Gods Sabbath

C HRIST O UR E XAMPLE

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from God’s will, which eventually results in eternal death. In the presence of the witnessing universe, by the example of a flawless faith, Jesus testified to this truth. His children are invited to bear the same testimony.

Continual Submission

Every visible evidence which so emphatically indicated that His Father had deserted Him, left Christ unmoved, for He knew and trusted His Father. Therefore He could not be persuaded that the Almighty had in fact forsaken Him. He rested in the as surance that God was working out the mighty counsels of His di vine will, that there was a vital objective to be achieved, and that the Lord would not suffer Him to be tempted more than He could bear, or more than was necessary. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be temp ted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will al so make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it .” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV). As Christ reviewed His past life, He could see that He had not placed Himself in danger. The existing difficulties were not of His own creating, but the result of His obedience to God’s gui dance. Therefore the Father was responsible for any consequen ces. He had implicit trust in His heavenly Father and knew that an army of angels would come to His aid if this became necessa ry. The words Jesus spoke later, in the garden of Gethsemane, show with what clarity He was aware of the invisible world standing ready to help if required. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” Matthew 26:53. This is the faith of Jesus, and it is also the faith that we must have if we are finally to be triumphant. “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. NRSV. Though Satan gained no victory or advantage in the desert, he relentlessly pursued the Saviour throughout the remainder