Digging For Truth

            e y e s    h a v e    b e e n    o p e n e d           (  3  RELATED  PHRASES )                      

   In his restless youth the prodigal looked upon his father as stern and severe. How different his conception of him now! So those who are deceived by Satan look upon God as hard and exacting. They regard Him as watching to denounce and condemn, as unwilling to receive the sinner so long as there is a legal excuse for not helping him. His law they regard as a restriction upon men’s happiness, a burdensome yoke from which they are glad to escape. But he whose eyes have been opened by the love of Christ will behold God as full of compassion. He does not appear as a tyrannical, relentless being, but as a father longing to embrace his repenting son. The sinner will exclaim with the Psalmist, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.” Psalm 103:13.  Christ’s Object Lessons, page 204 par. 2    Read entire Chapter 16

   In his restless youth the prodigal looked upon his father as stern and severe. How different his conception of him now! So those who are deceived by Satan look upon God as hard and exacting. They regard Him as watching to denounce and condemn, as unwilling to receive the sinner so long as there is a legal excuse for not helping him. His law they regard as a restriction upon men’s happiness, a burdensome yoke from which they are glad to escape. But he whose eyes have been opened by the love of Christ will behold God as full of compassion. He does not appear as a tyrannical, relentless being, but as a father longing to embrace his repenting son.   { CSA 13.5 } 

  In his wild, restless youth, the prodigal looked upon his father as stern and severe; how different his conception of him now! So the heart that is deceived by Satan looks upon God as hard and exacting; his law is regarded as a restriction upon men’s happiness, a burdensome yoke, from which they are glad to escape. But he whose eyes have been opened by the love of Christ, will behold God as full of love and compassion. He does not appear as a tyrannical, relentless being, but as a father longing to embrace his repenting son. The sinner will cry with the psalmist, “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” Psalm 103:13. { GCB December 1, 1895, par. 11 }

  Almost as soon as the safety of his parents was assured, a prophet of the Lord came to David, saying, “Abide not in the hold; depart, and get thee into the land of Judah.” Pursued from place to place, and persecuted without cause, David’s soul at times was full of bitterness and discouragement. It seemed certain to him that he must, at last, fall into the hands of his pursuer and persecutor. But could his eyes have been opened, he would have seen the angels of the Lord encamped round about him and his followers. The sentinels of Heaven were waiting to warn them of impending danger, and to conduct them to a place of refuge when their peril demanded it. God could protect David and his followers; for they were not a band in rebellion against Saul. David had repeatedly proved his allegiance to the king. { ST September 7, 1888, par. 11 }

  It has been difficult for you to feel that your heavenly Father is still your kind benefactor. Your troubles and perplexities have had a tendency to discourage, and you have felt that death would be preferable to life. But at a certain time, could your eyes have been opened, you would have seen angels of God seeking to save you from yourself. The angels of God led you where you could receive the truth and plant your feet upon a foundation that would be more firm than the everlasting hills. Here you saw light and cherished it. New faith, new life, sprang up in your pathway. God in His providence connected you with His work in the office of the Pacific Press. He has been at work for you, and you should see His guiding hand. Sorrow has been your portion; but you have brought much of it upon yourself because you have not had self-control. You have been very severe at times. You have a quick temper, which must be overcome. In your life you have been in danger, either of indulging in self-confidence or else of throwing yourself away and becoming despondent. A continual dependence upon the word and providence of God will qualify you to exert your powers wholly for your Redeemer, who has called you, saying: “Follow Me.” You should cultivate a spirit of entire submission to the will of God, earnestly, humbly seeking to know His ways and to follow the leadings of His Spirit. You must not lean to your own understanding. You should have deep distrust of your own wisdom and supposed prudence. Your condition demands these cautions. It is unsafe for man to confide in his own judgment. He has limited capacities at best, and many have received, as their birthright, both strong and weak points of character, which are positive defects. These peculiarities color the entire life. { 4T 360.2} 

  Those prayers were heard. Could his eyes have been opened, he would have seen the messengers of God, pure, holy angels, bending lovingly over him, shedding their light around him, and preparing to bear his petition to the throne of the Highest. The long years spent amid desert solitudes were not lost. Not only was Moses gaining a preparation for the great work before him, but during this time, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he wrote the book of Genesis and also the book of Job, which would be read with the deepest interest by the people of God until the close of time. { ST February 19, 1880, Art. A, par. 14 }

   5. Sentinels of Heaven Gave Warning — It seemed certain to him [David] that he must, at last, fall into the hands of his pursuer and persecutor. But could his eyes have been opened, he would have seen the angels of the Lord encamped round about him and his followers. The sentinels of heaven were waiting to warn them of impending danger, and to conduct them to a place of refuge when their peril demanded it. God could protect David and his followers; for they were not a band in rebellion against Saul. David had repeatedly proved his allegiance to the king ( Signs of the Times, September 7, 1888). { 2BC 1019.1 } 

       c o u l d    t h e i r    e y e s    h a v e    b e e n    o p e n e d                                

  The cause of truth was destined to triumph. God’s faithful builders were not toiling alone. Could their eyes have been opened, they would have seen as marked evidence of divine presence and aid as was granted to a prophet of old. When Elisha’s servant pointed his master to the hostile army surrounding them and cutting off all chance of escape, the prophet prayed, “Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.” And, lo, the mountain was filled with chariots and horses of fire, the army of Heaven stationed to protect the servant of the Lord. Thus did the angels of God guard the workers in the cause of the Reformation. God had commanded his servants to build, and the combined forces of earth and hell were powerless to drive them from the walls. Saith the Lord, “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night.” { ST November 1, 1883, par. 14 }

  Could your eyes have been opened as you with others sat in counsel, you would have discerned the unseen Watcher marking your words and noting the hasty, overbearing spirit which controlled your decisions, especially when something took place to arouse your combativeness. A sufferer from indigestion, you have brought the results of this into council meetings and board meetings. You have presided when, owing to your diseased imagination, you were not fit to preside. You were not always in this frame of mind, but at times were conciliating and conceding. Angels of God were present to help you when you did wish and strive to do the will of God.—Letter 41, 1898. (To A. R. Henry, May 6, 1898.) { 5MR 443.2 } 

  Again and again I have been shown the high attainments which the Lord’s people may reach, but many have talked the truth, have preached the truth, while they were not sanctified through the truth. They did not bring the truth into their daily life and weave the principles of the truth into their characters. That they might be moulded and fashioned as clay in the hands of the potter to become vessels of honor, there was needed in those assembled under that tent, a deep heart work, repentance of sin, abandonment of self. This meeting was indeed precious. I was strengthened to labor in that meeting. I heard the confessions of E.P. Daniels and his wife. I heard their earnest supplications to God. I know that the spirit of God was doing its work upon their hearts. I heard them testify that the Lord had given them a blessing such as they had never before received. They declared that they were indeed receiving afresh the converting power of God, and many testimonies of confession, and of victories gained were then made. Could our eyes have been opened, we could have seen Jesus in our midst with his holy angels. Many felt his grace and his presence in rich measure. With hearts broken by the Spirit of God, confessions of sins were made and precious testimonies of faith were given that declared that Jesus had pardoned their sin and spoken peace to their souls. This season marked by so much of the power of God to those present, we could never forget. How thankful I felt that the Lord had given me strength to remain till the close of that meeting. He gave me a spirit of supplication. My faith fastened upon the promises of God, and our prayers were answered, for there was the revealing of his presence, and his power. { 1888 57.1 } 

   Jesus is to be looked to as the bright and morning Star. His sayings should be our textbook. The instruction given in our schools should be in distinct lines, and should differ materially from the instruction of every other school in our land. These are not new truths, not a new revelation. Those whose eyes have been opened by the heavenly anointing behold wondrous things out of God’s Word. The doctrine of the grace of Christ is to be gradually developed, represented by the advancement from dawn unto noonday. { 20MR 178.3 } 

  Could your eyes have been opened as you with others sat in counsel, you would have discerned the unseen watcher marking your words and acting the hasty, overbearing spirit which controlled your decisions, especially when something took place to arouse your combativeness. A sufferer from indigestion, you have brought the results of this into council meetings and board meetings. You have presided when, owing to your diseased imagination, you were not fit to preside. You were not always in this frame of mind, but at times were conciliating and conceding. Angels of God were present to help you when you did wish and strive to do the will of God. But the prejudice that was created at Minneapolis, and kept warm by being encouraged by those who were pursuing a course displeasing to God, set you and those connected with you in determined rebellion against truth and righteousness. At times you were strongly convicted that you ought to give up your opposition to truth, and pursue a different course, but you were too stubborn and too proud to yield. At Minneapolis all the evidence that was necessary to convince unprejudiced minds, was given. But many went from that meeting with the record against their names, Weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, and found wanting. You did not then take your position as you might have done upon the evidence given, and your course has brought its sure result. Afterward, when you had more convincing evidence, you would not walk in the light. { 1888 1666.2 }