A mind boggling question
Today we hear of wars and rumors of wars, pestilences like Ebola are on the rise. Various forms of storms are sweeping away crops and homes leaving thousands dead and other thousands, if not millions, homeless and starving; what remains is shattered by earthquakes or consumed by ravaging flames and “Men’s hearts” are “failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:26. The world is enveloped in violence, destruction and protest making it evident that the triumph of the everlasting gospel is near and that the Kingdoms of this world are soon to become the Kingdoms of our God and of His Christ (Revelation 11:15). But one question that vexes the mind of both common man and Philosopher alike is, Why the suffering and the death? The Preacher man would stand with his Bible and say, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12
Ok, so if sin brought suffering and death, and sin came through Adam, just how did he do it? Oh! He ate from the forbidden tree—the tree of knowledge of good and evil. But, wait a minute! Who made Adam? It was God. Who planted the Garden of Eden? It was God. Who put the forbidden tree in the garden? It was God. But God, in Isaiah 46:9–10 says, “I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done;” so if God knows the end of everything before its very beginning, why would He put a tree in a beautiful garden that would lead man to sin and then bring suffering and death? Just how do we reconcile God’s love as revealed in His actions after man’s fall, with His actions from the very infancy of this world before man’s fall?
God created this world in six literal days and Genesis 1:31 gives the account that “God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was [not just good but] very good.” In chapter 2:7–9 we are told of how man was created, the beautiful garden of Eden he was given and the two special trees that were planted in the garden—the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. These two trees were not in the garden to merely provide nutrition for man’s survival but each of them had a significant impact on his life and existence; one would perpetuate his life, the other would end it forever—make him extinct. The tree of life was to perpetuate life and give man immortality while “The tree of knowledge, which stood near the tree of life in the midst of the garden, was to be a test of the obedience, faith, and love of our parents” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 46, 48. And this is what the question is: Why the “test”? Why should man’s life be an exam?
To answer this seemingly complex question, we must divide and conquer it. First we must understand why there should even be a test in the first place, second we must understand why Adam and Eve (or the human race in general) must be tested; and I am certain that after these two, a third question shall arise, but we shall deal with it when we get to it.
Why should there be a test?
The Bible teaches us that before God created this world, He created angels. Heaven, and the universe in general, had lived in peace and harmony until Lucifer rebelled against God’s government. Lucifer challenged God’s authority and was especially jealous of the right of Jesus to be equal with God, because he also wanted to be equal with God, and perhaps rule the universe just like God (Isaiah 14:12–14). He also claimed that Angels needed no law but should be left to follow their own intelligent will which would ever guide them aright (The Story of Redemption, p.18). Exactly how this sin of pride, jealousy and rebellion began within him is a mystery, that is why it is called the mystery of iniquity—how could one be that wicked in spite of such love and glory!
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world.” Revelation 12:7–9
What was the cause of this war in heaven? It was Satan’s rebellion against God’s government and it broke out because, for the very first time, someone challenged God’s law and His rule. But what type of war was this? Well, I do not think that it was a war involving the use of violence, though we learn that Satan was ready to defend his position by force of might (The Story of Redemption, p. 18); it was a war in the sense that there was contention and commotion in heaven (Ibid., p. 15, 17). There was a war in the minds of the angels; should they sympathize with Lucifer or should they accept God’s government? Jesus and the loyal angels were defending God’s justice and pleading with the rebels, while the Chief rebel was defending his rebellion.
“The great God could at once have hurled this archdeceiver from heaven; but this was not His purpose. He would give the rebellious an equal chance to measure strength and might with His own Son and His loyal angels. In this battle every angel would choose his own side and be manifested to all.” –The Story of Redemption, p.17 (emphasis mine)
Notice what the battle was about, “In this battle every angel would choose his own side and be manifested to all.” This was the very first moment a test was needed to prove whose side every created being in the universe was on, because heretofore there had been only one side—God’s side—but now there were two sides. And we are told that one third of the angels (Revelation 12:4) took the side of Satan and there was no place for them in heaven so they were cast out.
“When Satan became disaffected in heaven, he did not lay his complaint before God and Christ; but he went among the angels who thought him perfect and represented that God had done him injustice in preferring Christ to himself. The result of this misrepresentation was that through their sympathy with him one third of the angels lost their innocence, their high estate, and their happy home.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 291
Therefore, in answer to the question, why there should be a test in the first place, we have seen that a test was necessary because of Lucifer’s rebellion. The very first beings in the Universe who were tested were the angels, and only two thirds passed the test.
Why should Adam and Eve be tested?
Revelation 12:9 states that Satan was cast into the earth after he lost the war; but we need to know that it was not immediately after being cast out of heaven, because at that time the earth was not yet in existence.
“Then there was war in heaven. The Son of God, the Prince of heaven, and His loyal angels engaged in conflict with the archrebel and those who united with him. The Son of God and true, loyal angels prevailed; and Satan and his sympathizers were expelled from heaven. All the heavenly host acknowledged and adored the God of justice. Not a taint of rebellion was left in heaven. All was again peaceful and harmonious as before. . . . The Father consulted His Son in regard to at once carrying out their purpose to make man to inhabit the earth. . . . The Father and the Son engaged in the mighty, wondrous work they had contemplated–of creating the world.” –The Story of Redemption, p.19–20
From the above quote we learn that this earth, and man in particular, was created after the fall of Lucifer. Remember that Satan’s rebellion necessitated the need for each and every created intelligent being in the universe to choose sides between God and Satan and there was no way that Adam and Eve could have been left out of this. If God had made them like robots that had no free will to choose, it would have meant Satan was right in asserting that God is a tyrant who gives no free will to His creatures.
Therefore, God “would place man upon probation to test his loyalty before he could be rendered eternally secure. If he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels. He was to have the favor of God, and he was to converse with angels, and they with him. He did not see fit to place them beyond the power of disobedience.” –Ibid., p. 19
This is why God placed the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden; but we must remember that this test was not only for our world, but for all created beings even in other worlds. Sister White speaks of her experience in one of her visions where she visited another world where she found people who bore the express image of Jesus and looked more lovely than those on earth. “I asked one of them why they were so much more lovely than those on the earth. The reply was, ‘We have lived in strict obedience to the commandments of God, and have not fallen by disobedience, like those on the earth.’ Then I saw two trees, one looked much like the tree of life in the city. The fruit of both looked beautiful, but of one they could not eat. They had power to eat of both, but were forbidden to eat of one. Then my attending angel said to me, ‘None in this place have tasted of the forbidden tree; but if they should eat, they would fall.’” –Early Writings, p. 40
Positions of trust
Let me refer back to the statement, “In this battle every angel would choose his own side and be manifested to all.” While this was true for all the angels, this statement is now true for every person on earth because this is where that battle has continued to take place; “for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men” 1 Corinthians 4:9. Every person’s decision is manifested unto all—God, men (including inhabitants of other worlds) and angels.
Why do different kinds of schools such as high schools, colleges and universities offer examinations to students? Well, many people may give different reasons for this, but I tend to think the main reason is that life, and society in general, offers several positions of trust to which each and every individual can be entrusted if they prove themselves worthy of such trusts. Take for instance a bus driver, i.e. a public transportation service vehicle driver; would you entrust someone who has failed a PSV driving test with the lives of people that he would transport every day? Likely not. Every profession is a position of trust, be it a doctor, engineer, pilot, etc. Society needs to have confidence and trust in a person’s ability to hold that position of trust. This is why students get tested. The purpose of the examination is not to fail the student but to establish society’s trust and confidence in the student and in the institutions of learning. While it is true that there are people who failed examinations in school but became successful in some other lines of business, the fact still remains that in one way or another they have proved themselves worthy of such trusts. This is why over the years there have been tremendous improvements in learning systems, introduction of re-examinations, etc., all aimed at helping the student to achieve those positions of trust.
Similarly, the purpose for life’s exam—man’s test in the great controversy—is not only to let man choose his side between God and Satan, but if he passes the test, God has prepared positions of trust for him. In order to do this God has provided every facility necessary to help man achieve this goal. The test is aimed at establishing the universe’s (men, angels, world—1 Corinthians 4:9) trust in us and God’s government.
“Every opportunity, every advantage, every privilege, has been given to us to gain a rich Christian experience; but we do not learn everything all at once. There must be a growth. Many, having learned a little in school, think they are ready to graduate. They think they know about all that is worth knowing. We are not to think that as soon as we are baptized we are ready to graduate from the school of Christ. When we have accepted Christ, and in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit have pledged ourselves to serve God, the Father, Christ, and the Holy Spirit—the three dignitaries and powers of heaven—pledge themselves that every facility shall be given to us if we carry out our baptismal vows to ‘come out from among them, and be . . . separate, . . . and touch not the unclean thing.’ When we are true to our vows, He says, I will receive you’ (MS 85, 1901).” –Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6 p. 1075
Man was made a little lower than the angels (Psalm 8:4–5); God put him under probation to prove his loyalty and “if he endured the test wherewith God saw fit to prove him, he should eventually be equal with the angels.” –The Story of Redemption, p.19
When Satan and his angels were expelled from heaven, a void was made which has never been filled (Ibid., p. 18). “God created man for His own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly family. It was God’s purpose to repopulate heaven with the human family, if they would show themselves obedient to His every word” –God’s Amazing Grace, p.344
Is not this wonderful news? Many young people today aspire to be great Engineers, Doctors, Pilots, Lawyers, etc., but here is presented something that surpasses all these aspirations—to be like the angels! To fill the positions that Lucifer and his angels forfeited. Those are the positions for which we are being tested. Imagine how students stress themselves to pass their examinations because they just cannot wait to hold those coveted titles of their choice in various sectors of industry and society! Now, think of the heavenly title awaiting you and “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
Why then was Lucifer created in the first place?
Excellent question, but allow me to answer that question by posing another. If you are married and you knew that if you bear a son, he would rebel against you and possibly seek to destroy you, would you go ahead and give birth to such a son? Humanly speaking, you would answer, “No sir!” Well, that’s what separates us from God. Think about King Herod in the days when Jesus was born. When he heard that a King of the Jews had been born, he unleashed all his cunning strategies and armies just to destroy this little babe who could not even do him any harm (Matthew 2:16). Herod was already old but he still did not want anybody to become King apart from him. That is Satan’s nature and that is what every human being without the spirit of God would do.
“Satan’s rebellion was to be a lesson to the universe through all coming ages—a perpetual testimony to the nature of sin and its terrible results. The working out of Satan’s rule, its effects upon both men and angels, would show what must be the fruit of setting aside the divine authority. It would testify that with the existence of God’s government is bound up the well-being of all the creatures He has made. Thus the history of this terrible experiment of rebellion was to be a perpetual safeguard to all holy beings, to prevent them from being deceived as to the nature of transgression, to save them from committing sin, and suffering its penalty.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 59
God is teaching us that no good comes out of setting aside His law in order to benefit ourselves. One may work on the Sabbath to make ends meet for his family, or withhold tithe, thinking to have more income, or cheat in business, thinking to make more money, or commit adultery, thinking to have more pleasure, but all must remember that this is the very reason why God went ahead and created Lucifer—to teach us this lesson that NO good comes out of setting aside God’s law in our lives. It is a lesson we must learn and practice every day in order to truthfully and innocently enjoy life. That is why the Bible says, “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14. Without obedience to God’s commandments, you cannot be happy, for there is no peace to the wicked (Isaiah 57:21). Though people promote the so-called human rights, they are using some of that as a cloak for wickedness. Some religious bodies even go as far as to grant “liberty of conscience” to their members to transgress God’s commandments. Revelation 22:14 states that when you transgress God’s law you do not even have the right to live! Every day that we live we give evidence to the universe, either of God’s goodness, mercy and His saving grace in our lives or of Satan’s work in and through us. Therefore, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Corinthians 13:5
When will the exam end?
“When the third angel’s message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received ‘the latter rain,’ ‘the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,’ and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. . . . An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received ‘the seal of the living God.’ Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says, ‘It is done;’ and all the angelic host lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn announcement: ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.’ Revelation 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins. The number of His subjects is made up.” –The Great Controversy, p. 613
The examination ends individually when one ceases to exist on earth either through death or translation to heaven (as in the case of Enoch and Elijah). Generally speaking, it will end when probation closes and probation closes when the Third Angel’s message has finished its work. The Third Angel’s message finishes when the sealing is completed. The sealing is completed after the final test has been brought upon all, which is the National Sunday Law! How far are we from this time? Just watch the news and you will know that it is very near, even at the door.
Mukelabai Mukelabai