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Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce
Through all our trials we have a never-failing Helper. He does not
leave us alone to struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be
finally crushed with burdens and sorrow. Though now He is hidden
from mortal sight, the ear of faith can hear His voice saying, Fear not;
I am with you. “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am
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alive forevermore” [
Revelation 1:18
]. I have endured your sorrows,
experienced your struggles, encountered your temptations. I know
your tears; I also have wept. The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed
into any human ear, I know. Think not that you are desolate and
forsaken. Though your pain touch no responsive chord in any heart on
earth, look unto Me, and live. “The mountains shall depart, and the
hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither
shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath
mercy on thee” (
Isaiah 54:10
).—
The Desire of Ages, 483
.
Hatred of Sin, Love for Sinners—Jesus arose, and looking at the
woman said, “Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man
condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her,
Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”
The woman had stood before Jesus, cowering with fear. His words,
“He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone,” had
come to her as a death sentence. She dared not lift her eyes to the
Saviour’s face, but silently awaited her doom. In astonishment she saw
her accusers depart speechless and confounded; then those words of
hope fell upon her ear, “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no
more.” Her heart was melted, and she cast herself at the feet of Jesus,
sobbing out her grateful love, and with bitter tears confessing her sins.
Beginning of a New Life—This was to her the beginning of a new
life, a life of purity and peace, devoted to the service of God. In the
uplifting of this fallen soul, Jesus performed a greater miracle than
in healing the most grievous physical disease; He cured the spiritual
malady which is unto death everlasting. This penitent woman became
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one of His most steadfast followers. With self-sacrificing love and
devotion she repaid His forgiving mercy.
In His act of pardoning this woman and encouraging her to live a
better life, the character of Jesus shines forth in the beauty of perfect
righteousness. While He does not palliate sin, nor lessen the sense of
guilt, He seeks not to condemn, but to save. The world had for this
erring woman only contempt and scorn, but Jesus speaks words of