Manuscript Releases, vol. 21 [Nos. 1501-1598]

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MR No. 1585—The Importance of the Law of God

Before the children of Israel were given into the charge of Joshua, the Lord directed Moses to rehearse to them the incidents of their journeyings since leaving Egypt. Their wandering tent-life was about to cease. They were to take possession of Canaan, after the Lord had manifested His power in their behalf by opening a passage for them through the Red Sea and leveling the walls of Jericho. 21MR 408.1

Moses told the people how the Lord had declared to them His holy commandments. After repeating the words of the law, he said, [Deuteronomy 5:22-33, quoted]. 21MR 408.2

God's holy law comes sounding down along the line to our time. If the words of this law were hung up in prominent places, as are the pictures on our walls, would they not have a more powerful influence for good than do these pictures? The words of God's law could be printed on cards and hung up on the walls of your houses. The attention of some will be arrested as their eyes fall upon the ten commandments. Thus the Lord will impress hearts and minds. The law of the Lord is holy, just, and good, and perfect, and it is of the greatest importance that men and women read and understand this law, which is God's pledged word to all who dwell upon the earth. 21MR 408.3

The Lord has instructed me that the money expended on photographs might better be used in feeding the poor and clothing the naked. It might better be invested in buying pamphlets and books for those who cannot buy them for themselves. Can we not practice self-denial and self-sacrifice in regard to photographs? Would it not be pleasing to the Lord for us to make a covenant with God by sacrifice and cease to fill our what-nots and walls with multitudinous idols, in placing the means thus saved where it will help to enlighten souls in darkness and error? 21MR 408.4

The salvation of men and women depends upon their obedience to every word of God. Then should not His commandments be made prominent by every soul who believes the sacred truth? He declares, “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth” [Exodus 20:3, 4]. Do we give these words the consideration they demand? 21MR 408.5

Would it not be safe, wholly safe, for us to bind about our inclinations in regard to photographs and other pictures, lest by our carelessness in regard to the Lord's instruction we educate our children to desire only the pictures which will be consumed in the fire of the last day? In view of the plain, decided utterances of the Lord, would it not be well for us to bind about our desires in everything of this character? We are only half converted from species of idolatry. 21MR 408.6

We see a dearth of means in the Lord's treasury. Our people have grown to be a large number, but this number would have been very much larger if there had been more loyalty, more willingness to obey the words of the Lord, more self-sacrifice, more decided work done for unbelievers who know not the truth. 21MR 409.1

God's people should carefully avoid every species of idolatry. Take from your walls and shelves all that comes under the Lord's instruction regarding images, all that is robbing Him of the honor you should give Him. Invest the money the Lord has given you in that which will abound to His glory. 21MR 409.2

The Lord said to Israel, “Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess” [Deuteronomy 5:32, 33]. Are not these words spoken just as surely to us as to the children of Israel? Then let us take heed to the instruction given by Him who purchased the world with His own life. 21MR 409.3

The sixth chapter of Deuteronomy contains instruction which it is important for all to follow. [Deuteronomy 6:1-9, quoted.] 21MR 409.4

Because the world is disloyal, because it refuses to walk in the way of life, shall those who claim to be the chosen of God become careless and regardless of His Word, turning to the right hand or to the left according to their own pleasure? I am charged to say that there is need of a reformation in every church, in every family. We have no time to devote to pleasure-loving, no means to invest in buying the pictures of human faces. Invest your means in the cause of God. Guard carefully your example. It is of the greatest consequence to every soul to love and fear God, to obey His commands. We all need to become better acquainted with the laws of God's Kingdom, lest we lose our eternal life insurance policy [2 Peter 1:10-12] and fail to find entrance into the city of God. 21MR 409.5

On many the Word of God has lost its impression because of the prevalence of the disregard of His law. As God's chosen people we are to be in every sense what He desires us to be. We are to render strict obedience to the law spoken by Christ from Sinai. This law is God's standard of character, and there can be no comparison between it and anything the human mind can frame. It is an unchangeable standard of absolute perfection, set up by the infinite God. Unaided, the human mind cannot comprehend it. An expression of the character of God, it is as high as heaven and beyond measurement in its power to sanctify. 21MR 409.6