Royalty and Ruin: Christ and Solomon Contrasted

     In striking contrast to Solomon, the Savior possessed “all power” but never used this power to exalt Himself. No dream of worldly greatness marred the perfection of His service for others. Those who enter the service of the Master Worker should study His methods. He took opportunities to meet people along the great highways of travel.

    In His journeys here and there, Jesus lived at Capernaum. Located on the highway from Damascus to Jerusalem and Egypt and to the Mediterranean Sea, it was well suited to be the center of the Savior’s work. People from many lands passed through the city. There Jesus met people of all nations and all ranks, and they carried His lessons to other countries. This awakened interest in the prophecies pointing to the Messiah and brought His mission before the world.

    In our day, such opportunities are much greater than in the days of Israel. The routes of travel have multiplied a thousandfold. Like Christ, messengers of the Most High should take their position in these great routes, where they can meet the passing multitudes from all parts of the world. Hiding self in God, they are to present before others the precious truths of Holy Scripture that will take root and spring up into life eternal.

    Solemn are the lessons of Israel’s failure, when ruler and people turned from the high destiny God had called them to fulfill. In the ways that they were weak, today’s representatives of heaven must be strong, for on them falls the task of finishing the work committed to God’s people and of ushering in the day of final rewards. Yet the same influences that Israel faced when Solomon reigned are still with us. Only by the power of God can we gain the victory. The conflict calls for a spirit of self-denial, distrust of self, and dependence on God alone so that we may use every opportunity wisely for saving souls.

    The Lord will bless His people as they advance unitedly, revealing to a world in error’s darkness the beauty of holiness, shown in a Christlike spirit of self-sacrifice, in exalting God rather than anything human, and in loving service to those in need of the gospel.