The Signs of the Times
October 10, 1906
Our Great Treasure-House
Blessed are They that Do—Part 19
The Bible teaches the whole will of God concerning the sons and daughters of Adam. It is the rule of life, teaching us what characters we must form for the future life. We need not the dim light of tradition to make the Scriptures comprehensible. As well might we suppose that the noonday sun needs the glimmering torchlight of earth to increase its glory. The utterances of priest or minister are not needed to save men from error. Those who consult the divine oracle will have light. In the Bible every duty is made plain. Every lesson reveals to us the Father and the Son. The Word is able to make all wise unto salvation. In the Word the science of salvation is plainly revealed. Search the Scriptures; for they are the voice of God speaking to the soul. ST October 10, 1906, par. 1
Christ and His Word are in perfect harmony. Received and obeyed, they open a sure path for the feet of all who are willing to walk in the light as Christ is in the light. If the people of God would appreciate His Word, we should have a heaven in the church here below. Christians would be eager, hungry, to search the Word. They would be anxious for time to compare scripture with scripture, and to meditate upon the Word. They would be more eager for the light of the Word than for the morning paper, magazines, or novels. Their greatest desire would be to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. And as a result, their lives would be conformed to the principles and promises of the Word. Its instruction would be to them as the leaves of the tree of life. It would be to them a well of water, springing up unto everlasting life. Refreshing showers of grace would refresh and revive the soul, causing them to forget all toil and weariness. They would be strengthened and encouraged by the words of inspiration. ST October 10, 1906, par. 2
Weariness would be forgotten in the sunlight of Heaven. Truth would be interwoven with their lives, and its heavenly principles would be as a fresh, running stream, constantly satisfying the soul. ST October 10, 1906, par. 3
The Lord's philosophy is the rule of the Christian's life. The entire being should be imbued with the life-giving principles of heaven. The busy nothings which consume the time of so many shrink into their proper position before a healthy, sanctifying, Bible piety. ST October 10, 1906, par. 4
The Bible, and the Bible alone, can produce this good result. It is the wisdom of God and the power of God, and it works with power in the receptive heart. O what heights we might reach if we would conform our wills to the will of God. It is the power of God that we need, wherever we are. The frivolity that cumbers the church makes it weak and indifferent. ST October 10, 1906, par. 5
The whole Bible is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Received, believed, obeyed, it is the great instrumentality in the transformation of character. And it is the only sure means of intellectual culture. ST October 10, 1906, par. 6
Causes of Falling
The reason why the youth, and even those of mature years, are so easily led into temptation and sin, is that they do not study the Word of God and meditate upon it as they should. The lack of firm, decided will-power, which is manifest in life and character, results from their neglect of the sacred instruction of God's Word. They do not by earnest effort direct the mind to that which would inspire pure, holy thought and divert it from that which is impure and untrue. There are few who choose the better part, few who sit at the feet of Jesus, as did Mary, to learn of Him. Few treasure His words in the heart and practise them in the life. ST October 10, 1906, par. 7
The truths of the Bible, received, will uplift the mind from earthliness and debasement. If the Word of God were appreciated as it should be, both old and young would possess an inward rectitude, a strength of principle, that would enable them to resist temptation. ST October 10, 1906, par. 8
Let men teach and write the precious things of the Word of God. Let the thought, the aptitude, the keen exercise of brain power, be given to the study of the thoughts of God. Study not the philosophy of man's conjectures, but study the philosophy of Him who is truth. Other literature is of little value when compared with this. ST October 10, 1906, par. 9
The mind that is earthly finds no pleasure in contemplating the Word of God; but for the mind renewed by the Holy Spirit, divine beauty and celestial light shine from the sacred page. That which is to the earthly mind a desolate wilderness, to the spiritual mind becomes a land of living streams. ST October 10, 1906, par. 10
The Agency of Transformation
The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character. Christ prayed, “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth.” If studied and obeyed, the Word of God works in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute. The Holy Spirit comes to convict of sin, and the faith that springs up in the heart works by love to Christ, conforming us, soul, body, and spirit, to his own image. Then God can use us to do His will. The power given us works from within outwardly, leading us to communicate to others the truth that has been communicated to us. ST October 10, 1906, par. 11
The truths of the Word of God meet man's great practical necessity—the conversion of the soul through faith. These grand principles are not to be thought too pure and holy to be brought into the daily life. They are truths which reach to heaven and compass eternity, yet their vital influence is to be woven into human experience. They are to permeate all the great things and all the little things of life. ST October 10, 1906, par. 12
Received into the heart, the leaven of truth will regulate the desires, purify the thoughts, and sweeten the disposition. It quickens the faculties of the mind and the energies of the soul. It enlarges the capacity for feeling, for loving. ST October 10, 1906, par. 13