THE MYSTERY UNFOLDED by J. O. C.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 24, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 46.

THE MYSTERY UNFOLDED

By J. O. C.

IT is always well to examine the reason for things. The statement is frequently made that man is by nature immortal, and so must live through endless ages, either in bliss or in pain. But what does the constitution of man teach about this?

Turning to Scripture one learns that man was made of the dust of the ground. Gen. 2: 7. Surely nothing of the material of which man was formed would warrant the thought of inherent immortality. But inquiry about this element of humanity is necessary to a Scriptural conclusion on the point in hand, and will later fall into its place.

A significant statement in the text just cited is that God breathed into the nostrils of this earthly man the “breath of life,” and changed him into a “living soul.” This fact indicates that the man of himself possessed no element of life, else it were unnecessary for divine life to be added for his perfection. The annexed life was God’s contribution toward the maintenance His own image in the creation from earth. Since the original element possessed no power of thought, because it was lifeless, God’s life was attached, that the combination might maintain thought and action in harmony with the mind of the Life-giver.

But the Creator would not, because He could not, submit to have His precious life loan used toward the overthrow of heavenly authority; so at once conditions were named under which the man might retain the rich grant so graciously bestowed. He was reminded that the retention of life would depend on his attitude toward the instruction given him. There was pointed out to him a tree, the fruit of which he must not eat, or even touch, lest he die. Gen. 2: 17; 3: 3. The only way to bring death to the man was to remove the Heaven-lent life, which in the end would reduce the man to the same condition from which that life had lifted him.

But what was that life breathed into man’s nostrils by which he was to move and have a being? Speaking of the animation of his own being, the patriarch Job declared it to be the spirit of God in his nostrils. Job 27: 3. It is therefore clear that the first man was caused to live by the Spirit of God, the same as the sinner is restored to life. So when our first parents lost the life bestowed on them at creation, they lost all, unless some plan devised by the Almighty could give them a new birth—to everlasting life. Hence the wise man had it right when he said, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” Eccl. 12: 7.

Let us notice this statement. The spirit returns to the earth “as it was.” But before the life, or spirit, of God was added to make it live, it was not only lifeless, but senseless. More than that, when the life, or spirit, of God disconnects from the human, it returns to its native element, not as man’s possession, but as God’s own, to hold until the final distribution of life to those who have been true to Heaven’s laws through their probationary career. This will be when the Master returns to earth, to call His own from their sleeping beds in the earth. And as man was first taken from earth to be put on trial, so after his trial, he will again come from the earth to live forever in the sunshine of God’s eternal glory.

J. O. C.