“GOD IS LOVE.” 1 JOHN 4:16 by Stephen Pierce

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, May 13, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 20

“GOD IS LOVE.” 1 JOHN 4:16.

By Stephen Pierce

BY ELD. STEPHEN PIERCE

(Concluded.)

The execution of justice upon the sinner is to the Almighty “his strange work,” “his strange act,” but he delights to reward the righteous according to their works. At the commencement of their righteous course, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God. It is not said that the angels rejoice, though doubtless they do; but in this instance there is joy on the part of higher and more exalted beings. Christ says, “I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in Heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons which need no repentance;” i. e., over the holy angels and all the unfallen worlds. Not that there is no joy over the latter, for doubtless there is; but the exceeding joy is over the former, as there is now an opportunity for mercy and justice to meet together in the execution of the latter.

When the poor half-starved, half-naked prodigal returned, his father met him a great way off, and fell on his neck and kissed him. The wanderer made his confession, but before he had time to propose to become as one of his father’s hired servants, the father prevented him by commanding: “Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry.” Why the best robe? Did he deserve it? Oh, no; and why it was used on this occasion we cannot tell, unless it was to manifest the exceeding joy of the father, arising from the deep affection he had for the one who had so recklessly gone astray. Though this parable is unexplained, we suppose that the father represents the Divine Being; the prodigal, fallen man; and whatever class of persons the eldest son may represent, we see the same winning, loving disposition exhibited toward them that God ever manifests toward his creatures. “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad; for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”

It has been stated that God’s love extends to all created beings. Many may consider this an erroneous assertion, supposing that there is no divine commiseration or pity exercised toward the fallen angels. They have sinned against such light, have fallen from such a high elevation, and have wrought such ruin to man, and such high-handed rebellion and opposition to God in his benevolent designs, that he can manifest no disposition toward them but that of the most fearful indignation and wrath. But let us see if we cannot find something in the Bible quite different from this. The prophet says (Eze. 28:12), “Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus.” He then describes the king of Tyrus, the extent of his wisdom, the beauty of his person, the elevation of his position, and the perfection of his character from the day that he was created till iniquity was found in him. Now the description given of him, and also his residence, which was “in Eden the garden of God,” where every precious stone was his covering, and he was the anointed cherub, could not possibly apply to any human being. We are therefore forced to the conclusion that reference is here made to Satan, the prince of devils. But why called the king of Tyrus, rather than the king of any other place? Because Tyrus means strength. Dr. Clarke says, “Every proper name in the Bible has a signification.” Hence king of strength would signify that he was the strongest created being.

Mark the language. It is not, Son of man, take up a railing, a reproach, or even the mildest censure, upon the one who is the instigator of sin, who led angels and men to ruin, and who is the cause of all the misery and death that ever has existed or ever will exist. Should we not suppose that such a being deserved the most bitter execrations? And yet the God of Heaven calls upon his prophet to lament over the remediless condition of this prince of sinners. Take up a lamentation, and mourn that one so high should fall so low; that one so noble should become so infamous; that one so wise should become supremely foolish; that one so perfect in character should become inexpressibly vile.

Take up a mournful wail over the strongest of creation’s sons, who is able, by one single act, to bring upon countless millions untold suffering,—all that could wring the heart with anguish for a lifetime,—and finally entail upon them the horrors of the second death. Say to him, “How art thou fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [Margin, O day star.]” Then Lucifer was one of the morning stars that sang together when all the sons of God shouted for joy over the creation of a universe designed to be filled with happy beings, who, during ceaseless ages, should rejoice in the goodness of their Creator. Now this son of the morning has become the prince of the power of the air, producing storms, tornadoes, and tidal waves, and a multitude of diseases for the destruction of mankind, and he is also working in the hearts of the children of disobedience to their final doom. Son of man, take up a sorrowful moan upon the one who has reached such depths of evil, degradation, and ultimate woe from such heights of honor and distinguished blessedness. Weep over him with emotions of commiseration and grief, instead of indulging in harsh, censorious epithet, which, it would seem to us, he so richly deserves.

Here is a manifestation of such loving pity as we had supposed was never exercised by any being toward that foe of everything good. Here is such perfection of character as human imagination has never been able to reach, and which even the angels might desire to comprehend. We here come back to the great fountain from which flow streams of exhaustless blessings to everything that has life.

What shall we withhold from a God, who, though terrible in judgment, is infinite in love and compassion? How shall we make suitable returns for all his beneficence to us? Let us ardently aspire after the highest attainment in the heavenly characteristic—love.

“Hail heavenly love, that first began The scheme to rescue fallen man.”

Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.