“Thus saith the Lord; cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited” (Jeremiah 17:5, 6).

In ancient Israel, the people had asked for a king in order to be like the other nations. Their view of God had been eclipsed by their worldly perspective. Likewise, in 1888, many of the Advent people were making humans their trust and were exalting and glorifying their favored, pet colleagues (and especially themselves). Entrusted with such great light, might they nonetheless have forgotten the words of the apostle Paul? “Ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. . . . The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men” (1 Corinthians 3:3-7; 20, 21).

Around the time of the 1888 session, the servant of the Lord was compelled to write: “Depending upon men has been the great weakness of the church. Men have dishonored God by failing to appreciate His sufficiency, by coveting the influence of men. . . .

“Men set aside God as not sufficient for them. They resort to worldly men for recognition, and think that by means of the influence gained from the world they can do some great thing. But they mistake. By leaning on the arm of the world instead of the arm of God, they turn aside the work which God desires to accomplish through His chosen people.”1

Too often, even professed believers compare themselves with the world at large. Some simply compare themselves with their own brethren or sisters in the faith. Either way is wrong. The disciples had this problem even on the last night before the agonizing crucifixion of their Master. How grieved was Jesus’ heart to know that even after three and a half years of pressing close to their Lord, His dearest followers were still preoccupied with their own status - mentally aspiring to make every effort to be accounted greatest among their peers. How foolishly vain! The apostle Paul later warned, “We dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Corinthians 10:12). This is a common problem.

“Oh, that self may be subdued in each one of us who profess to believe in Jesus! Oh, that pride may be laid in the dust! Oh, that we may more fully reflect the image of Jesus!”2

There is a familiar experience from the time of Christ. Three disciples, Peter, James, and John were just returning from that wondrous moment with Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration. Now, “when [the disciples and Jesus] were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?” (Matthew 17:14-19).

What was the problem? Why did the disciples lack the power promised by their omnipotent Redeemer? The answer is given:

“The nine disciples were yet pondering upon the bitter fact of their own failure; and when Jesus was once more alone with them, they questioned, ‘Why could not we cast him out?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting’ (Matthew 17:20, 21). Their unbelief, that shut them out from deeper sympathy with Christ, and the carelessness with which they regarded the sacred work committed to them, had caused their failure in the conflict with the powers of darkness.

“The words of Christ pointing to His death had brought sadness and doubt. And the selection of the three disciples to accompany Jesus to the mountain had excited the jealousy of the nine. Instead of strengthening their faith by prayer and meditation on the words of Christ, they had been dwelling on their discouragements and personal grievances. In this state of darkness they had undertaken the conflict with Satan.

“In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith - faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work - can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit’s aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places.”3

In 1888, the people of God entrusted with His law had become quite adept at preaching that law - and, like the Pharisees, they felt they had reason to be proud of such an accomplishment. After all, it was present truth. Yet their message had become lopsided. The commandments of God were being preached - but not the faith of Jesus. Christ was being left out of the picture. The people had evidently missed out on the spirituality of the law. God’s law must penetrate the heart, not just do a mere surface work. It must reach deeply into the very thoughts and motives of our entire being. Only then will we see how great is our need of a Saviour. By examining our hearts much more deeply we may discover that we may have been doing many of the right things for the wrong reason.

The Spirit of Prophecy summarized the situation: “As a people, we have preached the law until we are as dry as the hills of Gilboa that had neither dew nor rain. We must preach Christ in the law, and there will be sap and nourishment in the preaching that will be as food to the famishing flock of God.”4

This sap and nourishment was found in the message of Christ our Righteousness.

Elders Jones and Waggoner were enthusiastic about reviving this truth - and so was Ellen G. White. They had good reason to be enthusiastic: “If there is anything in our world that should inspire enthusiasm, it is the cross of Calvary. . . .

“[Christ] is the source of spiritual power, and if He abides in our hearts, the divine influence will flow forth in our words and actions to all within the sphere of our influence, begetting in them desires and aspirations for strength and purity, for holiness and peace, for a joy that brings no sorrow with it.”5

“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).

Around 1888, there was actually a counterfeit enthusiasm being manifested among many of God’s professed people. The warning was given:

“While there has been so much fear of excitement and enthusiasm in the service of God, there has been manifest an enthusiasm in another line which to many seems wholly congenial. I refer to the parties of pleasure that have been held among our people. These occasions have taken much of the time and attention of people who profess to be servants of Christ; but have these assemblies tended to the glory of His name? Was Jesus invited to preside over them? Gatherings for social intercourse may be made in the highest degree profitable and instructive when those who meet together have the love of God glowing in their hearts, when they meet to exchange thoughts in regard to the word of God, or to consider methods for advancing His work, and doing good to their fellowmen. When nothing is said or done to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, but it is regarded as a welcome guest, then God is honored, and those who meet together will be refreshed and strengthened. [Malachi 3:16 quoted.]

“But there has been a class of social gatherings in Battle Creek of an entirely different character, parties of pleasure that have been a disgrace to our institutions and to the church. They encourage pride of dress, pride of appearance, self-gratification, hilarity, and trifling. Satan is entertained as an honored guest, and he takes possession of those who patronize these gatherings. . . .

“Many such gatherings have been presented to me. I have seen the gaiety, the display in dress, the personal adornment. All want to be thought brilliant, and give themselves up to hilarity, foolish jesting, cheap, coarse flattery, and uproarious laughter. The eyes sparkle, the cheek is flushed, conscience sleeps. With eating and drinking and merrymaking, they do their best to forget God. The scene of pleasure is their paradise. And heaven is looking on, seeing and hearing all.”6

“Those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ will be dwelling upon the themes of the great salvation. The Bible is the storehouse that supplies their souls with nourishing food. They meditate upon the incarnation of Christ, they contemplate the great sacrifice made to save them from perdition, to bring in pardon, peace, and everlasting righteousness. The soul is aglow with these grand and elevating themes. Holiness and truth, grace and righteousness, occupy the thoughts. Self dies, and Christ lives in His servants. In contemplation of the word, their hearts burn within them, as did the hearts of the two disciples while they went to Emmaus, and Christ walked with them by the way, and opened to them the scriptures concerning Himself.

“How few realize that Jesus, unseen, is walking by their side! How ashamed many would be to hear His voice speaking to them and to know that He heard all their foolish, common talk! And how many hearts would burn for holy joy if they only knew that the Saviour was by their side, that the holy atmosphere of His presence was surrounding them, and they were feeding on the bread of life! How pleased the Saviour would be to hear His followers talking of His precious lessons of instruction and to know that they had a relish for holy things! When the truth abides in the heart, there is no place for criticism of God’s servants, or for picking flaws with the message He sends. That which is in the heart will flow from the lips. It cannot be repressed. The things that God has prepared for those that love Him will be the theme of conversation. The love of Christ is in the soul as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, sending forth living streams that bring life and gladness wherever they flow.”7

As we look at the events of 1888 from our more objective perspective 120 years later, there are some thoughts for us to prayerfully ponder: Like our forefathers, have our views of Christ been eclipsed? . . .

Do we really look to Him as we should - or are we too often relying on human counsel? Do we take our trials to Him in prayer, or are our tongues too often busy in murmuring and gossip when things do not go our way? When we socialize, is Christ ever-present, or do we sometimes “take a little break” from having Him around? Are we looking to be the wittiest one, to trigger a laugh, to catch the eye, to be thought the greatest? Have we coveted the esteem of mortals? Have we painted a lopsided picture - either by leaving Christ out of the law, or on the flip side, by minimizing His requirements in promoting a “watered down” Jesus to gain popularity?

For 120 years God has appealed to Advent believers to allow our pride to be humbled in the dust. Have we honestly listened? Have we taken earnest heed? Or, like those in the days of Noah, have we glossed over the appeals - pretending that the uncomfortable, inconvenient aspects of the message don’t really apply much to me?

For 120 years God has spoken to us about the state of our hearts and to keep foremost in mind the only reliable source of our dependence. He declares: “Self in you must die. Self-importance must be laid in the dust. . . . You must be renewed, transformed, converted, and your whole life should be ordered and fashioned after the likeness of Christ. God has given you capabilities, and talents to use wholly to His glory. God will not accept a divided half and half service.”8

One hundred and twenty years have passed since 1888 - the same length of time as the preaching of Noah. Now is no time to serve two masters. May our fervent prayer echo the plea of the psalmist: “There is none like unto thee, O Lord. . . . Thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. . . . Thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me” (Psalm 86:8, 10, 11, 15, 16).