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The Desire of Ages
is forever removed. Angels as well as men are drawn to the Redeemer.
“I, if I be lifted up from the earth,” He said, “will draw all unto Me.”
Many people were round about Christ as He spoke these words,
and one said, “We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth forever:
and how sayest Thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this
Son of man? Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light
with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you:
for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. While
ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.”
“But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they
believed not on Him.” They had once asked the Saviour, “What sign
showest Thou then, that we may see, and believe Thee?”
John 6:30
.
Innumerable signs had been given; but they had closed their eyes and
hardened their hearts. Now that the Father Himself had spoken, and
they could ask for no further sign, they still refused to believe.
“Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on Him;
but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should
be put out of the synagogue.” They loved the praise of men rather than
the approval of God. To save themselves from reproach and shame,
they denied Christ, and rejected the offer of eternal life. And how
many through all the centuries since have been doing the same thing!
To them all the Saviour’s warning words apply: “He that loveth his
life shall lose it.” “He that rejecteth Me,” said Jesus, “and receiveth
not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken,
the same shall judge him in the last day.”
John 12:48
.
Alas for those who knew not the time of their visitation! Slowly
and regretfully Christ left forever the precincts of the temple.
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