Daily Bread

Tuesday, January 08, 2013

"Creation: Forming the World"

Sabbath School Today

With the 1888 Message Dynamic

Origins

Lesson 2: "Creation: Forming the World"

The latter rain of the Holy Spirit has long been anticipated by the church to provide the efficiency necessary to proclaim the Third Angel's Message to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people (Rev. 14:6). This "rain" is absolutely essential in order to ripen the grain so that Jesus can reap the harvest at His return (vss. 15, 16).

Presently the world is as it was in the days of Noah and before the six days of creation. The people of the world are in deep darkness and moral corruption because of a misunderstanding of the character of God. The time is long overdue for the "rays of light" from the Holy Spirit to be released upon a decaying and dying world as in the beginning light shone out of darkness. The 1888 message addresses this last-days' creative act of God.

The originative phase of creation was instantaneous when "God created the heavens and the earth" "for He spake, and it was done" (Gen. 1:1; Psalm 33:9). This mass was "without form, and void" (Gen. 1:2). It was total darkness, liquid, gases, matter, energy, lifeless, and tenantless. "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made" without any pre-existing matter (Psalm 33:6).

"The Spirit of God" initiated the formative phase of creation as He "moved upon" "the waters" (Gen. 1:2). The Holy Spirit's action is portrayed as the tremulous flutter of a loving mother eagle over its young (Deut. 32:11). As a result of this operation of the Spirit, the whole unformed mass of the earth becomes inherently teeming with energy in the six words of the creation week.

"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light" (Gen. 1:3). There was light created on the first day, but it was cosmic light (vs. 3), not solar light (vs. 14). The first day's work included the creation of the darkness. "I form the light, and create darkness" (Isa. 45:7). Darkness was created before the light, and the light out of the darkness. "God ... commanded the light to shine out of darkness" (2 Cor. 4:6). The darkness of the formative stage of creation was different from the total blackout darkness of the originative stage of creation. "God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day" (Gen. 1:5). Thus the sequence of the 24-hour day from the beginning is first nighttime and then daytime.

"And God saw the light, that it was good" (Gen. 1:4). There is no expression like this in the rest of the chapter. The very first creature of the creation week is light! This is the one creature among all creatures which God chose to be a fit symbol of the Creator who is Himself Light, and in whom is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5), "the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9).

"And God said, Let there be a firmament [an expanse]" (Gen. 1:6). Of this we read in Job 37:18, "Can you as He does beat out the vault of the skies, hard as a mirror of cast metal?" (REB). The firmament is the expanse which extends outward from the earth some 250 miles or more, including the spherical envelope of our atmosphere and beyond to the astral heavens. God made the firmament to intervene, to divide the waters on the earth from the waters [the clouds and atmosphere] above the earth. This is "His handiwork" "the work of His fingers" (Psalm 19:1). We might freely translate Psalm 19:1b thus: "and the firmament showeth His fancy work," for that is the kind of work we do with the fingers, such as knitting, crocheting, etching. God "crocheted" the firmament, and spread it out in space as an evidence of His power and glory.

"And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together in one place, ... And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called He Seas" (Gen. 1:9-10). The land was brought forth out of the water by Divine command. One may understand the words "gathered together in one place," and the land, not lands, is made to appear; the idea being that originally there was but one continent and one sea on the earth. The formations of the seas and continents as we now know them, were made at the time of the flood.

"For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the Word of God theheavens were of old, and the earth (land) standing out of the water and in the water; ..." (2 Peter 3:5-6). There were mockers willingly ignorant of the fact that by the Word of God there were heavens of old, and an earth existing "out of the water and in the water." Peter is referring back to Genesis 1:9, 10. He is stating that the earth rose out of the water, and existed between the water, i.e., between the water above the firmament and the water below, in the fountains of the deep. The world that then was, was literally surrounded by water, both by the deep, and in and by the expanse (see also Psalm 104:6-9).

The Creator has not abandoned the earth to its own devices as Deism posits. The condition of the world now is in the deepest darkness as it was in the days of Noah before the flood (Matt. 24:37-39). Not only has this been brought about because of the increasing wickedness of man manifested in crimes and unrestrained passions, but also because of a lack of moral leadership on the part of politicians and preachers. "The rapidly increasing darkness" is due to "the multitudinous errors, heresies, and delusions of these last days. Not only is Satan leading the world captive, but his deceptions are leavening the professed churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. The great apostasy will develop into darkness deep as midnight, impenetrable as sackcloth of hair. To God's people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the truth's sake. But out of that night of darkness God's light will shine." [1]

What is the cause of this world's darkness? "It is the darkness of misapprehension of God that is enshrouding the world. Men are losing their knowledge of His character. It has been misunderstood and misinterpreted. At this time a message from God is to be proclaimed, a message illuminating in its influence and saving in its power." "The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love." [2]

Love as agape is not a namby-pamby, mushy sentimentalism. The same God who is agape is also "a consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29). That fire is death to selfishness, sensuality, love of the world, pride and arrogance. It is death to lukewarmness as well. Strange as it may sound to legalistic ears, it is impossible for a church to be weak and sickly if that love is understood and appreciated.

When it does impregnate the church as fire permeates the coal, the church will be what Christ would be to that community were He there in the flesh. Cleansed by the fire of sin-consuming agape, the church will become an extension of Christ's power to redeem lost people.

Then the Holy Spirit will at last do His final work in human hearts. This is because members of the body will receive the "mind of Christ." [3]

What could those "rays of light" be except the love of God seen in His people? Imagine the joy that will flow like a river when the Lord's pure Good News goes forth in glory and power! How many human hearts now in darkness will meet Christ and find in Him their soul's longing.

--Paul E. Penno

Endnotes:

[1] Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons, pp. 414, 415.

[2] Ibid., p. 415.

[3] "Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers. ... The rays of light penetrate everywhere, the truth is seen in its clearness, and the honest children of God sever the bands which have held them. ... A large number take their stand upon the Lord's side" (The Great Controversy, p. 612).

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Spend a Thoughtful Hour Contemplating the Cross

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There have been no new worlds or planets created in the universe since God kept that first Sabbath. “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them,” says Genesis 2:1.

What has kept God busy since then? The answer: a work of reconciling heaven and earth, because “there was war in heaven: Michael and His angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels” (Rev. 12:7).

The great controversy has involved the universe as well as this fallen planet, for verse 12 says that because of the victory won in this reconciliation, “Rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.” Finally, it will be said: “The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation.”* This blessed harmony will be the result of God’s work on His cosmic Day of Atonement, which means simply, His Day of Reconciliation, the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, the ending of alienation.

Is your human heart reconciled to God? Are you alert to realize that your natural human heart “is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be” (Rom. 8:7) except through the atonement of Christ? Do you still wrestle with a lingering sense that somehow you must make yourself good before He can be reconciled to you, and before He can really accept you and respect you? Do you have that nagging feeling that He cannot truly be your Friend until you are worthy? While you are sitting in the pigsty, do you wish you had a Father who would forgive and accept the prodigal?

If so, you need to know about the Day of Atonement. As never before in history the world’s attention is directed now to the atoning sacrifice of Christ where “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. ... [We] beseech you … in Christ’s stead, be YE reconciled to God”! (2 Cor. 5:19, 20). But you CAN’T “be” unless you first believe He is reconciled to you! So, “spend a thoughtful hour” contemplating the cross where that reconciliation was accomplished.

--Robert J. Wieland

* The Great Controversy, p. 678.

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: August 22, 2003.

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Monday, January 07, 2013

The Greater Truth That Swallows Up All Others

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

People who love Bible truth have been disturbed by a gigantic earthquake of their faith: the scientific evidence seems irrefutable that the earth is far older than what the Bible says. They have only one life to live; they cannot pursue another life calling of paleontology or geology or any scientific study that would give them expertise in evaluating evolution.

Long before their faith in Christology or the Sabbath truth is ridiculed by the public, they are pained that their belief in the Genesis account of creation is embarrassing. They’ll never be able to “prove” Creation scientifically. But don’t forget: no one will “prove” it false, either.

Simplistic as it may sound, the answer is ... Jesus. Is He real?

He is ever so sweet, and loving, and gentle (as the stories for children say); but He is direct and demanding--you can’t “believe in Him” unless you take up your cross on which self is crucified, and follow “whithersoever He goeth” (Rev. 14:4, KJV).

You will shy away from that unless you have “seen” Him bear His cross and you understand what it cost Him to save you from darkest hell. The days when fear was the prevalent motivation for following Him are gone; a new motivation is now possessing human hearts worldwide--an intimate view of Jesus Christ in which you become as “married” to Him as is any loving bride to her husband; your concern is for Him that He receive His reward. You’re living in a new world: it’s no less real than the old one of self was, but what happened at Pentecost now grips you--something real but intangible. The love (agape) of Christ is now “constraining” you, motivating, possessing you. Your heart is like a woman who has fallen deeply in love. The cross of the Son of God has spoken to you.

In usual social culture, a bride takes her new husband’s name; she has found a new identity, and if she truly loves and honors him, she is delighted with it. She is still her old self, yes; but no, she is not. From henceforth she is now “Mrs. ________.”

The most stupendous Reality of the history of the universe has taken place--the Son of God has died the second death of the vast population of earth (Heb. 2:9). He has chosen to go to hell (cf. Acts 2:27; Psalm 22 passim). He has said, “greater love [agape] has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). You can jump in to rescue a drowning person and thus lay down your physical, temporal life while all the time hanging on to your eternal life in Christ (yes, that’s also a great sacrifice!). But since the world began, no person has ever gone to an eternal hell to save someone else, except the incarnate Son of God.

That’s love (agape). The Creation embarrassment is gone; Christ is the greater truth that swallows up all others.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 12, 2007.

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Sign Your Name on to Psalm 90

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Moses wrote the timeless words; we shall recite them forever until the Lord Jesus Christ descends down the heavens at His second coming: "Lord, Thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God" (Psalm 90:1, 2).

But the words that beckon for our understanding are verse 12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

It's something you can't learn unless the Lord Himself teaches you. He may employ the things He has created in nature as His assistant professors, but it's a personal God who is a loving heavenly Father who must be your Tutor. The lesson is taught in love (agape). Only in that way can we learn to economize our life by "numbering our days."

Life is a time to be spent building the "house" we will live in for eternity. If the dear Lord in His great mercy gives us another day--"today"--let's ask Him for His free grace that will enable us to do or say something today that will be another stone set in the "house" we are building, to do something that has eternal results for good.

The Lord loves to help those who know they have wasted their days of opportunity, who come to Him in older age broken and penitent, foolish spendthrifts who fear they will arrive bankrupt at the gate of the Holy City. They fear that the shame they will feel forever in heaven will detract from whatever joy there may be in eternal life. If you spend your century of "days" as the wandering sheep that's been lost, and the Lord gives you even one day to spend in repentance, you can build a temple not to be ashamed of. (This is not said to encourage wildly spendthrift living; there may come a time when you simply don't want the "wisdom" you could have applied your heart to! There comes a point where opportunities wasted become so forever. God forbid!)

A heart surrendered that understands "the truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5) can accomplish a marvelous ministry of love in just one day! Now, let's give this new day to the One who went to hell to find us. Do the only sensible thing: sign your name on to Psalm 90, and apply your heart unto wisdom.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 6, 2004.

Friday, January 04, 2013

Esau, the Grand Prototype of All the Lost

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The strings of a grand piano are always strung tight with tension; they have to be, or there is no music. There is a tension in salvation: on the one hand there are Bible assurances of salvation, and on the other hand there are dire warnings about the tragedy of ultimately being lost.

That tragedy would be ultimate; to lose eternal life--it's unimaginable. But Jesus plainly tells us that "many" who have thought they were His followers will say to Him in the final day as they stand before the Great White Throne (Rev. 20:11, 12), "Lord! Lord! Haven't we done everything just right, cast out devils in Your name, done many wonderful works, etc. etc." and He will be forced to say to them, sadly, "I never knew you" (Matt. 7:21-23).

One thoughtful writer has said that the "many" will include "the great proportion" of those who now appear to be genuine. It's scary. And yet the tension is there: God wants us to stop worrying about our eternal salvation. Jesus says, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give YOU the kingdom!" (Luke 12:32). Paul says that He "wants all men to be saved, and to come to a knowledge of the truth" (1 Tim. 2:3, 4). Why will anyone, then, be lost if it is not His will that they should be? Calvinism says nobody CAN be lost if it is God's will that he or she be saved; but the Bible makes clear that by unbelief man or woman can "frustrate the grace of God."

A good answer to the tension is found in the story of Esau, the elder brother of Jacob. As the elder (if only by a few minutes!) the birthright was his; it could not be taken from him. But stupid-like, he "sold" it in a moment of sensual gratification, and never got it back "though he sought it carefully with tears." (Paul likens his gratification of appetite to committing fornication, and many do willingly "sell" their birthright to heaven for such a momentary thrill; see Heb. 12:15-17). When Esau was hungry he smelled the stew that Jacob was cooking and made the solemn, oath-bound choice to "despise" his birthright for it. And now Esau is the grand prototype of all the lost who will stand before the Great White Throne.

What will hurt them the worst will not be the extent of the Fahrenheit temperature of the "fire," but the painful, burning conviction in every cell of their being that the birthright to eternal life in the kingdom of God was GIVEN to them, they had it, but they threw it away for "the pleasures of sin for a season" (Heb. 11:25). It's not God's arbitrary choice to shut them out; it's by their own unfitness for Heaven's companionship.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: February 5, 2000.

Thursday, January 03, 2013

The Hardest Thing for Anyone to Do

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

The Christian church is divided into many denominations and sects, but all would agree on one statement: the Gospel is Good News. The angels at Bethlehem said so: it's "good tidings of great joy ... to ALL people" (Luke 2:10). But how good? There's where we split off into contentions and conflicts.

A writer of great acclaim once penned a little book, Steps to Christ. She blew the lid off of legalism; speaking on one page several times about what the cross of Christ means, she said: "The sinner may resist this love, may refuse to be drawn to Christ; but if he does not resist he will be drawn to Jesus; ... to the foot of the cross in repentance for his sins" (p. 27).

Can the Good News be that good--that you have to "resist" Christ, reject Him, in order to be lost? There's the "Armageddon" battlefield over the teachings of righteousness by faith. "No way!" some contend; to say that you have to resist Him in order to be lost will open the gates of the New Jerusalem and admit hordes who don't deserve to get in. So let's go to the Bible, trusting we can settle the question there:

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you" (Jer. 31:3). Speaking of what Paul meant when he said, "I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified" (1 Cor. 2:2), the Lord Jesus said: "I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself" (John 12:32; that's the Loud Cry!). Yes, there's a huge "IF" there, preachers! No superficial preaching will "draw" people to repentance. They'll go home Sabbath after Sabbath from your services in hard-hearted lukewarmness, otherwise.

"God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them" (2 Cor. 5:19), but instead "He has borne our ... transgressions, ... was bruised for our iniquities; ... the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isa. 53:4-6). The Father "imputed" our guilt onto Him so that Christ who "knew no sin" was "made to be sin for us" (that's everybody! 2 Cor. 5:21). In that act on His cross, Christ died "the second death" of "every man" in the world (Heb. 2:9). He did it before any of us were even born, for He is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8).

The logic follows as day follows night: if He has already died your second death, paid the penalty for your sin, the only way you can be lost therefore is to veto what He has done for you.

And there's the mountain-high problem: your "carnal mind" is "enmity against God" (Rom. 8:7). Hang on to it, and you are wearing out your life in re-crucifying Christ "afresh," and in your blind selfishness you are putting Him "to open shame" before the world and before the universe (Heb. 6:6, KJV). What you are doing is so "hard" you are "kicking against the goads," forcing yourself into premature old age, disabilities and death (Acts 26:14), demonstrating for the final Judgment what you really choose: eternal death.

The "hardest" thing in the world for anyone to do is to resist the seeking love of Christ.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 1, 2007.

Monday, December 31, 2012

New Year's Resolutions or Believing God's Promises

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

New Year's Day is traditionally the time for resolutions. "I will do better in this or that way during this new year!" And in practice, these New Year's resolutions usually fail before February comes around.

A wise writer has said, "Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. ... The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you" (Steps to Christ, p. 47). Such promises and resolutions made to God are the famous Old Covenant. The children of Israel made the Old Covenant at Mt. Sinai when they responded to God's promise by saying, "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do" (Ex. 19:8).

Sounds good, doesn't it? And some dear people understand the Lord as approving of their making the Old Covenant when He later said, "I have heard the voice of the words of this people, ... They have well said all that they have spoken" (Deut. 5:28). This is often interpreted as the Lord's enthusiastic approval of their Old Covenant promise. But those who take this position don't read far enough. In the next verse the Lord sighs, "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear [reverence] Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them." Paul says that the Old Covenant "gendereth to bondage," just asSteps to Christ says (Gal. 4:24). That "bondage" brings darkness into your soul, even though you try ever so hard to be good.

No, your New Year's resolutions will not bring you victory and happiness. The Lord does not ask you to make promises to Him; He asks only that you believe His promises to you. His promise is the New Covenant; and for us to believe His promise is what makes Him happy. And in the end it makes us happy, too.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: January 2, 1998.

Invitation to Subscribe to "Sabbath School Today"

Invitation to Subscribe to "Sabbath School Today"

Many of you will begin studying a new Sabbath School quarterly on "Origins," with the focus on Jesus, the Creator of heaven and earth. We would like to invite you to subscribe to "Sabbath School Today," weekly essays on the lessons, which may be received at no cost via e-mail. These essays will emphasize the Good News of God’s character in light of what a wise author has called "a most precious message." Some of the lesson essays will be prepared from the writings of Robert J. Wieland, author of "Dial Daily Bread."

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On this Web site you will also find videos of Pastor Paul Penno's Sabbath School classes, and other helpful material. (Pastor Penno is one of the authors of the "Sabbath School Today" essays.)

Sincerely,

The "Dial Daily Bread" Staff

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Dial Daily Bread: Have We Neglected to Receive the Gift Already Given?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Two thousand years have gone by since Paul proclaimed to the Jews that their Messiah had come in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. Most stubbornly resisted and rejected the message, according to Luke in Acts. If Paul was anything like we are in nature, he would have expected that the Jews most likely to listen favorably would be the “devout women,” the ladies of the congregation who were always helping people with works of mercy. But imagine his surprise and disappointment when he found that among the members of the congregations most bitterly opposed to the Good News about their Messiah having already come were those same “devout and honorable women” (13:50).

There was no need any longer for those agonizing, all night prayer meetings where the people would cry out to the God of Abraham, “Please fulfill the promise made to our fathers, send us our Messiah!” Prayer for the coming of the Messiah had now become obsolete. Now it was time to thank God for already sending Him! In fact, such prayer now became a form of blasphemy because it expressed the sin of unbelief, the refusal to recognize that God had already performed what He had promised.

Today we may pray earnestly for God to send us the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our latter rain. Sometimes churches have held all night prayer meetings for that blessed gift. Could it be that, like the ancient Jews, we have neglected to receive the beginning of that same gift already given, and it went over our heads as the truth went over the heads of the ancient Jews?

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: March 14, 2005.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Why Hasn't Revelation 18 Yet Been Fulfilled?

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

When some Gentiles from Greece invited Jesus to come (probably) to Athens, He responded with His memorable words about a grain of wheat falling into the ground and dying and then bearing “much fruit” (John 12:20-24). No, He must set His face steadfastly to suffer in Jerusalem and die there for the world. He made a great promise: “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me. This He said, signifying what death He should die,” that is, on His cross (vss. 32, 33).

That big “IF” and that universal promise of “drawing all” meets its fulfillment in Revelation 18:1-4. “Another angel” will finally “come down from heaven, having great power” (that’s the “drawing” that will be some people “lifting up Christ on His cross” as He has never before been “lifted up”). To “draw all” does not mean necessarily to WIN all. “All” will sense His drawing but not all will respond favorably; many will resist and reject.

“Precious ones” are to be called forth from “Babylon.” A compelling power will move the honest in heart and God will bring a restraint upon unbelieving relatives and friends so that they will dare not nor find it possible to hinder those who feel the work of the Spirit of God upon them. The last call will be carried even to the most downtrodden of humanity. Signs and wonders will follow the believers. God will be in the work, and every saint, fearless of consequences, will follow the convictions of his own conscience. The gospel message will close with power and strength. Servants of God will be endowed with power from on high to declare the message “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen,” and souls scattered everywhere will answer the call.

What will give power to the message? Lifting up “Christ and Him crucified” in a clearer way than any movie, drama, or pictures can do. Why hasn’t Revelation 18 yet been fulfilled? We can’t lift up Christ crucified while we also lift up self un-crucified. But the Holy Spirit will solve that problem (see Zech. 12:10). There is Good News before us.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: October 15, 2004.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Secret Root of Disunity Between Faith and Science

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There are conscientious, honest-hearted scientists who are Christians, who see the church pinpointed in Revelation to be the one that "keep[s] the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14:12). They have a problem that ordinary church members don't have. Their profession, their life work, is geology or paleontology--or some full-time science--and so they are deeply impressed by logical deductions that (to them) make a six-day creation week seem impossible.

In a search for unity, others quote Hebrews 11:3, "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God" (in six days, of course). And so here we have the "faith/science" tension in churches' colleges and universities.

The ultimate solution of course is to realize a faith that can penetrate into dimensions of true science as yet unapproachable to "scientists." The problem of the churches is a failure to grasp what true biblical "faith" is. Millions of Protestants and Roman Catholics sincerely embrace the doctrine of natural human immortality, a doctrine that automatically enshrouds the meaning of Christ's sacrifice on His cross. No way can anyone appreciate the "breadth and depth and length and height" of the love (agape) that led Christ to die there, if he holds to natural immortality. They can't believe He died for us! Consequently, those who believe in natural immortality have a restricted view of what faith is, for faith is a heart appreciation of that agape-love.

Devalue the love (agape), and automatically you devalue the faith. But if the church borrows its views of justification by faith from those who hold to natural immortality, our concept of faith will automatically be paralyzed into lukewarmness. We may sing about the cross, but fail to grasp how "by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." There's a dimension of faith we haven't yet plumbed. The resultant confusion short-changes our "righteousness by faith."

Conclusion: the "righteousness by faith" embraced by those who "keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" must be much more clearly defined than that held by those who hold to natural immortality. Here can be found the secret root of our bemoaned disunity between "faith and science."

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 12, 2004.

Monday, December 24, 2012

A Marvelous Passage in Philippines

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There is a marvelous passage in Philippians 2:5-8 to ponder. The birth of a Baby in Bethlehem made no impact on the world at that time, but the message in this passage did make an impact. Paul was the first one who clearly saw the significance of that birth in the stable! He talks about the "mind" that was in Christ Jesus BEFORE He came to this earth as a Baby. And then Paul begs us to "let" that "mind" be in us--to think and to feel as Christ did when He was in the highest place possible--"the form of God."

Take a look at the seven steps that the "mind" of Christ motivated Him to take: (1) to lay aside His equality with God with all its glory; (2) emptied Himself, gave up His reputation (what we usually fight for!); (3) "took" slavery upon Himself; (4) stepped down low so as to be made in the reality of humanity; (5) and then He humbled Himself still further (is there anyone reading this was who was born in a stable with the chickens, cows, goats, and donkeys?); (6) then He "became obedient" to the second death (the only person in all history who has done so!); and finally, (7) endured the death of the cross.

And that was not mere physical pain and social shame. It was the death that involved enduring the "curse of God" (Gal. 3:10). In other words it was the very same hell that Jesus described when He spoke of being cast into "outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 25:30).

Yes, says Paul, ponder this! Let your mind dwell on those seven steps. The Holy Spirit is right now is pleading with you--LOOK. Think about this. He's trying His best to pour into your soul this glorious truth, like you pour a delicious drink into a glass--don't cover the glass with your hand so it can't be poured in! "LET this mind be in you ..." The Holy Spirit will give it to you if you PERMIT Him! That's Good News!

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 20, 1997.

Friday, December 21, 2012

A Fascinating Christmas Story

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

There is a fascinating Christmas story tucked away, hidden, in the most unlikely place: a book called The Great Controversy. It presents details that are not in the book on the life of Christ,The Desire of Ages.

A special angel was appointed to visit the earth to find who was prepared to welcome the long-awaited Messiah. He visits the palaces of kings, the offices of philosophers, teachers, the rabbis, the synagogue elders, the leaders of the one true church on earth of that day with headquarters at Jerusalem, even the high priest's palace. Will the angel find anyone whose humble, contrite heart is longing for the coming of the long-awaited world's Redeemer? If he finds such a person, he will give him the glad news that He is about to be born! But sadly, he finds no one, and is about to return to heaven with the shameful news when he spots a group of lowly shepherds camping in the fields. They love to think and talk about the prophecies. They are not discussing politics, buying presents for each other, worldly possessions, or pleasures; they express their longing for the coming of the world's Redeemer.

The angel cannot contain his exuberance! He tells them the glad news and directs them to "the wretched hovel prepared for cattle" in Bethlehem where they will find the One who "unto you is born this day ... a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).

As that angel encircles the earth today, visiting the homes, schools, churches of the people who claim to be God's one true people, does he find anyone talking about the coming of the long-awaited "latter rain" of the Holy Spirit? Does anyone care that it has been delayed more than a century?

Does anyone wonder why? Does anyone long for its return? Or is there a secret fear that if and when the blessing comes, a lot of worldly "fun" will come to an end? Yes, it's true: the path to Bethlehem will lead on to a cross, which anyone who follows Jesus will also bear.

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 14, 1998.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

There Will Be a Last Generation!

Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"

Jesus Christ was emphatically clear about the future: this sinful, painful world is not to continue on and on ad infinitum for ages to come. “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

Note: He receives His people unto Himself, not vice versa. He has taken the initiative all the way through: a conjugal love has motivated Him. Love is always the desire to be one with the beloved. Jesus is no different!

The story of the second coming of Christ is a love story; there is a Bridegroom involved and a Bride. The drama is played out on planet earth in view of the vast universe of God, as though this planet were the stage. The second coming of Christ is the denouement of history, the one grand event toward which through the ages humanity has moved steadily.

The prophet Daniel describes the Last Generation as “the time of the end” (11:35; 12:4). Jesus told His disciples, speaking of specific events, “Then shall the end come” (Matt. 24:14). There will be a Last Generation! Six thousand plus years of history cannot be for nothing!

The apostles had a clear understanding: “This we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent [precede] them which are asleep [not everybody is going to pass through death!]. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump[et] of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:15-17).

The joy that Jesus will know will be unbounded, for He has personally, individually loved each one of His saints. The Last Generation will be the reunion. The long delayed wedding of two who have dearly loved each other is an occasion of great joy here on earth; think of a cosmic wedding! Four grand Hallelujah choruses with heaven’s symphony orchestras accompanying the massed choirs. “The angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed [happy] are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb.’ ... that have the testimony of Jesus … for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev. 19:7-10, NLT, KJV).

You are invited; now “make your calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10).

--Robert J. Wieland

From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: December 28, 2007.