THE WORD OF GOD by L. D. Santee

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Nov 30, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 47.

THE WORD OF GOD.

By L. D. Santee

BY L. D. SANTEE.

“So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth; it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isa. 55:11.

ALL human words, whether of power or affection, are bounded within brief periods. The mandate of authority may cause their subjects to tremble, but soon they are hushed in death. The words of father and mother charmed their children for a short time, but soon the matured offspring, scattered in the distance, only treasure those words in memory.

But the Word spoken of in our text, is that of Jehovah. Since the morning stars sang together, it has rolled down through all the ages, expressing infinite wisdom, almighty power, and eternal love for His works and creatures. It has enthroned kings, and hurled potentates from their seats of power. The earth, and all its elements, and beings, exist, and continue in existence, solely at the behest of God’s word. It is the word of Infinite wisdom, distinguishing between truth and error, offering light for darkness, peace for war, and life for death. It contains a sweet promise to the “pure in heart” and all the loyal of our race, offering them, through Christ, joy that has no sorrow, and life that has no end. It is a transcript of the divine Mind, the utterances of Deity. It is the grand prophetic announcement of earth’s future history.

Among the beautiful trees and flowers of Eden the word of God warned against disobedience. Down through the dark and tragic scenes of the Antediluvian age, it communed with the faithful, and laid upon Noah the responsibility of warning the world of strange and unheard of judgments. Philosophy scoffed, and science ignored it, but, when “the windows of heaven were opened,” and the ark rode upon a shoreless ocean, it was demonstrated that, “Thy word is truth.” That Word promised Israel that the bands of their servitude should be broken, and that the Almighty, with a resistless hand, should lead them triumphantly to a land flowing with milk and honey, the ancient home of their fathers. After the object-lesson, teaching Christ, there came the foretold emancipation. According to appointment, the cloud appeared and moved, the tribes marched, the sea retired, and the song of victory sounded beyond the waves, all showing as the text reads, “It shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

This word, from the world untrodden by mortal feet, sounded upon the listening ear of the holy prophets. It came to Daniel through the agency of an angel, and his inspired pen told us of earth’s four universal monarchies. Beyond that, he opens to our vision a redeemed earth where, “under the whole heavens,” a loyal race should obey God.

Not only this, but it outlines moral perfection: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Ps. 19:7. This law was spoken by the Word from the summit of the flaming mount. At the Creation that Word had crowned all the phalanx of coming weeks with a Sabbath at its close. In the center of that perfect law the Word repeated, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God;” and through this world and the world to come, each week is crowned with a diadem by the hand and word of her God.

Through the Holy Spirit that Word outlines the future. As time has rolled its ever varying tide of human experiences down through the centuries, the angel of history has stood upon his mountain, and shouted across the vale of the silent generations, to the angel of prophecy, saying, “Thy word has been clothed with almighty power commanding the earth, its elements, and creatures, wheeling nations into line, for fame or infamy.” He says, “I have duplicated on my historic scroll every word that thou hast uttered in the sanctuary relating to the future. Thy word is that of a God in whose hand lies the destiny of the world, and of our race.”

The thunders of that Word will send the forces of life to the ashes of the dead, scattered over the great cemetery of the world, thrilling them with the vital powers of a new life. Soon will come the final consummation of all things. The four empires can say, “We have filled our measure; our days are ended.” The great harlot will say, “I mourn as a widow, and weep the loss of my children.” The nations will say, “Peace and safety;” and the Word, which has been heard through all the centuries, will say, “It is finished.” Human destiny is forever fixed. O my friend, my brother, where will that day find you?

Dixon, Ill.