 ~February 7, 2023~
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The Greatest Story
by Richard Myers
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John chapter 3:16
The way to heaven is to be understood and taught. There is only one way. We must know God, we must love Him with all of the heart. If you sit at the feet of a teacher, then know that he understands this, that He points you not to men, but to Christ and His inspired Word.
What greater love could God have, than to allow His innocent Son to come to this dark spot in the universe to take our sins upon himself? This
Jesus after reproving Nicodemus pointed Nicodemus to an uplifted Savior as the only way to be "born of the Spirit. 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. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? John 3:5-10.
Why? Because when one spends a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus, especially the part when He hung on the cross with His back bleeding from the stripes that ought to have been ours, the heart is crushed and we surrender it wholly to Christ. By beholding this great love for us, we are changed into His image (character).
It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell. It becomes assimilated to that which it is accustomed to love and reverence. Man will never rise higher than his standard of purity or goodness or truth. Great Controversy, pg 555. Again, Cor. 3:18: 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.
A knowledge of God is everything. When we understand who He is (His character), and His love, we will love Him supremely.
From the beginning God has wrought through His people to bring blessing to the world. To the ancient Egyptian nation God made Joseph a fountain of life. Through the integrity of Joseph the life of that whole people was preserved. Through Daniel God saved the life of all the wise men of Babylon. And these deliverances are as object lessons; they illustrate the spiritual blessings offered to the world through connection with the God whom Joseph and Daniel worshiped. Everyone in whose heart Christ abides, everyone who will show forth His love to the world, is a worker together with God for the blessing of humanity. As he receives from the Saviour grace to impart to others, from his whole being flows forth the tide of spiritual life.
God chose Israel to reveal His character to men. He desired them to be as wells of salvation in the world. To them were committed the oracles of heaven, the revelation of God’s will. In the early days of Israel the nations of the world, through corrupt practices, had lost the knowledge of God. They had once known Him; but because “they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, ... their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21. Yet in His mercy God did not blot them out of existence. He purposed to give them an opportunity of again becoming acquainted with Him through His chosen people. Through the teachings of the sacrificial service, Christ was to be uplifted before all nations, and all who would look to Him should live. Christ was the foundation of the Jewish economy. The whole system of types and symbols was a compacted prophecy of the gospel, a presentation in which were bound up the promises of redemption. But the people of Israel lost sight of their high privileges as God’s representatives. They forgot God and failed to fulfill their holy mission. The blessings they received brought no blessing to the world. All their advantages they appropriated for their own glorification. They shut themselves away from the world in order to escape temptation. The restrictions that God had placed upon their association with idolaters as a means of preventing them from conforming to the practices of the heathen, they used to build up a wall of separation between themselves and all other nations. They robbed God of the service He required of them, and they robbed their fellow men of religious guidance and a holy example. Acts of the Apostle, pg 14.
Because of their unfaithfulness, God’s purpose could be wrought out only through continued adversity and humiliation. They were brought into subjection to Babylon, and scattered through the lands of the heathen. In affliction many renewed their faithfulness to His covenant. While they hung their harps upon the willows, and mourned for the holy temple that was laid waste, the light of truth shone out through them, and a knowledge of God was spread among the nations. Desire of Ages, pg 28.
A knowledge of God brings about a new life. He whose heart has responded to the divine touch will be seeking for that which will increase his knowledge of God, and will refine and elevate the character. As a flower turns to the sun, that the bright rays may touch it with tints of beauty, so will the soul turn to the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven’s light may beautify the character with the graces of the character of Christ. Desire of Ages, pg 468.
Do we have a knowledge of God and His great love? In the story of the birth of Jesus is hidden “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Romans 11:33. Again, the knowledge of God is everything. Jesus presented Himself as one thirsting for a knowledge of God. His questions were suggestive of deep truths which had long been obscured, yet which were vital to the salvation of souls. Desire of Ages, pg 78.
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. Desire of Ages, pg 328.
So it is today, God has entrusted a knowledge of God's great love to His people, His church. Have we done better than Israel of Old? If so, Jesus would have come long ago. We, as a people have misrepresented His character and brought reproach upon His name. The world does not know God's character because we have not rightly represented Him. By sinning we have supported Satan's charges that we cannot obey God's commandments.
What is it about the knowledge of God that is the way to heaven? It is His grace. It is grace that transforms sinners into saints. Grace is more than a Word, it is the power that transforms the nature of sinners.
The world is at enmity with the law of God; sinners are at enmity with their Maker; and as a result they are at enmity with one another. But the psalmist declares, “Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165. Men cannot manufacture peace. Human plans for the purification and uplifting of individuals or of society will fail of producing peace, because they do not reach the heart. The only power that can create or perpetuate true peace is the grace of Christ. When this is implanted in the heart, it will cast out the evil passions that cause strife and dissension. “Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;” and life’s desert “shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.” Isaiah 55:13; 35:1. Desire of Ages, pg 302.
It is true that our righteousness is as filthy rags. But, today, God wants to give you white raiment that will allow you into the wedding feast. That raiment will not cover unconfessed and unforsaken sin.. The filthy rags are removed when you give your whole heart to Christ. Then His righteousness is revealed in those who love Him supremely and are filled with the Holy Spirit.
By beholding His glory we are changed into His image, His character!! Is this true? Then our righteousness is not as filthy rags!! We can
How can this be?. By spending a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus, especially the closing scenes where we see His great love. This is where you get to know God really well, so you can trust Him with all you have and all you are.
Here's another thought that the Bible says hides both the wisdom and knowledge of God. Is this what we want, to know God? To know of His character which is LOVE? Then take special note:
The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.” Romans 11:33. We marvel at the Saviour’s sacrifice in exchanging the throne of heaven for the manger, and the companionship of adoring angels for the beasts of the stall. Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence. Yet this was but the beginning of His wonderful condescension. It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.
The heart of the human father yearns over his son. He looks into the face of his little child, and trembles at the thought of life’s peril. He longs to shield his dear one from Satan’s power, to hold him back from temptation and conflict. To meet a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only-begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for our little ones. “Herein is love.” Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth! Desire of Ages, pg 49.
Yes, wonder and be astonished, this great love is the greatest story ever told. It is our joy to take this message to a world soon to perish.
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