Foreword

As the sin problem escalates on planet earth, causing society to deteriorate just before the coming of Christ, how vital it is for God’s people to be looking to Jesus—not to the things that are seen, but the things that are not seen, eternal realities. Therefore, this quarter, Sabbath school students around the world will continue with Part 2 of the Treasures of Truth series, “Brighter Beams of Light.”

Lawlessness and confusion are everywhere, so we really need God’s help to know where to go in life. We need a moral compass. “One writer has likened the attempt to change the law of God to an ancient mischievous practice of turning in a wrong direction a signpost erected at an important junction where two roads met. The perplexity and hardship which this practice often caused was great.

“A signpost was erected by God for those journeying through this world. One arm of this signpost pointed out willing obedience to the Creator as the road to felicity and life, while the other arm indicated disobedience as the path to misery and death. The way to happiness was as clearly defined as was the way to the city of refuge under the Jewish dispensation. But in an evil hour for our race, the great enemy of all good turned the signpost around, and multitudes have mistaken the way.”—Prophets and Kings, p. 179.

Jesus Christ is the only Saviour of humanity—and in studying Him and living His law through His strength He provides, we are transformed. “He lived the law of God, and by His example showed how we are to obey it.”—The Desire of Ages, p. 649.

Every provision has been made to prepare us for eternity if we cooperate with His Spirit in giving us a new heart—a new mind. By weaning our affections from this world and fastening them upon Jesus in Heaven, we develop new purpose in life, with eternity in view.

“A sin-hating God calls upon those who profess to keep His law to depart from all iniquity. Neglect to repent and obey His word will bring as serious consequences upon God’s people today, as did the same sin upon ancient Israel.”—The Signs of the Times, February 12, 1880, Art. B.

“Satan has worked continually to eclipse the glories of the future world and to attract the whole attention to the things of this life. He has striven so to arrange matters that our thought, our anxiety, our labor might be so fully employed in temporal things that we should not see or realize the value of eternal realities. The world and its cares have too large a place, while Jesus and heavenly things have altogether too small a share in our thoughts and affections. We should conscientiously discharge all the duties of everyday life, but it is also essential that we should cultivate, above everything else, holy affection for our Lord Jesus Christ.”—The Adventist Home, pp. 404, 405.

The General Conference Sabbath School Department