Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/216

 210 The Plan of the Ages.

" Yea, man giveth up the ghost [life] and where is he?*' (Job 14:10.) "His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them.' 7 (Verse 21.) "For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave whither thou goest." (Eccl. 9:10.) But since a ransom has been found, since the death penalty has been paid by the Redeemer, the jewel is to have its beauty restored, and is again to re- flet perfectly the Creator's image when the Sun of Right- eousness shall arise with healing in his wings. (Mai. 4:2.) It is because of the sin-offering, the sacrifice of Christ, that 'All that are in their graves shall come forth." There shall be a restitution of all things; first an opportunity or offer of restitution to all, and ultimately the attainment of human perfection by all who will obey the Redeemer.

This, however, is not the reward to which Jesus refers as the end of the narrow way. From other Scriptures we learn that the reward promised to those who walk the nar- row way is the " divine nature " life inherent, life in that superlative degree which only the divine nature can possess immortality. What a hope ! Dare we aspire to such a height of glory? Surely not without positive and explicit invitation could any rightfully thus aspire.

From i Tim. 6:14-16 we learn that the immortal or divine nature was originally the possession of divinity only. We read: "He [Jesus] in his time [the Millennial age] will show who is the blessed and only potentate the King of kings and Lord of lords, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto, whom no man hath seen nor can see." All other beings, angels, men, beasts, birds, fish, etc., are but vessels, holding each its measure of life, and all differing in character, capacity and quality according to the organism which it has Dleased the Creator to provide for each.

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