November 26

"The people whom God had called to be the pillar and ground of the truth had become representatives of Satan. They were doing the work that he desired them to do, taking a course to misrepresent the character of God, and cause the world to look upon Him as a tyrant. The very priests who ministered in the temple had lost sight of the significance of the service they performed. They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial offerings they were as actors in a play. The ordinances which God Himself had appointed were made the means of blinding the mind and hardening the heart. God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole system must be swept away."

     I look back to my first days at Newbold College. I had it in mind that I was going to work hard and learn how best to serve God. I was not the only student with that desire. I remember talking to Jeff Brown just before he went off to Andrews University, “I want to sit at the feet of great men”. We genuinely wanted to serve God to the utmost of our abilities – and knew that all we had came from God in the first place. I still feel that way.

     Something had gone wrong in the time of Christ. As our reading puts it, “They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified.”  Simplify this. Instead of loving God they had turned to love the teachings.

     “Spend a thoughtful hour in contemplation of Christ” seems to be a quote that springs out as important. I know you are really busy, I know you have all sorts of pressures. Can you take a little time out, in a quiet place and spend time thinking about Jesus? You could do worse than picture yourself in Jerusalem, the crowds are there and so is Jesus. But Jesus is bloodied and sore. He limps, He is weak. Many of the crowd are mocking Him. Then think on to that time on that grassless hill outside the city walls – and remind yourself of those last few moments – when Jesus died – for you.