“It is Finished”
657
This is not an act of arbitrary power on the part of God. The
rejecters of His mercy reap that which they have sown. God is the
fountain of life; and when one chooses the service of sin, he separates
from God, and thus cuts himself off from life. He is “alienated from the
life of God.” Christ says, “All they that hate Me love death.”
Ephesians
4:18
;
Proverbs 8:36
. God gives them existence for a time that they may
develop their character and reveal their principles. This accomplished,
they receive the results of their own choice. By a life of rebellion,
Satan and all who unite with him place themselves so out of harmony
with God that His very presence is to them a consuming fire. The glory
of Him who is love will destroy them.
At the beginning of the great controversy, the angels did not un-
derstand this. Had Satan and his host then been left to reap the full
result of their sin, they would have perished; but it would not have
been apparent to heavenly beings that this was the inevitable result of
sin. A doubt of God’s goodness would have remained in their minds
as evil seed, to produce its deadly fruit of sin and woe.
But not so when the great controversy shall be ended. Then, the
plan of redemption having been completed, the character of God is
revealed to all created intelligences. The precepts of His law are seen
to be perfect and immutable. Then sin has made manifest its nature,
Satan his character. Then the extermination of sin will vindicate God’s
love and establish His honor before a universe of beings who delight
to do His will, and in whose heart is His law.
Well, then, might the angels rejoice as they looked upon the
Saviour’s cross; for though they did not then understand all, they
knew that the destruction of sin and Satan was forever made certain,
that the redemption of man was assured, and that the universe was
made eternally secure. Christ Himself fully comprehended the results
of the sacrifice made upon Calvary. To all these He looked forward
when upon the cross He cried out, “It is finished.”
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