Light in the Darkness by Mrs. S. N. Haskell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 29, 1912

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 39, No. 42.

Light in the Darkness

By Mrs. S. N. Haskell

To every voyager on the storm-tossed sea of life, the Lord has given a compass which if rightly used will safely guide him into the eternal haven of rest. It was given our first parents at the gate of Eden after they had admitted sin into this beautiful earth as well as into their own lives. The compass consists of the following words which were spoken by the Lord to Satan: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed." Gen. 3:15. In every heart God planted an enmity to sin which if heeded would lead to righteousness and eternal life. Any man, whatever his station or rank in life may be, who will absolutely follow the divine compass placed in his heart, will be led out into the sunlight of God's love and approval. John 1:9.

As the result of our first parents' eating of the forbidden fruit, over all the earth hung the gloom of the divine decree, "In the day that thou eatest thereof dying thou shalt die." Gen. 2:17, margin. The marks of death and decay were seen in the falling leaves and withered flowers. There was no escaping the decree, "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23. But a ray of light pierced the darkness when God spoke the following words: "It [the seed of the woman] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Gen. 3:15. These words revealed the fact that for those who heeded the enmity against sin in the heart, there was a way of escape from death. They would live, and Satan die; but before Satan's death, he would bruise the heel of the seed of the woman. This was necessary in order that Satan's death should be sure, and mankind escape eternal death. Heb. 2:14.

Christ Pledged His Life

Before man was placed on trial, the love of the Father and Son for him was so great that Christ pledged to give His own life as a ransom if man was overcome by the temptations of Satan. Christ was "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Rev. 13:8. This wonderful truth was made known to our first parents in the words spoken by the Lord to Satan: "It [the seed of the woman] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Gen. 3:15.

In order that man might realize the enormity of sin that would take the life of the sinless Son of God, he was required to bring an innocent lamb, confess his sins over its head, then with his own hands take its life in type of Christ's life, and burn the sin-offering, typifying that through the death of Christ all sin would finally be destroyed in the fires of the last day.

It was difficult for man, surrounded by the darkness of sin, to comprehend these wonderful heavenly truths. The rays of light which shone from the heavenly sanctuary upon the simple sacrifices were so obscured by doubt and sin, that God in great love and mercy had an earthly sanctuary built after the divine pattern, and priests appointed who "served unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." This was done that man's faith might lay hold of the fact that in heaven there was a sanctuary whose services were for the redemption of mankind. The prophet Jeremiah grasped this great truth, and exclaimed, "A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary." Jer. 17:12. David knew of God's dwelling-place, and when writing for the generations to come, said, "He [God] hath looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth." Ps. 102:18, 19. The faithful ones always understood that when they sought God with all the heart, "their prayer came up to His holy dwelling-place, even unto heaven." 2 Chron. 30:27.

Purpose of Earthly Sanctuary Service

All the worship in the earthly sanctuary was to teach them the truth in regard to the heavenly sanctuary. Yet while the earthly tabernacle was standing, the way into the heavenly tabernacle was not made manifest (Heb. 9:8); but when Christ entered heaven to present His own blood in man's behalf, God revealed through His prophets much light in regard to the heavenly sanctuary.

To John the beloved disciple were given many views of that glorious temple. He beheld the beautiful altar from which, mingled with fragrant incense, the prayers of earthly saints were offered up before God. In vision he viewed the heavenly candlestick, with its seven lamps of fire burning before the throne of God. The veil into the most holy was also lifted, and he writes, "The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament." Rev. 11:19. It is in this "true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man," that Christ pleads His blood before the Father in behalf of sinful man. There is the throne of God, surrounded by myriads of the angelic host, all waiting to obey His commands (Ps. 103:19, 20), and thence they are sent to answer the prayers of God's children here on earth (Dan. 9:21-23). The heavenly sanctuary is the great power-house of Jehovah, whence all the help necessary to overcome every temptation of Satan is sent to each one who is connected by faith with the heavenly temple.

A Striking Illustration

The heavily laden surburban electric car, with its slender arm reaching up to the wire above, through which it receives strength from the power-house miles away, is a beautiful illustration of the Christian. As long as the connection is unbroken, through the darkest night the car runs smoothly up- and down-hill alike, not only shedding light on the immediate track ahead, but casting rays of light into the darkness far and near. The instant the connection is broken, how great is the change! The car remains in darkness, unable to go forward.

Christ, our great High Priest, from the heavenly sanctuary, reaches His hand down over the battlements of heaven, to clasp the hand of every one who will reach up by faith and take hold of the proffered help. Those whose faith lays hold of that help, can pass securely over the steepest hills of difficulty, their own soul filled with light while diffusing light and blessing to others. As long as they by faith keep a firm hold of God, they have light and power from the sanctuary above; but if they allow doubt and unbelief to break their connection, they are in darkness, not only unable to go forward themselves, but a stumbling-block in the way of others.

The one who allows nothing to break his connection with heaven, becomes an earthly dwelling-place for the Most High; "for thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." Isa. 57:15. The individual that will separate from sin and put it far from him becomes the temple of the Holy Ghost. 1 Cor. 6:19, 20. God loves to dwell in the hearts of His people (Eph. 3:17-20), but sin cherished in the heart prevents His Spirit from abiding there (1 John 3:15). Christ knocks at the door of all hearts, inviting them to exchange sin for righteousness, that He may come in and abide with them. Rev. 3:20.

There are three temples brought to view in the Bible,—the heavenly temple, the

dwelling-place of the Most High, where Christ intercedes in our behalf; the temple of the human body, where God's Spirit rules and reigns; and the earthly temple, with its typical service, designed to teach mankind how to receive divine help from the great heavenly storehouse, so that God can honor them by abiding with them continually.

Brings Truth into Our Range of Vision

The earthly sanctuary, with its types and symbols, is like the powerful lenses of the telescope, which enables us to view heavenly bodies that otherwise would be invisible. To the eye of the ignorant, those wonderful lenses appear like ordinary glass; but the astronomer, who longs to know of the wonders of the heavens, as he gazes through them is filled with rapture at the sight thus revealed. In like manner the Christian who will study the typical service of the earthly sanctuary, not as a collection of dry, lifeless relics of ancient worship, but as a wonderful art gallery where with the hand of a master artist the different parts of the wonderful plan of redemption are beautifully portrayed, will be astonished at the beauty revealed. The figures, as it were, fairly speak to him from the canvas. They tell the beautiful story of the Saviour's love, until his very soul is filled with heavenly rapture as he gazes upon them. He sees the priest in snow-white robe leading the red heifer out to the rough, uncultivated valley, there to offer it a sacrifice for sin, and sprinkle its blood on the rough stones of the valley, to teach that Christ died for the most worthless, the veriest outcast. Who can gaze on that picture, without his heart's being filled with love for such a compassionate Redeemer? He sees the destitute sinner, longing to be free from sin, beholding his wealthy brethren pass with their lambs for sin-offerings, the poor ones with their pigeons and doves, while he sinks back into despondency, for he has no living thing to offer. Then the light of hope springs into his face as one tells him, "Only a handful of flour will answer." And as the sinner watches the priest offer the crushed wheat as an emblem of the blessed body to be broken for him, and hears him say, "Thy sin is forgiven," his heart leaps for joy.

If the one who longs to know more of Christ and His infinite love, will study the types and symbols of the earthly sanctuary, connecting each one with its glorious antitype, his soul will be filled with rapture. The types and symbols will reveal wondrous beauty in the character of our blessed Redeemer that are revealed in no other way.

There is a separate and distinct heavenly lesson taught by each of the different types and symbols of the earthly sanctuary service; and when they are all viewed together, they form a wonderful mosaic of the blessed Christ, revealing the beauty of His divine character as none but a heavenly artist could portray it.

The heavenly sanctuary is spoken of by different Bible writers as— "Thy dwelling-place"—2 Chron. 6:39. "His holy temple"—Ps. 11:4. "Habitation of Thy holiness"—Isa. 63:15. "Temple of God"—Rev. 11:19. "True tabernacle, which the Lord pitched"—Heb. 8:2. "Place of His habitation"—Ps. 33:14; Jer. 25:30. "The sanctuary"—Heb. 8:2. "Holiest of all"—Heb. 9:8. The earthly sanctuary is spoken of in the following terms:— "A worldly sanctuary"—Heb. 9:1. "The first tabernacle"—Verse 8. "A figure for the time then present"—Verse 9. "Patterns of things in the heavens"—Verse 23. "Not the very image of the things"—Heb. 10:1. "Holy places made with hands"—Heb. 9:24. "Figures of the true"—Heb. 9:24. "The temple"—1 Cor. 9:13.

Temple of the Human Body

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. . . . He spake of the temple of His body." John 2:19, 21. "Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost?" 1 Cor. 6:19.