“Are you sure that quote is real?” I asked incredulously. The elder from the house church we were visiting assured me it was. “If God the Father and Jesus had swapped places, nothing would have changed.”

The concept should not have seemed new. Had not Jesus said in one place, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father?” And in another place, did He not say, “I and my Father are one?” (John 14:9; 10:30). So the concept was not new to me. However, when the elder alluded to the incarnation, I needed to see the reference.

You may have seen the meme where the caption over a picture of Abraham Lincoln reads, “The problem with internet quotes is that you never know how authentic they are.” As Seventh-day Adventists, we often hear, “Ellen White said,” in cases where it is doubtful that she ever said any such thing. So, there was some credence to my incredulity.

A few weeks later, I found the quote. “Had God the Father come to our world and dwelt among us, veiling His glory, humbling Himself, that humanity might look upon Him, the history that we have of the life of Christ would not have been changed in unfolding its record of His own condescending grace. In every act of Jesus, in every lesson of His instruction, we are to see and hear and recognize God. In sight, in hearing, in effect, it is the voice and movements of the Father.” (Letter 83, 1895.)

O, the wonders of redeeming love! “The Father Himself loveth you” (John 16:27). My heart’s prayer is, “Thank you, Lord, for filling our furlough with such beautiful thoughts. When we get back to southern Thailand, please help us know how to share what you are showing us.”

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