October 13, 1898

The Truth and Its Power in the Heart

EGW

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.” By this parable Christ seeks to illustrate the work of the Holy Spirit upon the human heart. The process is invisible by which the leaven changes the meal into which it has been introduced; but it continues to work until the meal is converted into bread. So the leaven of truth, working inwardly, produces a complete change in the human heart. The natural inclinations are softened and subdued. New thoughts, new feelings, new motives, are implanted. But while every faculty is regenerated, man does not lose his identity. New faculties are not supplied, but a thorough change is made in the employment of those faculties. The heart is cleansed from all impurity, and man is fitted with traits of character that will enable him to do service for God.ST October 13, 1898, par. 1

The leaven of truth, hidden in the heart, will not produce the spirit of rivalry, the love of ambition, the desire to be first. Thousands upon thousands of those to whom God has intrusted talents become slaves to their earthly possessions. They abuse their intrusted capabilities, and scheme and plan to obtain those things which have no value with God. They buy and sell, and get gain, but they neglect to secure the precious things that are placed within their reach,—the bread of life, the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Money is of value only as it is used as the Lord's intrusted means, only as we hold it in trust as a precious gift of heaven with which to bless humanity. If it is used to indulge and glorify self, it becomes a curse, and an incumbrance and a constant temptation.ST October 13, 1898, par. 2

In his letter to Timothy, Paul speaks of a class of people who dishonor God. In the place of seeking for purity of heart, for love and unity, they reveal that they know not what it means to have the leaven of truth in the heart to mold the affections and sanctify the soul. They are proud, “knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness. From such,” the apostle warns Timothy, “withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”ST October 13, 1898, par. 3

With the follower of Christ the love of money will not be all-absorbing. For Christ's sake he will labor for it, deny self, cut off every needless expenditure, that the means which come into his possession may be used in the great work of saving souls who are without Christ and without hope in the world. Thus he will cooperate with the world's Redeemer, who for our sake became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. The Commander of the angelic host laid aside His royal robes and crown of honor. He left the royal courts of heaven, and clothed His divinity with humanity, that humanity might touch humanity, and that divinity might lay hold of the power of God in behalf of the fallen race. The love of ease and pleasure and self-exaltation did not characterize the life of Christ. He was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He was wounded for our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. All who make an unreserved surrender of themselves to God will share in the self-denial of Christ, and will have fellowship with Him in His sufferings.ST October 13, 1898, par. 4

The meal in which the leaven is hidden represents the heart that receives and believes in Jesus. Christ works out the principles which He alone can work in. The world regards as a mystery the man who is imbued with these principles. The selfish, money-loving man lives only to eat and drink and enjoy his worldly goods. He loses the eternal world from his reckoning. But the man who receives and believes the truth will have that faith which works by love and purifies the soul. The world can not know him, for he is keeping in view eternal realities. A motive power is working within to transform the character. The love of Jesus with its redeeming power has come into the heart to conquer the entire being, body, soul, and spirit. When counter-influences work to oppose the grace of Christ which bringeth salvation, this love masters every other motive, and raises the human being above the corrupting influences of the world.ST October 13, 1898, par. 5

Because he clings to Jesus in faith and prayer, because he looks unto Him who died that man might have all the power that God has to bestow, the believing soul enters into fellowship with Christ. His life is hid with Christ in God. He is widely separated from the motives which move and control the world, and therefore the world knows Him not.ST October 13, 1898, par. 6

The apostle Paul declares: “You hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience; among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ... and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus; that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”ST October 13, 1898, par. 7

Here is brought to view the change that must take place in the heart. And “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” The Scriptures are to be the great agency in this transformation. Christ prayed, “Sanctify them through Thy truth; Thy Word is truth.” The true Christian will show himself a believer in sanctification, and his works will testify of him that he is born of God.ST October 13, 1898, par. 8

The apostle exhorts us: “If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”ST October 13, 1898, par. 9

Mrs. E. G. White