Self-indulgence in Religion’s Garb
59
In what manner is the light of truth shining from that thoughtless,
pleasure-seeking company? Professed followers of Jesus Christ who
indulge in gaiety and feasting cannot be partakers with Christ in His
sufferings. They have no sense of His sufferings. They do not care
to meditate upon self-denial and sacrifice. They find but little interest
in studying the marked points in the history of the life of Christ upon
which the plan of salvation rests, but imitate ancient Israel who ate
and drank and rose up to play. In order to copy a pattern correctly
we must carefully study its design. If we are indeed to overcome as
Christ overcame, that we may mingle with the blood-washed, glorified
company before the throne of God, it is of the highest importance
that we become acquainted with the life of our Redeemer and deny
self as did Christ. We must meet temptations and overcome obstacles,
and through toil and suffering, in the name of Jesus, overcome as He
overcame.
The great trial of Christ in the wilderness on the point of appetite
was to leave man an example of self-denial. This long fast was to
convict men of the sinfulness of the things in which professed Chris-
tians indulge. The victory which Christ gained in the wilderness was
to show man the sinfulness of the very things in which he takes such
pleasure. The salvation of man was in the balance, and to be decided
by the trial of Christ in the wilderness. If Christ was a victor on the
point of appetite, then there was a chance for man to overcome. If
Satan gained the victory through his subtlety, man was bound by the
power of appetite in chains of indulgence which he could not have
moral power to break. Christ’s humanity alone could never have en-
[67]
dured this test, but His divine power combined with humanity gained
in behalf of man an infinite victory. Our representative in this victory
raised humanity in the scale of moral value with God.
Christians who understand the mystery of godliness, who have a
high and sacred sense of the atonement, who realize in the sufferings
of Christ in the wilderness a victory gained for them, would see such
marked contrast between these things and the church gatherings for
pleasure and the indulgence of appetite, as would turn them in disgust
from these scenes of revelry. Christians would be greatly strengthened
by earnestly and frequently comparing their lives with the true standard,
the life of Christ. The numerous socials, festivals, and picnics, [
Note:
A term at times used by Mrs. White to refer to fashionable and often