Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White
| In Adversity the Character is Revealed |
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Today's Text:
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom. 2 Samuel 15:14
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The Message:
David was never more worthy of admiration than in his hour of adversity. Never was this cedar of God truly greater than when wrestling with the storm and tempest.... With spirits broken and in tearful emotion, but without one expression of repining, he turns his back upon the scenes of his glory and also of his crime, and pursues his flight for his life. Shimei comes forth as David passes and, with a storm of curses, hurls against him invectives, throwing stones and dirt. Said one of David's faithful men, "Let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head." David in his sorrow and humility says, "Let him curse, because the Lord hath said unto him, Curse David."... When the march of the procession is arrested by Zadok and Abiathar with the Levites who come bearing the ark of God, the symbol of God's presence, David for a moment sees the star of hope amid the clouds, for with this precious token with him, he may greatly improve his situation.... But how unselfish, how noble, is the man David! In his overwhelming affliction, David's resolution is taken. He, like the tall cedar of Lebanon, looks toward heaven. The royal command is "Carry back the ark of God into the city."... His reverence and respect for the ark of God would not allow him to consent that it should be imperiled by his vicissitudes in his hasty flight.... To rob the city of that symbol that gives it the name of the "Mount of Holiness," he could not consent. Had he possessed selfish motives and a high opinion of himself, he would gladly have gathered everything that would build up his sinking fortunes and give him power to secure his safety. But he sends back to its place the sacred chest and will make no advancement until he sees the priests returning with the hallowed burden, to place it in the tabernacle of Zion.... The voice of conscience, more terrible than Shimei, was bringing his sins to his mind. Uriah was continually before his eyes. His great crime was the sin of adultery.... Although he did not with his own hand kill Uriah, he knew that the guilt of his death rested upon him.... He recalled how ofttimes God had worked for him, and thought, "If He accepts my repentance, He may yet give me His favor and turn my mourning to joy.... On the other hand, if He has no delight in me, if He has forgotten me, if He will leave me to exile or to perish, I will not murmur. I deserve His judgments and will submit to it all."-Letter 6, 1880. |
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Commentary:
My friend, there is none that has lead a righteous life except the man Christ Jesus, and it is only through His sacrifice that we are freed from the condemnation of sin. But to be a forgiven sinner is not enough, we must be cleansed from all unrighteousness if we are to be saved. The life that Jesus lived here on this earth is offered to us in place of our own. As He gained the victory over sin by living a perfect and blameless life, so too does He offer that life to us through the indwelling of His Spirit in our lives.
All that will live to see Jesus coming in the clouds of glory will need to have a faith in Him that will see them through the adversity of the last days. During that time the characters of all will be tried and tested to see if Christ truly is living with in their hearts. Satan will be allowed to try the people of God to the utmost. All earthly support will be taken away and it will be seen as to what character they have developed.
Those who have only a superficial relationship with Jesus will be weighed in the balances and be found wanting. But those who have laid their foundation upon the rock of Jesus Christ, who have fully surrendered their lives to Him, will shine forth during this time of persecution. They will be tried in the fires of affliction, but their lives will testify that Jesus is living within their hearts.
My friend, only the genuine faith of Jesus will suffice in the last days. Many through their belief in the trinity will come up to this time and find that their faith fails them because they have laid their foundation upon the sand. They have looked unto a false god and as such have taken upon themselves a false righteousness that cannot sustain them during this time of affliction, for it is in a crisis that their true characters are revealed.
Now is the time for us to look unto the true Son of God that we may put on His righteousness and be saved.
God bless,
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