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Below is the Audio Script:
The Great Controversy: The Foundation
Memory Text: “ ‘And I will put enmity between you
and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head,
and you shall bruise His heel’ ” (Gen. 3:15, NKJV).
What does the expression (proverb) “necessity is the
mother of invention” mean? When people
really need to do something, they will figure out a way to do it. The following sentence is example of this
proverb: “When the fan belt on Linda's
car broke in the middle of the desert, Linda used her stockings as a
replacement. Necessity is the mother of invention.” Here, mother means driving force, reason or
motivator.
The lesson tries to make an analogy by stating that
a driving force, reason or motivator is a foundation. A foundation is the lowest load-bearing part
of a building, typically below ground level; or a body or ground on which other
parts rest or are overlaid. This analogy
does not work because clearly what motivates you to do something is not bearing
anything. So, the analogy to use the
illustration of clean air as a motivator to find better fuel sources, where
clean air is the foundation does not work.
Now, when we are talking about belief system we also
need to define what we are talking about.
It is possible that a belief system was created out of need. For example, Buddhism was created out of a
need of one man to explain aggression and violence. The lesson seems to hint that Seventh day
Adventists have a belief system, and that this belief system is explained in
the 28 fundamental beliefs. So, we
should ask ourselves what motivated the Adventist belief system and what its
foundation is. Also, what need was there
to create or what motivated the creation of this creed or doctrine we call the
28 fundamental beliefs; and what its foundation is. We may not be able to answer those questions
now. But, I wonder what ever happened to
“The Bible is our creed.” While many may
try to discount the 28 Fundamental beliefs as a creed, that is exactly what it
is. Because, all the points have been
officially accepted the Corporate Body.
These 28 Fundamental Beliefs held by Adventists are a statement of our
faith declaring and informing who we are and what we believe as a people. But, to whom?
Virtually no non-adventists are going to buy this book. So, the book of these Fundamental Beliefs was
published so that members know what the organization officially believes.
The lesson says that the foundation of the 28
fundamental beliefs is the great controversy between Christ and Satan. So, most of the week’s study is spent
explaining the great controversy. If the
great controversy is “foundational” to our beliefs, what is the issue of
conflict between Christ and Satan? It is agape versus self-love.
The Bible focuses the dynamic of truth on the divine-love
of God (1 John 4:8). “The love of Christ constraineth us” because “one died for
all, then were all dead” (2 Cor. 5:14). In other words, if One hadn’t died for
all, then all would be dead. So those who live simply cannot live for
themselves “but unto Him which died for them” (vs. 15).
It is in the Word of God that we find what we need
to endure this controversy. Ellen White
comments about this,
“The Bible is its own expositor. Scripture is to be
compared with scripture. The student should learn to view the word as a whole,
and to see the relation of its parts. He should gain a knowledge of its grand
central theme, of God’s original purpose for the world, of the rise of the
great controversy, and of the work of redemption. He should understand the
nature of the two principles that are contending for supremacy, and should
learn to trace their working through the records of history and prophecy, to
the great consummation. He should see how this controversy enters into every
phase of human experience; how in every act of life he himself reveals the one
or the other of the two antagonistic motives; and how, whether he will or not,
he is even now deciding upon which side of the controversy he will be
found.”—Ellen G. White, Education, p. 190.
The last few statements are crucial. There is a war waging in our hearts and minds. And every thought is either for God or the
devil. Therefore every action is also
for God or the Devil. There is nothing
trivial or miscellaneous. The smallest
indiscretion can foster the greatest fall.
With every thought you choose which side you are in. Thankfully, we have Christ on our side. We can yield all to Him. He in turn gives us His victory.
