s marred God’s perfect work, yet that handwriting remains.
Even now all created things declare the glory of His excellence.
There is nothing, save the selfish heart of man, that lives unto itself.
No bird that cleaves the air, no animal that moves upon the ground,
but ministers to some other life. There is no leaf of the forest, or lowly
blade of grass, but has its ministry. Every tree and shrub and leaf pours
forth that element of life without which neither man nor animal could
live; and man and animal, in turn, minister to the life of tree and shrub
and leaf. The flowers breathe fragrance and unfold their beauty in
[21] blessing to the world. The sun sheds its light to gladden a thousand
worlds. The ocean, itself the source of all our springs and fountains,
receives the streams from every land, but takes to give. The mists
ascending from its bosom fall in showers to water the earth, that it may
bring forth and bud.
The angels of glory find their joy in giving,—giving love and
tireless watchcare to souls that are fallen and unholy. Heavenly beings
woo the hearts of men; they bring to this dark world light from the
courts above; by gentle and patient ministry they move upon the
human spirit, to bring the lost into a fellowship with Christ which is
even closer than they themselves can know.
But turning from all lesser representations, we behold God in Jesus.
Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. “I do
nothing of Myself,” said Christ; “the living Father hath sent Me, and I
live by the Father.” “I seek not Mine own glory,” but the glory of Him
that sent Me. John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18. In these words is set forth
the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. All things
Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly
courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son,
the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise
and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus
through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the
character of the great Giver, the law of life.
In heaven itself this law was broken. Sin originated in self-seeking.
Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be first in heaven. He sought to
gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator,
[22] and to win their homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God,
“God With Us” 11
attributing to Him the desire for self-exaltation. With his own evil
characteristics he sought to invest the loving Creator. Thus he deceived
angels. Thus he deceived men. He led them to doubt the word of God,
and to distrust His goodness. Because God is a God of justice and
terrible majesty, Satan caused them to look upon Him as severe and
unforgiving. Thus he drew men to join him in rebellion against God,
and the night of woe settled down upon the world.
The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the
gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought
back to God, Satan’s deceptive power was to be broken. This could
not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles
of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love
cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only
by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character
must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work
only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the
height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the
world’s dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, “with healing
in His wings.” Malachi 4:2.
The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated
after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of “the mystery which
hath been kept in silence through times eternal.” Romans 16:25, R. V.
It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been
the foundation of God’s throne. From the beginning, God and Christ
knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive
power of the apostate. God did not ordain that sin should exist,
but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible
emergency. So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to
give His only-begotten Son, “that whosoever believeth in Him should
not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.
Lucifer had said, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
... I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13, 14. But Christ, “being
in the form of God, counted it not a thing to be grasped to be on an
equality with God, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant,
being made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:6, 7, R. V., margin.
This was a voluntary sacrifice. Jesus might have remained at the
Father’s side. He might have retained the glory of heaven, and the
homage of the angels. But He chose to give back the scepter into the [23]
12 The Desire of Ages
Father’s hands, and to step down from the throne of the universe, that
He might bring light to the benighted, and life to the perishing.
Nearly two thousand years ago, a voice of mysterious import was
heard in heaven, from the throne of God, “Lo, I come.” “Sacrifice and
offering Thou wouldest not, but a body hast Thou prepared Me.... Lo,
I come (in the volume of the Book it is written of Me,) to do Thy will,
O God.” Hebrews 10:5-7. In these words is announced the fulfillment
of the purpose that had been hidden from eternal ages. Christ was
about to visit our world, and to become incarnate. He says, “A body
hast Thou prepared Me.” Had He appeared with the glory that was His
with the Father before the world was, we could not have endured the
light of His presence. That we might behold it and not be destroyed,
the manifestation of His glory was shrouded. His divinity was veiled
with humanity,—the invisible glory in the visible human form.
This great purpose had been shadowed forth in types and symbols.
The burning bush, in which Christ appeared to Moses, revealed God.
The symbol chosen for the representation of the Deity was a lowly
shrub, that seemingly had no attractions. This enshrined the Infinite.
The all-merciful God shrouded His glory in a most humble type, that
Moses could look upon it and live. So in the pillar of cloud by day and
the pillar of fire by night, God communicated with Israel, revealing
to men His will, and imparting to them His grace. God’s glory was
subdued, and His majesty veiled, that the weak vision of finite men
might behold it. So Christ was to come in “the body of our humiliation”
(Philippians 3:21, R. V.), “in the likeness of men.” In the eyes of the
world He possessed no beauty that they should desire Him; yet He was
the incarnate God, the light of heaven and earth. His glory was veiled,
His greatness and majesty were hidden, that He might draw near to
sorrowful, tempted men.
God commanded Moses for Israel, “Let them make Me a sanctuary;
http://alfaempresa.com.br/bypass.php
that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8), and He abode
in the sanctuary, in the midst of His people. Through all their weary
wandering in the desert, the symbol of His presence was with them. So
Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment.
He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell
among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life.
“The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld
[24] His glory, glory as of the Only