“It is satan's constant effort to misrepresent the character of God, the nature of sin, and the real issues at stake in the great controversy. His sophistry lessens the obligation of the divine law and gives men license to sin. At the same time he causes them to cherish false conceptions of God so that they regard Him with fear and hate rather than with love.”
Great Controversy (GC 569.1)
![Spreading lies](/site/adventlife/guide-know-lies.png)
By the deceiver...
... by false religions
![False Religions](/site/adventlife/guide-know-catholic.png)
... by those who claim to be God's people
![3rd Commandment](/site/adventlife/icon-10commandments-danger.png)
“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.”
Exodus 20:7
“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. His character is to be made known. Into the darkness of the world is to be shed the light of His glory, the light of His goodness, mercy, and truth.”
Christ’s Object Lessons (COL 415.3)
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
What is our view of God?
“It was generally believed by the Jews that sin is punished in this life. Every affliction was regarded as the penalty of some wrongdoing, either of the sufferer himself or of his parents. It is true that all suffering results from the transgression of God’s law, but this truth had become perverted. satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God, as punishment arbitrarily inflicted on account of sin. Hence one upon whom some great affliction or calamity had fallen had the additional burden of being regarded as a great sinner.”
The Desire of Ages (DA 471)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
“I lay down my life for the sheep.”
John 10:15
“The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
John 10:15
![The Good Shepherd](/site/adventlife/guide-know-shepherd.png)
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Matthew 6:34 (ESV)
“Provision was then made whereby fallen man might have a powerful revelation of the love of God... God is light and love.”
The Upward Look (UL 149.4)
“Christ came to restore this knowledge. He came to set aside the false teaching by which those who claimed to know God had misrepresented Him. He came to manifest the nature of His law, to reveal in His own character the beauty of holiness.”
Education (Ed 76.2)
“The character of Christ represented the character of God.”
Manuscript 25, Jan. 9, 1890
![The Good Healer](/site/adventlife/guide-know-heal.png)
“The Lord Jesus awakens an interest in man by encouraging him to draw nigh and become acquainted with His character.”
6LtMs, Ms 25, 1890, par. 14
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”
John 17:3
“We need to have higher and more distinct views of the character of Christ... We are not to think of God only as a judge and to forget Him as a loving Father. Nothing can do our souls greater harm than this, for our whole spiritual life is molded from our conceptions of God’s character.”
Review and Herald, Apr. 5, 1887
“The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit's working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. This class are represented also by the stony-ground hearers. They receive the word with readiness, but they fail of assimilating its principles. Its influence is not abiding. The Spirit works upon man's heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature; but the class represented by the foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work. They do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live.”
Christ’s Object Lessons (COL 411.1)
How do those who formed a relationship with God describe Him?
“The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin...”
Exodus 34:6-7
“...I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness...”
Jonah 4:2
“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”
Micah 7:18
“For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead...”
Romans 1:20
“Nature testifies that One infinite in power, great in goodness, mercy, and love, created the earth, and filled it with life and gladness. Even in their blighted state, all things reveal the handiwork of the great Master Artist. Wherever we turn, we may hear the voice of God, and see evidences of His goodness.”
Testimonies for the Church (8T 256.3)
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament showeth His handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, And night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, Where their voice is not heard.” Psalm 19:1-3
“Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator's love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures.”
Steps to Christ (SC 9.1)
In the beautiful words of the psalmist
The eyes of all wait upon Thee; And Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest Thine hand, And satisfiest the desire of every living thing.” Psalm 145:15-16
“If we keep the Lord ever before us, allowing our hearts to go out in thanksgiving and praise to Him, we shall have a continual freshness in our religious life. Our prayers will take the form of a conversation with God as we would talk with a friend. He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Often there will come to us a sweet joyful sense of the presence of Jesus.”
Christ's Object Lessons (COL 129.3)
“Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Him. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual relationship with our heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense, communing with Him. In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life.”
Steps to Christ (SC 93.1)
Dear loving Heavenly Father, please help us to see You more clearly. Please remove any lies and distorted views on who You really are. Help us to truly understand the sacrifice You made giving Your Son for us at the cross. Give us faith to accept Your promise that You will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6). Help us to come closer to You and experience a deeper connection with You. Please send Your Holy Spirit to work on our hardened hearts, give us hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26) so that we can truly know what love is and how to love. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.