Unto us a child is born
The mother’s microscopic egg comes floating down the fallopian tube. Suddenly, without her or anyone knowing it, it awakens from the stillness of death into life. All she knew was love and trust; the new change that happened inside her was too small for her to detect.
She is quite unaware of the fact that that vapid egg has transformed into a dynamic zygote, with all its machinery grinding away in high gear. Soon a miracle happens. That one celled zygote begins to pull apart, as if by a master magician’s manipulations. The mystery of it all is that all the components pull apart as well, without damaging any one of them! Nothing is lost in this splitting and dividing event. A single power from within each member of the nucleus commands this united performance.
The most cutting edge technology cannot produce this effect. When every cellular component has pulled apart, both halves close up their open sides which expose the vulnerable members, as the membranes of the cell walls move together encompassing each one. Now we have two identical cells that comprise the zygote. All the DNA has duplicated, as has the mitochondria and all that the nucleus contained for its administration and maintenance.
Then, in the same amount of time, each cell divides again, and now we have 4 cells that make up the zygote. As the multiplication carries on to 16 cells in the next division, and then 256 cells in the following division, the zygote grows exponentially. Yet despite its accelerating growth, no one knows this amazing construction is occurring because it is so microscopically small.
But before long this new member of the mother’s body triggers great changes in her that do catch her attention. Her periodic blood stops flowing and she becomes nauseous of her regular food. If she is inexperienced and doesn’t understand the change deep within her, someone else will notice and explain it to her.
Over the next few months, her hatred of normal food is the only reminder of the miracle happening inside, until a small protrusion of her belly becomes noticeable. She is going to have a baby!
Yet, several more months must elapse before the new life arrives. Yet, the baby finally does come, full of vim and vigor, spicy and spitting. What a hand-full! Yet, what a heart-full! The new burden takes nothing from the energy required for the previous burdens of life. It only adds energy and hope to the life of both mother and child.
God, in His infinite wisdom, has wondrously fashioned the physical life to mirror the spiritual life. This for our benefit, as well as the rest of His intelligent heavenly agencies. “Which things the angels desire to look into,” “for we are made a spectacle… to angels.” (1Pet. 1:12;1Cor. 4:9).
While the body and mind are brought forth in every healthy baby who comes into this world, lamentably, the faculty of faith in the divine suffers disease and still birth. But, at some point in the lifetime of human experience, the Spirit of God may find a way into our still-born conscience.
An interest in purity, a yearning for infinite love, a vision of undying trust draw the mind away from anything this world can offer. Then it is that the heart of man meets God. “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” (Lk. 1:35). The seed of the Spirit penetrates the willing, softened barriers of the conscience, and grants the needy, surrendering one the reward of peace. The receiver of this gift probably knew nothing of the new microscopically small mustard-seed of faith beginning to grow deep within the conscience. Nothing of God or religion was apparent—only simple faith and love. But in the environment of simplicity God works to bring something out of nothing—spiritual fiat. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Vs. 37).
As time progresses, that tiny spark of life multiplies within the conscience. A new spirituality is growing within the conscience, unbeknown to its possessor. But changes are happening on the outside that come as a mystery. The hemorrhaging of a wasted lifestyle is staunched, as a new distaste for the old life begins. New health and prosperity result. The previous self-exaltation, self-indulgence, self-pity, self-serving, self-love become objectives to be loathed.
Friends and family begin to notice a new person developing within the old, to the rejoicing of a few, to the suspicion of most, but to the open disdain and mockery of many. Regardless, to the recipient of the new life, it is only restful and happiness. Health and life spring forth. But what is going on? If the owner doesn’t realize what is happening, inevitably someone will come along who will reveal the mystery. The beneficiary of this new experience is giving birth to the Christian life! How wonderful!
Unselfishness, trust, humility, health, happiness will be gifts dispensed from heaven each day. “The fruit of the Spirit… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” (Gal. 5:22,23) will be living realities!
A full parting of ways occurs from the practices and habits and methods of the world. As heart-rending as it is, the new lifestyle makes many enemies who liked their friend in his or her old self. The Christian’s final deliverance from Satan’s hold on the soul is a painful one. Grief and labor attend the separation from subjection to the devil’s kingdom. The Christian hasn’t rejected the old friends, but Satan’s subjects become angry because they misinterpret the sudden rejection of their ways.
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. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Great Controversy, p. 612.
“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Rom. 5:1-5).
“Thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away.” (Is. 49:25). The old life is past, heaven achieved another resurrection from the dead, and a new life has begun.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6).
She is quite unaware of the fact that that vapid egg has transformed into a dynamic zygote, with all its machinery grinding away in high gear. Soon a miracle happens. That one celled zygote begins to pull apart, as if by a master magician’s manipulations. The mystery of it all is that all the components pull apart as well, without damaging any one of them! Nothing is lost in this splitting and dividing event. A single power from within each member of the nucleus commands this united performance.
The most cutting edge technology cannot produce this effect. When every cellular component has pulled apart, both halves close up their open sides which expose the vulnerable members, as the membranes of the cell walls move together encompassing each one. Now we have two identical cells that comprise the zygote. All the DNA has duplicated, as has the mitochondria and all that the nucleus contained for its administration and maintenance.
Then, in the same amount of time, each cell divides again, and now we have 4 cells that make up the zygote. As the multiplication carries on to 16 cells in the next division, and then 256 cells in the following division, the zygote grows exponentially. Yet despite its accelerating growth, no one knows this amazing construction is occurring because it is so microscopically small.
But before long this new member of the mother’s body triggers great changes in her that do catch her attention. Her periodic blood stops flowing and she becomes nauseous of her regular food. If she is inexperienced and doesn’t understand the change deep within her, someone else will notice and explain it to her.
Over the next few months, her hatred of normal food is the only reminder of the miracle happening inside, until a small protrusion of her belly becomes noticeable. She is going to have a baby!
Yet, several more months must elapse before the new life arrives. Yet, the baby finally does come, full of vim and vigor, spicy and spitting. What a hand-full! Yet, what a heart-full! The new burden takes nothing from the energy required for the previous burdens of life. It only adds energy and hope to the life of both mother and child.
God, in His infinite wisdom, has wondrously fashioned the physical life to mirror the spiritual life. This for our benefit, as well as the rest of His intelligent heavenly agencies. “Which things the angels desire to look into,” “for we are made a spectacle… to angels.” (1Pet. 1:12;1Cor. 4:9).
While the body and mind are brought forth in every healthy baby who comes into this world, lamentably, the faculty of faith in the divine suffers disease and still birth. But, at some point in the lifetime of human experience, the Spirit of God may find a way into our still-born conscience.
An interest in purity, a yearning for infinite love, a vision of undying trust draw the mind away from anything this world can offer. Then it is that the heart of man meets God. “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee.” (Lk. 1:35). The seed of the Spirit penetrates the willing, softened barriers of the conscience, and grants the needy, surrendering one the reward of peace. The receiver of this gift probably knew nothing of the new microscopically small mustard-seed of faith beginning to grow deep within the conscience. Nothing of God or religion was apparent—only simple faith and love. But in the environment of simplicity God works to bring something out of nothing—spiritual fiat. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” (Vs. 37).
As time progresses, that tiny spark of life multiplies within the conscience. A new spirituality is growing within the conscience, unbeknown to its possessor. But changes are happening on the outside that come as a mystery. The hemorrhaging of a wasted lifestyle is staunched, as a new distaste for the old life begins. New health and prosperity result. The previous self-exaltation, self-indulgence, self-pity, self-serving, self-love become objectives to be loathed.
Friends and family begin to notice a new person developing within the old, to the rejoicing of a few, to the suspicion of most, but to the open disdain and mockery of many. Regardless, to the recipient of the new life, it is only restful and happiness. Health and life spring forth. But what is going on? If the owner doesn’t realize what is happening, inevitably someone will come along who will reveal the mystery. The beneficiary of this new experience is giving birth to the Christian life! How wonderful!
Unselfishness, trust, humility, health, happiness will be gifts dispensed from heaven each day. “The fruit of the Spirit… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance,” (Gal. 5:22,23) will be living realities!
A full parting of ways occurs from the practices and habits and methods of the world. As heart-rending as it is, the new lifestyle makes many enemies who liked their friend in his or her old self. The Christian’s final deliverance from Satan’s hold on the soul is a painful one. Grief and labor attend the separation from subjection to the devil’s kingdom. The Christian hasn’t rejected the old friends, but Satan’s subjects become angry because they misinterpret the sudden rejection of their ways.
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. Family connections, church relations, are powerless to stay them now. Truth is more precious than all besides. Great Controversy, p. 612.
“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Rom. 5:1-5).
“Thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away.” (Is. 49:25). The old life is past, heaven achieved another resurrection from the dead, and a new life has begun.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Is. 9:6).
posted by David | 8:50 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home