Putting the Law in the Shade.
By A. M. Lindsley
“Behold! the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people.” Isa. 60:2. ONE would naturally suppose that in this age of advanced, and still progressing, civilization, that every ray of light that is brought to bear on the minds of the people would be gladly received by all. But we find, to a great extent, that just the opposite of this, are the facts in the case. Although, according to the prophet Daniel, at the time of the end many run to and fro, and knowledge is increased in many directions, especially in regard to Bible subjects, yet the words of Isaiah hold good: Gross darkness still covers the people, so much so as to be a highly noticeable fact. The two witnesses of the eleventh chapter of Revelation were to prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. This was the same period of Dan. 7:25, when the times and laws should be given into the hands of the papacy. Since the ending of that period, which reached to the year 1798, light has been increasing in reference to the time of the end and those doctrines necessary to be understood and practiced by the remnant, or last state of the church. The darkness and obscurity with which the word of God was enshrouded during the wilderness state of the church, has not entirely passed away. The work of reform is not all accomplished; but the final message, which will result in preparing a people for translation, is now being given. Many minds seem to be all wrapped up in this sackcloth condition. They do not like to hear in regard to the law, which they say they “put back in the shade.” They say, Christ is all, faith in Christ saves. Now, how does Christ save? By taking upon himself, in man’s stead, the penalty of death, that man might be placed back on the same ground that he occupied before the fall, except that he is now a fallen, depraved creature; but by following the example of Christ’s perfect obedience, through faith in the merits of his death and atonement, he may enjoy this purchased salvation. Christ made himself an offering, that he might become our Saviour. Christ’s work is that of prophet, priest, and king, and to those who believe the present truth, it is clear in an eminent degree that he fully sustains this position. Throughout the evangelists we find much of his teachings were prophetic. The whole book of Revelation is, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John.” This covers the entire period from A. D. 96, in which it was given, till the saints receive their final reward in the earth made new, showing the history of the church and the world throughout this period. He became our High Priest at his ascension, “a minister of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.” He there pleads the merits of his blood, as he offers up the prayers of repenting sinners, mingling his intercessions with theirs. His final work of cleansing the sanctuary from the sins of the people, conveyed there through his work as priest, will close his work as such, and finish up probationary time. We are very near that time. The longsuffering of God is waiting, as in the days of Noah, till it is accomplished, and then Christ will take to himself his great power; the kingdoms of this world will become his by special right; he will then become King of kings, and Lord of lords; the nations will be dashed in pieces, the wrath of God poured out in the seven last plagues, and the fifth everlasting kingdom set up. This is briefly the work that our Saviour came to perform. In this way he saves. And we will ask, Why was all this amount of labor and suffering on his part? Was there no other way? Was God’s word so immutable, so perfect, that no change in it could be made, no compromise effected, by which fallen man could be restored to the favor of God? Can finite wisdom devise a better way than infinite wisdom chose? I will give an extract from Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, pages 274, 275. “Jesus did not come to abolish his Father’s law. The ten commandments were to stand fast forever. Adam and Eve broke God’s law, and fell, and the family of Adam must perish. God could not alter or abolish his law to save lost man, who had by his transgression fallen so low that God could not accept any effort he might make to keep that holy, just, and good law. Jesus saw the degradation of man, and pitied his hopeless condition. All Heaven knew that God could not change or abolish his law to save man. Jesus pitied the fallen race, and offered to take the wrath of God upon himself that was due to man, and to suffer in his stead. Said an angel, Did Jesus come to make void the law of God, and by his death abolish it? No, no. If God’s law could have been changed; if it could have been abolished, God would not have given his Son to die a cruel, shameful death. But the fact of Jesus’ giving his life for man shows the immutability of God’s law. Jesus gave his life to save lost man from the curse or penalty he merited by transgression. He, by humbling himself, exalted man. He became the stepping-stone to elevate man, that he might lay hold of the virtue of his blood, keep God’s law, and be brought back to eat of the fruit of the tree of life to which Adam and Eve forfeited all right. Said the angel, Poor, foolish man knows not what he is doing. He has lifted his puny arm against Omnipotence. He has defied God’s law. The law of God is the golden link to unite finite man to the infinite God. It links earth to Heaven, and man to God. The transgressor is about to meet the great Law-giver over his broken law. The wrath of God has long slumbered, but soon, with terrible justice and crushing weight will his wrath fall upon the transgressor. And that arm that has been stretched forth in rebellion against God’s law, and would sever the golden link binding earth to Heaven and man to God, will wither, while the transgressor shall stand upon his feet. That tongue that has boast-ingly and proudly spoken against God’s law, and has made the fourth commandment of none effect, will consume in his mouth while he stands upon his feet. Terrible will be the fate of those who transgress God’s law, and lead others in the same Heaven-daring path of rebellion.” Friends, you that put the law of God “in the shade,” by it you should live, for by it you will be judged. Read Prov. 28:9, and James 2:12. David says, “The entrance of thy words giveth light.” Open your hearts to the influences of the Spirit of God, whose work it is to lead into all truth, so will you see great and wondrous things out of his holy law. Obey it, for “great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them.” And the last blessing pronounced in the word of God reads, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” May God help you to choose his ways. A. M. LINDSLEY.