“There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class study the Saviour’s life and earnestly seek to correct their defects and conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors.”
The Great Controversy pg. 43
Says Jesus, “Let both [classes] grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
The Gospel of Matthew 13:30 KJV
Are we wheat or are we tares? Only time will tell.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Numbers 21:8 KJV
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.
John 3:14-15 KJV
In most cases of Scripture, the serpent is generally used to represent the devil, the great dragon called satan, Revelation 12:9, Genesis 3:1, however we see here that Jesus compares himself with the serpent. At first glance this may seem like blasphemy of the highest order and may even confuse many but lets take a closer look.
In speaking to Nicodemus in John 3:14-15, Christ was foretelling His death upon the cross and comparing it to the brazen serpent which Moses made in the wilderness. The idea of Christ being lifted up and crucified on the cross is seen here as a type of banner or standard or flag, that is lifted up. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, evenso must the Son of man be lifted up” Christ said.
After coming out of Egypt and brought into the wilderness, the children of Israel, quickly looked back to the pleasures of sinful Egypt, as did Lot’s wife to Sodom, and began to complain and murmur against God and against Moses. As a result, God allowed fiery, venomous serpents to come upon them and to bite them and those that were bitten quickly began to die of the poisonous venom. However, in realising their ungratefulness and their sin, they confessed their sin to God and cried out “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord” Numbers 21:7. Because of God’s mercy and long suffering nature, He heard their prayers and commanded Moses to build a serpent of brass and set it upon a pole, that whosoever should look upon it shall live.
Now it isn’t to say that in looking upon a pole with a snake upon it had the power to take away the effects of the poison, but it was in looking by FAITH, believing in God’s Word and His power to heal from the effects of the venom, that they would be saved.
Likewise, we all have been bitten by the old serpent called the devil and satan and have been infected by the venom of SIN. We all, as a result, have been condemned to death like the Israelites in the wilderness, for “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” says Paul, Romans 3:23. Again he says, “now all these things happened unto them [the Israelites] for ensamples (examples), and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come,” 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Therefore, God gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, as the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins, the only real antidote for the venom as it were. He came as the Son of Man, and suffered as we suffer, was afflicted with temptation as we are afflicted, “For in that He Himself, hath suffered being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted”,Hebrews 2:18.
As the serpent is used to represent satan and his sinful nature, so did Christ become sin for us. He took our sins upon Him and went faithfully to the Cross, lifted up as the serpent in the wilderness was lifted up before the children of Israel. “For He [God] hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Corinthians 5:21.
The serpent which was lifted up on the pole, directly foreshadows Christ, the Sinless One, who bore our sins, and was lifted up upon the Cross of Calvary and says Christ “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, evenso must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Christ was lifted up for you and for me. It is by His sacrifice upon the cross that our sins are forgiven and our slates made clean. We have all been bitten by the fiery serpent called the devil and have been infected with the deadly venom of sin. Therefore, lift up your heads and look to the Cross; look to Jesus as He has been crucified for your sins and for mine, believe in His power to cleanse you from all sin through His death, the death that we rightfully deserve, and the promise is, we shall not perish but have eternal life.
A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. This Satan himself recognized when he said: “Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” Job 1:9, 10. The agency by which God protects His people is presented in the words of the psalmist: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7. Said the Saviour, speaking of those that believe in Him: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father.” Matthew 18:10. The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have at all times access to His presence.
Thus God’s people, exposed to the deceptive power and unsleeping malice of the prince of darkness, and in conflict with all the forces of evil, are assured of the unceasing guardianship of heavenly angels. Nor is such assurance given without need. If God has granted to His children promise of grace and protection, it is because there are mighty agencies of evil to be met—agencies numerous, determined, and untiring, of whose malignity and power none can safely be ignorant or unheeding.
“Satan uses the listless, sleepy indolence of professed Christians to strengthen his forces and win souls to his side. Many, who think that though they are doing no actual work for Christ, they are yet on His side, are enabling the enemy to preoccupy ground and gain advantages. By their failure to be diligent workers for the Master, by leaving duties undone and words unspoken, they have allowed satan to gain control of souls who might have been won for Christ.
We can never be saved in indolence and inactivity. There is no such thing as a truly converted person living a helpless, useless life.
It is not possible for us to drift into Heaven.
No sluggard can enter there…those who refuse to co-operate with God on earth would not co-operate with Him in Heaven. It would not be safe to take them to Heaven.”
Christ’s Object Lessons pg.280
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
“We need [not] look for no outward evidence of the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we may go about our work assured that what God has promised, He is able to perform, and that the gift, which we already possess, will be realised when we need it most.”
Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of the Scriptures, will be overcome by his attacks. Therefore he invents every possible device to engross the mind.
“As soon as you are washed in Christ’s blood and clothed in His righteousness, you must begin to hew your way through a lane of enemies, right up to the Eternal Throne. Every foot of the way will be disputed; not an inch will satan yield to you.“
“A familiar acquaintance with the Scriptures sharpens the discerning powers, and fortifies the soul against the attacks of Satan. The Bible is the sword of the Spirit, which will never fail to vanquish the adversary. It is the only true guide in all matters of faith and practice. The reason why Satan has so great control over the minds and hearts of men is that they have not made the Word of God the man of their counsel, and all their ways have not been tried by the true test. The Bible will show us what course we must pursue to become heirs of glory.
As the heart is opened to the entrance of the Word, light from the throne of God will shine into the soul[Psalm 119:130]. That Word, cherished in the heart, will yield to the student a treasure of knowledge that is priceless. Its ennobling principles will stamp the character with honesty and truthfulness, temperance and integrity.”
“The glory of God, the perfection of Christian character, is to be the aim, the purpose, of our life. Christ’s followers must imitate Christ in disposition….Jesus is our helper; in Him and through Him we must conquer…. He will give you grace and strength as you need it if you ask Him….The Spirit of Christ in the heart will be revealed in the character, will develop noble qualities and powers. “My grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9) says Christ…Look not at those around you. Look instead at the only perfect pattern, the man Christ Jesus. Beholding Him, you will be changed into the same image.” Our High Calling pg. 29
“…I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 8:12 KJV
As the small seedling breaks forth from the soil and strives to find the rays of the sun that it may grow up into a mature plant bearing fruit for the farmer, so must the Christian strive to walk in the light as Christ is in the light, for He is the “Sun of Righteousness” Malachi 4:2 KJV . By following the light of Christ day after day, shall we grow up “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”, Ephesians 4:13 KJV, and by this work of transformation and daily sanctification that takes place in us by the Holy Ghost, shall we bring forth fruit for the Husbandman of the vineyard, Isaiah 5:1-3,7; Matthew 21:33.
Scripture teaches us that “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” and if we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, engaging in the works thereof, then “we lie and do not know the truth.”1 John 1:5-6. Furthermore, Christ has said to us, His Church, that we must follow His example. As He was the light of the world while he dwelt here, working the works of the Father, so are we now called to pick up the baton which He has passed onto us, to work the works of Him that sent us into the world to proclaim the everlasting gospel & His soon return to all men.
Ye are the light of the world…Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:14,16 KJV
Christ Himself, veiled His divine nature, and took on human flesh and blood when He came to this earth. He was part of humanity like you and I, the Son of Man, tempted in all points such as we are, yet He committed no sin, Hebrews 4:15. He walked in the light of the Father, and came to reveal to mankind the glory and character of God, because no man can see or shall see the face of God and live, for He dwells in light unapproachable, Exodus 33:20; 1 Timothy 6:16.
Following this example of Christ, we are now called to walk in the light, that we may also reflect His character and His glory to the world. We are to walk as Christ walked, and live as He lived and by doing this, the world shall see Christ in us “the hope of glory” and shall also be led unto Him. 1 John 2:6; Colossians 1:27.
O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.
Isaiah 2:5KJV
He that followeth after Christ, shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life. His Word shall be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path, leading us and directing us into all truth. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. John 8:12; Psalm 119:105; 2 Corinthians 4:6.
But this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, through Christ and through His faithful, obedient followers, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. For everyone that doeth evil deeds, hates the light, neither do they come into the light lest their deeds be rebuked. John 3:19-20. Satan has covered this world in darkness and has covered the minds of its inhabitants in gross darkness. They refuse to heed the light of Christ and as a result they remain captives of the enemy. Therefore as a plant, because of its inability to receive light for a prolonged period of time and is thus covered in darkness, dies, so do all who refuse to walk in the light of Christ die spiritually.
But to those who heed the call of the Spirit and receive the Word of God in their hearts the Prophet Isaiah says, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”Isaiah 9:2. Paul in agreement with this also says that we “are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”1 Thessalonians 5:5. We are children of the light for we are children of God, for “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all” , “Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called the sons of God.”
Therefore let us continue to strive towards the light as the plants of nature strive to follow the direction of the sun’s rays, for it is only by this that they shall grow up into their full stature producing fruit. Likewise, as we keep following the light of Christ, pressing on and persevering despite the conditions of life, so also shall we grow up unto the fulness and stature of the True Light, Jesus Christ, bearing fruit for the Master, for by beholding, we become changed.
Jesus is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. His children are the children of light. They are renewed in His image, and called out of darkness into His marvellous light. He is the light of the world, and so also are they that follow Him. They shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. The more closely the people of God strive to imitate Christ, the more perseveringly will they be pursued by the enemy; but their nearness to Christ strengthens them to resist the efforts of our wily foe to draw them from Christ.
Testimonies for the Church, Volume 1, page 405, paragraph 2
Loud Cry Compendium 