Ellen White frequently emphasized that "Order is heaven's first law" (
1MCP 177.2). She taught that this principle of order and harmony should be reflected in the homes, schools, and church organization of God's people. In the context of the home, she explained that the Lord desires His followers to provide "a representation of the order and harmony that pervade the heavenly courts" (
CH 101). She associated this order with cleanliness and refinement, noting that "Truth never places her delicate feet in a path of uncleanness or impurity" (
1MCP 177.2).
For Ellen White, a life influenced by Christ is one where a "work of constant refinement goes on" (
1MCP 177.2), leading away from coarseness or untidiness. This principle also applies strictly to education and church structure. When discussing the selection of teachers, she warned that those without "managing ability" should not be employed because "their efforts will tend to disorganization" (
6T 200.2). Furthermore, she argued that organization was essentialfor the church because "System and order are manifest in all the works of God throughout the universe" (
TM 26.3). While order is a primary law, Ellen White also identified the spiritual foundation of heaven's law as supreme love for God and man. She encouraged teachers to keep their minds "open to heaven's first law, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself'" (
CT 403.1).
This suggests that true order is not merely mechanical but is rooted in the character of God and the principles of His kingdom. Practically, this means that maintaining a clean home, an organized church, and a disciplined school are spiritual duties. By following these principles of order and love, believers provide a tangible witness of the atmosphere of heaven to the world around them. --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:**
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