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The Youth’s Instructor

203/477

January 21, 1897

Christ's Mission to Earth

EGW

It is important that we each study to know the reason of the life of Christ in humanity, and what it means to us,—why the Son of God left the courts of heaven,—why he stepped down from his position as Commander of the heavenly angels, who came and went at his bidding,—why he clothed his divinity with humanity, and in lowliness and humility came to the world as our Redeemer. YI January 21, 1897, par. 1

It was the marvel of the heavenly hosts that Christ should come to earth and do as he did,—that his life here should be one of poverty, in such incomparable contrast with his glory in the heavenly courts. He might have come attended by the angelic throng; for the heavenly angels would have regarded themselves as honored in being his body-guard, in serving and worshiping him. But we read that “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” Christ's entire life was one of self-denial. He received of his Father that he might impart to others. YI January 21, 1897, par. 2

Before the universe of heaven, Christ condescended to take upon him the form of humanity, and stand among the lowly ones of earth, that he might reach them where they were, and by precept and example teach them, that though among the poor and oppressed, they might be pure, and true, and noble. He came to reveal to the world that the life and character need not become contaminated amid poverty and lowliness. The lily that rests upon the bosom of the lake may be surrounded with weeds and unsightly debris, yet, unsullied, it opens its fragrant white blossom to the sunlight. It strikes its channeled stem down through the mass of rubbish to the pure sands beneath. Refusing everything that would defile, it gathers to itself only those properties that will develop into the spotless, fragrant flower. YI January 21, 1897, par. 3

The lily is a representation of Christ among men. He came to a world all seared and marred with the curse, but he was not polluted by his surroundings. He was the Light, the Life, and the Way. He voluntarily became an inhabitant of earth, that he might grasp the whole world in his merciful arms, and lay it in the arms of his Heavenly Father. What love is manifested in this sacrifice, that the Lord himself should come to the help of the fallen sons and daughters of Adam! YI January 21, 1897, par. 4

We would ask you, dear young men and women, Will you accept this Jesus as your personal Saviour? Will you consider the life of Christ? His was a life of perfect obedience. He came to live the holy law of God in human nature. YI January 21, 1897, par. 5

The subject of obedience involves eternal interests. Through his misrepresentation of God, Satan had made the law appear as an arbitrary exaction, enforced by God to keep his creatures from a higher education in the knowledge of good and evil. It was this knowledge of evil that the Lord did not wish our first parents to obtain. He wanted them to be wise through understanding only that which it was for their happiness to know. But by the disobedience of Adam, the flood-gates of woe were opened upon our world. It was then that Christ offered himself as man's substitute and surety, and consented to come to earth, and meet the tempter, who, through falsifying the character and purposes of God, had caused the ruin of our first parents. YI January 21, 1897, par. 6

Adam received the commandments of God, and disobeyed them. In this he became disloyal to God; he dishonored him, and was classed as one with the first apostate. In yielding to temptation, he forfeited the light and favor of God. But though Adam broke away from its claim, the law of God did not lose one jot or tittle of its force. The Lord did not change one precept of his law, in order to meet man in his fallen condition. Had he done this in any period of the history of the world, Satan would have gained all that he asked in heaven,—a change of God's law. But in order to meet its claims, the Lord made an offering for sin, in the person of Jesus Christ, thus demonstrating to the world the immutability of his law. While he expressed his love for men, in giving his Son to die for them, he declared that its divine statutes cannot be changed or abolished. YI January 21, 1897, par. 7

Mrs. E. G. White