Other Object Lessons from Nature

God’s People = Palm Trees Guiding to the Living Water

“The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree” –Psalm 92:12

“The palm tree, beaten by the scorching sun and the fierce sandstorm, stands green and flourishing and fruitful in the midst of the desert. . . . The tree of the desert is a symbol of what God means the life of His children in this world to be. They are to guide weary souls, full of unrest, and ready to perish in the desert of sin, to the living water. —Education p. 116

“The Forest & the Field”

We’re in a Great Controversy.
Some try to go it alone. Others stand united.
A simple, yet powerful lesson from nature illustrates the effect each method has (click on picture to go to Vimeo video):

Trees Growing Upright on a Slope

The trees growing on a slope need a good root system digging into the solid rock to provide an anchor so they can grow straight up towards the sun. In the same way, Christians must send the roots of faith deep into the Solid Rock of Christ, so that even when they find themselves in a steep, hard place in life, they can have the foundation to steadfastly look and grow up to reflect the glory of the Sun of Righteousness.

Lesson from the Alignment of Sun, Moon, and Earth

During a total solar eclipse, the Sun and Moon are lined up with the Earth. As viewed from Earth, the Moon completely covers the Sun, revealing the glorious corona around the Sun. But how would this look from the Sun’s perspective? As viewed from the Sun, if we were to look in the direction of the Earth, we could not see the Earth because the Moon would completely cover the Earth; we would only see the far side of the moon all lit up reflecting the Sun’s light.

“And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night….” (Genesis 1:16). Jesus said, “… my Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). Psalms 89:37 describes the moon as “the faithful witness in the sky.” The apostle John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit described “Jesus Christ” as “the faithful witness” (Revelation 1:5). According to the Bible, “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God” is seen “in the face of Jesus Christ,” (2 Corinthians 4:6) who is “the brightness [literally ‘outshining’] of [H]is glory” (Hebrews 1:3), that is, the glory of the Father. The glory of God is not just a bright light, but it also represents His character: (cf. Exodus 33:17-23).

¹⁷ And the Lord said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. ¹⁸ And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. ¹⁹ And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. ²⁰ And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. ²¹ And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: ²² And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: ²³ And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. (Exodus 33:17-23)

Because humans have sinned, we cannot dwell in the presence of God without being consumed (cf. Hebrews 12:29). Only when we are covered with the robe of the perfect, righteous character of Jesus Christ can we stand before God (cf. Zechariah 3:1-4; Matthew 22:11-12). In order for us to receive Christ’s righteousness on our behalf we must accept Jesus as our personal Savior and Lord, and in order for us to maintain this benefit we must be abiding in Christ (cf. Romans 8:1-2; John 15:3-10; 2 Timothy 2:10)

God the Father = the Sun

Jesus Christ = the Moon

Humans = the Earth

So here is the object lesson: Just as when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned, from the perspective of the Sun, when one looks towards the Earth, one only sees the Moon shining brightly; so in our relationship with God, when the believer is abiding in Christ, when the Father looks at the believer, He only sees the perfect righteousness of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. “I counsel thee,” He says, “to buy of Me … white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.” Revelation 3:18.
This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. “All our righteousness are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God “was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.” Sin is defined to be “the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:5, 4. But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law. He said of Himself, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8. When on earth, He said to His disciples, “I have kept My Father’s commandments.” John 15:10. By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. (Christ’s Object Lessons 311.3-4)