Man’s Lesson Book by J. S. Washburn

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 8, 1908

Man’s Lesson Book

By J. S. Washburn

In the beginning, before sin blighted the earth, when there was such beauty in all creation as we can neither understand nor imagine, nature spoke only of the sweet, the unfathomable, depths of the love of the great Creator.

Well do I remember having placed in my hands, in an English city, an unusually beautiful and fragrant rose, and there came to my mind the thought that down through all the ages of sin God was still sending us his infinitely tender and loving thoughts,—thoughts ineffably sweet, and beautiful beyond words to tell. However, we are constantly reminded by the thorns and poisonous plants and the ferocious instincts and selfishness of disposition, even of the lower animals, that there is another power working in nature. Yet to the mind divinely enlightened, nature is a wondrous book, full of hopeful, instructive lessons. I will quote a few words found on page 26 of the book “Education,” which beautifully expresses this thought:—

“Although the earth was blighted with the curse, nature was still to be man’s lesson book. It could not now represent goodness only; for evil was everywhere present, marring earth and sea and air with its defiling touch. Where once was written only the character of God, the knowledge of good, was now written also the character of Satan, the knowledge of evil. From nature, which now revealed the knowledge of good and evil, man was continually to receive warning as to the results of sin. In drooping flower and falling leaf Adam and his companion witnessed the first signs of decay. Vividly was brought to their minds the stern fact that every living thing must die. Even the air,

upon which their life depended, bore the seeds of death.

“Continually they were reminded also of their lost dominion. Among the lower creatures Adam had stood as king, and so long as he remained loyal to God, all nature acknowledged his rule; but when he transgressed, this dominion was forfeited. The spirit of rebellion, to which he himself had given entrance, extended throughout the animal creation. Thus not only the life of man, but the nature of the beasts, the trees of the forest, the grass of the field, the very air he breathed, all told the sad lesson of the knowledge of evil.

“But man was not abandoned to the results of the evil he had chosen. In the sentence pronounced upon Satan was given an intimation of redemption. ‘I will put enmity between thee and the woman,’ God said, ‘and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.’ This sentence, spoken in the hearing of our first parents, was to them a promise. Before they heard of the thorn and the thistle, of the toil and the sorrow that must be their portion, or of the dust to which they must return, they listened to the words that could not fail of giving them hope. All that had been lost by yielding to Satan could be regained through Christ.

“This intimation also nature repeats to us. Though marred by sin, it speaks not only of creation but of redemption. Though the earth bears testimony to the curse in the evident signs of decay, it is still rich and beautiful in the tokens of life-giving power. The trees cast off their leaves, only to be robed with fresher verdure; the flowers die, to spring forth in new beauty; and in every manifestation of creative power is held out the assurance that we may be created anew in ‘righteousness and holiness of truth.’ Thus the very objects and operations of nature that bring so vividly to mind our great loss become to us the messengers of hope.

“As far as evil extends, the voice of our Father is heard, bidding his children see in its results the nature of sin, warning them to forsake the evil, and inviting them to receive the good.”

What a wonderful symbol and promise of the resurrection is the season of spring-time! Death has seemed to triumph. Now again new, and wonderful life is springing forth fresh and young. What hope, what power, even the hope and the power of the blessed resurrection, come to us in the spring-time! Let us never become unmindful of the blessed, wondrous lessons which nature still teaches.

J. S. WASHBURN.