The Sanctuary by S. N. Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Dec 29, 1904

The Sanctuary

By S. N. Haskell

(Concluded)

The lamb offered had two lives. It was as innocent when it was before the priest as when it was gamboling upon the mountainside. But when the sinner confessed his sin upon its head, it was transferred in the type to the animal. The sinful life was imputed to the animal. So he had two lives,—the life of innocency, and the life of sin that had been transferred to him by the confession of the sinner.

So Christ had a divine life when he came to this earth. He was as sinless when he hung upon the cross as when he came to this world, and yet he bore our sins in his own body on the tree. From the cross he entered heaven with his own blood, there to appear in the presence of God for us. He died for us in our stead, that he might pay the penalty for all. By faith the sinner sees him within the veil. The sins are carried there. The life of faith transfers the sin. Christ is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Christ is our life. He is our salvation. Ever since man fell, he has been bearing the sins of the people, but the time comes when, in the investigative judgment, he will bring out these sins. When I think of it in this light, I feel like falling, trembling, before God and lifting up a prayer that he would discover to me everything that is unlike my Saviour; because I see plainly that unless I have an interest in this work and meditate upon it, I am likely to pass over wrong traits of character that will be seen by God, but not by me. I am anxious to have my sins forgiven, every one of them. Let me give you a text in the New Testament on confession: “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.” Matt. 5: 21-25. If, when I pray, I remember that my brother has aught against me, even if I have given him no occasion to have anything against me, it is my duty to go to him and make everything right. If we do not do our part, the Lord will straighten it out. When it is left entirely with the Lord, and the Lord begins to take the matter up, he will come closer and closer until there will be a crisis in that soul, and the sooner we can learn to humble ourselves before God, the sooner we shall be brought into the place where God can magnify himself through us.

When the Saviour was reviled, he “reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.” Let God manage matters; and if there is a wrong on either side, the Lord will bring it around all right, and there will be a confession. He will come closer and closer until a man will find himself cast into prison, and he can not get out until he confesses everything, and then God will forgive the sin, and bring him into favor with himself.

In the sixteenth of Leviticus we have the typical work illustrating the final disposition of sin. The sinner brought two goats. One of them was the Lord's goat, and was to be slain for the people; the other was called the scapegoat. The scapegoat was to bear off the sins on the day of atonement, which was a type of the day of judgment. An individual might have served the Lord faithfully the three hundred and sixty-four days in the year, but when the tenth day of the seventh month came, he must afflict his soul, with fasting and prayer, and must examine his own heart. He must also refrain from doing any work on that day. His appetite must be brought under complete control. It must be a day of holy convocation. In the New Testament we have a warning given to us in the closing of this work when our High Priest is in the heavenly sanctuary. He urges us not to forget the assembling of ourselves together, but to exhort one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. How is it in our churches, when our prayer-meeting comes? Do we forget the assembling of ourselves together? Has our love grown cold? I want to tell you, my brethren, our love must be revived. We are to repent and do our first works, and be more earnest as we near the approaching day.

Well, says one, what about eating? Does not the Saviour warn the people against eating and drinking as they did before the flood? In the twenty-first chapter of Luke, when he speaks of the time of the day of atonement, he says, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.” We are not to let the cares of life take the time we should spend in serving God. The testimony of the spirit of prophecy says that God can make twenty acres more productive than a hundred. Why not try it? Why not be in earnest in studying the Bible and in having our case presented to the Father, so that we shall take more time for the service of God than we have in the past? There needs to be a reviving in the service of God.

I can not tell you how happy we used to be when we obtained a knowledge of these things in the time that I received them. About fifty years ago, I remember one time a little boy was in a meeting that we were holding in a private house, and a report of the work of Elder Andrews, in Maine, was being read, and when about half-way through, the reader stopped. This little fellow was listening with intense interest. Finally he said, “How many Sabbath-keepers were there?” He was watching to see what had become of the pennies he had given to support the ministers, and he wanted to know the results. We want to know the results, and we want to realize the blessing of God.

This deep searching of heart must come first right home to ourselves; and when we get a fresh experience continually, and learn the art of trusting in God and hiding in him, we shall have something sweet in the third angel's message. We shall find that our great High Priest, who is ministering in the court of heaven, will regard us; for I read that he sees every soul on earth, he numbers the hairs of our head, and knows every sorrow, and every tear that is shed. May God help us, brethren and sisters, that we may get a fresh hold upon heaven.

Now, I have made up my mind that if I fail of going through to the kingdom, it will be because I lose my interest, which I never mean to do. Well, says one, what do you do when difficulties come?—Hide under the shadow of the wings of the Lord; try to get a little closer to the Lord; commit all troubles to him. Lay the cross and perplexities at his feet, and leave them there; and when I do that, I find that God takes care of it all. Most wonderful answers to prayer we have had when difficulties came, and it seemed as if every way possible was hedged up. We would take the matter to the Lord, and what appeared to us to be miraculous openings would come all at once. We have a God that is in heaven, and at his right hand is our Saviour, who ministers in holy things. He has a tender care for his people. I wish I could tell you how, at times, it seems that the love of God has been manifested to us. Of all the people on the face of the earth, we ought to be thankful. Thank the Lord for trials. You would not know whether you trusted in God or not if you did not get into straightened places where it required an infinite arm to lift you out. I need strength every moment of my life. I need a blessing continually to keep me on the way to heaven, but I know we have a High Priest in heaven.

Now let me suggest one more thought: Some of the most remarkable instances of answer to prayer that are to be found in the Bible, were when prayer was offered toward the sanctuary, as mentioned in the twentieth chapter of Second Chronicles. Why was Daniel cast into

the lions' den?—For praying with his windows open toward the sanctuary in Jerusalem. He turned his face to the Saviour, who sits at the right hand of the Father, by recognizing the sanctuary on earth. Do you have temptations that you are not strong enough to withstand? Go with them to the Lord. Turn your face to the Saviour of the world, who sits at the right hand of the God of the universe.

A sermon preached by Elder S. N. Haskell, at College View, Neb., Sept. 24, 1904.