>The Treasure That We Take with Us

By Milton G. Crane, M.D. and Barbara G. Crane, R.D. of Weimar Institute

1. Adam and Eve received the first dominion. (PP44-5)

They were children of God.

God's law was in their hearts completely; they loved doing God's will.

God's law was written in their minds completely; they knew God's will.

Their memories were so good that they did not need a written language.

Their memories were so good they could recall information unimpaired.

Physically, they were perfect also.

2. When sin came in, they lost their first dominion. (PP67; PK682)

Sin caused separation from God. (Isaiah 59:2)

They were dead spiritually in trespasses and sin. (Ephesians 2:1)

Their hearts had a record of sin, and were "deceitful." (Jeremiah 17:9)

Their minds had a knowledge of sin. (Genesis 3:22)

Their memories were so good they did not need a written language. (PP83)

Physically, they began to decay.

3. Christ made a way for restoration of the first dominion. (Micah 4:8)

4. The only treasure that we can take from this world to the next is a character formed according to the divine likeness. (COL332)

5. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. (PP223.4; COL331.3)
It is developed. (COL100, 331, 391; DA407; 5BC1085; SC62)

6. In the character there are:

Natural traits. (TM416.8; FCE278.1)
Inherited traits. (PP561.5)
Cultivated traits. (TM416; FCE278)

7. Children "inherit" traits of character from those they live with. (4T495-6; AH256.3)

8. What is a character?

The words, "character" or "habit," are not in the King James Version, but the stories of Jesus deal mainly with character development. (COL23.4; 269.8)

The definitions of the dictionary are not sufficient, for the Bible is not subject to "private interpretation."

From the pen of Inspiration, we have these definitions:

"…thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character." (5T310)

"Thus actions repeated form habits, habits form character…" (COL356.6)

"The mind is the garden; the character is the fruit." (4T606.8)

"The spirit, the character of man, is returned to God, there to be preserved." (6BC1085)

9. Some illustrations or symbols in the Bible that deal with character are:

The parable of seed sowing – planting of seed in the heart. Matt. 13:18-23

The white raiment of Rev. 3 represents the imparted character. 4T88

The oil for the wise virgins symbolizes the Holy Spirit and the results of its work, the imparted character. COL407.1; CG173.3; TM234.1

The wedding garment of Matt. 29:11 denotes imparted character. COL311-2; 4BC1179; DA762.5

The "Streaker" of Mark 14:51 symbolically gave up his robe and ran.

Each righteous thought and action, purified by His merits, is like gold, silver or precious stone in the character. 5T129; 4T89; 1 Cor. 3:9-13

10. What are the component parts of a righteous act or thought?

a. Do or think whatever God says is right as He wants it.
Isa. 45:19; James 4:12; Exodus 20:3-17; Matt. 19:16-19

b. Done from a motive of (agape) love.
1 Cor. 13; Luke 10:25-28

c. Done by Christ in us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Phil. 2:12, 13; 2 Cor. 10:3-5; John 14:12

11. What are the attributes of the mind?

Individuality, the power to think and do. Ed17

The "eye" of the mind. Eph. 1:18; 6T205

The "will," which is the deciding actor. SC47.5; MB142.5

The "heart," the source of the feelings and motives. 4T85; Matt. 12:35

The memory of the thoughts and actions, the mind. 5T466; MM184; CG562

12. What is our inheritance from the Father?

Whatever is in the law of God. Deut. 33:1-4; Psalm 119:11

Every promise in the Old and New Testaments, the Covenants of God, His "will" and "testament." Gal. 3:18, 19; James 3:3

When Christ died, His "will" was ratified and, as a result, is in full force. Heb. 9:15-17

We may have the "earnest," the down payment, in this life. Eph. 1:11-14

13. How can we obtain the provisions of the "will" of God?

We must be born of the Spirit and of water. John 3:3-8

We must be cleansed of guilt of every sin, have ourselves and all that we have set aside for holy use. 1 John1:9; Psalm 85:2; 2 Tim. 2:19-20

Seek, Knock, and Ask in faith for the pearl of obedience by faith. Luke 11:9

Believe that we shall receive what is promised. James 1:5-8; MH514

Thank Him in advance for fulfilling the promise as He sees best. Eph. 5:20

Watch, Study, Pray, and Work for the Master. 1SM189

Recognize that our requests go to the Executor of the will where He ministers in the Holy and Most Holy Place in Heaven. Heb. 8 & 9; John 5:27

14. What kind of a mind will we have in the next life?

The mind that was in Jesus. Phil. 2:5; MH414

"Transformed" and "renewed." Romans 12:1, 2

All our guilt removed. Jude 24, 25; Rev. 14:5; Psalm 103:12

The "old man of sin" crucified, dead, and buried. Romans 6:6, 7; Gal. 2:20

The record of sin blotted out of the heart. No record of sin. Acts 3:19

The "new man in Christ" alive and well. Eph. 4:23, 24

A mind with total recall of what is in the memory. We will not need a written language.

A "heart" totally in harmony with the will and way of God. Heb. 8:10-12

A "mind" that has the laws of God written so that we will know exactly what God wants us to do. Heb. 8:10-12

15. When and how is this brought about?

Starting at conversion. Give the heart to Jesus. Heb. 10:22; Matt. 37; COL97

By daily submission and dedication to God. DA172.4

By daily asking Him to work in us both to will and do of His good pleasure. Christ builds in us a righteous character. 2T355; 4T429

He put on us the wedding garment – woven by the loom of Heaven. COL311-2; 4BC1179; DA762

By forsaking every "idol" thought, word, or action so that God can blot out the record of every sin in the final atonement at the time of our investigative judgment. GC425-30; GC480-5; Hosea 4:17

By pleading for the outpouring of the latter rain in the season. TM506-9

16. How can God make us again after death?

Angels of Heaven keep an exact record of every thought, feeling, and action of our lives. CH416.2; see also, Jere. 17:1; MM184.3; 2 Cor. 3:2, 3; Mal. 3:16

God implants in the mind of the resurrected body every thought, feeling, and action of our mind in this life, and we begin to think where we left off at the time of death. GC550; 1 Cor. 13:12

17. What kind of character did Jesus have?

A heart perfectly dedicated to the Father, a love of righteousness, God's will, and a hatred of evil. Heb. 1:9. He chose to die without hope of resurrection rather than to go contrary to what His Father asked Him to do. Spiritually like the first Adam.

The law of God was in His heart perfectly.

He had no record of sin in the heart.

He had no memory of having committed a sin in His mind. John 8:46

He depended upon His Father for guidance through the Scriptures enlightened by the Holy Spirit.

God worked in Him both to will and to do of God's good pleasure and thus a perfect character was being developed in Jesus in His humanity.

He had the full indwelling of the Holy Spirit from conception.

He was subject to like passions and temptations as we are, yet without sin.

His brain and mind suffered the effects of 4000 years of deterioration from His ancestors through Mary.

His brain was subject to the same hormonal and humoral passions and reflex responses through the senses that we have.

Copyright © 1995-2002 Milton G. Crane, M.D. and Barbara G. Crane, R.D., Weimar Institute, Weimar, CA 95736. All rights Reserved.