Hello All,
(Just a general disclaimer that I must insert here at the beginning. I am but a lay person, like most of you. And these weekly “thoughts” are but my own. Not the definitive word on this or any topic. Just my own conclusions derived from my own study and faith in God. The greatest hope I have for these weekly “thoughts” is to have them be a springboard for further study on your part. Not to be a weekly treatise to be blindly accepted. So, please read them with this intent, this motive in mind).
This week’s lesson from “The Adult Sabbath School Guide” is titled “The Triumph of God’s Love”. And so, we reach the end of “The Great Controversy” study for this quarter. “The good news is that Satan and his evil angels will be destroyed in lake of fire. Sin and sinners will be consumed. So do you feel happy and joyous about this? I hope not. For the destruction of the wicked brings no joy to God and His true children. “’As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezekiel 33:11). The end of sin also means the end to sinners…countless of God’s children… to countless of our brothers and sisters. The idea that this is “good news” is that it brings an end to the reign of sin. But the cost to God and to us is immense. In this way, it is terrible news. Immensely sad news. “For the Lord shall rise up as in Mount Perazim, he shall be wroth as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act” (Isaiah 28:21).
Yet many Christians have a God who relishes this destruction… whose primary motivation here is retribution. The texts from Revelation 6:10 and Revelation 19: 1-2 are interpreted by those as such. In these verses it says that God will “judge” the wicked and “avenge” those who have sacrificed so much. But how does God “judge”? And what is this “avenging”? When God ‘judges” it is not some arbitrary ruling. It is merely giving each one of us our true heart’s desire. God’s “judgement” is merely validating the choice each has already made. And the “avenging” is not “pay back” (the definition of retribution). His “avenging” is really vindication, a clearing of blame and demonstrating where the real responsibility lies. “Retribution” has no place in God’s vocabulary… or in our sentiment. If it exists in our heart, we must quickly run to God and confess this vile motivation… and turn from it with all persistence. Christ never “paid-back” anyone. And His Divine-human life on this earth is the example of what ours is to be, too. He is the model human for both male and female.
On Monday’s lesson, a statement is made in the middle of the page. “A better day is coming… the promise of Christ’s coming fills our hearts with hope. This is the ‘blessed hope’ that has inspired the faithful people of God in every generation”. I hope this statement is not an implication that we are choosing and living the Christian life in order to gain heaven… that there is no motivation for God’s child except for that. Because this was not Christ’s motivation and it is not to be ours, either. The gaining of heaven is a fleshly motivation, not a heavenly motivation. It smacks of “hope of reward”. “To engage in His service merely from hope of reward or fear of punishment would avail nothing. Open apostasy would not be more offensive to God than hypocrisy and mere formal worship” (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 523).
So what is the motivation of God’s true child? “Joshua desired to lead them to serve God, not by compulsion, but willingly. Love to God is the very foundation of religion” (Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 523). Our own self-preservation or hope of reward is so base, so vile. It is the essence of Satan himself. The motivation of God’s true child is one of love and self-sacrifice… sacrificing even your own place in heaven. Not a striving to gain heaven. As stated above, if even a little of “hope of reward” is in your heart, then RUN (don’t walk) to our gracious Father and confess it all. He alone can heal you and me.
The very essence of heaven and all its inhabitants is self-sacrificing love. It is the essence of those who aspire to be there, too. An interesting dichotomy. The more we aspire and long for this heavenly existence in order to escape sin and sinners, the more we are unlike the ones who live there. The more we long for the “blessed hope” in order to save ourselves, the more unfitted we become for inhabiting that holy abode. The spirit of love for others, in the heart of those inhabitants, neutralizes any desire to gratify self. So instead of aspiring to a certain heavenly abode, we need to aspire to the heavenly attribute of love. As we focus on heaven, God’s face is lost sight-of. As we focus on love, heaven draws near. The focus of “love” is far superior to any focus on “heaven”. For heaven is only the place where love abides. An endless existence devoid of love would be torture. Where love abides, heaven abides. The only heaven that exists is where our Father-of-love abides. And the “Cross” is a fitting symbol of that abiding place. The “Cross” shows us the utter selfless love of our God, and those of His true children. The “Cross” is a fitting symbol of heaven and its inhabitants.
Does the “Cross” appeal to you? Agape love is seen there, on the cross. It is seen in its most potent form. And the love-motivation that led Christ to the Cross is the motivation of all heaven. The heart-song of heaven, the motivation of all heaven, is seen at the Cross. This is the heart-song of all those who will be in the New Jerusalem. A love-song to all the children of God (saved and lost). A love song of joy to those who have fallen on the “Rock” and have been broken. And a dedicated love-song to those who have not been so broken. An ardent love-song of supreme commitment to those who are in the valley of decision. A love-song proclaiming to the lost, that every inhabitant of that holy place would gladly give-up their place for even one. All heaven would give their place in heaven for even one sinner who repents. Do you know the song? Have you heard its lovely and stirring lyrics and melody? It will bring you to tears and break your heart. It will bring you to your feet and motivate you. It will melt your heart in contrition… and then infuse your heart with steely commitment. An other-worldly commitment to love others at any cost to yourself. To love others with the same love with which you are loved. A motivation of love, fit for royalty. And such you and I are. We are royalty. The blood of “the King” courses through our veins giving us empathy and commitment. Commitment and love fit for a King.
It is not too late. The love-song is still heard in the land. And we can still learn it. It is not too late. For God is still whispering it in your ear. A love-song of such bitter-sweet longing and passion that it will change you forever… if you will. Change you and me from the little quisling that we all are into bold pillars of Divine love… just like our Savior and our God. Just like all of heaven. “Come, join the heavenly throng” as they press-on with their selfless mission of love and live the love-song of God!
With brotherly love,
Jim
