The All-Important Lesson

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«Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.»

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Unless the mind is continually disciplined by thorough work in investigating lines of truth, it will be controlled by slothful habits, and do but the most superficial work. Those who permit themselves to sink into this state of indolence will take for truth the assertions of others, and their acquirements will be of a low and cheap order. The mind thus bound about will be satisfied with a limited round of thought, and its possessor will not even suspect that there are rich mines of truth to be worked, where they might become rich in the acquirement of heavenly treasures. I have been shown by the Lord that there are depths of truth beyond the short line of measurement which has been made by those who profess to believe the truth. Many think that they are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, when they are poor and miserable and blind and naked, and have need of everything. They think that they know everything that is worth knowing, when the fact of the matter is that they know nothing that is worth knowing. In the greatness of their ignorance, in the poverty of their spirit, they feel that they have attained unto the measure of the full stature of men and women in Christ, when they are mere babes in understanding. They have grown to be conceited, egotistical; and the Lord says to them: «I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.»

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God calls upon the young men and women to bring earnest, vigorous, intellectual effort into the work. The mind’s best powers will sustain high effort, and success will crown those who reach for an elevated attainment. If the young who are strong will put to the stretch their powers in searching the Bible, they will have minds stored with valuable knowledge that will shine as a light upon those with whom they associate. The Sabbath school should be a place where those who have made advancement in divine knowledge should be able to inculcate fresh ideas in regard to the faith of God’s people. When all those who profess to be Christians are Christians in deed and in truth, the Sabbath school will be no longer a dry round of service. The teachers will then understand the lesson that Christ gave to Nicodemus, and will teach it in all its momentous bearing on human destiny. Jesus said to the ruler in Israel, «Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.» Except a man be born again, he cannot understand the character of the heavenly kingdom, or discern its spiritual nature. Christ was saying to Nicodemus in these words: «It is not learning you need so much as it is inward renovation. You need not to have your curiosity satisfied so much as to have a new heart, and until that change takes place, making all things new, it will result in no saving good to you for me to discuss with you my authority, my work, my mission as One who bears the credentials of heaven.»

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The lesson which Christ gave to Nicodemus is important to every teacher, to every Sabbath school worker, to every youth and child. It is certainly important that we become acquainted with the reasons of our faith, but the most important knowledge to be gained is the experimental knowledge of what it means to be born again. The great want in our Sabbath school work is the want of the light of life. All through our ranks are needed men and women who have learned at the feet of Jesus what is truth, and how to present it to others. It requires holy men, men who have humility, who are adding in Christ, to be educators of our youth in the Sabbath school.

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Nicodemus came to the Lord thinking to enter into a long discussion with him concerning points of minor importance, but Jesus laid bare the first principles of truth, and showed Nicodemus that his first need was humility of heart, a teachable spirit, a new heart; that if he would enter into the kingdom of God, he must be born again. Are there not those who hold responsible positions in the Sabbath school who would be irritated and annoyed if I should testify to them that though they are rulers in Israel, they too need to be born again? Nicodemus wondered that Christ should speak to him in the way which he did, not respecting his position as ruler in Israel, and he was not prepared to receive the truth, and he answered Christ in words full of irony. «Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?» He revealed the fact, as do many, when the cutting truth is brought home to the conscience, that the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God. There is nothing in them that responds to spiritual things; for spiritual things are spiritually discerned. But although Nicodemus did not comprehend his words, Jesus did not become impatient or discouraged, but sought to make more plain his statement of truth: In solemn, quiet dignity, Jesus repeated his words in a manner that would convince him of their divine truth, «Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth; so is everyone that is born of the Spirit.»

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While Jesus was speaking, the Spirit of God was impressing the heart of the proud rabbi, and it was in a hushed tone and humble manner that Nicodemus inquired, «How can these things be?» Jesus brought the truth home to his soul, saying: «Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but He that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.»

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The work of the Holy Spirit upon the heart is shrouded in mystery. It can no more be explained than can the operation of the winds. The Lord has never explained to humanity how the soul is impressed by the Spirit of God, affecting the mind and heart of the believer, or how the Spirit puts words into the mouth of the Lord’s messengers to give to his people. The prophets, who were especially enlightened by the Spirit of God, often could not understand the meaning of the words they wrote upon the paper, or explain the significance of what they uttered when the Spirit caused them to speak, but the word of the Lord accomplished the very work which he designed that it should, and the fruits of the work testified to its divine character.

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The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God. The character of the work that comes forth will testify as to the fountain from which the worker has drawn. Those who go to Jesus with humble and contrite heart, with broken, submissive spirit, will be given freely of the water of the river of life. They will be refreshed and strengthened, and Christ will be in them as a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. Every true Christian is a living fountain, ever receiving of the unfailing streams of grace, ever refreshed and ever refreshing those that are around him. Those who are coworkers with God manifest a missionary spirit; for they are ever receiving, that they may ever be giving to others the light and blessing of heaven. Those who open their hearts to receive largely will be able to give largely.

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How sad it is to think of the great amount of mechanical work that is done in the Sabbath school, while there is little evidence that there is moral transformation in the souls of those who teach and who are taught! When the work of the Spirit of God is felt upon the heart, we shall see many earnestly seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Then earthly things will find their proper, subordinate position, and heavenly things will be supreme in the affections of the children of God. —