True Success

“Success in any line demands a definite aim. He who would achieve true success in life must keep steadily in view the aim worthy of his endeavor.”

Education, 262

Based on this quotation, we see that true success must have a definite aim. Whether it is in the realm of studying to be a physician, mechanic, engineer, pastor, or a chef, if you are going to succeed, you must have a definite aim.

“Those who feel the constraining love of God ask not how little may be given, in order to obtain the heavenly reward; they ask not for the lowest standard, but aim at a perfect conformity to the will of their Redeemer. With ardent desire they will yield all, and manifest zeal proportionate to the value of the object they are in pursuit of. What is the object? Immortality, eternal life.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 260.

The highest aim of the Christian is, “Perfect conformity to the will of God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 745. Remember, success in any line requires a definite aim. Those who are in perfect harmony, or perfect conformity to the will of God, and aim for perfection of character are promised victory, even though many Christians believe that is impossible.

Consider these Scriptures:

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes, and to keep His commandments, as at this day.” I Kings 8:61. Be perfect!

Jesus Himself said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. Be perfect!

It is required that we are to reach moral perfection, even in this world. Ellen White states, “The Lord requires perfection from His redeemed family. He calls for perfection in character-building.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1085. If we are to ever enter the Kingdom of God, it must be with perfect characters, not having spot or wrinkle. It is a requirement to be ready to go with Jesus when He returns. However, while in this spiritual battle on earth that strives against sin and the world, it is only by God’s grace that this state is possible.

“God requires moral perfection in all. Those who have been given light and opportunities should, as God’s stewards, aim for perfection.” This Day with God, 32.

Is this your aim? Never insult our Saviour by lowering the standard of righteousness to which we are called to accommodate any of our inherited or cultivated tendencies to do wrong. We are invited to behold Jesus and reflect His beautiful image of moral perfection in this world.

The Obstacles

We live in a sinful world, and as we set our goal and aim for moral perfection, we are sure to meet with obstacles or barriers that must be overcome. These obstacles are sin and self. A woman, caught in the act of adultery, was brought to Jesus. “When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:10, 11. The words of Jesus to her were not a suggestion but a command. He said, “Go, and sin no more.”

Look at John 5:14. Coming upon a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years, Jesus told him to rise, take up his bed and walk. “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” John 5:14. Several times Jesus said to “sin no more.” Why would He say that if it were impossible?

With such high expectation, it is encouraging to know that we have a compassionate friend who understands the weakness of human flesh. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” I John 2:1. John, under Inspiration, says, “I write to you that you may not sin, but if you do fall, get back up. My Son, Jesus Christ the righteous, is ever pleading for His Spirit to help you to overcome that you may not sin.”

John continues, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” I John 3:9. This is referring to the deliberate continual practice of sin. The born again Christian experiences the constraining love of Christ that changes his desires and purposes that he cannot sin without going against his conscience, because he is born of God.

In contrast, he says, “He that committeth sin is of the devil.” This verse requires each to search his or her own heart and be honest with himself or herself. If it is found that one is walking repeatedly in sin, it is the enemy of souls who inspires those actions. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil [destroy sin].” Verse 8.

In the book of John there are other Scriptures concerning the obstacles that each one faces. “Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:34. This is a question for each to ask himself or herself, “Whom do you serve?” A person’s lifestyle portrays whom they serve, either sin, self, the world and the devil, or Christ and His righteousness.

It comes naturally to be a slave of sin

Why is it so hard to break the chain of sin? “Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident.” Messages to Young People, 99.

By nature, because of our first parents’ sin, we inherit their lean toward sin—our natures are fallen. The perfection of moral character required by God is not inherited, nor does it come by chance. How then do we reach that goal? “A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected.” Ibid. It is clear that in the strength of Jesus Christ we are to battle against our own natural tendencies to win the victory over our inner self.

While this battle rages within, other battles rage from without. Peter warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8.

We definitely have an adversary, someone who is continually against us, opposing every good decision. He is a wily foe and he walks about seeking whom he may devour. He never sleeps, so we must be sober and vigilant and in the right state of mind, ever watchful.

Paul tells us a little bit more about our “wiley foe.” He says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. This is a fierce conflict that we are in. Everything that comes naturally to us, as well as all the forces of darkness, oppress us from every direction, and man is no match for the evil one without Divine assistance.

“Satan and his angels are unwilling to lose their prey. They contend and battle with the holy angels, and the conflict is severe. And if those who have erred continue to plead, and in deep humility confess their wrongs, angels who excel in strength will prevail and wrench them from the power of the evil angels.” Messages to Young People, 60.

What a word picture this gives! If the curtains could be pulled up and we could see into the spiritual realm, what a fierce shock would come upon us as we witness the spirits engaging in fierce battle over each and every soul. It is severe and worse than any war in which this earth has been involved. The Bible gives a little view of these battles.

“And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto Thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit. … And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if Thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.” Mark 9:17, 22.

This also should be our prayer when we find ourselves struggling with some habit. “Lord, have compassion on me and help me.”

“When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, he is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.” Verses 25–27. It took a struggle for the demon trying to destroy him to let him go.

That is just a little glimpse into the conflict that goes on for each and every soul. The man’s son was possessed of a demon that the disciples of Jesus could not cast out. We are no match for the devil and his evil angels. Only Jesus can deliver us from sin and from the chains of the enemy.

We have been given our marching orders in our personal battle with Satan. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resists the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. Resist the devil, stand fast in the name of the Lord and do not give in and he will flee. In fact, this is the only way to be victorious; submit to God, surrender to Him and all power is given to resist the devil, not just one time, but every time, to live a continual life of victory.

In the sad history of Israel is seen a people who, after all the favors bestowed on them, missed the very person, Christ, Who was the fulfillment of their whole history. When it comes to submitting to God, Paul says, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” Romans 10:3, 4.

“Man is naturally inclined to follow Satan’s suggestions, and he cannot of himself successfully resist so terrible a foe, unless Christ, the mighty conqueror, dwells in him, guiding his desires, and giving him strength.” Messages to Young People, 51. To successfully resist this foe, Christ must dwell within. This is a must. The concerns and affections of the heart, whatever triggers the emotions and the thoughts dwell on, are an indication of who controls the person. When Christ dwells within, He guides our desires and teaches us to make righteous choices. When recognizing a thought or desire not to be of God, the only safe choice is to recognize the author, let it go and resist the devil in the strength of Jesus Christ.

Weapons of War

We are in a spiritual battle and need weapons to conquer the obstacles. Knowing the weakness of the enemy is a great advantage. James 2:19 says, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Devils know that God exists. These fallen angels have been in His presence and know, without a doubt, that His word is sure and whatever He says is going to come to pass. They actually tremble before God.

“And when He was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?” Matthew 8:28, 29.

They were afraid. They knew Jesus as the commander of heaven, and when He came upon the scene, they thought they were about to be tormented before the time. Satan’s whole host of angels tremble before the presence of the mighty King. “Satan cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears and trembles before His [Christ’s] strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan’s whole host trembles. … And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back, well knowing that their battle is lost.” Messages to Young People, 53.

That being the case, how important is it to refuse or neglect fervent prayer? Without prayer we remain the prey of demons. “Beware how you neglect secret prayer and a study of God’s word. These are your weapons against him who is striving to hinder your progress heavenward.” Ibid., 96.

Secret prayer and study—the big guns of spiritual war! Do not forget to read the Word, get understanding and apply what you learn to your life; these are the only weapons against demonic forces. If you are struggling or being continually defeated, check your inventory to see if you are spending time in secret prayer and a study of God’s word.

It is so easy, even with good intentions, to slip backwards. “The first neglect of prayer and Bible study makes easier the second neglect. The first resistance to the Spirit’s pleading prepares the way for the second resistance. Thus the heart is hardened, and the conscience seared.” Ibid.

A perfect example of this is given to us in the history of Pharaoh in Egypt at the time of the Exodus. He resisted nine times to respond to the Spirit’s pleading, but the tenth time was the last. At each rejection his heart was hardened a little more until he crossed the line and his probation was closed. Day by day this same thing happens in many lives as they continue to resist the pleadings of the Holy Spirit, refusing to study the Bible and pray. They become hardened at each refusal not realizing their time is running out, and without their knowledge, the Spirit will cease to draw them, and too late they will find out they have committed the unpardonable sin for which there is no forgiveness.

Good News

Progress to perfection can become easier. We are told that each resistance to temptation strengthens our resistance to the next temptation. “Every denial of self makes self-denial easier. Every victory gained prepares the way for a fresh victory.” Ibid. Each victory strengthens faith, causing no concern about what may come your way because you have proved your weapons. You can be confident of victory at whatever temptation the enemy may throw, or even that which may come from within, because Christ dwells within.

What to do if we do fall

The wise man gives instruction if we fall: “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.” He does not remain down. He does not stay there on the ground, but he gets right back up. That is what we are encouraged to do, not wallow in the mud. If we fall into sin, get right back up. Don’t be discouraged, because it goes on to say, “but the wicked shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 24:16.

Remember what 1 John 2:1, 2 says: “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”

If we fall into sin, we know that we have a great high priest; we have an Intercessor, a Mediator, a Saviour, a Redeemer, a Deliverer, a Forgiver, and we can go to Him in prayer. He stands at the right hand of the Father, in the most holy sacred place of heaven, pleading on our behalf. We do not have to remain in that sin. We can get right back up and keep going. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice, and His blood was shed for that sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9. That is the hope that we have as children of God. Lay hold of that hope!

“The Lord will recognize every effort you make to reach His ideal for you. When you make a failure, when you are betrayed into sin, do not feel that you cannot pray, that you are not worthy to come before the Lord. … With outstretched arms He waits to welcome the prodigal. Go to Him, and tell Him about your mistakes and failures. Ask Him to strengthen you for fresh endeavor. He will never disappoint you, never abuse your confidence.” Messages to Young People, 97. Do not allow your feelings to keep you from coming to Christ for He loves you.

“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:4, 5.

We must accustom ourselves to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ. We must guard what we think and meditate upon. Cast down imaginations, or pretenses, high things, things that exalt itself against the truth, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. “We should accustom ourselves to often lift the thoughts to God in prayer.” Daughters of God, 81. This is what it means to pray without ceasing. Meditate upon the things of God, always try to lift your thoughts up to God as much as possible; fight hard to keep your mind stayed on heavenly things.

We are told: “If the mind wanders, we must bring it back; by persevering effort, habit will finally make it easy.” Ibid. Lift the thoughts to God in prayer, and if the mind wanders, earnestly bring it back to focus on Jesus Christ, because we are aiming for perfection. The secret of success is found in John 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”

“The secret of success is the union of divine power with human effort. Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly upon the Almighty Arm.” Colporteur Ministry, 106.

“The Christian life is a warfare. … In this conflict of righteousness against unrighteousness we can be successful only by divine aid. Our finite will must be brought into submission to the will of the infinite; the human will must be blended with the divine. This will bring the Holy Spirit to our aid.” Messages to Young People, 55. The secret of success is Christ’s divinity united with our humanity.

It is important that our thoughts and feelings are constantly under the control of God. Messages to Young People states, “Even your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God, and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. … If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Ibid., 92.

The goal of the Christian is perfection of character. It is so important to guard all thoughts, feelings and actions for “God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27.

Jesus says to us today, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Demario Carter is currently a Bible worker for Steps to Life. 

Alienation and Reconciliation

There are many famous battlefields in the eastern United States of America from the days of the Civil War. But perhaps the most famous battlefield of all was fought in a little city in Pennsylvania called Gettysburg that lasted about three days. Four months later, President Abraham Lincoln dedicated the Soldiers’ National Cemetery honoring the fallen, redefining the purpose of the war, and delivering one of the most famous speeches ever given by any American politician—The Gettysburg Address. The main address at the dedication ceremony was delivered by the best-known orator of the time who spoke for two hours. In the wake of such a performance, President Lincoln’s brief speech of three minutes would hardly seem to have drawn notice. However, it has been recognized as one of the classic utterances of all time while most do not even know the name of the first speaker.

Visiting the cemetery you will see rows and rows of white crosses. I have visited military cemeteries in Manila and the Philippines where thousands of United States servicemen are buried and the Punchbowl Cemetery in Hawaii where tens of thousands of servicemen are buried. There are other military cemeteries in England and the European continent where others are buried, but there is something about the Civil War that is worse than all of the other wars involving the United States. Actually, the Civil War is the worst kind of war that can be fought, because documented evidence proves that members from the same family, blood brothers, took opposing sides, one dressed in gray while another dressed in blue, shooting at each other and killing each other.

At the memorial in New Market, Virginia, it is recorded that America suffered from the Civil War far more than from World War I and World War II combined. Why? How could we get into a condition where people who are brothers could take up guns and start shooting at each other?

The answer is found in the New Testament. The reason, it says, is because we are alienated, and as long as people are alienated it is possible for war to break out in the family. People can be at war with each other in the same institution, in the same school, even in the same church because of alienation. Alienation is a terrible thing that causes people to eventually fight with each other. This first started in heaven between angels who had close association and companionship as friends for an undisclosed number of years, which could have been millions of years, but when one group alienated themselves they began to fight.

Proverbs 18:19 says, “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city [or a fortified city]” KJV. It is true. When two people are alienated from each other, there is a very serious problem that no human being can solve. I have seen situations where people in the very same family have not talked to each other for fifteen or twenty years, and when one dies, the other person refuses to attend the funeral.

The whole world today is infected by alienation. It is in homes, in the church, in schools, in institutions, among the nations and among the different races of people. In almost any nation that you can go to in the world there is at least one group of people present that is despised by the others. It was evident to me as a small child in Myanmar (then Burma), when my parents were there as missionaries, that there was a despised race of people there. The European Correns, a relatively little known minority race, are a completely different race from the Burmese people that can easily be recognized on the street. They are a very wise, intelligent and industrious people but hated by the Burmese. This same dynamic is repeated in almost every country, resulting in intolerance to some despised race. Alienation also seeps into religion where those connected to one religion hate people of other religions. Because we are all alienated from each other and alienated from God, the human race is fractured and alienated from each other because of its separation from God. To remedy this situation, Jesus came to this world and had to die on the cross.

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:6–10.

Notice the timing: We were reconciled to God “when we were enemies,” enemies of God and enemies with each other. Jesus came to this world to put an end to the rebellion. Imagine that assignment! One person, sent into the world by His Father, to put down the rebellion and to reconcile the whole world. If that was your assignment, how would you do it?

From a human perspective Jesus had enough power to force the people to stop fighting for, after all, both the Father and the Son are described as being omnipotent. If He could do all those things, why didn’t He?

The answer is not complicated. If Jesus had come down from the cross, or destroyed Caiaphas or the Roman soldiers or any of His tormenters, this world would have been doomed and without hope. It was through the death of Christ on the cross of Calvary that any can have forgiveness of sin. Paul says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:7. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:14.

Be Reconciled to God

Paul told the Romans that it is through the death of Christ that not just the world, but the whole universe is to be reconciled to God. “If we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us [or forces us], because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” II Corinthians 5:13–20. Notice, the apostle is pleading with the people. He said, “We are imploring, we are pleading with you on God’s behalf to please be reconciled to Him.”

The first thing we need to understand is that we can never become reconciled to each other unless we first become reconciled to God. Many homes are fractured today with couples, going through all kinds of traumatic experiences, wondering how their home could possibly be saved. If both parties are willing to be reconciled to God, that home can be saved, but it takes two; one won’t make it. Paul says, “We are imploring you, we are beseeching you”; in other words, “We are begging you, be reconciled to God.”

Ask yourself the question, Am I reconciled to God? Baptism is a public demonstration that the candidate has been reconciled to God. They have decided to die to the flesh and be raised up to walk in newness of life. If you have a whole group of people, in the church, who have been baptized, how could there be any friction or estrangement? How could it be possible for any members to alienate themselves from their brethren?

Ellen White explained it; she says, “They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, 51. Paul says, “You’ve been buried into Christ’s death.” Ellen White says, “They were buried alive.”

If you have been baptized, are you reconciled, or is the old man that is supposed to have died still alive? The means provided to solve all discord, all variance in the family, in the church, among the nations, among the races, all strife, all alienation, to bring reconciliation to the whole universe, is just one thing—it is the cross of Christ. If the cross does not bring reconciliation into your family, something is desperately wrong, and you are not experiencing its benefits.

In 1899, Ellen White wrote, “The cross of Calvary is the great center. This truth acted upon will make Christ’s sacrifice effectual. This is that which Gabriel revealed to Daniel in answer to fervent prayer (Daniel 9:24). It was of this that Moses and Elijah and Christ talked at His transfiguration. By the humiliation of the cross He was to bring everlasting deliverance to all who would walk after Him, giving positive evidence that they are separated from the world.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 101.

This is the method, the means, the instrument that the Father in heaven intends for us to bring reconciliation to the whole universe. “The Father looks upon the cross, upon the suffering He has given His Son to endure in order to save the race from hopeless misery and to draw man to Himself. He looks upon it with the relenting compassion of a Father’s love. The cross has been almost lost sight of, but without the cross there is no connection with the Father, no unity with the Lamb in the midst of the throne in heaven, no welcome reception of the wandering who would return to the forsaken path of righteousness and truth, no hope for the transgressor in the day of judgment. Without the cross there is no means provided for overcoming the power of our strong foe. Every hope of the race hangs upon the cross.” (Emphasis supplied.) Our High Calling, 46.

There are churches all over the United States with crosses on top. People adorn their necks with crosses, and some have a cross hanging from the rear-view mirror in their car while others have it posted on the wall of their home, yet they are still alienated, still getting divorced and still angry. The problem is that even though the means has been provided for the whole universe to be reconciled, most of the world, including the church, is not taking advantage of its benefits. How can this be with the cross displayed everywhere? We are not experiencing it. The Jews had the same problem. They displayed the Ten Commandments everywhere, and Jesus told them, “None of you are keeping the law.”

If we are going to be reconciled with each other, the first thing that has to happen is to be reconciled to God. After a person is reconciled to God, he or she will become reconciled to other human beings, not all human beings, but other human beings that are also reconciled to God. If both a husband and wife are reconciled to God, they will not get a divorce. If a group of people in a church, school, institution, county or city is reconciled to God, there will be no fights. They may still have differences of opinion, but when they see what is happening in the world and in the church, it should be as plain as the nose on their face that people are not reconciled with God, because if they were, relationships between them would be much different.

How to Get Reconciled

In order for two people who are alienated to become reconciled to each other, at least one of them has to change. If alienated from God, at least one is going to have to change. Which person do you think that ought to be? The Lord says, “I don’t change” (Malachi 3:6).

Some ask why Jesus had to die in the manner He did. He died in agony in view of the public assembly, not as a hero, but He died the most shameful death that could be afflicted. The apostle Paul said, “that Christ died for our sins” (I Corinthians 15:3). Sin is a lot more terrible than many think.

What made Him do it?

Jesus was not forced to do this. His Father did not require Him to do it. The angels did not require Him to do it. Nobody required Him to do this. He did it of His own voluntary free will to save sinful man. The more somebody loves you, the greater happiness and pleasure you derive from their companionship. No one in the universe—not the angels of heaven or the beings who have never fallen that dwell on other worlds—understood how great was the love of God, nobody! What happened at the cross changed the minds of the angels of heaven and all the people in the unfallen universe. Ellen White said, “This love was manifested, but it cannot be comprehended by mortal man. It is a mystery too deep for the human mind to fathom.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, 26.

Paul said, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. He said that there are some people who might dare to say that they would give their life for a good person. But Christ didn’t give His life for us when we were good people; He gave His life for us when we were bad and were haters of God doing wicked works. It would be impossible for any intelligence in the universe to say that God could have done more. God did the most that it was possible to do; He poured out all of heaven in one gift to reconcile a fallen world back to Himself.

There is no spare tire in the plan of salvation. If what was done at the cross doesn’t appeal to the heart of man, he will be lost, for there is no other way to reach him. Jesus wants you to come to the cross and realize that it was your sins that caused His death and say, “Lord, I am sorry I am the way I am.” The Lord will respond, “I came to die on the cross to forgive you for all of your past sins. Are you now willing to be reconciled to Me?” He wants you to acknowledge Him as Lord and sovereign of your life. If you are willing for your heart to be changed and to be born again, He will send you the Holy Spirit to give you a new heart and a new mind. You will be reconciled to God.

God does not change, but when reconciled to God, those things that were once a burden now become a delight. With a penitent heart you see the wisdom in God’s law and keeping it will be your desire. As each person grows closer to God they become reconciled with each other.

“For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.” Colossians 1:19–23.

Notice, it is God’s purpose, through the cross, to reconcile everything in earth and in heaven unto Himself. That is quite a transformation to take people—who were enemies, hating one another, fighting, divorcing another and quarreling—and to reconcile them to God and, as a result, they will be reconciled to each other.

It troubles me to see that there is more division in families and churches than there has ever been, yet this is the gospel that we are preaching. Jesus is coming for a reconciled people, and those who may still be in the church but have failed to reconcile their differences are not going to heaven at all. Those who reconcile with God will show evidence in their relationships with others.

“The religion of Christ will unite in close brotherhood all who accept its teachings. It was the mission of Jesus to reconcile men to God, and thus to one another.” (Emphasis supplied.) The Great Controversy, 47.

The time is coming when, in the church, there will be no more titles, but we will refer to each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and have the same care and regard for one another as brothers and sisters do in a wholesome family relationship.

To an Adventist physician, in 1903 Ellen White wrote, “Schism and division are not the fruit of righteousness; they are of the wicked one. The great hindrance to our advancement at this time is the selfishness that prevents believers from having true fellowship with one another. The last prayer that Christ offered for His disciples before His trial was that they might be one in Him. Satan is determined that this oneness shall not be, for it is the strongest witness that can be borne that God did indeed send His Son to reconcile the world to heaven.” The Upward Look, 69.

When I study these things, I just drop down on my knees and say, “Lord, reconcile me to You so I can be reconciled with other people.” Friends, it has to happen, or we will never lift off this planet. “When you bring an offering to God, ask yourself, Am I cherishing wrong feelings toward any of my brethren in the faith? If you are, do all in your power to be reconciled to the one with whom you are at variance.

“It is a sin to cherish anger against a brother or a sister in the Church. Christ treats anger as murder. He declares, ‘I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause’—O, how much there is of this in the Church today!—‘shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire’ (Matthew 5:22). [Raca denotes a certain looseness of life and manners, while “fool,” in the same passage, means a downright wicked and reprobate person.] God has a controversy with that man. He thinks he has occasion for feeling angry, for calling his brother raca, ‘vain fellow;’ but these passionate words are a savor of death unto death. He who utters them is not co-operating with God, but with Satan. In heaven his wicked railing is placed in the same list as swearing.” The Review and Herald, April 1, 1902.

Paul says to put away all anger and wrath (Ephesians 4:31); you don’t want that kind of a record on your page in heaven. The Bible says, vengeance belongs to Me (Romans 12:19). The cross has demonstrated that sin will be punished. All who refuse to accept Christ, and the benefit of the punishment that has already been paid, will suffer for their own sins in the judgment. In heaven there will be only one church, and there will be no one there who cannot go because of other certain people that are there.

On earth there are many different churches that cannot be reconciled because of their unwillingness to keep God’s commandments. Read your Bible and you will see that the people who go to heaven are all going to be reconciled. There will be no avoiding someone in heaven as there is here.

“If those who claim to be His followers draw apart, showing no affectionate or compassionate interest in one another, they are not sanctified to God. They have not His love in their hearts.” The Review and Herald, March 17, 1910.

“Church-Members are to help one another. Christ has given directions for their guidance, declaring that they are to show an unselfish interest in one another.” The Southern Watchman, January 1, 1903.

This is what the cross is about. It would be in vain for those who do not see this transformation in their lives. Paul wrote in the books of Ephesians, Colossians and Romans that the purpose of the cross was to reconcile the whole universe back to God so we would no longer be in rebellion and alienated.

Praise God! A way has been made for us to be reconciled to Him, and this is going to happen to a group of people before Jesus comes. I cannot bear the thought of not being part of that group. I pray, “Lord, I’m just surrendering all; please help me that I may not have any root of bitterness or alienation toward any other of Your creatures.” The purpose of Christ’s death on the cross has to be effected in my life if I’m going to leave this world, and it has to be effected in your life, too.

Ellen White wrote, “There must be no alienation among brethren. If our brethren have ought against us, the first missionary work to be done is to be reconciled to our brother or brethren. God has pointed out the path we must follow. He has shown us that we must love one another. When the love of Jesus Christ pervades the soul, many words that you now speak to those who love God and keep His commandments just as conscientiously as you do, you will not speak. They are not in a position where they can be honored and exalted as you are. Let not this be a snare to you; for as the Lord has presented matters to me [Ellen White], the spirit you have manifested toward your brethren must be different from what it has been in the past. Love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous. Christ died to save your brethren as surely as He died to save you.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 48.

She said that you have to have a different spirit toward your brothers, a spirit that is not alienated or estranged, but a spirit that is reconciled with God. Do you want to have that experience where the cross of Christ is not just a story, but it’s something that you actually experience?

Over twenty years ago I began to pray about this subject and said, “Lord, I do not want to have a pretend religion.” I am more and more afraid of a pretend religion that can bring you right up to the end and then find your religion isn’t worth anything. There are many people in the church today who think they are very religious, but the Pharisees also thought they were very religious, and Jesus said they were lost. It is not enough to be religious; we have to be reconciled to God. Only then will we be reconciled to our fellow men.

The religion of Christ involves dealing with things that are wrong and then, in the right spirit, correcting them. Pray in your heart and cry out to the Lord today for reconciliation to take place in your life.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

How to Live in a Corrupt World

One of these days soon, we will not have to deal with the problems of this world any longer but live in peace and harmony in heaven. Jesus gave some interesting insights describing the condition of the world just before He returns. “But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matthew 24:37–39.

The book of Genesis describes the condition of the people that caused God to send a flood to destroy them. It will be the same just before He returns the second time. Genesis 4:16, 17 gives the genealogy of Cain after he killed his brother, Abel. “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.” The marriage institution, that began in the Garden of Eden, was under attack when Lamech “had two wives” (verse 19). Taking two wives was not in God’s order, and we read a few verses later that he killed a man because he did him wrong (verse 23).

Ellen White wrote in The Signs of the Times, October 6, 1898: “Had man co-operated with God, there would have been no Cain-worshippers.” This is significant to our study on what it was like in the days of Noah. When Cain brought his offering to worship God, he took no heed to God’s instruction, but brought the fruits of his own labor. This is one of the reasons that caused the persecution of Abel by Cain. Abel “was a righteous man” (Hebrews 11:4) who did exactly what God told him to do. He brought an offering of an animal, as God had instructed, and sacrificed it. Cain came with an offering of his fruits and vegetables—the works of his own hands. Most of the world today worship as did Cain, trying to be saved by their own works.

Sabbath keepers are often accused of trying to save themselves by keeping the law of God. It was God who gave the commandments, giving specific instructions and leaving no room to doubt. The fourth commandment does not say, “Man, you worship Me, but you can just do it on whatever day that you would think convenient.” No, God specified the day; He said the seventh day is the Sabbath. When we obey God by keeping the Sabbath day we are simply doing what God has asked us to do. Those who worship on Sunday are following man, because it was man who changed the day of worship from the Sabbath to Sunday. In fact, they are Cain worshippers.

“And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:1–4. Often the focus of the events of Noah’s day is about the wicked acts, but some things were happening that we have not yet seen. In fact, I believe there was a revival in Noah’s day before the flood came.

The term “sons of God” is designated for God’s church. This is translated in another version as nephilim. There is a difference between the “sons of God” and the “daughters of men” who were the worldlings, the Cain worshippers. These were the heathen who went out from the presence of the Lord.

Notice in Genesis 4:25, 26 it says, “And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For God, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.” Seth means the one who took the place of. When people began to call on the name of the Lord, there was a revival. You can read about it in Zephaniah 3. I believe Zephaniah 3 is actually a prophecy of what is going to happen again.

Remember, Jesus said, “As it was in the days of Noah.” Before the second coming of Jesus it will be the same. I believe that there is going to be a reformation in God’s church. As in Genesis 6, when the sons of God went after the daughters of men, they became intermingled and married. The fruit of these marriages was the children. Genesis 6:4 described them as giants (nephilim).

Let us examine this word nephilim. The same word occurs in Numbers 13:33. Numbers 13 tells about the twelve spies who went into the land of Canaan to give a report of what they saw there. Ten of the spies gave an evil report, and when Caleb and Joshua said they could take the land, the people were ready to stone them. The ten that gave the wicked report said, “And there we saw the giants [nephilim], … and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” The root word of nephilim is nephil, which means to cause to fall.

Let me explain this. When Israel was up against the Philistines, Goliath came out and taunted them every day for forty days. Goliath was from Gath, of the tribe of nephilim, called Anak. The Bible says that when Goliath came out he caused all Israel, from King Saul clear down to the last person, to fear.

In the days of Noah, the nephilim were the ones who used terror to put fear into the hearts of other people to cause them to submit to them. Today, they would be called terrorists.

Jesus said that before He comes, conditions will be the same as in the days of Noah. There are people today who use violence to force others to fall down and submit to them. In Noah’s day this came as a result of God’s church mingling with the world and intermarrying with them.

“And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5.

The descendants of Cain were the originators of city living; they built a city (Genesis 4:17). When a large population of people live in close proximity, crime, violence and every evil thing imaginable can happen. “And it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth, and it grieved Him at His heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Me that I have made them.” Genesis 6:6, 7.

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Verses 11, 12. Can you imagine, the whole earth was corrupted? “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.” Verse 8.

Things were bad then, like they are today, with violence filling the land. The marriage institution is being attacked, and every day in the news we read of more murders. At the grocery store we have to walk through all the evil things before we get to the check out to buy food. The thoughts of men are evil continually, and we are being bombarded. Sin is all around us; it is everywhere, on billboards, on television and on radio. Violence is spoiling the land and the earth is becoming corrupted.

Look at Revelation 19:2. It says, “For true and righteous are His judgments: and He hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of His servants at her hand.” The Bible predicts again that the earth is going to be totally corrupt. “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him [the beast power].” Revelation 13:8. The entire world is going to worship the beast. You can read it again in Revelation 12:9, which says that the devil is going to deceive the entire world.

In Revelation 14, John sees in vision three messages going out to the entire world, just as it was in the days of Noah when all the world heard Noah’s message. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. John, looking into the future, sees this mass of people, and it seemed to him as if every single one of them had given his or her allegiance to the beast. But the angel said, “Here, look a little bit closer.” Like faithful Noah, he sees a people that are not worshiping the beast but give their allegiance to the God of heaven. They keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

It is this group of people that we must be a part of to be ready when Jesus returns. While the rest of the world disregards God’s commandments, there is going to be a people who will obey God’s commandments. Noah was not alone in his stand for truth; there was another man who was keeping God’s commandments. He was a Seventh-day Adventist, and his name was Enoch.

Enoch lived in a corrupt world, but he was not tainted by the sin all around him. You might question in your mind just how it is possible to live in a corrupt world and not be corrupted. This is possible only when self is dead. Jesus said, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:19.

Jesus said, “I have given them Thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that Thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” John 17:14–16. Jesus here is praying specifically about His disciples. He says, “They’re not of the world. They have had a conversion, and the world hates them because of it.” They hate the world.

Enoch lived in the world in an atmosphere that was tainted with sin. He was bombarded with it all around him, just like you and I are today. It was everywhere in the things that he saw and in the things that he heard. There is not a lot said about Enoch, but we have some insights from the Spirit of Prophecy that tell us how he was uncorrupted though he lived in a corrupt world.

“And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 14, 15.

Enoch believed there was going to be a judgment. He believed in the second coming of Jesus; he was a Seventh-day Adventist. Seventh-day Adventists have existed since the very beginning of time. You see, a lot of people think Adventist is an organization, but it is not. It is the name of a designated people who obey the commandments of God and who are looking forward to the second coming of Jesus. It is a designated name—a code word for the sons of God.

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5 Without faith it is impossible to please the Lord. Enoch lived by faith.

Indeed, as Revelation 14:12 says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” These people are like Enoch. Enoch is a real person, but he is also a symbol of God’s church near the end that will be translated without seeing death. By God’s grace, you and I can all be a part of it if we choose, but we need to live as Enoch lived.

Genesis 4:26 says, “then began men to call upon the name of the Lord.” There was a revival among the people of that land. It was not amongst the city dwellers but the people who lived in the country, and out of that line of people came Enoch. “And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: and Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years.” Genesis 5:21, 22. Methuselah means year of the flood, and Methuselah died in the year of the flood. What an amazing testimony of a man who walked with God for three hundred years! He was a man who walked by faith, and he pleased God. His walk with the Lord began when He had little Methuselah. As he held Methuselah in his arms, he began to realize the relationship that God wanted to have with him and that he wanted to have with God. “Enoch walked with God … begat Methuselah … and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: And Enoch walked with God: and he was not, for God took him.” Genesis 5:22–24.

The only way to live in a corrupt world, without being tainted by it, is to walk with God. The following will help you with that walk.

A Constant Conflict

It was through constant conflict and simple faith that Enoch walked with God. Be intentional to avoid the distractions in magazines when in the grocery store buying supplies. Make a covenant with your eyes to avoid the pictures or scantily dressed people. Listen to the still small voice and turn off the television when your conscience warns you. Walk with God as Enoch did; he was not sporadic, but constantly aware of the battle he faced and overcame the temptations with simple trust in God.

As it was in the days of Noah

Call on the name of the Lord. There is going to be a revival, and it was thus that Enoch walked with God. “It was not easier for Enoch to live a righteous life in his day than it is for us at the present time. The world at that time was no more favorable to growth in grace and holiness than it is now, but Enoch devoted time to prayer and communion with God.” The Review and Herald, April 15, 1909.

Life is a constant conflict, so do not let down your guard for even a moment. Spend time in prayer with Jesus. If you want to have victory in your life and live as Enoch did, develop habits of constant communion. We are in a spiritual war, so never go out without your armor (Ephesians 6). You are no match for the devil. Eve, who had far more intellectual power than we have today, tried to reason with him and lost. Spend time in prayer. “This enabled him [Enoch] to escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. It was his devotion to God that fitted him for translation.” Ibid. Enoch did not have a Bible, but he had the book of nature, which is God’s second Bible that teaches us of Him. If you want a deeper knowledge of God, go out in nature and learn how to commune with Him. There is no better place to spend time with Him and meditate upon what He has created.

Train Your Mind

Our minds are the battlefield here, but Enoch learned to control his thoughts. “Enoch’s case is before us. Hundreds of years he walked with God. He lived in a corrupt age, when moral pollution was teeming all around him; yet he trained his mind to devotion, to love purity. His conversation was upon heavenly things. He educated his mind to run in this channel, and he bore the impress of the divine.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 121.

It is impossible to develop purity while looking about at the corruption all around. It is a deception to think that you can be in this world and of the world and still be a Christian. It is impossible. This life is a constant conflict with sin. Enoch prayed and communed with God, and then he trained his mind to dwell upon only what was lovely. He kept his conversation on heavenly things. It is profitable, for us today, to train our lips to speak only of heavenly things on the Sabbath day. We have six days to talk about work, and we have one day to talk only about God, of His love and of what He is doing. Spend time training your thoughts, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Train your mind and fill it with the word of God.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” I Peter 1:13. What does it mean to gird up the loins of your mind? Let me give you an illustration. In Bible times, men wore flowing loose robes. If they had to run, they would pick up all the loose fabrics, gathering it up, and with a wide girdle or belt they would tie it around themselves.

If your mind starts to wander, bring it back to focus and center and don’t allow it to drift. The Bible says, “Gird up the loins of your mind.” God backs His word with promises. Paul said, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5. “We have the mind of Christ.” I Corinthians 2:16. Our mind is the battlefield, so don’t allow it to wander off into the forbidden paths of this world. Eve made this mistake. She found herself looking at the tree that God had forbidden. Her imagination began to wander, and she heard her thoughts picked up by a serpent in the tree. Keep focused!

A Stranger on Earth

Enoch was looking for a heavenly home for this world was not his home. He was what the Bible calls a pilgrim and a stranger in a strange world (Exodus 2:22).

Evangelist

Enoch won souls to the Lord. “Then at times he went forth to the inhabitants of the world with his God-given message.” Maranatha, 184. “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” Jude 14, 15.

  • Enoch was in a constant conflict with himself, the devil and the corruptions of this world.
  • Enoch prayed and communed with God in nature.
  • Enoch girded up the loins of his mind, training it to stay focused.
  • Enoch lived as though he was but a stranger in this world, a pilgrim passing through.
  • Enoch went out to win souls for the Lord.

“Enoch had temptations as well as we. He was surrounded with society no more friendly to righteousness than is that which surrounds us. The atmosphere he breathed was tainted with sin and corruption, the same as ours; yet he lived a life of holiness. He was unsullied with the prevailing sins of the age in which he lived. So may we remain pure and uncorrupted. He was a representative of the saints who live amid the perils and corruptions of the last days. For his faithful obedience to God he was translated. So, also, the faithful, who are alive and remain, will be translated. They will be removed from a sinful and corrupt world to the pure joys of heaven.” The Faith I Live By, 350.

Enoch was a representative of the saints that are going to live just before the second coming of Jesus.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the King James Version.)

Mike Bauler was ordained into the ministry in 2005 and serves as pastor of the Historic Message Church in Portland, Oregon. Prior to locating in Portland, Pastor Bauler served as a Bible worker for Steps to Life Ministries. His goal is to help give the gospel to the greater Portland area with an emphasis in helping his Bible students discover the truths in Bible prophecy, which are so often neglected today. His wife, Amanda, a family nurse practitioner, and their daughters Hannah, Esther and Abigail assist him in his ministry.

The Lord’s Favorite Theme

Jesus was both a teacher and a preacher. It is often said that during His ministry He spent more time healing the people than in either preaching or teaching. Ellen White says, in the book, Christ’s Object Lessons, 40, that there was one subject that He favored above all others. “Christ’s favorite theme was the paternal tenderness and abundant grace of God; He dwelt much upon the holiness of His character and His law; He presented Himself to the people as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” If the grace of God was His favorite theme, it should also be our favorite subject to study and to know well. The Bible has many fascinating passages on the subject of grace, but especially in the book of Ephesians.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.” Ephesians 1:3–7.

Notice that by the glory of His grace He has caused us to be accepted in the Beloved and that we have redemption and the forgiveness of sins according to the richness of His grace. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8.

The Importance of Grace

Grace brings salvation; it is grace that brings forgiveness of sins. This is all that many Christians seem to know about grace, but it has far more to do than bringing forgiveness of sins. In 11 Corinthians 12:9 and 10, we read that the apostle Paul prayed three times for the Lord to deliver him from a certain affliction. His prayer was not answered in the affirmative, but the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then said, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

We are living in a pessimistic age today where the subject of grace is not understood. Many are discouraged and doubt their salvation believing it impossible to reach the Bible standard for the Christian, because they see themselves as such sinners. Grace does not only bring forgiveness of sins, but it is divine power that gives all the help and assistance needed for whatever circumstance.

The Lord said, “My grace is sufficient.” Sufficient for what? The Bible is very specific about its requirements. “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. Only holy people whose lives are in perfect harmony with the law of God will dwell in God’s presence. “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, ‘You shall not covet.’ ” Romans 7:7. “Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.” Verse 12. “… the law is spiritual.” Verse 14.

The law is holy. Holy people will be in harmony with the law in their outward life, their inward life, their thoughts and their feelings as well as their words and actions. But we find that we have a sinful human nature. “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 8:7.

What can we do then with this impossible situation? It is through grace alone that a person receives power to accomplish what God requires in their life. It is through grace alone that a person is able to resist and subdue the tendencies of the fallen nature. Paul discusses this in detail in Romans 6, 7 and 8. “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:3, 4.

Everything that God requires can be accomplished through grace. Successfully resisting the tendencies of the sinful, fallen depraved human nature can be done only through grace. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14–16.

It is through grace that we can receive the help that is needed to resist temptation. One great battle that occurs in the human heart is against unlawful thoughts. Jesus talked about it in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. Paul says, “Some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” II Corinthians 10:2–5.

If every thought is in obedience to Christ, the thoughts will be pure, and through grace the mind will be barricaded against licentiousness. Salvation comes only through grace. Without grace we can never be holy, and unless we are holy we cannot see God. Grace enables us to do what is right, not only with our hands, but to control our minds, our thoughts and our words. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” Titus 2:11, 12.

Notice, he says this grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men. The apostles predicted it; Jude predicted it; Peter predicted it and Paul predicted that in the latter days there would be some people who would come into the church and make merchandise of the grace of God. They would use the subject of grace to lead men to believe that you can live any way you want and just keep asking to have your sins forgiven.

Grace is provided to forgive sins, but it is also the power of God to enable you to live righteously now. To live soberly means to not be intoxicated; righteously means doing what is right; and godly means to live in a holy way, in the present.

Paul describes himself in I Corinthians 15:9, 10: “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

He said, “By the grace of God I am what I am.” It is through grace that we receive everything including the forgiveness of sins. It is grace that subdues the tendencies of the fallen sinful nature to enable us to live a holy life in harmony with all of God’s requirements.

My Grace is Sufficient

Jesus sent out His disciples on the missionary journey and told them that persecutions (Matthew 10:23) would come. He told them that they would be hated (verse 22) by all men. Then He said, “Do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.” Verse 26. He said, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Verse 28.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29–31. Jesus here says that in spite of the fact that you are going to be hated by all nations and even your own family will deliver you up to death, He said, you do not need to be afraid. He repeats over and over again, do not fear them; do not worry. Why? Ellen White explained this in The Desire of Ages, 354. She said, “God’s grace will be dispensed to His servants to meet the emergency.”

Do you have any emergencies in your life or get into difficult situations, either in your job, or with your family, or with your friends? There is enough grace for all who are going through crises or emergencies. Our Lord is equal to any emergency; He gives to us more grace as it is needed.

“His grace is sufficient” means all that you need. If you are weak and sinful and need more grace, you will receive all the grace that you need. That is the divine promise. “My grace is sufficient for you.” Not only has He promised you for the crisis situation you are in, but also in the future. You never need to worry about any crisis or emergency for God has promised His grace is sufficient.

The Bible teaches that God’s children are children of a divine King; not only a Creator and Redeemer, but a King. The title written over His cross was Jesus of Nazareth, King; of the Jews.

If you are the child of the King, then you are an elevated person in thought, ennobled in mind and in body. God wants to lift you up from the miasma, the pit, the fog and darkness of sin. He wants to lift you up into a holy, righteous, and peaceful atmosphere and ennoble your mind so that your thoughts, aspirations, desires and your feelings will be holy and righteous. This is only possible when God imparts to you His grace.

We need God’s grace; it is our only safety. We have a fallen, sinful human nature and without grace every thought, word and action will be sinful because it proceeds from a fallen, sinful, selfish human heart. Selfishness is the root of sin. But grace lifts you into a holy, righteous and peaceful atmosphere of mind.

We are all surrounded by an atmosphere, which can be poisonous with sinful thoughts and desires, or righteous, pure and holy because we have received the grace of God. Our only safety is to receive the grace of God and to walk by His grace. It is only by His grace that our tongues are controlled. Notice what James 3:6–8 says: “The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, or reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

An uncontrolled tongue breaks up marriages and causes divorce. It causes trouble in the family between parents and the children. It causes strife and commotion and unhappiness in the church. It causes a world of trouble in the workplace and nations are set at war with each other by the tongue. James says that no man can tame it. The only hope that we have of getting it under control is to receive grace. “Of ourselves we cannot control the unruly member. Divine grace is our only hope.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 175.

To receive grace is the only way we are going to be able to control our tongues; the only way we are going to be able to form new habits that will be in harmony with the law of God; the only way we can have help sufficient for the emergencies and trials that we go through in life. That is the only way we can receive salvation. That’s the only way our thoughts can become pure. That’s the only way we can do everything that God requires. That is the only way we can be barricaded against licentiousness, and it is the only way that we can overcome the depravity of human nature and receive forgiveness of the sins that we have committed. It is the only way we can be saved. Salvation is entirely of grace.

How Can You Receive Grace?

In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.” He says in verse 11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?”

Number 1—Ask for it!

This is the most powerful and precious gift that God has to give to you without money and without price. Before you leave the bedroom in the morning or the dinner table, pray to the Lord and say, “Lord, please, bestow your grace upon me and help me to walk by faith and be empowered by grace to do your will, today.” The gospel is the power of God unto salvation and it imparts to man the grace of God by which we are saved and live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age.

Number 2—How do you ask?

Jesus said, “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in His heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:23, 24. You will not receive grace unless you ask and expect to receive it.

Number 3—In Luke 6:38 is a divine principle:

“Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

The more grace you give to others the more you will be able to receive. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Colossians 4:6. The Christian’s words should be continually imparting grace to others.

Grace is something unique to this sinful world. Angels do not need it because they have never sinned. Human beings need grace because of our fallen, depraved nature that makes all kinds of mistakes. Grace is linked with mercy. We should show the same grace and mercy to others that God shows us. Notice what James 2:13 says: “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Those who refuse to give grace or mercy to others cannot expect their heavenly Father to show them grace or mercy. Jesus expressed this same thought. He said, “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14, 15.

A principle for receiving grace is to give grace to others. We receive grace through faith; ask for it and believe that you will receive it. Paul expresses that very succinctly in Ephesians 2:8. He says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” I’ve heard many people say that we are saved by faith. All the faith in world would not save you if it was not for the grace of God. If Jesus had not died on the cross to pay the price for your sins, all the faith in the world would not save you. But you are saved through faith because grace is available, and when you have faith in God and you believe, then the grace will be given to you.

Where Does Faith Come From?

If you receive grace through faith, where do you get the faith that you need to receive the grace that you want? Paul says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. The Bible is a treasure house for grace. It is in the Bible that you find the promises of God, and if you accept these promises and ask for them by faith you will receive all the grace that you need. It does not matter how much treasure you mine, you will never run out. The grace of God is an inexhaustible treasure, but to receive it, we must do our part and cooperate with the heavenly agencies. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12, 13.

It is God Who works in you a work of grace. Grace is promised only to those who are humble. “Surely He [God] scorns the scornful, but gives grace to the humble.” Proverbs 3:34. Grace cannot be purchased with money. It cannot be acquired with silver or gold or any of the precious things of this earth. It is given free to all who seek it by repentance and faith.

If you are willing to forsake your sins and follow Jesus, all the grace needed will be given to overcome temper, wrong words, wrong thoughts and wrong feelings. He will give you all the grace that you need. There is only one thing that you do need to be concerned about and that is that you use it for what it was intended, to follow Jesus and do His will.

But what happens if you receive the grace of God and refuse to live soberly and become intoxicated; you don’t live righteously, but break God’s law and live wickedly? Then you have received the grace of God in vain. Paul talks about this in II Corinthians 6:1. He says, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you, not to receive the grace of God in vain.”

“Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy under the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:28–31. It is a fearful thing to receive the grace of God in vain and instead of using the power to follow Christ, continue to live sinfully.

The great delusion of our time is that people profess to accept Christianity, get baptized and become members of a church, but don’t follow Jesus and receive His power to overcome their besetting sins and live righteously. The grace of God is used for lasciviousness and loose living believing that there is always time to confess their sins. Watch out! The God we serve is not Someone to be trifled with. This is not a game. It is dangerous to be guilty of presumptuousness and misuse the grace of God.

How is it with you? Even if you are the weakest and most sinful person, God has promised you all the grace that you need that you might be able to follow Jesus and walk as He walked. We are still living in probationary time. Do not be like the foolish virgins in Matthew 25 who ran out of oil. They did not have enough grace in their lamp to carry them through the second coming of Christ. Call on God today and He will hear and answer your prayer and shower you with His blessings. His grace is equal to any emergency.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

A Cross to Carry

A Cross to Carry

There are many people today who do not want to be called an enemy of God, but they do not want to serve Him either. Unlike Switzerland that claimed neutrality during World War II, it is impossible to be neutral to the Christian religion.

In some places in the world today it is popular to call yourself a Christian. In New Testament times during the first century, the Christian religion was not popular at all; in fact, it was very unpopular to be called a Christian. One would wonder why the Christian religion was so unpopular and shunned by the masses when Jesus did so much good, healing all manner of sickness and diseases and this often in public places.

Jesus explained it this way in the Sermon on the Mount: “Enter by the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14.

Notice, He said that most people would take the easy way and go down the broad road. There would be only a few who would tackle the narrow way, which seems more difficult and restricted. “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’ ” Matthew 16:24, 25. He went on to ask, “What do you really gain and what are you profited if you should gain the whole world, and lose your own soul” (verse 26)?

The statement Jesus made was unpopular and still today is not desired by the masses. Self-denial is not popular. But Jesus said that not only are you to deny yourself, but also you are to take up your cross and follow Him. The cross was an instrument of torture and cruelty and ignominy. Paul explained what it means to take up your cross and follow Jesus: “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24.

Paul further explains what it means in Galatians 5:19–21. He said, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness [licentiousness], idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Those who practice the works of the flesh, as they are outlined here, he says will not inherit the kingdom of God, but those that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh. They have crucified those evil passions and desires of the flesh—their sinful nature. To take up your cross means to crucify the sinful nature, or the flesh.

There is something else that is involved in taking up your cross, and Jesus talked about it in Matthew 10:34–39. He said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies [foes] will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Notice what Jesus was saying here. He is talking about the conflict that will occur in people’s families because of the Christian religion “a man’s foes will be those of his own household.”

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” I Corinthians 3:16, 17 KJV. If a drug that is destroying his body enslaves a person, then he must crucify that craving and stop using the harmful substance if he would be a Christian. It would also be a cross to bear for a man or woman whose spouse is angry and threatening divorce because he or she has chosen to follow the Lord and to be obedient to all His commandments.

There are many promises for those who choose to deny themselves, lift up their cross and follow Jesus. Listed are a few things the Christian receives in return. Notice, first, John 15:11. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

He promises peace. He said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. “The hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:32, 33.

Love and joy and peace are promised to all of Jesus’ followers right now in the present life. However, in addition to the promises relating to this present life, He has also made promises for the future life. Concerning those who have taken up their cross and followed Him, He said, “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal [everlasting] life.” Matthew 19:29. Jesus Christ has made wonderful promises to those who follow Him, and His word is truth on which we can depend.

Now there is something, however, that is very important to understand, since we have been talking about the cross and about the need for the Christian to take up his cross and follow Jesus if he would receive salvation. It is important to understand that God does not make the crosses. God has never made the cross, and it was never something that He intended that any human being should ever have to bear. The Bible is very clear that God does not tempt anyone. Notice what James said, in James 1:13 and 17: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. … Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

The crosses that we bear in this world are the result of sin, inherited and cultivated sin. Consider the drunken person, for example, or the addict; it is not God’s desire for him to be this way, but because of the subtle influence of the world and the devil and his own sinful nature, he has fallen into an evil habit, which has become an addiction. Neither is there anything burdensome or grievous about God’s commandments. John tells us, “This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” I John 5:3.

The cross in the family occurs when a Christian has a desire to keep all of God’s commandments and because the other members of the family do not have the same conviction, they are inspired by Satan to oppose him or her because they love the world and not God. There is no cross in the commandments themselves; we read that they are not burdensome.

The world has chosen to make God’s rest day a common workday. This is something that has happened because the world at present is being ruled mainly by the devil. When a person chooses to follow God and obey Him and follow Him in obedience to all of His commandments, that person will be opposed by the world and by the devil.

The question might be asked, Is it possible to be saved without opposition? The Bible very clearly answers this—No! It is not possible to be saved without opposition. Notice what Paul said: “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” II Timothy 3:12. So, although God doesn’t create any of our crosses and it is not His will for us to have any, the devil will always oppose anyone who chooses to follow the Lord making it impossible to follow Him without opposition. If you are not willing to endure opposition, then you cannot be saved. “Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” Matthew 18:7.

In God’s mercy He prepares us for the offenses that have to come and gives many promises to those who suffer persecution or trouble or trial because they have chosen to follow Him. Notice what the apostle Paul said about this: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:13.

Because the cross involves following Jesus up the narrow way, do not ever get the idea that there are no hardships for those who choose the wide easy road of the world. In fact, there is no easy way. There is pain and suffering for the worldly person too, and he will be forced to endure it but without the promise of Jesus when He said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age [world].” Matthew 28:20. Those who choose not to follow Jesus will not avoid pain and suffering. The Bible says, in Proverbs 13:15, that “the way of the unfaithful is hard.” And in Isaiah 57:21, the Lord says, “There is no peace … for the wicked.”

Remember that Jesus said, in Matthew 7:13 and 14, there are two ways: “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” There is a narrow way and a broad way. Only a few people will choose the narrow way for it is restricted. Most people will go down the broad road because that way seems easier and does not require any self-denial. On that road everyone does what is right in his own eyes disregarding the Lord’s instruction, but there are consequences! In Psalm 37:37 and 38, David said, “Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; for the future of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together; the future of the wicked shall be cut off.”

There are two paths. One is a narrow path where you must deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Jesus. There you will have joy and peace and the comfort of His presence on your journey and experience, at the end of the path, everlasting life. The other path, the one that Jesus said most people would choose, is the broad path. It begins with ease and pleasure with no self-denial. But Satan is a cruel, hard, taskmaster and just around the corner, out of sight, the path gets harder and harder as you go along, and the farther you travel on that road makes it more difficult to make a U-turn. It involves sickness, heartache, despair and, in the end eternal death.

Concerning the future for those who choose to go up the narrow way, this is what the apostle Paul said: “As it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.” I Corinthians 2:9, 10.

In the book of Isaiah, the prophet outlines the future reward of the righteous. In chapters 11, 35 and again in chapter 65, he outlines the wonderful future for God’s children, a place where there is no sickness, or death, or trouble of any kind. John also describes the future. He said, “I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ ” Revelation 21:1–4.

That is the wonderful, exciting and glorious future that is in store for those who choose to go up the narrow way, take up their cross and follow Jesus. Unfortunately, most of the people in the world today are comfortable traveling on the broad road. The Bible clearly predicts over and over that the majority of people in the world will be on Satan’s side of the question at the end. Revelation 13:3 says, “I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast.”

In the next verse it says that they worshiped it. That, of course, is contrary to the law of God, the second commandment, but that is what most of the world will be doing. It says, all the world was astonished and they followed the beast—that is, the antichrist—and worshiped it. Then, in verse 14, concerning the beast that comes from the land, it says, “He deceives those who dwell on the earth, by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who is wounded by the sword and lived.”

Again, in Revelation 16, and this is so important that the prophet emphasizes it over and over again, in the last half of the book of Revelation, that most of the world will be deceived and will go down the broad road at the end. Notice what it says: “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.” Verses 13, 14.

The whole world will be deceived. This is incredible and is repeated in Revelation 12, 13, 16, 17, 18 and again in chapter 19. Over and over again, in the last half of the book of Revelation, it says that in the last days the whole world will choose to go down the broad road, except for very few people that the Bible calls “the remnant.” It is hard to imagine that the whole world will be deceived, and they will persecute and oppose God’s people. The remnant will be denied the ability to buy and sell because of an effort to force them to receive the mark of antichrist, the mark that will mark them for destruction, for eternal destruction.

The sign that distinguishes God’s children in the last days, those who chose to be on God’s side of the question, is found in Revelation 14:12. After describing the mark of the beast, the image to the beast, those worshiping it, and the warning not to do that, it identifies who God’s children are during this time. The Bible says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.

The sign that you are God’s child has always been the same since the beginning of time. It is the sign of obedience, a determination to obey God and follow Him doing His will. Hebrews 8:10 tells what God promises His followers, His children, through the new covenant. “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”

Revelation is a symbolic book. It talks about everybody in the world in the last days receiving a symbolic mark or seal in their forehead. You can read about it in Revelation 14. Satan opposes this because he wants people to receive the mark of antichrist, which is the mark of rebellion that will cause those who receive it to meet with eternal destruction. It is Satan’s plan, first, to deceive the great majority and then to coerce, or force, the rest into submission, thus sweeping the whole world into his net. The Bible predicts that the majority will be deceived and almost the whole world will array itself against God and His people in the last days (Revelation 13:13–17). God gives a warning to those who are about to do this (Revelation 14:9–12). It is a message of warning to help anybody that is willing to listen to be prepared and to not receive the mark of destruction. In the last days, everyone in the world will receive a symbolic mark. Some will receive what is called the seal of God (Revelation 7), and others will receive what is called the mark of the beast (Revelation 13) or the mark of antichrist or the mark of destruction.

The world today is in the process of rejecting God’s last warning message, and people are preparing to receive the mark of rebellion. The second coming of Christ will be completely different than the first coming of Christ. At His first advent, Jesus came as a sin bearer, to bear the sins of the world. But at His second coming, this is not His mission; He is coming as king of kings and Lord of Lords. He is coming to judge the world. When He comes, the whole world will be divided into two camps, those who have the seal of loyalty—the seal of God spoken of in Revelation 7, and those who have the mark of rebellion, the mark of the beast—the mark of antichrist, spoken of in Revelation 13 and 14. Those who have the seal of God will be those who keep His commandments and have the faith of Jesus.

The whole world will be divided into just two groups, two camps. One camp will all be saved and the other will all be lost. In which camp will you be?

(Unless otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Insight – Influence of Worldly Reading

I wish to speak freely to my young friends on this subject through the Instructor; and I am particularly desirous to do so, because I know from my own experience that it is of no trifling consequence. While we live in such a solemn hour, just when the last echo of mercy is dying away, and Satan is especially busy in every possible way to draw the mind from God, and prevent us from securing the salvation of our souls, how carefully we ought to watch lest he should in some way get an advantage, and lead us astray, even before we are aware of it. Feeling grateful for the mercy that has opened my eyes to one of the fatal snares that had been laid for my feet, I am anxious, as far as in my power, to caution my young brothers and sisters, lest they be overtaken in a similar fault. It is in regard to reading such books as may indeed charm and captivate the mind, but which do not tend to make us more spiritual, or better prepared to endure the trials, and overcome the temptations that we meet with from day to day. A little sketch of my own experience on this point, will best express what I would say.

I had naturally a fondness for reading of almost any kind, but especially for romance and anything in the form of a story, seemed perfectly irresistible. But for some years after I gave my heart to God, the only reading I allowed myself, was the Bible and strictly religious books. In the Christian experience of such eminently holy persons as Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, I greatly delighted, and never read them without more earnestly desiring to be, as they were, conformed to the image of Christ, and a fuller determination to overcome, as they overcame. But as time passed on, and I began to leave my first love, I gradually grew less and less strict, and indulged my natural taste for reading more freely. Poetry, I regarded as a gift so divine, that I was fully at liberty to read whatever I met with in that dress. But in this I erred; for the highest and noblest gifts may be perverted to a bad use. And then, I reasoned, there could possibly be no harm in reading some of the beautifully written tales that appear in magazines, etc., especially as many professing Christians were engaged in their publication, and some, in whose piety and superior judgment I had great confidence, encouraged such reading in their families. At first I trembled lest it was wrong; but at length persuaded myself that it was not only right, but really necessary for the improvement of the mind. I determined, however, that my first business should be to serve God, that I would on no account neglect my Bible, and would be very careful that such reading did not engross too much of my attention. But I soon found that in this respect, my power of self-denial was gone, and many, many precious hours were wasted, that, should have been spent in storing my mind with the treasures of heavenly wisdom.

But what was its effect upon my spiritual life? Nothing indeed was farther from my mind than the idea of giving up any part of the truth, or of joining with the world again. But where was that sweet communion with God that I once enjoyed in my closet, and my love for His holy Bible? Alas! it had been neglected, or if I read it daily, its sweetness was gone, and I tremble to think how often I knelt before the Lord with my mind so excited from unprofitable reading, that I hardly realized what I was doing. Where was that trembling conscientiousness that made me so carefully question my conduct, lest some of my ways should be displeasing to God? Then, though I had many evil things to overcome, there was something within, that was continually stirring me up to a holy life; but now, that too, was gone, and though deeply sensible of the change, and constantly mourning over it, I was yet unwilling to admit that the change in my reading habits had much to do with it. I believed I could enjoy religion and still indulge in these things, and many were the resolutions that I formed to be more watchful, more earnest and faithful in secret prayer, and to live nearer to God; but all appeared fruitless and vain. If at times I experienced any measure of the blessing of God, it seemed to vanish like the morning cloud, and the early dew. Indeed, what effort can restore greenness to the leaf, while the worm is suffered to remain at the root? But the Lord was long-suffering, and at length, through His abounding mercy, I was led to see the snare of Satan into which I had fallen; and it became the language of my heart—

“The dearest idol I have known,
Whate’er that idol be;
Help me to tear it from thy throne,
And worship only thee.”

I then resolved that, by the grace of God, I would no longer indulge a taste and inclination so destructive to vital godliness. That my reading should be selected with reference to the glory of God and the best interest of my soul. I would in this manner waste no more of the golden moments that were still left me to prepare for heaven; but would bear in mind that I must give an account of them all to God, and that I was not at liberty to please myself, but should please Him who purchased me with His own blood.

Though this resolution may be severely tried, and the power of temptation is strong, I rely upon the promise of the Lord for strength to overcome. Thus far it is easier than I anticipated, for I taste once more the preciousness of a Saviour’s love. Again He meets me in the closet, and it seems easy to part with all beside. But never again can I rest without the assurance of my acceptance with Him. How good and merciful God has been, my tongue can never express. But at times I can realize and feel it, in some degree at least; and the thought of grieving Him again is more sad than the thought of death. O, I do love Him, and I long to love Him more.

The evil effects of such reading as is here referred to, are many; but one in particular I noticed upon myself. Men and women of the world, without one particle of the spirit of true religion are made to appear as real Christians, and represented as far less human than divine; and as we read, they become in our minds, models of excellence, and worthy of all imitation, and we, look no higher. Thus the standard of piety is lowered to the very dust, and ere we are aware of it we become just like the world. We may think we can read without being influenced by it, but it is not so. We shun our former associates, because we fear the influence of their worldly spirit; but worldly books are no less dangerous companions, and should be as carefully avoided.

Perhaps some of my young friends may find in this little sketch, a record of their own experience, though I hope not many. Yet we are exposed to similar temptations, and may be overtaken in the same snare; so that the fall of one should admonish the others, and we may each, perhaps, expose some device of the enemy, and in this way be helpers to each other. I rejoice that, though we have such an artful and mighty foe to contend with, our God is wiser and stronger than he, and has promised to deliver us if we trust in Him. Jesus has overcome, and we too may overcome, and with Him inherit all things.

My dear young brothers and sisters, let us look heaven-ward. Glory, glory unspeakable is there, and it may all be our own. Let us never for one moment think it hard to part with the, pleasures and enjoyments of this vain, perishing world; but rather rejoice that we are permitted in any degree to deny ourselves for the sake of the friendship of Jesus, and have respect unto the recompense of reward. It is only when we lose sight of the glorious things that God has prepared for those who love Him, that this world possesses any attractions for us. I feel like leaving it all behind, and pressing forward to grasp the everlasting prize. We leave nothing that will be of any value to us in the “day for which all other days were made.” Let us remember this, and employ our time in such a way as will appear to our advantage then. Let us make the Bible our heart’s best treasure, and our book of study, and its sacred truths will sanctify us, its precious promises be our joy even in the midst of grief, and its holy precepts guide us safely through to our Father’s kingdom.

The Youth’s Instructor, January, 1854.

Sabbath Preparation

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” Exodus 20:8–11 NIV

With God’s command to keep the Sabbath holy, we must connect with God’s great and merciful plan of salvation. We must be cleansed by His blood, through repentance and through the overcoming of sin. This process is carried out in the sanctuary of heaven. We learned, that without this, we have not the faintest possibility of obeying God’s command to keep the Sabbath holy. We must accept and act upon the grand truths of the new covenant made by God the Father and His Son, Jesus.

Let’s explore God’s guidelines as to the instructions given us on how we are to prepare for the Sabbath and when we are to make this preparation.

There are two statements that will give us a framework from which to understand our study.

“The Sabbath given to the world as the sign of God as the Creator is also the sign of Him as the Sanctifier. The power that created all things is the power that re-creates the soul in His own likeness.” Counsels for the Church, 261. And, “The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God.” The Great Controversy, 488. Why are the subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment so important, and what connection do they have to the keeping of the Sabbath? Simply put, the sanctuary is where the process of sanctification is carried out, and the investigative judgment is the last phase of that process. The Sabbath, truly kept, is a sign of our acceptance of God’s sanctification in our lives. Please keep these thoughts in your mind as a background to this study.

This study is primarily based on a section in Testimonies, vol. 6, 350–368, called The Observance of the Sabbath. Just prior to one of the subsections entitled Preparation for the Sabbath is this admonition: “We must be guarded, lest the lax practices that prevail among Sundaykeepers shall be followed by those who profess to observe God’s holy rest day. The line of demarcation is to be made clear and distinct between those who bear the mark of God’s kingdom and those who bear the sign of the kingdom of rebellion.

“Far more sacredness is attached to the Sabbath than is given it by many professed Sabbathkeepers. The Lord has been greatly dishonored by those who have not kept the Sabbath according to the commandment, either in the letter or in the spirit. He calls for a reform in the observance of the Sabbath.” Ibid., 353.

We will see this statement borne out as we progress through the study. The very first sentence under the subtitle “Preparation for the Sabbath” are these words: “All through the week we are to have the Sabbath in mind and be making preparation to keep it according to the commandment.” Ibid. So first we need to study what kind of preparation God asks us to make throughout the week, and then we will look specifically at the preparations to be made on the preparation day, Friday.

Throughout the week we are to:

  1. Have the Sabbath in mind and be making preparation to keep it according to the commandment.
  2. Preserve energy during the week so as to not be exhausted on Sabbath. (“None should permit themselves, through the week, to become so absorbed in their temporal interests, and so exhausted by their efforts for worldly gain, that on the Sabbath they have no strength or energy to give to the service of God. We are robbing the Lord when we unfit ourselves to worship Him upon His holy day. And we are robbing ourselves as well. …“Let not the precious hours of the Sabbath be wasted in bed. On Sabbath morning the family should be astir early.” Child Guidance, 530.)
  1. Daily pray that the sanctification of the Sabbath may rest upon you. If we remember that in order to keep the Sabbath holy, we must ourselves be holy, it is a logical thing to follow this principle. “All who regard the Sabbath as a sign between them and God, showing that He is the God who sanctifies them, will represent the principles of His government. They will bring into daily practice the laws of His kingdom. Daily it will be their prayer that the sanctification of the Sabbath may rest upon them. Every day they will have the companionship of Christ and will exemplify the perfection of His character. Every day their light will shine forth to others in good works.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 353. Sanctification means the act of making holy.
  2. Speak right words.
  3. Keep the spirit free from irritation.
  4. Live as in the sight of a holy God.
  5. Passages of Scripture should often be spoken, especially those that prepare the heart for religious service. The Bible is very clear on this: Deuteronomy 6:6–9 KJV says, “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” And also Psalm 119:11 KJV, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee.” These are just two from among many.

Remember, this study just touches the surface of the principles involved.

Now we will move on to the preparations to be made specifically on Friday, the preparation day. We will begin with instructions for our physical surroundings.

  1. See that the clothing is in order for Sabbath
    • Washed
    • Mended
    • Shoes shined

“Many need instruction as to how they should appear in the assembly for worship on the Sabbath. They are not to enter the presence of God in the common clothing worn during the week. All should have a special Sabbath suit, to be worn when attending service in God’s house. While we should not conform to worldly fashions, we are not to be indifferent in regard to our outward appearance. We are to be neat and trim, though without adornment. The children of God should be pure within and without.” Ibid., 355.

Messages to Young People, 352, elaborates on dress in this way: “We do not discourage neatness in dress. Correct taste is not to be despised nor condemned. Our faith, if carried out, will lead us to be so plain in dress … that we shall be marked as peculiar. But when we lose taste for order and neatness in dress, we virtually leave the truth; for the truth never degrades, but elevates.”

  1. See that all possible cooking is done
  2. Lay all secular work aside
  3. Put all secular papers out of sight

“On Friday let the preparation for the Sabbath be completed. See that all the clothing is in readiness and that all the cooking is done. Let the boots be blacked and the baths be taken. It is possible to do this. If you make it a rule you can do it. The Sabbath is not to be given to the repairing of garments, to the cooking of food, to pleasure seeking, or to any other worldly employment. Before the setting of the sun let all secular work be laid aside and all secular papers be put out of sight. Parents, explain your work and its purpose to your children, and let them share in your preparation to keep the Sabbath according to the commandment.” Ibid., 355, 356.

Now we will examine an even more important preparation, the preparation of the heart.

  1. All differences between brethren should be put away, whether family members or church members
  2. Let all bitterness, wrath and malice be expelled from the soul
  3. In a humble spirit, “confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.” James 5:16 KJV.
  4. Make special arrangements that every member of the family may be prepared to honor the day which God has blessed and sanctified

And finally, towards the close of the preparation day, we are instructed as follows:

  1. Jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath
  2. Welcome the Lord’s day with quietness of mind
  3. Before sunset let the members of the family assemble to read God’s word, to sing and pray

“Before the Sabbath begins, the mind as well as the body should be withdrawn from worldly business. God has set His Sabbath at the end of the six working days, that men may stop and consider what they have gained during the week in preparation for the pure kingdom which admits no transgressor. We should each Sabbath reckon with our souls to see whether the week that has ended has brought spiritual gain or loss.

“It means eternal salvation to keep the Sabbath holy unto the Lord. God says: ‘Them that honor Me I will honor’ (I Samuel 2:30).” Ibid., 356.

Did you get that? “It means eternal salvation to keep the Sabbath holy unto the Lord.” That is powerful. If we keep the Sabbath holy unto the Lord, we have eternal salvation. Friends, do you want that eternal salvation? Let us work together, pray together, unite as one in praying to the God of our salvation to help us reform, so that we may fulfill God’s desire to sanctify us that we may indeed “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”

[All emphasis added.]

Brenda Douay is a staff member at Steps to Life. She may be contacted by email at: brendadouay@stepstolife.org.

On Being a Christian

The title Christian is adopted and used freely by millions of people today yet with a very shallow understanding of what it is all about! Rightly so, the greater number of adherents of the Christian faith are nowhere close to it in life and character, just as darkness is opposite to light. The great freedom fighter Marcus Garvey expressed his view of what he saw displayed as Christianity – “A form of religion practiced by the millions, but as misunderstood, and unreal to the majority as gravitation is to the untutored savage. We profess to live in the atmosphere of Christianity, yet our acts are as barbarous as if we never knew Christ. He taught us to love, yet we hate; to forgive, yet we revenge; to be merciful, yet we condemn and punish, and still we are Christian.

“If hell is what we are taught it is, then there will be more Christians there than the days in all creation. To be a true Christian one must be like Christ and practice Christianity, not as the Bishop does, but as he says, for if our lives were to be patterned after the other fellow’s all of us, Bishop, Priest and Layman would ultimately meet around the furnace of hell, and none of us, because of our sins, would see salvation.” (The Philosophy and Opinions of Marcus Garvey, Routledge, New York, New York, 1923, 27.)

John Monroe Gibson, Scottish, American Clergyman of the eighteen hundreds wrote: “One truly Christian life will do more to prove the divine origin of Christianity than many lectures. It is of much greater importance to develop Christian character, than to exhibit Christian evidences.” Another once prominent Christian leader, F. W. Robertson, concludes, “The Christian life is not merely knowing or hearing, but doing the will of Christ.”

It has really become a challenge in this present age to define the word Christian if we were to accept the many definitions given by professed Christians and Christian churches through their verbal confessions and/or by their overt influence. What does it really mean to be a Christian? What was Jesus’ definition and understanding of “on being a Christian”? How did the early followers of Christ understand the meaning of the name Christian?

Luke 9:23 identifies the terms for discipleship or what it really means to be a Christian: “And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” This same teaching is recorded both by Matthew and Mark (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34). Notice that Matthew uses the same expression that Luke uses concerning who is being addressed, “If any man …” which some people will take to mean that Jesus was only addressing the male gender, but Mark explains it by the expression “Whosoever will come after Me … .” This word whosoever takes in every human being, male and female.

So Jesus lays the foundation principles for what constitute the true meaning of “on being a Christian.” He states emphatically, “If any man will come after me … .” That is to “follow Me” where I am going. To come after or behind Christ means to attach oneself to Jesus as a disciple, but the thought is deepened; it is to follow as a disciple this Messiah who is going into death and resurrection.

On being a Christian involves the engaging of the will of the person, for Jesus says, whoever wills to come after Me. There is no force involved in being a Christian. Christ does not pull His sheep by a rope; in His army are none but volunteers. Ellen White wrote, “Christ does not use force or compulsion in drawing men [people] to Him.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, 95. Also, she points out: “How much does God value man? I point you to Calvary. The most ignominious death my Lord suffered that He might rescue you, yet He does not force any of you to serve Him. He does not force the will or conscience of any soul.” Sermons and Talks, vol. 2, 105.

We must also bear in mind that God will not accept unwilling service; this we are told once again: “If men, after this great and merciful condescension on the part of God, maintain their position with the first apostate, no force will be used with them. God accepts no unwilling service.” The Review and Herald, September 13, 1898. Therefore, the decision to become a Christian, or follower of Christ, is left up to each individual!

Now having said that, whoever chooses to become a Christian must understand what is required in being a Christian. Look at what Jesus said as recorded by Luke: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself.” Luke 9:23. The truest and most serious thought that Jesus is here conveying, with which we professed Christians are constantly struggling, is to turn someone off, to refuse association and companionship with, to disown. And the one who is here to be disowned is self, and that means self altogether, not merely some portion, some special habit or desire, some outward practice. What our Lord is addressing here is the natural, sinful self as it centers in the things of men and has no use for the things of God. Why must we disown self completely? Here are ten reasons:

  1. Ellen White puts it this way: “Self is a hard tyrant, and while this power rules in the life, we cannot do unto others as we would have them do to us.” The Review and Herald, April 9, 1908.
  2. Self also is our enemy. “Self is the enemy we most need to fear. No form of vice has a more baleful effect upon the character than has human passion not under the control of the Holy Spirit. No other victory we can gain will be so precious as the victory gained over self.” Ministry of Healing, 485.
  3. Another important reason why we must disown self is that no human being can become a Christian as long as self is cherished. God’s messenger states, “Man must be emptied of self before he can be, in the fullest sense, a believer in Jesus. When self is renounced, then the Lord can make man a new creature.” The Desire of Ages, 280.
  4. Self blinds people’s eyes. “But when the eye is blinded by the love of self, there is only darkness.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 91.
  5. Self brings unrest. “It is the love of self that brings unrest.” The Desire of Ages, 330.
  6. Self chills religious zeal. “There are many who give no decided evidence that they are true to their baptismal vows. Their zeal is chilled by formality, worldly ambition, pride, and love of self.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 155.
  7. Self destroys peace. “It is the love of self that destroys our peace.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 16.
  8. The love of self excludes the love of Christ. “Love of self excludes the love of Christ.” The Review and Herald, August 6, 1901.
  9. Self leads to the substitution of human theories and traditions. “It is the love of self, the desire for an easier way than God has appointed that leads to the substitution of human theories and traditions for the divine precepts.” The Desire of Ages, 409.
  10. Self opens the door that leads to ruin. “Through devotion to worldly interests, Satan receives all the homage he asks. The door is left open for him to enter as he pleases, with his evil train of impatience, love of self, pride, avarice, overreaching, and his whole catalogue of evil spirits. Man is charmed and treacherously allured on to ruin.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 45. What our Saviour focused on in this phrase “let him deny himself” is true conversion, one of the very first essentials of the Christian life. The person sees all the sin of self and the damnation and death bound up in this sin and turns away from it in utter dismay and seeks rescue in Christ alone. Self is thus cast out, and Christ enters in; henceforth the believer lives not unto himself but unto Christ who died for him.

To give an even more in depth definition of “to deny self,” the following is worth our careful observation: “Man is required to love God supremely, with his might, mind, and strength; and his neighbor as himself. This he cannot possibly do unless he denies himself. To deny self means to rule the spirit when passion is striving for the mastery; to resist the temptation to censure and to speak words of faultfinding; to have patience with the child that is dull, and whose conduct is grievous and trying; to stand at the post of duty even though others may fail; to lift responsibilities wherever and whenever duty requires, not to gain applause, not for policy, but for the sake of the Master, who has given each of His followers a work that is to be done with unwavering fidelity. To deny self means to do good when inclination would lead us to serve and please ourselves. It means to work patiently and cheerfully for the good of others, even though our efforts may not seem to be appreciated.” The Review and Herald, July 11, 1907.

So then for Jesus, on being a Christian means that you and I will lovingly and voluntarily submit our wills to Him, henceforth to live for Him rather than for ourselves. “What is specifically Christian,” according to Dr. Hans Küng “is the fact that all ethical requirements are understood in the light of the rule of the crucified Jesus Christ. … Jesus to whom we are subordinated once and for all in baptism by faith, must remain Lord over us. In following the Crucified it is a question of manifesting the rule of the risen Christ. Justification and sanctification go together in the sense that both mean assimilation to Christ.” On Being a Christian, SCM Press, Norwich, United Kingdom, 544.

To be a Christian in the truest sense of the word has to do with total subordination to the divine historical Christ and complete, ongoing demonstration of His lifestyle. “The Christian faith is one of those great religions the strength of which lies in being able to justify and substantiate in detail an attitude to life, a way of life and a life-style, by pointing to a quite definite, authoritative, historical figure. … Jesus of Nazareth is himself the personification of this new way of life.” Ibid. The apostle Paul understood it this way, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.

After self has been disowned, Jesus then states the next imperative which is, “… take up his cross daily.” It is impossible to take up the cross if self is not denied! What does Jesus mean by take up the cross? It has to do with assuming the responsibilities that come with being a Christian, even though by doing so he/she be called upon to pay the supreme price. In the context in which Christ here mentions cross bearing, He refers not so much to the minor difficulties and obstacles to be encountered by the Christian, but rather to the need to be ready to face death itself. The Christian must be prepared to give up earthly ease and comfort, and be ready to bear the sufferings which will be sure to fall on him if he struggles after holiness. This readiness to give up ease, this willingness to bear suffering, will be a matter of everyday experience.

The cross is that suffering alone which results from our faithful connection with Christ. Let us remember that each Christian will have his/her share of suffering. The solemn message that Jesus gives is that He leads with His cross, and all His disciples, each loaded with his/her cross, follow in one immense procession like men who are being led away to be crucified. Paul carries the figure further: “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh” (Galatians 5:24); and Paul himself is crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20).

Jesus, in Matthew’s gospel chapter 11 verses 28–30, states, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

There is a direct similarity between yoke wearing and cross bearing. “The yoke and the cross are symbols representing the same thing—the giving up of the will to God. Wearing the yoke unites finite man in companionship with the dearly beloved Son of God. Lifting the cross cuts away self from the soul, and places man where he learns how to bear Christ’s burdens. We cannot follow Christ without wearing His yoke, without lifting the cross and bearing it after Him.” The Review and Herald, October 23, 1900.

Christ, in His life here on earth, exemplified what it means to bear the cross: “By His own example the Saviour has shown that His followers can be in the world and yet not of the world. He came not to partake of its delusive pleasures, to be swayed by its customs, and to follow its practices, but to do His Father’s will, to seek and save the lost. With this object before him the Christian may stand uncontaminated in any surroundings. …

“Not in freedom from trial, but in the midst of it, is Christian character developed. Exposure to rebuffs and opposition leads the follower of Christ to greater watchfulness and more earnest prayer to the mighty Helper. Severe trial endured by the grace of God develops patience, vigilance, fortitude, and a deep abiding trust in God. It is the triumph of the Christian faith that it enables its followers to suffer and be strong; to submit, and thus to conquer; to be killed all the day long, and yet to live; to bear the cross, and thus to win the crown of glory.” The Acts of the Apostles, 467, 479.

One writer says that three things are necessary in traveling: first, to say farewell (to self); second, to carry one’s baggage (the cross); third, to proceed with the journey (follow Me). The question that needs to be answered is, Are we willing to make this journey? Following Christ shows that self has been disowned completely and the cross has been willingly taken up.

Dr. Hans Küng puts it this way: “The following of Christ is what distinguishes Christians from other disciples and supporters of great men, in the sense that Christians are ultimately dependent on this person, not only on his teaching, but also on his life, death, and new life.” On Being a Christian, 545.

“True religion,” Ellen white says, “is the imitation of Christ. Those who follow Christ will deny self, take up the cross, and walk in His footsteps. Following Christ means obedience to all His commandments. No soldier can be said to follow his commander unless he obeys orders. Christ is our model. To copy Jesus, full of love and tenderness and compassion, will require that we draw near to Him daily.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 949.

So what does it mean to be a Christian? “As Christians, we are to manifest to the world the character of Christ in all the affairs of life. To be a Christian means to act in Christ’s stead, to represent Christ.” The Southern Worker, 39. Following Christ or being a Christian means “Christ in you the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). This was the experience of the Antioch believers: “And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11: 26. And we are told why they were given this title: “It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians. The name was given them because Christ was the main theme of their preaching, their teaching, and their conversation.” The Acts of the Apostles, 157. She further states, “It was God who gave to them the name of Christian. This is a royal name, given to all who join themselves to Christ.” Ibid.

In closing, are you a Christian? Have you disowned yourself and taken up the cross, Christ’s yoke, and are you following Him? If you haven’t or you had once done it but have given it up, today Jesus says to you, come unto Me!

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.

Do Not Be Afraid of the Dark

In the book of Genesis, we find the first mention of darkness in Scripture. In the record of the Creation, we read in Genesis 1:2–5, “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”

This mention is rather innocuous and does not attribute either good or bad to the state of darkness. However, as we look at the context of dark, darkness, and night as used throughout the Bible, we will quickly come to realize that these terms most commonly connote a state of being—physical and spiritual—that is almost never good. Indeed, even in the text quoted above, although God saw that the light was good, no such attribute was attributed to darkness.

When God was making the promise to Abraham about his inheritance, the Bible says that “an horror of great darkness fell upon him” (Genesis 15:12 KJV). The Spirit of Prophecy explains that this was the means by which God was conveying to Abraham the bondage of Israel in Egypt, and declaring that the time of their sojourning would be four hundred years. Clearly, this was not a good thing. (See Patriarchs and Prophets, 267.)

After the plague of locusts had been stayed, when Pharaoh went back on his commitment to free the Israelites, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt.’ So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.” Exodus 10:21, 22. Here, darkness is used as a means of conveying God’s disciplinary action upon an uncooperative subject.

But the next verse provides an interesting detail that should give those who are seeking to do the Lord’s will great hope: “They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” [Emphasis added.] Verse 23.

Perhaps we can thus assume that even when the judgments of God are falling, the children of Israel will find shelter and safety in obedience. Indeed, the Spirit of Prophecy tells us, “Man’s happiness must always be guarded by the law of God. In obedience only can he find true happiness. The law is the hedge which God has placed about His vineyard. By it those who obey are protected from evil.” The Signs of the Times, June 13, 1900.

Darkness continued to play a role in the exodus of the children of Israel from their Egyptian task masters.

“And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.” Exodus 14:19, 20.

It could be asserted that this incident shows that the light provided by the word of God becomes darkness to those who refuse to accept it. What is the light of hope and freedom from bondage to one becomes a source of darkness to another.

In the previous examples, darkness is used to connote the displeasure of the Almighty. But later in Exodus, darkness is also used in a completely different context. In Exodus 20, after giving Moses the Decalogue, the Bible says, in Exodus 20:18–21, “Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.’ And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.’ So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.”

The Bible also uses darkness as a representation of erroneous thinking and actions. Consider Saul, the first king of Israel. There are few stories in Scripture as tragic as his. He was anointed as the king and at one point even had the gift of prophecy. Yet, we are told in 1 Samuel 28:5–7, “When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, ‘Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.’ And his servants said to him, ‘In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at En Dor.’ ”

We know the disastrous results of Saul’s folly, but his actions are a perfect example of those described in Isaiah 5:20, 21: “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!”

Saul had indeed “put darkness for light,” resulting not only in his tragic death but also the death of his three sons. (See I Samuel 31:1–6.)

That humans tend to equate desperate situations with darkness is made clear by Job. In Job 3:3–7, Job laments in very strong terms the fact that he had even been born: “ ‘May the day perish on which I was born, and the night in which it was said, “A male child is conceived.” May that day be darkness; may God above not seek it, nor the light shine upon it. May darkness and the shadow of death claim it; may a cloud settle on it; may the blackness of the day terrify it. As for that night, may darkness seize it; may it not rejoice among the days of the year, may it not come into the number of the months. Oh, may that night be barren! May no joyful shout come into it!’ ”

It is fairly easy to understand Job’s mind-set here. Having lost his ten children, all his livestock, and everything that he owned, then being afflicted “with painful boils from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7), who wouldn’t curse the day of his birth?

The obsession of Job and his three “miserable comforters” with darkness continues throughout the story of his experience. References to the gloom of darkness and night occur over fifty times in his story.

In Psalm 18, David uses darkness in two opposing contexts. In verse 11, he uses it to describe the atmosphere that surrounds God Himself: “He made darkness His secret place; His canopy around Him was dark waters and thick clouds of the skies.” But then, in verse 28, he uses darkness to describe his condition from which God provides enlightenment: “For You will light my lamp; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.”

The only positive mentions of darkness in Scripture—texts that speak of darkness in a way that is not negative—are in reference to the atmosphere that surrounds God Himself. Yet there are instances, such as that just cited, in which God, even though He is enshrouded in darkness, dispels the darkness that enshrouds man.

Similar juxtapositions continue throughout the book of Psalms. In 97:2, we read in reference to God, “Clouds and darkness surround Him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.” Then in Psalm 112:4, God is represented as dispelling darkness: “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness; He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.”

In Psalm 143:3, David uses darkness as a representation of the state of the dead, a precursor to his son’s later statement that the dead know nothing; “For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead.”

In the second chapter of Proverbs, Scripture equates disobedience with darkness:

“When wisdom enters your heart,
And knowledge is pleasant to your soul,
Discretion will preserve you;
Understanding will keep you,
To deliver you from the way of evil,
From the man who speaks perverse things,
From those who leave the paths of uprightness
To walk in the ways of darkness;
Who rejoice in doing evil,
And delight in the perversity of the wicked;
Whose ways are crooked,
And who are devious in their paths;
To deliver you from the immoral woman,
From the seductress who flatters with her words,
Who forsakes the companion of her youth,
And forgets the covenant of her God.”

Proverbs 2:10–17

This passage takes on a much deeper meaning when we remember that a woman in Scripture is a symbol for the church. Here Scripture clearly speaks of a church that has forgotten “the covenant of her God.” Determining which church that is makes for an interesting and controversial study.

That the path of disobedience is a path devoid of light is confirmed in Proverbs 4:19: “The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.”

There are many other references in Scripture to darkness that make it abundantly clear that the path of disobedience is a path of darkness—far too many to cover completely in the limited space of this treatment. Although we have these warnings as examples that “were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come” (I Corinthians 10:11), we also have great hope from these same examples.

Quite early in Jesus’ ministry, He worked to dispel the darkness that had spread throughout the kingdom of Israel.

Matthew 4 provides a sequence of Jesus’ activities immediately following his forty-day wilderness experience and of Satan’s subsequent efforts to tempt Him. There we are told that after the angels ministered to Him, having heard of John’s imprisonment, “He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, by the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.’ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ” Verses 12–17.

Scripture makes it clear that “if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29), that “the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22). Therefore the children of modern Israel have every right to expect that they will recognize the nearness of the time. In fact, we are told in I Thessalonians 5:4–6, “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.”

It is essential to note that there is a significant degree of personal responsibility in this promise. We cannot sleep. We are to “watch and be sober.”

There is a wonderful promise provided in Isaiah that gives the children of Israel great hope. “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16).

With this promise in mind, there is no need for children of the King to be afraid of the dark. So long as those children embrace the light that streams so radiantly from God’s word, they can be assured that God will “make darkness light before them,” and that the path “shines ever brighter unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

John Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. After retiring as chief financial officer for the Grand Canyon Association, Grand Canyon, Arizona, he moved to Wichita, Kansas, to join the Steps team. He may be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org.

God’s Promises

The Bible says that the devil goes out to deceive the whole world. To do this he uses a three-pronged approach. First he attempts to deceive through miracles, false teachings and false doctrine. If that does not work he uses his seductive power, at which he is very successful. Multitudes of people know the truth, but they are seduced by the various forms of sin and held in bondage to them.

If you cannot be deceived or seduced, he still has a powerful weapon to use against you. He will use fear tactics that include threatened death, imprisonment or torture to get you to forsake the Lord. God is going to have a fearless people who cannot be deceived, because they know God will fulfill His promises. God says 366 times in the Bible, “Do not be afraid”—a promise for each day of the year, including the leap year.

God has every experience covered, and you can never be put in a position in which God is not aware and able to help you. Those who know these things will not fear the devil.

Bible Promises

“And of Asher he said, ‘Asher is most blessed of sons; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. Your sandals shall be iron and bronze; as your days, so shall your strength be.’ ” Deuteronomy 33:24, 25. Remember, the more trouble you find yourself in, the more grace and help is available—“as your days, so will your strength be.” “There is no one like the God of Jeshurun, Who rides the heavens to help you, and in His excellency on the clouds. The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, ‘Destroy!’ ” Verses 26 and 27.

“But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:7–10. God is a refuge and help in trouble and does not forsake those that seek Him.

Psalm 46 is a prophecy of the experience of those who live at the very end of the time of trouble. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (verse 1). It goes on to say that God is going to be with them and help them (verses 5 and 7).

Psalm 91, also a prophecy of the final time of trouble, says in verses 1 and 2, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ ”

“You have been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” Isaiah 25:4. That also applies to the time of trouble coming upon the world at the end.

“Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, and princes will rule with justice. A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.” Isaiah 32:1, 2.

Isaiah 26:20, 21 is a prophecy about the experience of God’s people right at the beginning of the time of trouble. It says, “Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourself, as it were, for a little moment, until the indignation is past. For behold, the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth will also disclose her blood, and will no more cover her slain.”

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. … For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’ ” Isaiah 41:10, 13.

Ellen White tells us that the three Hebrew worthies who were thrown into the fiery furnace remembered the promise, in Isaiah 43:1, 2, and it was fulfilled to them. “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.’ ”

When Jesus sent out His disciples to minister, He said: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:28–31.

God knows everything about you, even the number of hairs on your head. He notices your every experience and says you have no need to be afraid. Jesus told His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:18. He also said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Verse 20. Paul said, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” I Corinthians 10:12, 13. This verse is so interesting that I have personally checked it in the Greek New Testament to be sure it was translated accurately without taking any liberties.

Only those who have been in severe temptations, trials, troubles, suffering, and pain can totally understand this wonderful promise. We should all have that one memorized.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Corinthians 12:7–10.

If you understood the full thrust of this promise, nobody could ever make you upset or dissatisfied or unhappy again no matter what happens, for God has grace that is sufficient for you. This is an instance where Paul prayed for something and the Lord chose not to give him what he had asked for three times, but He said, “I will give you grace, and I’ll give you enough.” His grace is sufficient. Now the word sufficient means you have enough and you are not lacking. Psalm 23:1 says, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not lack [want KJV].” God’s grace is limitless!

In Hebrews 13:5, 6, Paul actually quotes from Psalm 118. “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ”

Perhaps we underestimate how strong a helper we really do have. Paul said to the Athenians, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:28.

There are many recorded incidences of people, being tortured for their faith, who feel no pain when they cry out to the Lord. God knows every feeling, every pain, every suffering that we go through and when we pray to Him, He hears. The Bible says His name “is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10. God’s promises defray all attempts of Satan to terrify, so take the time to store them in your memory so they are always available.

“No soul will be left to perish who asks in faith for the help of Christ. The weakest, the most struggling soul, may live, and find hope and sufficiency in God. When Jesus comes into the storm and the darkness, midnight is as bright as noonday.” The Signs of the Times, May 28, 1896. When the disciples were out in the storm and afraid they would die, Jesus came walking out to them and said, “Don’t be afraid; I’m here.”

He has promised also to be with you, and you can claim it at any time or in any place and it will be fulfilled. He said, “Don’t be afraid, I am with you; I will help you.”

Ellen White describes the help God will give His people in the future. She says, “History will be repeated [referring to the three Hebrew worthies]. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image at Babylon. All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious sabbath. This is Satan’s plan to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of creation.

“The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world. In a limited degree, it has already gone forth. In several places the civil power is speaking with the voice of a dragon, just as the heathen king spoke to the Hebrew captives.

“Trial and persecution will come to all who, in obedience to the word of God, refuse to worship this false sabbath. Force is the last resort of every false religion. At first it tries attraction, as the king of Babylon tried the power of music and outward show. If these attractions, invented by men inspired by Satan, failed to make men worship the image, the hungry flames of the furnace were ready to consume them. So it will be now. The Papacy has exercised her power to compel men to obey her, and she will continue to do so. We need the same spirit that was manifested by God’s servants in the conflict with paganism. Giving an account of the treatment of the Christians by the emperor of Rome, Tertullian [who lived about the close of the second century] says, ‘We are thrown to the wild beasts to make us recant; we are burned in the flames; we are condemned to prisons and to mines; we are banished to islands—such as Patmos—and all have failed.’ So it was in the case of the three Hebrew worthies; their eye was single to the glory of God; their souls were steadfast; the power of the truth held them firmly to their allegiance to God. It is in the power of God alone that we shall be enabled to be loyal to Him.

“ ‘If ye love Me,’ said Christ, ‘keep My commandments’ (John 14:15). ‘He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him’ (John 14:21). And has not Christ manifested Himself to his faithful children? Did He not walk in the furnace with the captives who refused to yield to the golden image one tittle of the reverence which belonged to God? Did He not manifest Himself to John, banished to the Isle of Patmos for his faithfulness? Have not those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, who, tho they have been compelled to suffer, have refused to worship the institution of the Papacy, realized the presence of the divine Comforter in their lonely prisons?” The Signs of the Times, May 6, 1897.

A pastor was thrown into a communist prison and told that he would rot down there. In the complete darkness he had no perspective, nothing by which to gauge time, so he did not know whether it was night or day. He was given food, but in the dark it was impossible to know if he had been in there for an hour, a day, a week, a month or even a year. In a situation like this you become completely disoriented and can go crazy. He was afraid that he would lose his sanity. So, in his desperation he began to pray and cry out to the Lord to keep him sane. He reports it this way: “As I was praying, I saw a light. It was perfectly dark down there. The light came close and I saw that it was a person, a bright shining person who came right up to me and picked me up and just held me for a while, and then everything was all right.” It is impossible for man to put you in a place where God can’t hear your cry for help and find you. Eventually, the guard was changed, and he was taken out after 35 days in total darkness, but throughout that trying time God comforted him.

“The commandments of finite, sinful men are to sink into insignificance beside the word of the eternal God. Truth is to be obeyed at any cost, even tho gaping prisons, chain-gangs, and banishment stare us in the face. If you are loyal and true, that God who walked with the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, who protected Daniel in the lions’ den, Who manifested Himself to John on the lonely island, will go with you wherever you go. His abiding presence will comfort and sustain you; and you will realize the fulfillment of the promise, ‘If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him’ (John 14:23).” Ibid.

“Our victory as believers is obtained through the grace of Christ, which He can and will bestow upon all who will put their trust in Him. This is the good news with which Christ would have us comforted. In all the tribulation which the child of God must receive, whatever his position in the world, he may be of good cheer in contemplation of the truth that Christ has overcome the world.

“It is a great thing to be right with God, the soul in harmony with its Maker. Amid the contagion of evil example, which by its deceitful appearance would lure the soul from duty, angels will be sent to our rescue. But if we invite temptation, we can not have divine aid to keep us from being overcome. The three worthies endured the fiery furnace, for Jesus walked with them amid the flames. If they had, of themselves, walked into the fire, they would have been consumed. Thus it will be with us. If we do not deliberately go into temptation, God will sustain us when the temptation comes.

“But let no one think that an entirely new set of energies are to be communicated when we are brought into trying circumstances. We are to seek daily for the converting power of God. We should daily seek to recover in ourselves the moral image of God. Every affection, every attribute that has been perverted, must be restored by the grace of Christ. Lesser trials nobly borne under the control of God, will purify, refine, and ennoble us for endurance when the time shall come for greater test and greater trials.

“Then let us look the future decidedly in the face, and say, ‘I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me’ (Philippians 4:13). We must cherish the presence of Christ, for we need Him in the less as well as the greater trials. By a willingness for His sake to endure shame and reproach, by learning the meekness and lowliness of Christ, we shall prove the sincerity of our Christianity. When we are called to imprisonment and shame, when degraded by our fellow-beings, who are inspired by the spirit of Satan, God will give His grace to sustain us. His promise is, ‘… as thy days, so shall thy strength be’ (Deuteronomy 33:25).

“The righteous have ever obtained help from above. How often have the enemies of God combined to destroy the character and influence of a few simple persons who trusted in God! But because the Lord was for them, none could prevail against them. Only let the followers of Christ be united, and they will prevail. Let them be separated from their idols and from the world, and the world will not separate them from God. Christ is our present, all-sufficient Saviour. In Him all fullness dwells. It is the privilege of Christians to know that Christ is in them of a truth. ‘This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith’ (I John 5:4). ‘All things are possible to him that believeth’ (Mark 9:23); and whatsoever things we desire when we pray, if we believe that we receive them, we shall have them. This faith will penetrate the darkest cloud, and bring hope to the drooping, desponding soul. It is the absence of this faith and trust which brings perplexity, distressing fears, and surmisings of evil. God will do great things for His people when they will put their entire trust in Him. Christ will prove a never-failing source of strength, a present help in every time of trouble.” Ibid.

“ ‘In quietness and confidence shall be your strength’ (Isaiah 30:15). This is the lesson given to every soul. The strength of every soul is in God and not in man. Quietness and confidence is to be the strength of all who give their hearts to God. In all our temporal concerns, in all our cares and anxieties, we need to wait upon the Lord. ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the sons of men’ (Psalm 146:3 KJV), is the word that comes to us. The Lord has united our hearts with His. If we love Him, and are accepted in His service, we shall bring all our burdens to the Lord, and wait upon Him. Then we shall have an individual experience, a conviction of His presence and His readiness to hear our prayer for wisdom and for instruction, that will give us assurance and confidence in His willingness to succor [to help] in perplexity.

“God would have us rejoice, and praise Him every day for the privilege granted us in the words of Christ: ‘Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light’ (Matthew 11:28–30). A kind and loving Friend and Father is overruling all things. And if this is true of individuals and nations, how much more of His church, His chosen ones?” The Signs of the Times, October 7, 1897.

Jesus invites all to come to Him as their refuge. Tell Him all of your concerns and what grieves you. Share your heart with Him and trust that He will give you all the answers to work calmly and quietly. He is also interested in how you will pay your bills or how you will get your car fixed when you do not have enough money. What if you lose your job? How will you manage with any health issues? Work as you can for others and the Lord will answer you. (See Isaiah 58.)

“The Elder Brother of our race is by the eternal throne. He looks upon every soul who is turning his face toward Him as his Saviour. He knows by experience what are the weaknesses of humanity, what are their wants, and where lies the strength of their temptations. The weakness of our human nature will not bar our access to the heavenly Father; for Christ was tempted in all points ‘like as we are, yet without sin’ (Matthew 11:25).

“Christ has not a casual interest in us. His love for us is stronger than that of a mother for her child. Says the prophet, ‘Can a woman forget her sucking child? … yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee’ (Isaiah 49:15). Our Saviour has purchased us by human suffering and sorrow. He suffered insult, reproach, abuse, mockery, rejection, and death. God is near in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, in His intercession, His loving, tender, ruling power over His church. Seated by the eternal throne, He watches His children with intense interest. He is watching over you, trembling child of God. He will make you secure under His protection. His promises are: ‘Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee’ (Isaiah 26:3). ‘Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord’ (Psalm 27:14). ‘They that wait on the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which can not be moved, but abideth forever’ (Psalm 125:1).” Ibid.

“The Lord is in active communication with every part of His vast dominions. He is represented as bending toward the earth and its inhabitants. He is listening to every word that is uttered. He hears every groan; He listens to every prayer; He observes the movements of every one; He approves or condemns every action. The hand of Christ draws aside the vail which conceals from our eyes the glory of heaven; and we behold Him in His high and holy place, not in a state of silence and indifference to His subjects in a fallen world, but surrounded by all the heavenly host—ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, all waiting to go at His bidding on errands of mercy and love.

“Christ had such an experience in His humanity that He desires to be close beside every one who passes through suffering for the truth’s sake—those who are tortured, imprisoned in dungeons, and bound in chains. He ministers to all such. He is the friend of all who love and fear Him, and He will punish those who dare to lead them from safe paths, or put them in positions of distress as they conscientiously endeavor to keep the way of the Lord.” The Signs of the Times, November 17, 1898.

Jesus suffered and died to save us. It was only when His disciples saw Him risen from the dead did they understand what He meant when He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19).

Ellen White said, “Shall our faith ever falter again? What stronger evidence could God have given us that Jesus is the Son of God? What greater evidence could be given of the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ than that which has been given by those who were eyewitnesses of his Majesty? Will those who claim to believe in Christ as a personal Saviour, dishonor God by doubting that He to whose guardianship they have committed their souls will keep that which has been committed to His trust against that day? Jesus is a risen Saviour. He came forth from the grave to vindicate His previous claims, to confirm the faith of His followers, to establish the truth of His Godhead before men, to make doubly sure the assurance that ‘whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life’ (John 3:16).” The Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895.

If we could just get a hold by faith and understand how strong a helper we have that is in control of everything, Who knows all about us and will never forsake us, our stress would be eliminated. He has intimate knowledge of every molecule in every body and mind, and He wants to help. His love casts out all fear, no matter the threats of the evil agents or the trials that you face.

God has promised to be a refuge, a strength, a fortress, a help, a deliverance for His people. As our days, so our strength will be. “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you.” Deuteronomy 33:27. He will never leave you or forsake you and whatever happens, He will be your strength.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.