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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
His kingly courts. Will fallen man murmur because heaven can be
obtained only by conflict, self-abasement, and toil?
The inquiry of many a proud heart is: Why need I go in humiliation
and penitence before I can have the assurance of my acceptance with
God, and attain the immortal reward? Why is not the path to heaven
less difficult and more pleasant and attractive? We refer all these
doubting, murmuring ones to our great Exemplar while suffering under
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the load of man’s guilt and enduring the keenest pangs of hunger. He
was sinless, and more than this, He was the Prince of heaven; but in
man’s behalf He became sin for the race. “He was wounded for our
transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of
our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.”
Christ sacrificed everything for man in order to make it possible
for him to gain heaven. Now it is for fallen man to show what he
will sacrifice on his own account for Christ’s sake, that he may win
immortal glory. Those who have any just sense of the magnitude of
salvation and of its cost will never murmur that their sowing must be
in tears and that conflict and self-denial are the Christian’s portion in
this life. The conditions of salvation for man are ordained of God.
Self-abasement and cross bearing are the provisions made by which
the repenting sinner is to find comfort and peace. The thought that
Jesus submitted to humiliation and sacrifice that man will never be
called to endure, should hush every murmuring voice. The sweetest
joy comes to man through his sincere repentance toward God because
of the transgression of His law, and faith in Christ as the sinner’s
Redeemer and Advocate.
Men labor at great cost to secure the treasures of this life. They
suffer toil and endure hardships and privations to gain some worldly
advantage. Why should the sinner be less willing to endure, to suffer,
and to sacrifice in order to secure an imperishable treasure, a life that
runs parallel with the life of God, a crown of immortal glory that
fadeth not away? The infinite treasures of heaven, the inheritance
which passes all estimate in value, which is an eternal weight of glory,
must be obtained by us at any cost. We should not murmur at self-
denial, for the Lord of life and glory endured it before us. Suffering and
deprivation we should not avoid, for the Majesty of heaven accepted
these in behalf of sinners. Sacrifice of ease and convenience should
not cause one thought of repining, because the world’s Redeemer