OBJECT-LESSONS A REVELATION OF THE DIVINE MIND.
By S. N. H.
God’s first method of instructing the human race was by objects in nature. When they failed to comprehend, he gave them the written Word. Afterward he sent his Son to illustrate what there is in nature and in the written Word, and how to teach it. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1 : 14. Christ’s life in the world is an object-lesson. His teaching was by parables. “All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” Matt. 13 : 34, 35. Christ’s parables and lessons were drawn from nature, and from circumstances with which the people were familiar, so that when those objects were seen, or the same circumstances again occurred, the spiritual lessons drawn therefrom would come fresh to their minds. The creation of the world was an object-lesson of the love of Christ; for it was he who spread the heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth; it was he who filled the earth with beauty, and the heavens with songs of praise. All created things in heaven and earth are object-lessons of the love of Christ. This planet, working out the problem of salvation, is an object-lesson to the universe. Angels and unfallen inhabitants of other worlds are watching with the most intense interest the details of each person’s life; “for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” 1 Cor. 4 : 9. When the cloudy mist that now obscures our view, is rolled back, and eternal things appear in their reality, and the great problem of life is worked out, “every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them,” will be heard saying, “Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.” Rev. 5 : 13. “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev. 4 : 10, 11. Every step in the working out of the problem of redemption, even that which may appear mysterious and obscure to us now, will finally be seen as important, when the great plan of the salvation of the human family is completed. Each event has its appointed hour and place. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from them. God desires that our praise shall ascend to him, marked by our own individuality. So intimately is Christ connected with the human family, that he never leads his children, or in any manner deals with them, otherwise than they would choose to be led and dealt with, could they have seen the end from the beginning and the wise purpose of him who would have them co-workers with him. This principle is true also with nations. It is God who has a controversy with them, because they give themselves up to destroy souls for whom he has died. But in their mad rush, he keeps in view his glory. “Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.” Ps. 76 : 10. It is thus the entire problem of life becomes an object-lesson of infinite wisdom in working out the eternal purposes of God. He who is able to “guide Arcturus with his sons” and “bind the sweet influences of Pleiades” (Job 38 : 31, 32), also shapes the destiny of nations upon the earth. “He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straighteneth them again. He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man.” Job 12 : 22-25. The great controversy is between Christ and Satan. It began in heaven when Satan said: “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.” Isa. 14 : 13, 14. He was the anointed cherub that covereth; he was “upon the holy mountain of God;” and he “walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” Eze. 38 : 14. Satan desired to improve the government of God; and when cast out of heaven to this earth, he set up his hellish banner here. The sin, war, and bloodshed of the last six thousand years, with their attendant suffering, are but results of the working out of Satan’s plan, showing what his government would have been throughout the universe had he succeeded in heaven. Those governments that are the most cruel, the most oppressive, are a symbol of his satanic majesty. The rapid increase of crime shows his increasing power over mankind. Either Christ or Satan controls men. The final conflict is before us. It will11be seen in the marshaling of the nations against the Prince of Peace as he comes forth upon the great white cloud in the heavens. A vivid description of this conflict is given in Rev. 19 : 11-21. The prophet describes the enemy’s plan of battle, referring to the Beast and the Image to the Beast, as follows:— “I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” Rev. 13 : 11-15. “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” Rev. 17 : 14. “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. . . . And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.” Rev. 18 : 1-5. The people of God are called out from their associations with worldlings and evil doers, lest they be partakers of their sins. The spirit of war and revenge is not the spirit of peace. One is the battle of the Lord, the other the battle of the enemy of all righteousness. The light of heaven will penetrate the darkened minds of the earnest inquirers for truth. The revelation of Christ will bring to them a realization of his power and majesty, as they stretch forth their hands by faith. Thus, till the closing scenes of this earth’s history, this world, with all the conflicts of life, is an object-lesson of sin and its results, as described by the inspired penman. And when sin and Satan shall be wiped out of the universe of God, all the holy intelligences will see that God is just, and that his character is eternally vindicated. S. N. H.