FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 4
THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 39)
“There is no question now. There are no doubts, no reproaches. When condemned for his crime, the thief had become hopeless and despairing; but strange, tender thoughts now spring up. He calls to mind all he had heard about Jesus, how He had healed the sick snd pardoned sin. He had heard the words of those who believed Jesus and followed Him weeping. He had seen and read the TITLE above the Savior’s head ‘written in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.’ Luke 23:38, KJV
“The HOLY SPIRIT illuminates his mind, and little by little the chain of evidence is joined together. IN JESUS, BRUISED, MOCKED, AND HANGING UPON THE CROSS, HE SEES THE LAMB OF GOD THAT TAKETH AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD. Hope is mingled with anguish in his voice, as the helpless DYING SOUL casts himself upon a DYING SAVIOR. ‘Lord, remember me,’ he cries, ‘when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.’
“Quickly the answer came. Soft and melodious the tone, full of love, compassion, and power the words: ‘Verily I say unto thee today, thou shalt be with Me in paradise.’ [Luke 24: 43].
“For long hours of agony, reviling and mockery have fallen upon the ears of Jesus. As He hangs upon the cross, there floats up to Him still the sound of jeers and curses. With LONGING HEART He had listened for SOME EXPRESSION OF FAITH FROM HIS DISCIPLES. [But] He had heard only the mournful words [from His own disciples!], ‘We trusted that It had been He which should have redeemed Israel.’ Luke 24:21].
“How grateful then to the Savior was the utterance of FAITH AND LOVE FROM THE DYING THIEF! While the LEADING JEWS DENY HIM, and even the DISCIPLES DOUBT HIS DIVINITY, the poor thief upon the BRINK OF ETERNITY, calls Jesus LORD!
“MANY were ready to call Him Lord when He wrought MIRACLES, and AFTER He had RISEN from the grave but NONE acknowledged Him AS HE HUNG DYING UPON THE CROSS but the penitent thief who was SAVED AT THE ELEVENTH HOUR.” – E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 750, 751.
(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.