p. 3 | REDEMPTION by J. E. Evans

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · May 12, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 19.

REDEMPTION

By J. E. Evans

The Accomplished Purpose.

ALL the works of God are for a purpose. In the beginning they were pronounced “very good.” Instead of thorns, decay, and death, man had before him everything joyous and beautiful upon which he could look with increasing admiration and complete satisfaction, with the possibility and privilege of ever remaining the possessor of his God-given home. No stooping forms, or tear-dimmed eyes; no whitened hairs by the frost of time, or care-worn brow by blighted hopes. No barren waste with its mirage to disappoint the weary traveler. No devastating storm to waste the labor of man. But there the generous heart of nature, watered by the distilling dews of heaven, brought forth plentifully for the joy and comfort of man, who was created in the image of God. Was it too much to require of him willing and loving obedience? Such must be our service if we would have joy mutual and complete.

But sin has marred the fair creation, so that even the earth is represented as groaning beneath the load of sin upon it, and longing to be delivered from the bondage of corruption. Rom. 8:19–22. The unregenerate knows no other home, and we have not yet seen it, only as the eye of faith has beheld it in the promise of God. This blessed hope cheers the weary pilgrim as he contemplates his future home, and reads of it in the Scriptures of truth.

To them we turn, and for a moment inquire, What has God said concerning the future home of the righteous?

From Gen. 1:26 we learn that man was given dominion over the earth; but he held this dominion no longer than he maintained his allegiance to his Maker; but by yielding to the claims of the great deceiver, the inheritance passed into the hands of him of whom man now became the bond-servant. Rom. 6:16; 2 Peter 2:19. From that time Satan has been the prince of this world. See John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11. He is also called “the prince of the power of the air.” Eph. 2:2. An instance in the life of Christ may serve to make this thought clear to the mind of the reader.

When our Saviour began His work on earth, we find Satan employing every possible device to cause the Son of God to fail, and he began at the very point upon which he caused our first parents to fall. But Jesus gained the victory for us here. The last influence brought to bear upon Christ at this time was the promise that all the kingdoms of earth should be given Him if only He would first offer worship to Satan.

By carefully reading Luke 4:1–7 we observe the following facts: (1) Christ was tempted; (2) He was offered the kingdoms of this world; (3) they were Satan’s to give. If this were not true, there is no force whatever in the word “tempted,” and the victory thus gained availed nothing in our behalf. Christ had come to redeem the lost possession, and He would not accept it from one who had only usurped authority. It had been promised, “And thou, O Tower of the flock, the Stronghold of the daughter of Zion, unto Thee shall it come, even the first dominion.” Micah 4:8. God had declared, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; but the earth hath He given to the children of men” (Ps. 115:16), and thus it must be. “He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited.” Isa. 45:18. This is His purpose. Therefore He says, “The meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.” Ps. 37:11. “But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.” Prov. 2:22. Moreover, we are exhorted to pray, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Matt. 6:10. This prayer is to be uttered by the last Christians upon earth before the coming of the Lord. Therefore we may not expect this kingdom to be established until the wicked are “cut off from the earth.”

But was not the earth promised to our father Abraham and his posterity? And did they not have the promise fulfilled to them in the possession of Canaan? ’Tis true that the Lord promised to give Abraham all the land he could see (Gen. 13:14, 15), and that this promise included the whole world (Rom. 4:13); yet he was so poor that it was necessary for him to buy the cave of Machpelah of the sons of Heth, in which to bury his dead (Genesis 23). And Stephen in his defense before the high priest says, “And He gave him [Abraham] none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on; yet He promised that He would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.” Acts 7:5. Abraham did not expect to receive this present world in fulfilment of that promise; for in speaking of the faithful up to that time the Scriptures say, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers

and pilgrims on the earth.” Heb. 11:13. He then proceeds to show that the faithful all the way along looked to a time still future, when they with us should come into possession of the long-desired home. Abraham sojourned in the promised land, which he knew “he should after receive for an inheritance.” Verses 8, 9. Again the same writer says, “These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise; God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Verses 39, 40.

How then shall they realize the promise? We have seen that the promise was made to Abraham and his seed. Primarily the word “seed” applies to Christ (Gal. 3:16), but includes all who are His by redemption (verse 29). This is in harmony with the language of the second psalm, which concerning Christ says, “Ask of Me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” We, therefore, are joint-heirs with Christ to the immortal inheritance (Rom. 8:17), and shall at His coming, and the resurrection of the righteous, receive, with all who have died in faith, that kingdom which it is declared is the Father’s good-pleasure to give (Luke 12:32).

The change in the home of man will be no less than that wrought in man himself by the redeeming power of love. He in Christ has become a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17); and for him are created a new heavens and a new earth; for so the Lord has promised: “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isa. 65:17; see also Rev. 21:1–4). Peter tells us that the present heavens and earth are reserved unto the fires of the last great day, which will consume all who have resisted the will and love of Christ, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” and continues: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise; and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. . . . Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:9–13. “Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.” Matt. 5:5.

This is God’s plan and purpose for all who will here cast aside vain reasonings, accept the cross which infinite wisdom sees is necessary to prepare us for that happy abode, and live the life of faith. There the desert shall blossom as the rose of Sharon, and the parched ground shall become a pool. There the lame man shall leap as an hart, and the tongue that was tied shall be free to sing praises to the great Benefactor. Eyes which never saw the light of day shall be opened to behold creation redeemed. No ravenous beast shall be found there, but the gentleness of Jesus shall be seen in all. And the nations which are saved shall walk in the light of the glory of God and the Lamb, which lightens the city—the New Jerusalem. There the throne of God shall be, and He “shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” Rev. 21:3, 4.

“And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat; for as the days of a tree are the days of My people, and Mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.” Isa. 65:21, 22. “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isa. 35:10. “How great is Thy goodness, which Thou hast laid up for them that fear Thee.” Ps. 31:19. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” Ps. 107:2.

The reign of sin will soon be past, “And every eye shall see” The One who proved the strength of love Upon the rugged tree.

“A King shall reign in righteousness,” And truth be our delight; The wicked, too, shall then confess The honor of His might.

No more shall tyranny be formed, Oppressing conscience true; For freedom’s note will then resound The Eden home all through.

No more shall man his brother seek With civil law to bind; For all shall know the Saviour meek, Who made of all one mind.

O, how I long to see that day, To reach that happy place, Where all His righteous law obey, And see Him face to face!

J. E. EVANS.

New Orleans, La.