| Dear Friends: |
| There is a blessing in this Chapter, and the casual reader may allow Satan to steal the blessing meant for them. To avoid this let’s look carefully at Chapter 7 which starts with |
“Sacred history gives Illustrations of the results of true education. It presents many noble examples of men whose characters were formed under divine direction, men whose lives were a blessing to their fellow men and who stood in the world as representatives of God. Among these are Joseph, Daniel, Moses, Elisha and Paul. . . ”
Education, page 51, par. 1 |
| There is a section about Joseph and why he was a Great Man |
| There is a section titled; Daniel, an Ambassador of Heaven. It is about what made him a great man |
| There is a section titled; Elisha, Faithful in Little Things. It is about what made him a great man |
| There is a section titled; Moses, Powerful through Faith |
| There is a section titled; Paul, Joyful in Service |
| Chapter 7 ends with these questions? |
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“Who can measure the results to the world of Paul’s lifework? Of all those beneficent influences that alleviate suffering, that comfort sorrow, that restrain evil, that uplift life from the selfish and the sensual and glorify it with the hope of immortality, how much is due to the labors of Paul and his fellow workers.
What is it worth to any life to have been God’s instrument in setting in motion such influences of blessing? What will it be worth in eternity to witness the results of such a lifework?
Education, page 70, par. 2, 3 |
| What I find interesting is that there is also a 1½ page section titled, True and Honest Men - - Where Ellen White turns the lessons of sacred history to the present, with the second paragraph on page 57 . . . |
“The same mighty truths that were revealed through these men, God desires to reveal through the youth and the children of today. The history of Joseph and Daniel is an illustration of what [God] will do for those who yield themselves to Him and with the whole heart seek to accomplish His purpose.”
Education, page 57, par. 2 |
| God plans to have instruments like these Great Men named in this chapter, who will meet the final crisis which is coming soon. |
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| Here comes my favorite paragraph in the chapter about Great Men, the pen of inspiration describes them as True and Honest Men. Pacific Press publishers used this phrase as the title of this section. Here is why I say, don’t let Satan steal your blessing by missing these words of inspiration. |
“The greatest want of the world is the want of men – men who will not be bought or sold who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.”
Next paragraph,
“But such a character is not the result of accident; it is not due to special favors or endowments of Providence. A noble character is the result of self-discipline, of the subjection of the lower to the higher nature – the surrender of self for the service of love to God and man.”
Education, page 57, par. 3 and 4 |
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These paragraphs were first published in Signs of the Times, May 4, 1882 to prepare God’s people for the Sunday Law crisis in the 1890’s. The English language was a little different from what it is today. If she wrote this in today’s English it would be “The greatest need of the world is for men who will not be bought or sold etc” The world does not 'want' the straight testimony, they often rise up against the truth because it cuts what they hold dear. So please understand it is not the greatest want, but the greatest need of the world today. One paragraph from the Great Controversy to show this
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“Opposition is the lot of all whom God employs to present truths especially applicable to their time. There was a present truth in the days of Luther, -- a truth at that time of special importance; there is a present truth for the church today. He who does all things according to the counsel of His will has been pleased to place men under various circumstances and to enjoin upon them duties peculiar to the times in which they live and the conditions under which they are placed. If they would prize the light given them, broader views of truth would be opened before them. But truth is no more desired by the majority today than it was by the papists who opposed Luther. There is the same disposition to accept the theories and traditions of men instead of the word of God as in former ages. Those who present the truth for this time should not expect to be received with greater favor than were earlier reformers. The great controversy between truth and error, between Christ and Satan, is to increase in intensity to the close of this world's history.
Great Controversy, page 143, par. 3 Read all of Chapter 7 |
| Therefore, we see another lesson to be learned from Chapter 7, in writing about these great men, we can see that their qualities for greatness were suited for the times in which they lived. Great Controversy, Chapter 7 mentions another person in history who is qualified to be in chapter 7 of the book Education, but he is not mentioned in Education, because he lived after the Scriptures were written. I am talking about Martin Luther. |
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| The Great Controversy has four chapters about Martin Luther and the Reformation. Chapters 7, 8, 10, 11, and I hope you read this book and share it with others. |
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| I will end with one last quote taken from Signs of Times, 1883 to show that Ellen White talks about Martin Luther similar to those great men in Chapter 7 of Education. |
It is through divine mercy in giving to the world such men as Martin Luther and his co-laborers that we are now free to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience. We who are living so near the close of time should emulate the noble example of the great Reformer. Like Luther we should seek a deep and thorough knowledge of the word of God. It should be our highest ambition to stand firm as a rock when the strongholds of truth are assailed by an unbelieving world and an ungodly church. In the near conflict, thousands will be called to imitate Luther's constancy and courage. Now is the time for us to receive education and discipline in the school of Christ. Now is the time to cultivate faith and courage. Let the cry pass from one to another of the waiting ones, Stand fast. "Yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." [ Habakkuk 2: 3 ]
Signs of the Times, July 26, 1883, par. 18 |
| I hope you will go back and read Chapter 7 of the book Education (published in 1903) with a better understanding of the importance of this chapter. |
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| Return to Chapter 7 of Education |
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Additional material:
Had Charles V. understood the real value of such a man as Luther to his empire, a man who would not be bought or sold, who would not sacrifice principle for friends or foes, -- he would have cherished and honored instead of denouncing and proscribing him. {ST, October 11, 1883 par. 6}
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| As in the days of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, so in the closing period of earth’s history the Lord will work mightily in behalf of those who stand steadfastly for the right. He who walked with the Hebrew worthies in the fiery furnace will be with His followers wherever they are. His abiding presence will comfort and sustain. In the midst of the time of trouble — trouble such as has not been since there was a nation—His chosen ones will stand unmoved. Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the weakest of God’s saints. Angels that excel in strength will protect them, and in their behalf Jehovah will reveal Himself as a “God of gods,” able to save to the uttermost those who have put their trust in Him. Prophets and Kings, page 513.1 Read entire chapter 41 |
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