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KEY TEXT: Romans 6:23 (KJV) – “For the wages of sin is death.”

Adam and Eve’s sin caused us all to be born with a sinful nature, and the wage of it is death. That is why we need to be born again. Jesus never sinned when He lived in this world, but He was baptized because He was born of earthly parents with a sinful nature. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we exercise our free will to believe in Him. Therefore, our old self has to die so that the new one can rise. John 12:24 (KJV) – Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”

If a grain of wheat does not fall to the ground and die, it remains alone. In other words, it is fruitless. All seeds have a germinating principle. All seeds need to be buried in the soil to grow. Every seed can grow and reproduce. A seed buried in suitable soil produces more than one that is not. This falling to the ground symbolizes humility.

This same principle that governs seed governs humanity. Jesus was speaking of humanity using the example of a seed. In other words, what Jesus was saying is; except a man humbles himself and submits to the will of God, he remains fruitless. However, if he humbles himself and submits to the will of Christ, he becomes fruitful beyond measure.

John 15:4 illustrates this further when Jesus says, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me.” In John 15:5 (KJV), he says, “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”

Without God, we can do nothing. Without Christ, our state becomes more degenerated. John 15:6 (KJV) – “If a man abide not in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.”

A life without God is a useless life that eventually leads to destruction. That is why Christ said in John 15:6 (KJV) – “He is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.” The branches are cast into the fire because they are of no use. Matthew 5:13 (KJV) – “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and trodden under the foot of men.” A life not submitted to God’s will becomes useless because you live contrary to God’s purpose.

We must submit fully to God’s will because He is our Creator and He knows us best. An artist understands his portrait best. The portrait does not understand itself. A musician understands his music best; the music doesn’t understand itself. A television set and a home theatre cannot operate itself. They need someone to operate them. They cannot repair themselves; they need someone to repair them. Therefore, let’s allow God to operate us. Let us allow God to repair us. Without Him, we can do nothing. Acts 17:28 (KJV) – “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being.”

Philippians 2:8 (KJV) – “And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Christ became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. What happened afterward? As a result, God the Father highly exalted Him and gave Him a name above every name of things in Heaven, things on earth, and things under the earth (Philippians 2:9-10).

Various people in the Bible attempted to raise themselves by going contrary to God’s Word. They failed terribly. One example is Solomon.

“From being one of the greatest kings that ever wielded a scepter, Solomon became a profligate, the tool and slave of others. His character, once noble and manly, became enervated and effeminate. His faith in the living God was supplanted by atheistic doubts. Unbelief marred his happiness, weakened his principles, and degraded his life. The justice and magnanimity of his early reign were changed to despotism and tyranny. Poor, frail human nature! God can do little for men who lose their sense of dependence upon Him.” – Prophets and Kings, Page 58.1, Ellen G. White.

God can do little for men who lose their sense of dependence upon Him. This means that God will do a lot for people who realize that they are entirely dependent on Him. Everyone alive depends on God, including unbelievers. However, unbelievers are ignorant of that fact. Some Christians have also chosen to be ignorant about it. God will bless those who understand that they depend more on Him than those who don’t. The Sabbath commandment (Exodus 20:8-11) points us to God as the Creator. When we acknowledge God as our Creator we will acknowledge our total dependence on Him.

Many people attempt to rise by their power. This is not wise because you cannot do that. Every person who rises in a position of influence rises by the power of God. Either God has placed him there or has allowed him to be there. King Nebuchadnezzar was a pagan king, but the Bible says God gave him dominion over Jehoiakim, King of Judah, and all the Israelites (Daniel 1:1-2).

“Eve had been perfectly happy by her husband’s side in her Eden home; but, like restless modern Eves, she was flattered with the hope of entering a higher sphere than that which God had assigned her. In attempting to rise above her original position, she fell far below it. A similar result will be reached by all who are unwilling to take up cheerfully their life duties in accordance with God’s plan. In their efforts to reach positions for which He has not fitted them, many are leaving vacant the place where they might be a blessing. In their desire for a higher sphere, many have sacrificed true womanly dignity and nobility of character, and have left undone the very work that Heaven appointed them.” – Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 59.1, Ellen G. White.

Satan deceived Eve by promising her that she would be like God. Eve believed the Devil and found it desirable to rise above the position that God had given her. The motive that made Eve fall is the same one that made Satan fall.

Isaiah 14:13-14 (KJV) – “¹³ For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: ¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

This self-exaltation made Satan fall, and since misery loves company, he tempted Eve because he wanted her to join him in his misery. After Eve fell, she went ahead to tempt Adam because she did not want to be in misery alone. Some sinners will always want you to share in their misery. That is why they will entice you to sin.

Sin is very dangerous. When one engages in it, it may seem uplifting for a moment because the pleasures of sin last only for a season (Hebrews 11:25). Sin always has consequences. One may not face the consequences immediately, but they will undoubtedly face them. Sin destroys, sin kills, and it steals from you what is rightfully yours. John 10:10 (KJV) – “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Sin does not add anything. Instead, it takes away. Sin makes one financially poor. Sometimes, some people may seem to get riches due to sin. However, those riches don’t last. The robbers and con artists in prison got rich through sin, but they lost the money they once had and the freedom they once enjoyed. Sin brings diseases. Some diseases have been manufactured in laboratories because people wanted to make money from them. Sin also makes people lose respect for you.

“Under the curse of sin all nature was to witness to man of the character and results of rebellion against God. When God made man He made him rule over the earth and all living creatures. So long as Adam remained loyal to Heaven, all nature was in subjection to him. But when he rebelled against the divine law, the inferior creatures were in rebellion against his rule. Thus the Lord, in His great mercy, would show men the sacredness of His law, and lead them, by their own experience, to see the danger of setting it aside, even in the slightest degree.” – Prophets and Kings, Page 59.4, Ellen G. White.

Man was the most glorious of God’s creation because he was created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). He was given dominion over all the animals (Genesis 1:28). This dominion was inclusive of all animals, whether wild or domestic. It included dominion of large animals such as elephants and giraffes. Fierce animals such as the lion and tiger were under man’s rule. Small insects such as bees, ants, and mosquitoes were under man’s leadership. Microscopic ones like the bacteria and the amoeba were also under the headship of man.

Sin caused all these animals to be in rebellion against man’s rule. A tiny insect like a mosquito or a bee can cause pain to a man. There are human beings who bees have killed and others who have died from malaria brought by mosquitoes. Bacteria which is microscopic and cannot be seen by the naked eye causes harm to human beings as well. Sin caused all these rebellions. Sin may cause your children to rebel against you. Sin may cause your wife to fail to be submissive. That is why the Bible tells us to abstain from all appearances of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). Living a righteous life is for your good. You are not doing God a favor by living righteously. Instead, you are doing yourself a favor.

We have a merciful and good God who wants good for us more than we want for ourselves. God wants us to surpass the goals we have set for ourselves. That is why He wants us to seek His kingdom and righteousness first. Let us not make it our business to rise. The more humble we become, the more God will raise us. The way up is down.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer

Dear God, I thank You for Your Word. Please help me to be humble in my thoughts, my words and actions. Help me to always acknowledge that I am dependent on You and never to depend on myself. In Jesus name, Amen.

Activity

Find a quiet space and read Romans 6:23, John 12:24, and John 15:4–6 aloud.

Draw a simple seed on a sheet of paper.

• Inside the seed, write one sinful habit or area of pride you need to surrender (e.g., selfishness, dishonesty, impatience, trying to rise by your own strength).

Below the seed, draw roots and a small plant, representing the new life in Christ.

• On the plant, write one Christlike trait you want God to grow in you (e.g., humility, obedience, love, patience).

Pray a short prayer surrendering that sin to God and asking Him to bury the old self so the new life can grow in Christ.

Share this message with someone.

Optional: Tear up or bury the seed paper as a symbol of your death to sin and commitment to live a fruitful life in Christ.

Author: Mark Alex   

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