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Testimonies for the Church Volume 2
to degrade you? No, indeed. To make a way of escape for you from
hopeless misery, to elevate you at last to His own right hand in His
kingdom. For this the great, the immense, sacrifice was made. And
who can realize this great sacrifice? Who can appreciate it? None
but those who understand the mystery of godliness, who have tasted
the powers of the world to come, who have drunk from the cup of
salvation that has been presented to us. This cup of salvation the
Lord offers us, while with His own lips He drained, in our stead, the
bitter cup which our sins had prepared, and which was apportioned
for us to drink. Yet we talk as though Christ, who has made such
a sacrifice, and manifested such love for us, would deprive us of
everything that is worth having.
Of what good would He deprive us? He would deprive us of the
privilege of giving up to the natural passions of the carnal heart. We
cannot get angry just when we please, and retain a clear conscience
and the approval of God. But are we not willing to give this up?
Will the indulgence of corrupt passions make us any happier? It is
because it will not that restrictions are laid upon us in this respect. It
will not add to our enjoyment to get angry and cultivate a perverse
temper. It is not for our happiness to follow the leadings of the
natural heart. And shall we be made better by indulging them?
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No; they will cast a shadow in our households and throw a pall
over our happiness. Giving way to the natural appetites will only
injure the constitution and tear the system to pieces. Therefore God
would have us restrict the appetite, control the passions, and hold in
subjection the entire man. And He has promised to give us strength
if we will engage in this work.
The sin of Adam and Eve caused a fearful separation between
God and man. And Christ steps in between fallen man and God,
and says to man: “You may yet come to the Father; there is a plan
devised through which God can be reconciled to man, and man
to God; through a mediator you can approach God.” And now He
stands to mediate for you. He is the great High Priest who is pleading
in your behalf; and you are to come and present your case to the
Father through Jesus Christ. Thus you can find access to God; and
though you sin, your case is not hopeless. “If any man sin, we have
an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”