CHRIST OUR HARVEST-BEARER by David Paulson; W. S. Sadler

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Michigan · Apr 16, 1901

CHRIST OUR HARVEST-BEARER

By David Paulson; W. S. Sadler

DAVID PAULSON AND W. S. SADLER

When the sinner recognizes the unprofitableness of transgression and the exceeding sinfulness of sin; when his only disposition toward it is to forsake it and to be delivered from its power; when he can say, from the depths of his heart, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Rom. 7:27) “I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not” (Job 33:27),—when he has thus brought forth fruit meet for repentance, this is the promise of the Lord to him: “He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.” “Then He is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom.” Job 33:28, 24.

When man has sincerely repented of his sin, God finds a ransom, even Christ, “who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” 1 Peter 2:24. Thus Christ becomes our harvest-bearer. “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” Isa. 53:4. “Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Matt. 8:17. While it is true that Christ is the ransom for the sins of the righteous, it is also true that the Lord says to His chosen people, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” We are also admonished to “think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try” us. Christ suffered—the just for the unjust. He suffered for righteousness’ sake, for well-doing, thus leaving us an example. 1 Peter 2:22.

It is only upon the condition that we suffer with Him that we are permitted to reign with Him. 2 Tim. 2:12. As partakers together with Christ of the divine nature, and as co-workers with Him in carrying out the plan of salvation, we shall oftentimes be called upon to be “partakers of His sufferings,” to suffer mentally and sometimes even physically, in fellowship with the Master, for the good of our fellow men and the universe at large. “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:13. Sickness and death may often be the experience of the sincere followers of Christ, not as the result of their own individual wickedness nor of God’s displeasure, but as a part of a great plan that is to work out good—good not only for the one who suffers, but also for those who must witness the suffering and the spirit of patience and resignation thereby produced. Jesus, in speaking of the sickness and death of Lazarus, said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” John 11:4. Upon those who suffer for righteousness’ sake, the Lord pronounces a blessing; and even concerning those who die in the Lord it is written, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14:13.

GOD’S ETERNAL PURPOSE INCOMPREHENSIBLE

“Canst thou by searching find out God?” Job 11:7. Healing that is divine is infinite, and consequently is incomprehensible to finite beings. To be able fully to understand how and why God heals, would be equivalent to being able completely to understand His eternal purpose. Consequently, it is often difficult in a given case of sickness, death, or affliction, fully to understand why the loving hand of God works in the particular manner observed. It is only the eye of faith that recognizes that all things work together for good, and thus discerns, even in the hour of affliction, that “God is love.” The assurance of this confidence leads us to implicitly trust Him, even when we utterly fail to comprehend or understand Him. “Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” Job 13:15. We can not explain why some may be healed instantly, and others must suffer much and long. This is for heaven’s records to disclose later on. The very fact that divine healing is divine is in itself evidence that at no particular point shall we be able to comprehend its nature or fully to understand its workings.