THE SCRIPTURES A SAFEGUARD.
" To the Law and to the testimony: if they
speak not according to this word, it is because their is no light in
them." Isaiah 8:20. The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as
their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive
power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to
prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain
utterances reveals his deceptions....So closely will the counterfeit
resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them
except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and
every miracle must be tested. But multitudes have no more understanding
of these important truths than if they had never been revealed. Satan
watches to catch away every impression that would make them wise unto
salvation, and the time of trouble will find them unready. The Multitude
do not want Bible truth, because it interfers with the desires of the
sinful, world-loving heart; and Satan supplies the deceptions which they
love. But God will have a people upon the earth to maintain the Bible
and the Bible only, as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of
all reforms. The opinions of the learned men, the deductions of science,
the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils, as numerous and
discordant as are the churches which they represents, the voice of the
majority-- not one nor all of these should be regarded as evidence for
or against any point of religious faith. Before accepting any doctrine
or precept, we should demand a plain " thus saith the Lord" in its
support. Satan is constantly endeavouring to attract attention to man in
the place of God. He leads the people to look to bishops, to pastors,
to professors of theology, as their guides instead of searching the
Scriptures to learn their duty for themselves. Then by controlling the
minds of these leaders, he can influence the multitudes according to his
will. When Christ came to speak the word of life, the common people
heard him gladly; and many, even of the priests and rulers, believed on
him. But the chief of the priesthood and the leading men of the nation
were determined to condemn and repudiate his teachings. Though they were
baffled in all their efforts to find accusations against Him, though
they could not but feel the influence of the divine power and wisdom
attending His words, yet they incased themselves in prejudice; they
rejected the clearest evidence of His Messiahship, lest they should be
forced to become His disciples. These oponents of Jesus were men whom
the people had been taught from infancy to reverence, to whose authority
they had been accustomed implicitly to bow. " How is it," they asked, "
that our rulers and learned scribes do not believe on Jesus? Would not
these pious men receive Him if He were the Christ?" it was the Influence
of such teachers that led the Jewish nation to reject their Redeemer.
The spirit which actuated those priests and rulers is still manifested
by many who make a high profession of piety. They refuse to examine the
testimony of the Scriptures concerning the special truths for this time.
They point to their own numbers, wealth, and popularity, and look with
contempt upon the advocates of the truth as few, poor, and unpopular,
having a faith that separates them from the World.The truth and the
Glory of God are inseparable; it is impossible for us with the Bible
within our reach, to honour God by erroneous opinions, Many claim that
it matters not what one believes, if his life is only right. But the
life is moulded by faith. If light and truth is within our reach, and we
neglect to improve the privilege of hearing and seeing it, we virtually
reject it; we are choosing darkness rather than light. " there is a way
that seemth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of
death" proverbs 16:25. Ignorance is no excuse for error or sin, when
there is every opportunity to know the will of God. A man is traveling
and comes to a place where there are several roads and a guideboard
indicating where each one leads. If he disregards the guideboard, and
takes whichever road seems to him to be right, he may be ever so
sincere, but will in all probability find himself on the wrong road. God
has given us His word that we may become acquainted with its teachings
and know for ourselves what He requires of us. We should day by day
study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing
scripture with Scripture. With divine help we are to form our opinion
for ourselves as we are to answer for ourselves before God. One reason
why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God's word is,
they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. An
understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of
intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the
earnest longing after righteousness.... (The Great Controversy page
360-363)
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