“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”  Proverbs 4:18. To the just, every day that passes leaves them more enlightened. Fresh light keeps coming until it brings total brightness to the soul.

One of the solemn lessons we learn from the inspired writings is that history is repeating itself. This is a proven fact and will continue to be manifest until the close of time. This, however, does not suggest that God acts according to a preestablished formula, but rather on divine principle. One area where history is being repeated in the Christian world in general “and among the professed people of God” is the continual failure to reconcile the old and new truths. Some hold on only to the old while others hold on only to the new.

“There are those who profess to believe and to teach the truths of the Old Testament, while they reject the New. But in refusing to receive the teachings of Christ, they show that they do not believe that which patriarchs and prophets have spoken. ‘Had ye believed Moses,’ Christ said, ‘ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me.’ John 5:46. Hence there is no real power in their teaching of even the Old Testament.

“Many who claim to believe and to teach the gospel are in a similar error. They set aside the Old Testament Scriptures, of which Christ declared, ‘They are they which testify of Me.’ John 5:39. In rejecting the Old, they virtually reject the New; for both are parts of an inseparable whole. No man can rightly present the law of God without the gospel, or the gospel without the law. The law is the gospel embodied, and the gospel is the law unfolded. The law is the root, the gospel is the fragrant blossom and fruit which it bears.

“The Old Testament sheds light upon the New, and the New upon the Old. Each is a revelation of the glory of God in Christ. Both present truths that will continually reveal new depths of meaning to the earnest seeker.”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 128

God has been giving special truths to His people in every age and there is need to live up to the light given at a specific time.

“In every age there is a new development of truth, a message of God to the people of that generation. The old truths are all essential; new truth is not independent of the old, but an unfolding of it. It is only as the old truths are understood that we can comprehend the new. When Christ desired to open to His disciples the truth of His resurrection, He began ‘at Moses and all the prophets’ and ‘expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.’ Luke 24:27. But it is the light which shines in the fresh unfolding of truth that glorifies the old. He who rejects or neglects the new does not really possess the old. For him it loses its vital power and becomes but a lifeless form.”­–Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 127-128

“Christ in His teaching presented old truths of which He Himself was the originator, truths which He had spoken through patriarchs and prophets; but He now shed upon them a new light. How different appeared their meaning! A flood of light and spirituality was brought in by His explanation. And He promised that the Holy Spirit should enlighten the disciples, that the word of God should be ever unfolding to them. They would be able to present its truths in new beauty.” –Christ Object Lessons, p. 127

The people living in the period of the seventh church of Revelation 3 (Laodicea) find it hard to understand and put into practice a message which sounds new to them. This message is that which forms the right arm of the everlasting gospel—the third angel’s message. This is the area where the precious principle of the truth—new and old—will be illustrated.

“The health reform, I was shown, is a part of the third angel’s message and is just as closely connected with it as are the arm and hand with the human body.”–Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 486

“One important part of the work of the ministry is to faithfully present to the people the health reform as it stands connected with the third angel’s message as part and parcel of the same work. They should not fail to adopt it themselves, and should urge it upon all who profess to believe the truth.”  –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, pp. 469–470

Often the question is asked: “If fish is bad to eat, why did Jesus give it to the multitude to eat?” Why is it that some of God’s people used to eat it (or flesh)? The answers to these questions lie in the above established fact, namely: (a) in every age there is a new development of truth, a message of God to the people of that generation; (b) failure to reconcile the truth—new and old.

The truth of health reform is of special importance to those who are preparing themselves for life in heaven where even the slightest smell of meat and all types of harmful articles of foods (e.g., junk food, etc.) will not be present. This important message was first given to the Adventists on June 6th, 1863 through the prophet Ellen G. White. Apparently it appears new, but it is virtually an old truth.  In fact such a diet in biblical history was present since man came into existence.

If we want to know the truth of anything—the original stand—we need to remember to go back to the beginning. Health reform may be taken as a new truth only in the sense that for a period of time it had almost become extinct because of the hardness of people’s hearts, just as divorce and remarriage was tolerated in the time of Moses, “but from the beginning it was not so.” Matthew 19:8

“The Reformation did not, as many suppose, end with Luther. It is to be continued to the close of this world’s history.”–The Great Controversy, p. 148. We have been called by God to be the reformers in the Laodicean church. To this cause, we need to stick to the truth, regardless of what it will take. One of the great reformers the world has ever known (apart from our Lord Jesus who is the greatest) is John the Baptist. We ought, both in precept and example, to emulate him. We need to restore all things just as he did (Matthew 17:11). One truth he restored is clear in the following testimony:

“John separated himself from his friends, and from the luxuries of life, dwelling alone in the wilderness, and subsisting upon a purely vegetable diet. The simplicity of his dress–a garment woven of camel’s hair–was a rebuke to the extravagance and display of the people of his generation, especially of the Jewish priests. His diet also, of locusts and wild honey, was a rebuke to the gluttony that everywhere prevailed.”–Temperance, p. 91 (emphasis mine)

In the church of God (IMS SDA Church, Reform Movement), there is no controversy over truth—new and old. God has helped His church to reconcile these truths and has faithfully laid them down in the Principles of Faith. Health reform is part of these principles. When real reformers ponder on this subject, through the Holy Spirit, they discover that it is the old truth of Genesis 1:29; 3:18 (last part). Then by the unction of the same Spirit they present this theme in its new light and thus it remains fresh and new.

Those who desire to be in eternity will not hesitate to join this work of Reform not just in health, but in numerous areas where God is looking to us to preserve His precious truth—new and old.  AMEN.

 

Joel Jungubawa Msiska

Malawi