A couple days ago, a colporteur¹ came to my house. I bought a book called Triumph of the Trinity, because I wanted to help her financially. I didn’t plan on reading the book because of my busy schedule. I did scan through the book quickly and noticed many quotes from Ellen White’s books.

A couple days later, I met the wife of the author of Triumph of the Trinity. She told me the book had great quotes from Ellen White on Christ’s atonement².

I had been studying about the cross and Christ’s atonement, so I began reading the book especially the part about Christ’s atonement.

I think many Adventists overemphasize Ellen White’s statements on Christian lifestyle and behavior.

I can recall many Adventists telling me what Ellen White said about movies, health, vegetarianism, veganism, card games, the Sabbath, end-of-time persecution, the time of trouble, prayer, Bible reading, and sports.

However, I can recall very few Adventists telling me Ellen White’s views on the cross and Jesus’ sacrifice.

Yet, as I read Triumph of the Trinity, I found that Ellen White is very clear about the gospel and Christ’s atonement for our sins.

Wouldn’t it make sense to emphasize Jesus and His cross over lifestyle issues? Isn’t that what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2? Paul wrote about the importance of the cross of Christ, “I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.”

I have a friend who reminds me often that Ellen White’s lifestyle and behavior statements are intended for those who truly understand the atonement of Christ.

Yet, how many of us really understand Christ’s atonement? How many of us doubt our salvation? How many of us feel far from God?

Could it be that we doubt our salvation because Christ’s sacrifice is not being proclaimed on a regular basis?

Could it be that we feel far from God because we don’t talk and think about Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the only way to God?

The cross of Christ needs to be our primary message to ourselves and to the world. We need to preach the message of the cross to ourselves on a daily, consistent basis.

If we don’t think about the cross continually…

• We will fall into the trap of trying to save ourselves by following God’s commands.
• We will not realize our true sinfulness before a holy God.
• We will lose awe in God’s holiness.
• We will forget to praise and thank Him for His love found in the cross of Christ.

See the cross tells me that:

• God is holy, righteous, and just. He must punish sin.
• I’m a sinner whose even righteous deeds are filthy rags before a holy God.
• Since I’m a sinner, I deserve death.
• But thank God. He is merciful.
• He sent Jesus to live a perfect life and satisfy the holy requirements of the law.
• He sent Jesus to die in my place for my sins.
• There is hope for sinners like myself. I can accept God’s free gift in Jesus.
• When I do that, I am reconciled to a holy God. I become a child of God.

No wonder Ellen White told us to focus on Christ especially His death. Here is her famous quote from the Desire of Ages, page 83.

It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross.

¹ A colporteur is someone who sells religious books door-to-door.
² Christ’s atonement is when Jesus died on the cross in our place for our sins.