Article December 12, 1959 Issue

TRUE SACRIFICE—THE WAY TO HEAVEN

FREDA SPERLING BENSON

One of the reasons why the Bible is so comforting and practical is that it not only states the facts of true being, the allness and goodness of God and the perfection of His creation, man and the universe, but also explains what the individual must do to experience his God-given harmony. In the Bible the requirement for receiving God's blessings is often called a sacrifice.

To the early Israelites sacrifice usually meant a material offering. The purpose of this offering was to appease the wrath of Jehovah, to express thanksgiving, or to atone for sin. But a higher sense of sacrifice was expressed by the prophet Samuel when he said (I Sam. 15: 22): "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams."

Christ Jesus knew God as his Father, as Life and Spirit, and he proved this fact by his works. Yet he showed by his life example that sacrifice is needed. This sacrifice is not an outward act or ritual but the giving up of a false sense of self so that the divine nature can be revealed. Jesus said (Matt. 7: 21), "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."

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