Prayer, section on Power through Prayer, chapter 7.  Here is eloquently shared the importance and reward of seeking God first and early.  As Robert Murray McCheyne stated, “I feel that it is far better to begin with God – to seek His face first – to get my soul near Him before it is near another”.

E.M. Bounds, Power through Prayer, Chapter 7:

“The men who have done the most for God in this world have been early on their knees.  He who fritters away the early morning – its opportunity and freshness – in other pursuits than seeking God will make poor headway seeking Him the rest of the day.  If God is not first in our thoughts and efforts in the morning, He (God) will be last during the remainder of the day. 

Behind this early rising and early praying is the intense desire that urges us into this pursuit after God.  Morning listlessness indicates a listless heart.   The heart that is lax in seeking God in morning has lost its relish for God.  David’s heart was ardent after God.  He hungered and thirsted after God.  He sought God early, before daylight.  The bed and sleep could not chain his soul in the eagerness after God.  Christ longed for communion with God; and so, rising a great while before day, He would go out to the mountain to pray.  The disciples, when fully awake and ashamed of their indulgence, knew where to find Him.  We could list men who have mightily impressed the world for God, and we would find that they were early in seeking after God. 

A desire for God that cannot break the chains of sleep is a weak thing and will do little good for God.  The desire for God that stays far behind the Devil and the world at the beginning of the day will never catch up. 

It is not simply getting up that has brought men to the front and has made them leaders in God’s hosts.  It is the overwhelming desire that stirs and breaks all self-indulgent chains that does so.  But getting up gives vent, increase, and strength to the desire.  If they had lain in bed and indulged themselves, the desire would have quenched.  The desire aroused them and inspired them to reach out for God. 

This heeding and acting on the call gave their faith its grasp on God, and their hearts the sweetest and fullest revelation of Him.  This strength of faith and fullness of revelation made them saints by eminence.  The halo of their sainthood has come down to us, and we have entered into the enjoyment of their conquests.  But we take our fill in enjoyment of them, and not in imitating them.  We build their tombs and write their epitaphs, but are careful not to follow their examples. 

We need a generation of preachers who seek God and seek Him early.  We need men who give the freshness and dew of effort to God, and in return secure the freshness and fullness of His power, that He may be as the dew to them – full of gladness and strength through all the heal and labor of the day.  Our laziness after God is our crying sin.  The children of this world are far wiser than we.  They are at it early and late.  We do not seek God with ardor and diligence.  No man receives God who does not follow hard after Him.  And no soul follows hard after God who is not after Him in early morn.” 

I will close with an admonition from a renowned preacher, Charles Spurgeon on prayer:

“One night alone in prayer might make us new men (or women), change from poverty of soul to spiritual wealth, from trembling to triumphing.  We have an example of it in the life of Jacob.  He was once the crafty shuffler, always bargaining and calculating, unlovely in almost every respect.  Yet, one night in prayer turned the supplanter into a prevailing prince, and robed him with celestial grandeur.  From that night, he lived on the sacred page as one of the nobility of heaven.  Could we not, at least now and then, in these weary earthbound years, hedge about a single night for such enriching traffic with the skies? 

What, have we no sacred ambition?  Are we deaf to the yearnings of divine love?  Yet, my fellow believers, men will cheerfully quit their warm couches for wealth and for science.  Can we not do it now and again for the love of God and the good of souls?  Where is our zeal, our gratitude, or sincerity?  I am ashamed while I thus upbraid both myself and you.  May we often tarry at Jabbok (the river near which Jacob wrestled through the night), and cry with Jacob, as he grasped the angel –
With thee all night I mean to stay,
And wrestle till the break of day.

Surely brethren, if we have given whole days to folly, we can afford a space for heavenly wisdom.

There was a time when we gave whole nights to chambering and wantonness, to dancing and the world’s revelry; we did not tire then; we were chiding the sun that he rose so soon, and wishing the hours would lag awhile that we might delight in wilder merriment and perhaps deeper sin.  Oh, why then do we weary in heavenly employments?  Why do we grow weary when asked to watch with our Lord?  Up, sluggish heart, Jesus calls you!  Rise and go forth to meet the heavenly Friend in the place where He manifests Himself.”

After reading the chapter and this quote from Spurgeon, I felt as they did, ashamed because God is so faithful to me and He sustains each breath that I breathe, every second of every day.  He does this for you and for me, although so unworthy, because of unconditional love. 

I hope that you are inspired with me to, “purpose in our hearts” to meet with Him early each day to be renewed, strengthened and guided to do His will. 

And he said, “Woe unto you also, [ye] lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.  Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres”. (Luke 11:46-48 [KJV])

A One-Man Power

…is not Christian, not Constitutional.

The Dismantling of the Republic

Can true freedom be found under the dictates of one man or the “combine”?

We pause to define “spirit of combine, or combine”.  In every boardroom in America and universally, there is always one individual who has a dominant spirit and the other members learn early not to cross that person.  Most decisions are made to benefit that one mind. The majority of people in position of trust whether it be a local office or the presidency are followers and lack the conviction to directly confront and stand on principles of truth.  Therefore, many decisions that are made are the result of a few or the most dominant of the lot. That one person and their paid sycophants will bend and twist facts until they have their way.  That is “the spirit of combine”. COMBINE: To unite, agree or coalesce.

The quote made by Lord Acton, truly stands out, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely…”  This fact cannot be controverted.  God’s words in Jeremiah 10: 23 are very clear. “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps”. Dependence upon God and God alone is the only true freedom and safety, not with any other human person or the “combine”.

One of the worse mistakes that is made by nations is to entrust its democracy and freedom to lawyers.  By nature the law profession code is the end justifies the means. Regardless of how egregious an act is, lawyers find reason to justify it.  Consequently, laws are interpreted to benefit the few, mainly the wealthy.

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered”. (Luke 11:52 [KJV])

I came across a book entitled “One Man Power” by A. T. Jones and it held my attention, especially the first few pages. In reading this small book, of only six pages, some interesting connections were made in my mind about the world as it is today in light of Covid-19. How many things have changed within the last 18 months and despite what some may hope for, will never really resort to the “normal” that once was. We now have the phrase, “new normal”.

Here are the opening paragraphs:

“TO-DAY many remarkable things are occurring, and so openly before the eyes of all that every thoughtful person is compelled to query, what do these things mean? One, among the most remarkable of these remarkable things of to-day, may be best defined as the universal spirit of combine. Everywhere, among all classes, and in all lines of effort, there prevails this spirit of combine. OMP 1.1

This spirit of combine is not merely an extension of the sound principle of cooperation or unity of action of individuals acting collectively toward a common purpose. It is not, in any sense, the principle of cooperation of unity of action of individuals acting as such, collectively toward a common purpose. It is instead the principle of one mind, of one individual, dominating all others possible, and using all these to the one purpose of that one mind or individual. OMP 1.2

This truth and this distinction are demonstrated in the universally-known fact that the first effect of this spirit is to deny, to override, and to crush out, all right and all freedom of the individual; as instanced in the trust, whether it be the Standard Oil Trust, the Steel Trust, or a fruit trust. Whatever business is may be that is comprehended in the trust, no individual is allowed to do anything in that line of trade except as the servant of the trust, and absolutely subject to the dictation of the trust. If the “combine” takes the form, not of the trust as such, but of the labor union, then no individual is allowed to work, except as the servant of the union and under the absolute dictation of the union.” OMP 1.3

How does our Heavenly Father view freedom? The issue for us as professing Christians is, will we give God the rightful place in our lives or will we serve the combine? Read on…

“Another effect, and the direct logic of the combine, is a one-man power. This is to-day manifest on every hand; the head of the trust can dictate daily what the whole people shall pay for their sugar, their kerosene, their nails, etc; the head of the union can dictate just what the employer shall do, and how he shall conduct his business, or whether he shall conduct it at all. In the railroad strike of 1894, that reached from Buffalo to San Francisco. It occurred that two

governors of sovereign states could not travel on official business within their own respective states without permission of the one-man head of the strike combine, who dominated from Chicago the greater part of the whole country of the United States. OMP 3.1

The logic of a one-man power is always a despotism. This is certain, because of the nature of man himself. And it has proved so universally true that it is universally understood. Indeed, it was the character of the rule of the man who held the innocent office of despot that gave to that word its terrible meaning. OMP 3.2

The logic of a one-man power is a despotism, and it is a despotism in all relations, religious as well as other. This, too, is inevitable, because, as we have already seen, the spirit of the combine is the spirit that leads one mind to usurp the place and power of God over the minds, the rights, the persons, and the property of others, and by force compel them to his one purpose. And as it is certain that a man in the place of God will always act unlike God, it is also certain that his power will always be exerted in compelling them to do things contrary to the righteousness of God. This has been the unvarying history of it from the mighty despotism of Nimrod, the first that arose since the Flood, to be partly but growing ones of to-day. For Nimrod was not only a mighty hunter of beasts, but of men, also. He pursued and compelled men to recognize his authority in all things; they must worship as he dictated, and his example has been invariably followed. It was followed by Pharaoh, by Nebuchadnezzar, by Darius, by the Caesars, and by the Popes. OMP 4.1

It never has failed, and it never will fail, that a one-man power develops a despotism, and a despotism in religion as well as other affairs of life. And those who disregarded the spirit of the combine and maintained their individual integrity, have always been in the right, and are the true heroes of the ages. OMP 4.2

Abraham disregarded the spirit and power of the combine established by Nimrod, and maintained his individual integrity with God; and God vindicated him, called him out of it unto an eternal reward, and made him an example unto all men, “the father of all them that be of faith,” and “the friend of God.” OMP 5.1

In my bible study group, we constantly enforce that the stories in the bible are for us. For our admonition. (1 Corinthians 10:11) Not only Abraham, but as A. T. Jones, so eloquently put it…

“Moses did it in Egypt. God maintained his cause, delivered him and his whole people from it, made him the greatest legislator of all times, and took him to an eternal reward. OMP 5.2

In the face of a blazing furnace of sevenfold heat the three Hebrews did it in the presence of Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. God vindicated their course, preserved them in the midst of the fire, brought them forth unscathed, changed the king’s word, and made the circumstance a lesson to all kings and all combines forever. OMP 5.3

Daniel did it individually alone in the presence of the Medo-Persian combine and the den of hungry lions. God vindicated him, because of his “innocency” in the matter, and again made the individual an example to all men, and the circumstance a lesson to all one-man powers and combines, forever. OMP 5.4

John the Baptist did it, Jesus Christ did it, Stephen did it, all the apostles and early Christians did it, not in a “combine,” but wholly as individuals, each for himself alone, in disregard of the greatest one-man power, and so the greatest despotism, of all ancient times. OMP 5.5

John Wycliffe, John Huss, and Martin Luther did it against the greatest one-man power, and so the greatest despotism, of all time, ancient or modern. OMP 5.6

These are the ones who have kept alive liberty and the rights of mankind through the ages, and have saved the world from being engulfed long ago in the vortex of unmitigated despotisms.” OMP 6.1

“When from Nimrod onward the despotism, the combine, of a one-man power, had afflicted the world for a long series of ages, there arose a people who renounced all that as akin to it, and established a government of the people. They threw off all kingship, and declared that they needed no such figment to govern them, but that they were capable of governing themselves, and so established a government of the people, by the people, and for the people—individual self-government, the republic of Rome. They were right. The principle was sound, and the government was a grand success—while the people really governed themselves. But the grandeur of their success brought results which caused the Roman people to lose the faculty of governing themselves; and the government fell to cliques, coteries, and combines.” OMP 6.2

“…Again there was a long series of kingships expanding into empire, with their consequent tyranny, though these tyrannies were so far overtopped by the one greatest of all tyrannies—the Papacy—that they were but slightly felt in comparison. Then after that series of ages of kingships and imperialism there arose another people who cast off all kingship and established a government of the people. They declared that men are capable of governing themselves, and that, therefore, governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. Accordingly, they established a government of the people, by the people, for the people—individual self-government, the republic of the United States. These men were right. These principles are sound. The government was a grand success so long as the people governed themselves.” OMP 7.1

“But how many of the people of the United States to-day are self-governing? And it must not be forgotten that the majority is, in effect, the government. In a government of the people, when a majority fail to govern themselves, the government is gone. In the world of business and traffic in the United States to-day, how many of the people are governing themselves in their own business?—The vast majority are governed by the trusts. In the world of labor to-day, how many of the people govern themselves?—The vast majority are governed by the unions. In the realm of government itself in the United States, in politics, how many of the people govern themselves?—Almost the whole body of them are governed by “the party,” by “the machine,” by “the boss,” and according to “the state.” OMP 8.1

It is interesting to me that what was written by Elder Jones, was written in the 1900s. We are told in the Word of God, that history repeats, Ecclesiastes 1:9. This will surely take place as we see the current climate, we are rushing headlong to meet our destiny.

“Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?” Great Controversy (GC) 593.2

We will have to make a choice. No middle ground. With the precious time that we do have, let us purpose in our hearts and like Joshua who said, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve;..but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

“The gospel is a wonderful simplifier of life’s problems. Its instruction, heeded, would make plain many a perplexity and save us from many an error. It teaches us to estimate things at their true value and to give the most effort to the things of greatest worth–the things that will endure. This lesson is needed by those upon whom rests the responsibility of selecting a home. They should not allow themselves to be diverted from the highest aim. Let them remember that the home on earth is to be a symbol of and a preparation for the home in heaven. Life is a training school, from which parents and children are to be graduated to the higher school in the mansions of God. As the location for a home is sought, let this purpose direct the choice. Be not controlled by the desire for wealth, the dictates of fashion, or the customs of society. Consider what will tend most to simplicity, purity, health, and real worth” {Ministry of Healing (MH) 363.1} 

Our last post  guided our thoughts as to the reasons why there is a breakdown  in the family unit as a pillar of strength, unity and virtue in our world today.  It was not a picture of hope or happiness for the future, but as we look to our Heavenly Father, whose love is unconditional, we see solutions.  His promises of forgiveness and restoration awaits us if we will only turn away from ourselves and seek him who is infinite in love and mercy.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7 [KJV])

The restoration and uplifting of humanity begin in the home. The work of parents underlies every other. Society is composed of families, and is what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart are “the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23); and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences.  {MH 349.1}

The breaking of the family structure is not new. 

The thing that hath been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done: and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun. Is there [any] thing whereof it may be said, See, this [is] new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10 [KJV])

Therefore, the Bible gives and shows us how to recover from this calamity.  Parenting is the problem, consequently,  the remedy is with parents.  
History, nature and inspiration clearly teaches that this world revolves, we live in a circuit and things always go back from whence they came. 
[One] generation passeth away, and [another] generation cometh: but the earth abideth forever. The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. (Ecclesiastes 1:4-7 [KJV])

Looking at the state of things, it seems hopeless, but God has promised that He will have a remnant, and through that remnant, the restoration of all that is lost.
“The spiritual restoration of which the work carried forward in Nehemiah’s day was a symbol, is outlined in the words of Isaiah: “They shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities.” “They that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” Isaiah 61:4;  58:12.  {Prophets and Kings (PK) 677.2}   “In the time of the end every divine institution is to be restored”. {PK 677.4}  The Family is the first of these divine institutions. 

His promise, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse”. (Malachi 4:5-6 [KJV])

“Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children. (Isaiah 49:24-25 [KJV])

With the clock ticking in our favor,(the time of refreshing/restoration) and armed with these mighty promises, let us rise up as parents, acknowledging our failure and confess our own-wayness that causes us to put our careers before our duty.  Acknowledge to our children that by our words and action we have led them to believe that “things”- houses, cars, status and money mean success, and that was wrong.  Surely if these things meant success, then those who possess these things should not have broken homes and wretched lives.
Let us as fathers and mothers purpose to be a part of the solution.  Study the Prayer of Nehemiah. Nehemiah 1:5-11 and Titus chapter two and ask God for help.
Since this is a repeated history, let us look at the solution.  After seventy years of Babylonish captivity the situation was so dire that scripture record this, “And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people”. (Nehemiah 13:24 [KJV])

At the end of the years of humiliating exile, God graciously gave to His people Israel, through Zechariah, the assurance: “I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.” And of His people He said, “Behold, . . . I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.” Zechariah 8:3, 7, 8.
Rich were the rewards, both temporal and spiritual, promised those who should put into practice these principles of righteousness. “The seed shall be prosperous,” the Lord declared; “the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things. And it shall come to pass, that as ye were a curse among the heathen, O house of Judah, and house of Israel; so I will save you, and ye shall be a blessing.” Zechariah 8:12, 13.  {PK 704.2} 

By the Babylonish captivity the Israelites were effectually cured of the worship of graven images. After their return, they gave much attention to religious instruction and to the study of that which had been written in the book of the law and in the prophets concerning the worship of the true God. The restoration of the temple enabled them to carry out fully the ritual services of the sanctuary. Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, of Ezra, and of Nehemiah they repeatedly covenanted to keep all the commandments and ordinances of Jehovah. The seasons of prosperity that followed gave ample evidence of God’s willingness to accept and forgive, and yet with fatal shortsightedness they turned again and again from their glorious destiny and selfishly appropriated to themselves that which would have brought healing and spiritual life to countless multitudes.  {PK 705.1} 

Parents, do not asked your children to do that which you are not willing to do.  Lead by consistent example.  First put away the great evil of today, “social media” and by diligent example devote time to the word of God especially those portions that cover revival and reformation.  Ask God for help to stem the tide of evil seen in this generation, for God is consistent, and His dealing with men is ever the same. Show your children what constitutes true success, and point out clearly that living outside of God’s will is a sure way to failure.

 The scripture begs us to ask. 
“Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession”. (Psalms 2:8 [KJV])

“But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee: Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind”. (Job 12:7-10 [KJV])

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. (Matthew 7:7 [KJV])

 All the mighty resources of heaven await our response.  

My fellow readers and especially those who love the Lord and are seekers of truth; in light of the unexpected events of 2020 and the disturbing events of January 6, 2021 at the Capital, I wanted to share excerpts from an address given by A. T. Jones at the Metropolitan Temple, San Francisco, California on June 14, 1896 with the title given to this blog post. This address was given over 100 years after the independence of this Republic and when there was cause to look intently at what it really meant to be “patriotic”. Many who congregated that day and took part in the storming of the Capital building consider themselves “Christians and Patriots”. It seems that in a now divided, United States of America, there is cause to look again.  The intent in sharing, is that we be reminded of what was precious and noble about this country.

Here is the excerpt from that address:

“FELLOW CITIZENS, LOVERS OF RIGHT AND TRUTH: as announced, I am to speak to you this afternoon on the question, What Is Patriotism in the United States?The first point in this inquiry is, what is patriotism in any country? What is patriotism in itself? {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.1}
Patriotism is usually defined, in brief; as love of country; but love of country is more than the love of the mountains and hills, the plains, valleys, rivers, and rills, of which the country is composed.

More fully defined, patriotism is the spirit which prompts obedience to the laws of one’s country, and to the support and defense of its existence, rights, and institutions. Thus, love of country is really love of the institutions and the principles which make a country what it is in all respects. {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.2}

If love of country were simply love of the mountains and hills, valleys and plains, rivers and rills,—the landscape,—of which the country is composed, there could never be any such thing as civil war; for plainly there could never be any dispute over that, among people inhabiting the same territory. It is evident, therefore, that patriotism in truth lies in love of the principles and institutions which make a country what it is in all respects it is loyalty to those specific principles and institutions. Hence, the patriot is correctly defined as “any defender of liberty, civil or religious.” {1898 ATJ, WIP 1.3}

What, then, is patriotism in the United States? In order that this question shall be rightly answered, it is essential that we study the fundamental principles which characterize this nation, which are the basis of its government, and which have made it all that it has ever been among the nations of the earth. Having learned this, and knowing that patriotism is the spirit which prompts obedience to the laws of one’s country, and the support and defense of its principles and institutions, it will be easy for all to discern what is, and what is not, patriotism here. Firm allegiance, strict adherence, to these fundamental principles is in the nature of the case patriotism. Any forgetting, any ignoring, or any disregarding of these principles, however much those who do so may proclaim their patriotism, is in truth, the very opposite.”
{1898 ATJ, WIP 2.1}     
There can be no question but that the Declaration of Independence was the beginning of this nation. And the first principle embodied in that immortal declaration is that “all men are created equal, and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights.” {1898 ATJ, WIP 2.2}

The first and greatest of all the rights of men is religious right. And “religion” is “the duty which we owe to our Creator, and the manner of discharging it.” The first of all duties is to the Creator, because to him we owe our existence. Therefore the first of all commandments, and the first that there can possibly be, is this: “Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God is one Lord; and thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (Mark 12: 29, 30 KJV). {1898 ATJ, WIP 2.3} A. T. Jones, June 14, 1896

Since the first of all rights is religious, then the second is civil.  “And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:31 KJV) 
“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Gal 5:14 KJV)

It is those truths that have guided the forefathers in making the Declaration of Independence and with firm conviction were prepared to sacrifice all, including life, for that conviction.

Patriots are men and women who will conscientiously search out  matters, weighing every detail until they arrive at truth and then take their stand. Having arrived at truth, conviction takes hold and they stand in defense of those truths though the heavens fall. 

Anything short of this, regardless of who utters it, it is not patriotism.

“…because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
2 Thessalonians 2: 10-12

I will end here with a quote from God’s word and a caution from Thomas Jefferson which is almost prophetic in its tone:

“The spirit of the times may alter, will alter.  Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless.  A single zealot may commence persecution, and better men be his victims.  It can never be too often repeated, that the time for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is while our rulers are honest, and ourselves united.  From the conclusion of this war, we shall be going downhill.  It will not be necessary then to resort every moment to the people for support.  They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded.  They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights.  The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.” Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, Query XV11.  In American  State Papers, page 101.  

“Lying lips are abomination to the LORD; but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12: 22