THY way, O God, is in the sanctuary" (Ps. 77:13). For more than one hundred years Seventh-day Adventist ministers have used this text in presenting our distinctive sanctuary message.
Is it true? Is God's way of salvation revealed in the sanctuary?
If we can bring converts "into the truth" without presenting the sanctuary, why do we need it? Is its value largely historical, something we need to understand in order to answer critics who bring up the disappointment of 1844?
Or is it still true and now more urgent than ever before that "all need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest"? "Other wise," the inspired statement continues, "it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time." —The Great Controversy, p. 488.
"The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God."—Ibid. (Italics supplied.)
This is "the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted" (ibid.).
No wonder "Satan invents unnumbered schemes" to hinder this. One of these schemes is to make of the sanctuary a theological football to be kicked back and forth between opposing sides of controversy, while the grandstands cheer as "our side" scores a point. How Jesus must weep. The great purpose of our study of the sanctuary should be not for theological debate, either outside or within the church. Rather, God designs that evangelism, revival, and reformation shall be our goals. For these are His goals in the sanctuary service and in the sanctuary message.
Make It Simple
In the sanctuary God seeks to make the plan of salvation simple. If to us this whole subject is involved in theological complexities, how can we use it to make plain and clear the way of life? Is it not then a device of the enemy to divert us from the great message that is clear, to argue about details that are not clear?
If we will keep busy presenting the work of our Saviour as sacrifice and High Priest in its simplicity, so that children can understand it, then our converts in evangelistic efforts, and our own church members, will be "rooted and grounded" in the experience that will prepare them for translation.
Three Great Acts
In the sanctuary service there are three great acts that stand out as mountain peaks:
1. The death of the sacrifice.
2. The transfer of sins to the sanctuary.
3. The removal of sins from the sanctuary.
Why are sins taken into the sanctuary if the goal is to get them out?
In a laundry it is important to get the soiled clothes in, then get them out. The sanctuary is God's laundry where garments are washed and made "white in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). In His plan the washing and ironing will finally result in "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing" (Eph. 5:27).
A Work Soon to Close
Do we believe that the laundry is soon to close? Will those who are "filthy" then remain "filthy still" (Rev. 22:11)? If we believe this, will we not work in harmony with Jesus "to make ready a people prepared for the Lord"? Listen to this wonderful promise:
The great plan of redemption, as revealed in the closing work for these last days, should receive close examination. The scenes connected with the sanctuary above should make such an impression upon the minds and hearts of all that they may be able to impress others. All need to become more intelligent in regard to the work of the atonement, which is going on in the sanctuary above. When this grand truth is seen and understood, those who hold it will work in harmony with Christ to prepare a people to stand in the great day of God, and their efforts will be successful. --Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 575. (Italics supplied.) (Read the entire page.)
The Great Demonstration
Jesus is getting ready for the great demonstration. The saints who stand without a mediator through the time of trouble vindicate the character of God. And let it be emphasized, they reveal a character which some in past ages have attained; a character that has been available to all who would meet the conditions. On this important point note the following clear statement by Ellen White:
Some few in every generation from Adam resisted his [Satan's] every artifice and stood forth as noble representatives of what it was in the power of man to do and to be—Christ working with human efforts, helping man in overcoming the power of Satan. Enoch and Elijah are the correct representatives of what the race might be through faith in Jesus Christ if they chose to be. Satan was greatly disturbed because these noble, holy men stood untainted amid the moral pollution surrounding them, perfected righteous characters, and were accounted worthy for translation to Heaven.—In Review and Herald. March 3, 1874. (Italics supplied.)
Therefore we must not say that the remnant at the close of probation are given a character that was impossible for men in past ages to attain. This is not the first opportunity, but it is the last. And this fact should put an urgency into our witnessing that will not admit of being diverted.
Neither science nor philosophy can explain the new birth. Nor can they explain the final atonement.
Finding Too Much
Let us in simple faith as little children take The Great Controversy and study carefully the chapters dealing especially with these great subjects (pp. 409-438; 479-491). Here we will find the message as inspiration presents it. Whoever knows more than is found here may someday find that he knew some things that weren't so.
Let us not be diverted by the various efforts to explain what God has clearly revealed. And, on the other hand, let us not fail in our duty and privilege to present this vital sanctuary message because some extremes and extremists have brought reproach upon it.
In Early Writings, page 63, Ellen White urges us to preach on "the sanctuary, in connection with the 2300 days, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." These are "the principal subjects on which the messengers should dwell." A study of this page will impress us with the importance of teaching this subject in a way that will "unite the flock" rather than divide and scatter. Many of our people long to hear the third angel's message as the pioneers preached it. It is still present truth.
Some years ago the Federal Government conducted a special training program for bank cashiers. The subject was how to detect counterfeit money. Throughout the entire course, however, not one piece of counterfeit money was examined. All the time was spent studying the genuine.
Let us in the closing hours of this antitypical day of atonement, gather at the sanctuary and behold the Lamb of God and consider our great High Priest. What human reason can never explain, faith, simple faith, will grasp. And it is what we experience by faith as we follow Jesus in His work within the veil that we will be able to share with the people.
