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The Reformation Herald Online Edition

Glorification

Bread that Endures
E. G. White

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed” (John 6:27).

We have here the promise of the richest gift which heaven, in all its fullness, can bestow upon fallen man. The Lord Jesus, who made man, knew his recurring wants—that he must eat and drink to sustain life—but He also knew the value of eternal life. In the miracle He had just performed, He had revealed His power to provide for man’s physical necessities, even by methods outside of the ordinary course of nature.

Jesus had gone with His disciples apart into a desert place. But “a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples” (Verses 2, 3). Jesus saw the people seeking Him and listening to His words. “And he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing” (Luke 9:11).

So intent were the people in listening to the words of the Great Teacher, that they forgot their physical needs. By and by the day began to wear away. “Then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place” (Verse 12). But Jesus saw the needs of the people. There were men and women who were faint and hungry, and mothers with babes in their arms and children clinging to their skirts. Nothing escaped the eye of the compassionate Saviour. He would not send them away fasting but commanded, “Give ye them to eat” (Verse 13). And at His word that great multitude—”five thousand men, besides women and children” (Matthew 14:21)—were fed from “five barley loaves, and two small fishes” (John 6:9).

But the Lord did not wish the people to follow Him for worldly gain. It was His work, not to foster, but to correct, the prevailing evil of intense devotion to earthly things to the neglect of the heavenly. “Labour not,” He said, “for the meat which perisheth.” They were not to devote all their God-given powers to securing the things of the world, which pass away with the using. Attention must also be given to that which “endureth unto everlasting life.” “What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul” (Mark 8:36, 37)? What can compensate a man for the loss of eternal life in the kingdom of God?

Jesus opened before the people the necessity of knowing what is truth. He called their attention to the Scriptures. He carried their minds to the world beyond, to the very threshold of heaven, flushed with the living glories of infinity. He taught them that, in view of the solemn realities of the eternal world, the claims of God should engage their most earnest attention; but this would not incapacitate them for any essential duty. Jesus knew the real value of all that concerned the well-being of men in the varied interests of this life; but He saw the things of time become all-engrossing, while those of eternity were neglected. He set them before His hearers in their relative importance, assigning each its appropriate place.

God is continually at work to elevate the character and to stamp it with His own moral image. Our hands and minds must often be employed about the things of this life; for our faculties are given us for use; but our connection with God may be maintained. God, the living God, and Jesus Christ rejoice with singing over the souls that are molded and fashioned after the divine image; and heavenly angels look with admiration upon the work of uplifting fallen humanity. In His work for us, God calls upon us to cooperate with Him by placing ourselves in the channel of light, that we may be renewed by the mighty working of His power. Life is a sacred trust committed to us, and it must be weeded of all worldliness, that by our words and actions we may give evidence that God is working in us, to refine and elevate.

The enemy of God works also to keep under his own control the minds and wills of those whom Christ has purchased. He does not desire that man shall be uplifted, that his mind shall be taken from the things of this earth; and as an angel of light, he works to lead men in his own way. He knows that if the heart is engrossed with earthly things, if the time is taken up in laboring for the things that perish, the work of the Holy Spirit will not be discerned. He strives to magnify earthly cares and duties till they take the place of the things of God.

If the human agent allows himself to be ruled by this power, he will also carry on a warfare against good. His worst passions will be stirred in rebellion against heavenly things. His mind will be so filled with the things that perish that Christ will find no room for entrance. God will be dethroned from his heart, which is given to the service of another power. The capabilities which God designed to be used in His service will be enslaved in chains of sin.1

Appreciating the living Bread

God looked with sorrow upon the disregard which those whom He had created showed to their eternal interests. He so desired that they might be partakers of life everlasting, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish. Christ is the Creator of the universe. “By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him” (Colossians 1:16). Of old He laid the foundation of the world; the heavens are the work of His hand. By the arm of His power He upholds His creation.

Yet for our sakes, Christ came to the world and suffered death upon the cross, that He might be, to all who would accept Him, the bread of life. . . .

Those that eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood—draw their life and strength from Him—become consecrated agents through whom God can work; but only to the humble in heart can this bread of life be imparted. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” “Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and that trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 57:15; 66:1, 2). The more humble our spirit, the less self is exalted, the deeper will be our interest in things of eternity, and the more effectually will God be able to use us as channels of blessing.

Many are starved and strengthless because, instead of eating of the bread which came down from heaven, they fill their minds with things of minor importance. But if the sinner will partake of the bread of life, he will, regenerated and restored, become a living soul. The bread sent down from heaven will infuse new life into his weakened energies. The Holy Spirit will take of the things of God and show them to him; and if he will receive them, his character will be cleansed from all selfishness and refined and purified for heaven.

To the careless, the indifferent, the unconcerned, those standing on the precipice of ruin, Christ says: Open the door of your heart; give me entrance, and I will make you a child of God. I will transform your weak, sinful nature into the divine image, giving it beauty and perfection.

As we receive physical strength by partaking of earthly food, so we are made strong by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). Not only does Christ give us the bread of life; but the water of life, which He gives, is as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. It possesses life-giving properties and purifying efficacy; for it proceeds from the throne of God.

Those who will permit God to work in them will grow up unto the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Every power of the mind and body will be used in the service of God. The soul will be renovated through divine truth. “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion,” and behold your Saviour, Jesus, “the bread of life.” He has wonderful blessings to give to those who will receive Him. He is mighty in strength and wonderful in counsel. By the ministration of the Holy Spirit, He seeks to impress His image upon our characters. If we will feed upon Him, we shall become new creatures in Christ Jesus. The virtues of a true Christian character, the excellences that are revealed in the character of Christ, will be seen in the life born of the Spirit. Man, with his human nature, will become a partaker of divinity. The power of Christ will work to sanctify every part of the being, diffusing life, activity, and soundness through the whole, and developing spiritual efficiency.”2

The compelling message

Christ has sent out an invitation to every son and daughter of Adam, saying, “Come; for all things are now ready” (Luke 14:17). He has sent out His human agents to call men to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The experience that the believers gain in calling men to the gospel feast, in working in harmony with Christ, is of more value than silver and gold and precious stones. They proclaim the same message that John proclaimed: [1 John 1:1–7 quoted.]

We should sincerely inquire, “Am I feeding upon the bread of life? upon divine truth? Am I listening to the voice of God that speaks to me through His word? Am I willing to make any sacrifice rather than be found seeking to excuse myself for not thankfully accepting the invitation to the gospel feast? I have heard the call, ‘Come; for all things are now ready,’ and am I ready to repeat this call to others?” What excuse will those have to offer in the day of judgment who have known the truth of the Bible and have had no courage to maintain and advocate it? While they bow their heads in shame, others who have confessed the faith by the word of their testimony, and by their manner of life, will be honored of God and accounted precious. Could all appreciate the realities of the day of judgment, would they deny their faith for the sake of worldly advantages? Would they give up all that makes life desirable for the sake of securing worldly favors? None can live a happy and satisfactory life who do not live to honor and glorify God at any cost to self. Shall we refuse the heavenly invitation, “Come; for all things are now ready”? Shall we separate ourselves from God and heaven and walk in the imagination of our own hearts, when this means separation from Him who only can bless us? Those only are safe who believe in Christ as their personal Saviour. They have accepted the invitation to the supper of the Lord. What constitutes the gospel feast? Christ says: “I am the bread which came down from heaven” (John 6:41). [Verses 40, 56, 57, 63 quoted.]

We were created to fulfill a higher and nobler purpose than merely to eat and drink, and to live to please ourselves. What infatuation, what madness, it is to refuse to partake of the richest feast that could possibly be furnished by our heavenly Father! How vain are the excuses offered for rejecting the message to come to the marriage supper! Men declare, “I will go on with my worldly pursuits. I do not wish to displease my neighbors, and therefore I cannot come.” Let men remember that they are commanded to follow the Lamb of God whithersoever He goeth. His guidance is to be chosen, His companionship valued above the companionship of neighbors and friends. It is too honorable, too precious, to be refused. We are to be willing to endure any reproach for Christ’s sake; for all who accept Christ must be made conformable unto His image. Shall we reject the grace of Christ, and put away the hope of salvation, and refuse to be partakers of the sufferings of Christ? Then we shall reap the result of our choice, if we persist in rejecting the invitation of His Spirit. Were the Lord to deal with us as we deserve, would we not be punished in many ways as stubborn, ungrateful children? But He is longsuffering, He does not deal with us according to our perversity. Instead of this, He offers to take us into partnership with Himself and with His Son. All may have life who will accept it; the world has been invited to the gospel feast. When those who were first invited refused the invitation, the master of the feast declared that none of those who were bidden should taste of his supper. But the banquet was not to be devoid of guests. He sent his messengers into the streets of the city, into the highways and byways, to compel men to come in, that his house might be filled. Men were to be compelled, not by force, but by the presentation of such convincing arguments that they would be constrained to come in. This compelling message represents the message that God would send to men to impel them to receive Christ, the world’s Redeemer. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12).

But there are strong powers that work from beneath to draw men away from Christ, and to hold them infatuated captives to Satan. Men confederate with satanic powers in holding their fellow men away from the gospel feast. False shepherds aid Satan in his work as they cry, “Peace and safety,” when sudden destruction is about to fall upon them. But Christ’s faithful watchmen should sound the invitation, not holding their peace day nor night. They should present the white robes, the wedding garment, which is the righteousness of Christ, woven in the loom of heaven. If the watchmen will have faith in Christ, the Lord will give power to their message. They will be enabled so to present His grace, His love, His tenderness, the danger of rejecting the message, that men will feel constrained to accept the gospel invitation. . . .

It is the Saviour’s love that constrains the messenger to bear the message to the lost. O how wonderful is the importuning of Christ with sinners! Although His love is beaten back by the refusal of hard, stubborn hearts, He returns to plead with greater force, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock” (Revelation 3:20). His love woos with winning force, until souls are compelled to come in. Those who come to the supper turn to the blessed Jesus and say, “Thy gentleness hath made me great” (Psalm 18:35). He wins them by the word of His love and power; for the word of God is the rod of His power. He says, “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?” (Jeremiah 23:29). When the word of God is sent home to the human heart by the Holy Spirit, it is mighty to the pulling down of the strongholds of Satan. Finite men could do nothing in the great warfare, were it not for the word of God. They could not plead successfully with human hearts, that are as hard as steel, that are bolted and barred, lest Jesus should find an entrance there; but the Lord endows men with His wisdom, and the weakest one may become as David by faith in God. The Lord takes those who are devoted to Him, even though they may be uneducated, humble men and women, and sends them forth with His warning message. He stirs their hearts by His Spirit, He gives them spiritual muscle and sinew, and they are enabled to go forth with the word of God and to compel men to come in. Thus many poor, fainting souls, who are starving for the bread of life, are out of weakness made strong, and wax valiant in the fight, and put to flight the armies of the aliens.

“See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (Hebrews 12:25). Every time you turn away your ear and refuse to listen, every time you fail to open the door of your heart, you strengthen yourself in unbelief, and make yourself more and more unwilling to listen to the voice of Him that speaketh, and you diminish your chance of responding to the last appeal of mercy. Be warned by what the Saviour says; for they that were bidden to the supper and refused His invitation were not to taste of the supper. There is a point beyond which forbearance cannot go. Let it not be written of you, “Ephraim is joined to idols; let him alone” (Hosea 4:17). Let not Christ weep over you as He wept over Jerusalem, saying, “How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” (Matthew 23:37, 38).

We are living in a time when the last message of mercy, the last invitation, is being given to the children of men. The messengers are now saying, “Come; for all things are now ready.” Heavenly angels are still working, cooperating with human agencies. The Holy Spirit is presenting every inducement to compel you to come, and Jesus is watching for some sign that will betoken the removing of the bolts and the opening of the door of your heart for His entrance. Angels are waiting to bear the tidings to heaven that another lost sinner has been found, that another has hearkened to the counsel of the True Witness, who says, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Revelation 3:18). The hosts of heaven are waiting ready to strike their harps, and to sing a song of rejoicing that the Good Shepherd has sought and reclaimed His own.3

References
1 The Youth’s Instructor, November 4, 1897.
2 Ibid., November 11, 1897.
3 The Review and Herald, September 24, 1895.