All Are Equal Before God by Clarence Santee

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 4, 1915

All Are Equal Before God

By Clarence Santee

CLARENCE SANTEE

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Tim. 3:16.

God’s long-suffering, forbearance, and love are mysteries not understood by men. Angels desire to know more of them than they do. Lucifer, though chief of the angels, could not understand their meaning, and attributed their manifestation to weakness and indecision. Of this the servant of the Lord has said:—

“A compassionate Creator, in yearning pity for Lucifer and his followers, was seeking to draw them back from the abyss of ruin into which they were about to plunge. But his mercy was misinterpreted. Lucifer pointed to the long-suffering

of God as an evidence of his own superiority, an indication that the King of the universe would yet accede to his terms. If the angels would stand firmly with him, he declared, they could yet gain all that they desired.”—“Patriarchs and Prophets,” page 39.

While the deep, unfathomed love of God continues to be questioned and doubted, its results continue to be seen and experienced. “God was manifest in the flesh.” There he was “seen of angels,” and not until then did they begin to see the love of God in its true light. There Gentiles saw him. Their draft at the fountain is as copious and full as that of the priest or the angel. The cup and the will are all that is required at the fountain as they are bidden to “dip down and drink.”

Shining cherubs; men of education, position, and mental power; and degraded heathen, with but one ray of light to penetrate their gloom,—all are equal when considering the manifestation of God.

Sammy Morris, a child in the jungles of darkest Africa, unlettered, yet hearing the voice of God’s love, wandered long days and weary nights among the wild beasts, until he reached the coast,—how, none but God can know,—and later, by a curious providence, he came to New York. There by his closer acquaintance with God he brought some of the city’s great divines humbly to their knees. Often the knowledge of God is seen shining in the face of the unlettered child of faith, while its softening influence has glanced powerless from the steeled armor of the Bible critic and the university theologian.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” 1 Cor. 1:22, 23. “Where is the wise? . . . hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” Verse 20.

There is something in the plan of salvation that tests the depths of trained mental power, showing its utter weakness to comprehend, while its precious fullness glows through the child of darkness who first turns his face to the light of God. Training, education, may be used in the hand of God in many ways to advance his cause, but it is entirely cast out of the balance when a man is drawn to know God. Faith alone can claim the coveted blessing. That comes directly as a gift from God (Eph. 2:8), and is shown in unquestioning obedience. “Hunger and thirst after righteousness” will claim the reward. See Matt. 5:6.

The disposition to lean upon self, to trust in self, and to become sensitive and resentful under supposed slights or inattention to self, is often strengthened by supposed mental superiority or by temporary power. To the extent that this is so, such advantages become an actual menace to a continued acquaintance with God. The disposition to justify self increases as we drift away from God.

In Israel there was a yearly offering that brought vividly to mind the eternal equality of all, the rich and the poor, the ruler with his thousands and the beggar by the wayside.

“Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.” Ex. 30:14, 15.

This was a most solemn offering. Other offerings could be made at the discretion of the givers; but this offering, though small, was to be made by all—no less and no more. It represented the equality of value in the atonement. “The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel.” The lesson must have been evident. When the atonement was made, when one by one they stepped into the balances of God, in the type, they were reminded by that offering that all were valued alike. The lesson was not written alone for them. We are now, one by one, stepping into the balances of the judgment. The value of the man of wealth and of him who is hungry for bread is still the same. All are equally precious, both valued by the worth of the offering made “once for all.”

The Balance or the Boundary Line

The unseen line bounding human probation is not arbitrarily drawn by God’s fiat, but each one hastens or delays this crossing, by individual choice of action. There is one thing that is not left to man’s choice: he must come to judgment. “Every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:12. In that there is no choice. Beyond that, each person who gives account may choose what that account shall be. Yes, more, he must choose, whether he wills to do so or not. The responsibility in the freedom of choice is placed upon him, and he cannot evade it. A refusal to make choice, is making choice; for Christ has said, “He that is not with me is against me.” Matt. 12:30. There is no middle or neutral ground.

No man can know how near the line of final decision may be, but he is assured that the right and power to choose for God is his as long as he has any desire to use it. The “whosoever will” is put into the mouth of the servants of God, and by them is still sounded to the world.

The boundary is neared as God’s call grows faint and still more faint to the ear, and is crossed when that voice is heard no more. There is but a shade between the last time that that voice is faintly heard and the next call, which is unheard. It is a most serious matter to close the ear to the voice of God. If that voice has become faint, there is all the more cause for haste to heed and obey. To some the repeated calls of God become distasteful; but, dear friend, be assured that if those calls should cease tomorrow, never to trouble you more, your perplexity would be deepened tenfold. What a sickening, heart-sinking feeling will come to the one who awakens to the fact that it is too late! How that soul will long to hear, just once more, that voice that he so often stifled and stifled! Thank the Lord, we can hear it now. We can obey it now. You who have wished that voice, speaking through your conscience, stifled, how much would you accept today, if given the opportunity, to have it silenced forever? You would not set the price. You yet expect to be saved. Then begin now, and that voice which has seemed unwelcome, the voice of duty, will be sweeter than that of the loved ones of earth, and God’s peace will be yours.

Loma Linda, Cal.