Self is totally contorted by sin. We always find reasons to criticise other people. Sin has destroyed the perfect balance. As we look at some of these realities, we become reactive. Self is always reactive to being slighted and self-justification and defaming others noting their shorting comings. Even in the religious world, we fall into this as Paul described it that he was a great religious man. As we look at those ugly things, it leaves an unpleasant sense. Self is totally contorted by sin.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

We must be very careful that we do not lose sight of Gods amazing love.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Sin arose with Lucifer. When you study prophecy, you can get side tracked. The real reason for prophecy is to discover the relationship in the word of God. When Adam and Eve sinned it was a crack in a relationship. When thing s are going sweet, what do you have to fix? In the universe everything was going sweet and someone wanted to fix something. He thought he could improve on the relationships but what happened? He broke relationships. That is what it is all about. Being contented with the status quo. Satan came to Adam and Eve who sinned and now the relationship with God was in total tatters.

We want a close look at the manner in which God dealt with the crack in the relationship. Sinners deserved to be treated without mercy. God could have removed the dark blot from the universe but He did not do this. Instead of banishing them from His presence, He came still nearer to the fallen race in our flesh. The study of the nature of Christ dimly understood. Many vaguely comprehend the only begotten Son.

Those who have professed to love Christ, have not comprehended the relation which exists between them and God, and it is still but dimly outlined to their understanding. They but vaguely comprehend the amazing grace of God in giving His only-begotten Son for the salvation of the world. {AG 176.6}

If we really understood the amazing relation between the sinner and God, God has not cast us off and said, “You are sinners, sort yourself out,” but He comes closer than before.

There is a distasteful note when we have to submit to God because of human interactions gone wrong and we are always complaining, why do I have to own up?

When Adam’s sin plunged the race into hopeless misery, God might have cut Himself loose from fallen beings. He might have treated them as sinners deserved to be treated. He might have commanded the angels of heaven to pour out upon our world the vials of His wrath. He might have removed this dark blot from His universe. But He did not do this. Instead of banishing them from His presence, He came still nearer to the fallen race. He gave His Son to become bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, . . . full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Christ by His human relationship to men drew them close to God. He clothed His divine nature with the garb of humanity, and demonstrated before the heavenly universe, before the unfallen worlds, how much God loves the children of men. {AG 53.2}

That is His character. I have often studied how God managed to work things out. It’s not a mastermind, it’s His character. It’s not that He is working something out, it’s His nature. When a relationship breaks down, instead of saying, “You terrible people,” He comes closer. Because our nature is as such, when I get hurt I note the faults of others but God doesn’t do that.

This love that exists from God to the sinner, we all with beholding face are changed into the same image. We go from glory to glory as we behold this character. Jesus comes into the darkest place and becomes like us. The gift of God to man is beyond human computation.

He has given you a gift which is beyond all human computation, even the gift of his well-beloved Son. When “he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor,” “his arm brought salvation, and his righteousness, it sustained him.” {RH, August 6, 1895 par. 12}

In order to secure man to Himself and ensure his eternal salvation, Christ left the royal courts of heaven and came to this earth, endured the agonies of sin and shame in man’s stead, and died to make him free. In view of the infinite price paid for man’s redemption, how dare any professing the name of Christ treat with indifference one of His little ones? . . . How patiently, kindly, and affectionately should they deal with the purchase of the blood of Christ! {AG 176.7}

I refuse to take sides with people who are at variance with each other. It is not in me to take sides. When someone comes to me wanting to darken another person’s reputation and character, I cannot partake of it. No matter how much a person has failed, Gods hand is still stretched out unless they say no thank you.

Amen.