The Signs of the Times
October 6, 1890
Sin Perverted, Grace Restores, Man's Faculties
When God created man, he endowed him with a well-balanced mind, with noble qualities and powers. Man was perfect in his being, and in harmony with God. His thoughts were pure, and his aims holy. But through disobedience to God, his powers were perverted, his affections misplaced, his high and holy purposes were lowered, and selfishness took the place of love. The fall did not create in man a new set of faculties, but worked the perversion of all that was good in his character. ST October 6, 1890, par. 1
Through the plan of salvation a way was provided whereby man could return to God; and in returning to his allegiance to God, he places himself in right relation to his Creator, where he is susceptible to the reproving, warning, instruction, and comfort of the Holy Spirit, where he can live by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, and be in direct communication with God through Christ. In such a connection and communion, he is placed where he can regain the moral image of God. ST October 6, 1890, par. 2
The affections, perverted by sin, become degenerated and depraved; but through a connection with Christ they are brought into a higher, holier channel; and, aided by divine grace, man may be an overcomer. The faculties, warped in a wrong direction through the influence of sin, need no longer be misused and perverted, need no longer be wasted on accomplishing selfish purposes, or fastened upon the perishing things of earth. When the soul has been convicted of sin, has accepted of Christ, the character becomes transformed, and there is an elevation and purification of all the powers of the being. They are no longer debased by selfish aims and unholy actions. What may not man become through the grace given him of God! Through the sanctification of the truth, he may become a partaker of the divine nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. He may show forth an example of righteousness, of true holiness. ST October 6, 1890, par. 3
Through the degradation of man's highest, noblest powers, sorrow, crime, and suffering came into our world, a result of breaking the commandments of God. Oh, that men would practice the holy principles of the law of God! We see those who are eagerly bent on amassing wealth. They give all their energy, tact, wisdom, and inventive power to the gaining of worldly treasure,—treasure that they will never need themselves, and that will fail to benefit their children. They are so intent on the pursuit of this one object that they have no time for prayer, no time to seek or serve God, or to place themselves on the side of Christ. Heaven and eternal things have no charms for them. All their moral powers are dwarfed, and they spend their lives for the one purpose of obtaining worldly treasure. The opportunity granted them of Heaven for gaining eternal life is squandered in striving for the perishing things on earth. ST October 6, 1890, par. 4
Would that the melancholy picture described above were only applicable to those who are of the world, who have made no profession of Christ! Sadder is it to see those who profess godliness presenting to the world an exhibition of misused powers! The passion for laying up treasures upon the earth, for making provision for an unknown future, for laboring for corruptible possessions, which pass away with the using, is not all confined to those who have not tasted the good word of God. It is sad indeed to see men who have had a knowledge of Christ, casting away their hope of an immortal inheritance for the sake of heaping up treasure upon earth. ST October 6, 1890, par. 5
If men were as eager candidates for the honors of heaven as they are for those of earth, if they were as anxious for an immortal inheritance as they are for worldly gain, if they employed the same concentration of mind and energy for the accumulation of divine riches as for the accumulation of treasures that pass away, what might not be done in the world? What light would flash upon the world from men who were whole-hearted in the service of their God! Such would reflect the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness upon the pathway of others. ST October 6, 1890, par. 6
Oh, how many mind earthly things, striving only for that which is perishable and fleeting! The whole power of their being is employed in securing earthly treasure, and their talents are dwarfed, their spirituality is crippled. God sets before men a heaven to gain, a crown of immortal glory to win, honors that will never tarnish, joy that will never fade. Oh, shall we allow Satan to pervert our powers, to set our eyes upon an unworthy object, so that we shall mind earthly things, and give soul and body for the fleeting treasures that serve us but a day, and miss of securing the eternal inheritance? ST October 6, 1890, par. 7