As a Thick Cloud by H.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 19, 1909

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 36, No. 20.

“As a Thick Cloud”

By H.

Of old, when the priest of the Lord burned incense, a cloud arose from the altar, a figure, a token, to the sinner that his prayers had ascended to God, and that he had forgiveness for his transgressions. To the Lord it was a “sweet savor,” a token from His creature of sorrow for his sin and a desire to be free from the curse of disobedience.

Through the prophet the message came to man, “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake.” The Lamb of God, to whom all the sacrificial services pointed, atoned for all confessed sin before the Father; “slain from the foundation of the world,” He covered every fault, in that His blood was shed for the redemption of all the race.

But note what God Himself does with the sins: “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgression, and, as a cloud, thy sins.” Where then did Isaiah see his sins? —

“Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; For Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.”

When our sins are thus blotted out by being cast behind the Father’s back, there is the end of them, for He says, “Their sin will I remember no more.” Henceforth the Father sees only the righteousness of the Son, and to the universe that cloudy pillar of sins is transformed by the glorious light of His presence into a beautiful, radiant arch. “Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and One sitting upon the throne; and there was a rainbow round about the throne, like an emerald to look upon.” Then will the blight of sin be no more; in its place will be the glorious bow — the bow of promise, the promise fulfilled and magnified throughout eternity. H.