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Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2
In sadness he lay down to rest on the bare earth, around him only
the lonely hills, and above, the heavens bright with stars. As he slept a
strange light broke upon his vision; and lo, from the plain on which
he lay, vast shadowy stairs seemed to lead upward to the very gates
of heaven, and upon them angels of God were passing up and down;
while from the glory above, the divine voice was heard in a message
of comfort and hope.
Thus was made known to Jacob that which met the need and
longing of his soul—a Saviour. With joy and gratitude he saw revealed
a way by which he, a sinner, could be restored to communion with
God. The mystic ladder of his dream represented Jesus, the only
medium of communication between God and man.—
Steps to Christ,
19, 20
(1892).
Burden of Guilt Foundation of Many Maladies—The paralytic
found in Christ healing for both the soul and the body. The spiritual
healing was followed by physical restoration. This lesson should not
be overlooked. There are today thousands suffering from physical
disease, who, like the paralytic, are longing for the message, “Thy sins
are forgiven.” The burden of sin, with its unrest and unsatisfied desires,
is the foundation of their maladies. They can find no relief until they
come to the Healer of the soul. The peace which He alone can give
would impart vigor to the mind, and health to the body.—
The Desire
of Ages, 270
(1898).
Ignorance Did Not Remove Guilt—Had they known that they
were putting to torture One who had come to save the sinful race
from eternal ruin, they would have been seized with remorse and
horror. But their ignorance did not remove their guilt, for it was their
privilege to know and accept Jesus as their Saviour.—
The Desire of
Ages, 744
(1898).
Do Not Lessen Guilt by Excusing Sin—We should not try to
lessen our guilt by excusing sin. We must accept God’s estimate of
sin, and that is heavy indeed. Calvary alone can reveal the terrible
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enormity of sin. If we had to bear our own guilt, it would crush us.
But the sinless One has taken our place; though undeserving, He has
borne our iniquity. “If we confess our sins,” God “is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (
1
John 1:9
).—
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 116
(1896).