Faith

Standing on the Promises

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Peter the aged, in a summing up of what Christ has done for “them that have obtained like precious faith,” says:

“According as His Fdivine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:1, 3, 4).

On these promises the hope of the Christian rests. “Which hope,” says the apostle Paul, “we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil” (Hebrews 6:19). The soul of the servant of God is anchored to the throne above. His hope is as sure and stable as that throne itself.

Heaven’s part in the great plan of redemption has been faithfully performed. God’s purposes in the salvation of men are sure and unalterable. Sometime this earth will be peopled by the redeemed of the Lord. From each generation since the fall will be gathered a remnant of those who have been true to God and the principles of His government. To such the sure promises of God have been as a beacon light, to guide their feet through the gloom and darkness of earth’s error and sin.

While God’s promises are always sure, man must meet them in faith and hold their blessings by prayer. Faith in God and earnest prayer will bring to any human being the sure mercies of the wonderful plan of redemption.

Though we may wander far, and may long reject the overtures of a merciful God, yet the story of the prodigal son teaches how the arms of Infinite Love are ever stretched out to receive the returning wanderer.

The record of God’s dealings with Israel has brought hope and confidence to many a despairing soul. This history is but a rehearsal of the experiences of the human heart. Tempted by Satan we wander from God, but the road is not easy. Afflictions overtake us. As a parent chastens a loved son, so our Father allows difficulties and troubles to overtake us. These are God’s agencies to turn back our feet into right paths. As soon as we turn we find a loving Father with arms stretched out to receive us.

Over and over again did Israel wander from God into sin and idolatry. Then they were delivered into the hand of their enemies. But when these afflictions brought them to seek the Lord, how quickly He returned to them and brought confusion to their enemies. God’s position toward His people during these experiences is well illustrated in the ninth of Isaiah:

“The Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still” (verse 12).

At this time Israel had gone into abominable idolatry, hence God had removed His protecting hand, and the heathen had come against them. His anger was strong against His people, yet through it all His hand was stretched out to receive them and protect them at the first indication of repentance and returning.

There is a human side to the plan of redemption. This calls for our co-operation with the efforts of Heaven in our behalf. And although we cannot work out salvation for ourselves, neither can Heaven save us unless we take our stand by the side of holy intelligences, and by earnest faith and humble prayer secure the help we must have.

Heaven listens to the faintest plea from those who come to God in sincerity. No one, however far he may have wandered, need fear to approach the throne of grace. Our Saviour left the promise, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).

And the very throne of God is pledged to the protection of those who place themselves in the keeping of Almighty power. Our Lord has left to such the pledge, that “no one shall snatch them out of My hand” (John 10:28 R.V.). Only our own action can take us out of the hand of our God.

Guarded well are the true followers of our Lord. David says, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7).

When the armies of Syria surrounded the prophet of God at Dothan, heaven sent a host to protect him. The Lord opened the eyes of the trembling servant of the prophet, “and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).

About Job was placed a rampart or hedge of angels which the devil could not pass. (See Job 1:10.)

When Jacob was about to meet his brother Esau, who was marching against him, he was allowed to see God’s host which had been sent from heaven to protect him. (See Genesis 32:1, 2.)

All heaven would move to the aid of the weakest child of God if necessary, to protect him from the attacks of the enemy. The hosts of evil are strong, but if the battle wages fiercely, the angel guards will be reinforced by the most powerful beings from the very presence of Jehovah.

When Daniel prayed for the deliverance of Israel, the Lord sent one of the most powerful angels of heaven to the king of Persia to induce him to let Israel go. For full three weeks this mighty angel labored with King Cyrus, but without success. Then came Michael (Christ), and the release of God’s people was assured.

God’s people represent on earth the principles of His government in heaven. Hence injury to God’s people on earth is an insult to God’s throne in heaven. Our Lord Himself would come to earth, if necessary, to carry out His purposes concerning His people.

Our Saviour came to earth for the resurrection of Moses. At the grave of that servant of God He was met by the devil, who has “the power of death.” (See Hebrews 2:14.) In thus invading the territory of the enemy, being withstood by him, Christ did not rely on Himself, but invoked the highest power of heaven in the words, “The Lord rebuke thee” (Jude 9).

It is not alone to the mighty deeds in great emergencies that we must look for evidences of heaven’s aid to God’s people. The prayer of the humble saint and of the repentant sinner is as sure of a hearing and an answer as that of the most godly prophet of Bible days.

David said, “This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6).

But we must come to God in faith. The prayer of faith commands the most powerful forces of heaven. Jesus said, “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” But He adds, “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:20, 21).

But our will must be subject to the will of God. The beloved John writes, “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (I John 5:14, 15).

If we are true followers of Christ, our will is in accord with His will. Then the Holy Spirit leads and directs our prayer, and it is, therefore, in harmony with the will of heaven, and the very throne of God is pledged to the answer.

But if we come with our will unsubdued, and with sins cherished and unrepented of, we are out of harmony, out of touch, with heaven. Then the line of communication is broken, and our prayers cannot reach the throne. We will then ask according to our unsanctified, unsubdued heart, and God can neither hear nor answer such prayers. “If I regard iniquity in my heart,” says the psalmist, “the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18).

But more than this, God cannot accept the prayers of those who disobey His requirements. Solomon says, “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination” (Proverbs 28:9). And David speaks of prayers that “become sin,” because of wickedness and deceit. (See Psalm 109:7).

When our prayers go forth in harmony with the mind of the Spirit of God, they will be prayers of faith, and cannot fail to bring their answer. But no doubting, no wavering must be allowed to mingle with them. “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord” (James 1:6, 7).

The waters composing the waves of the sea do not rush on with the waves. The wave is but the upheaval of the waters. The ship upon the billows does not move along with the wave. As the wave rushes along, the vessel rises upon the crest, and then falls into the trough of the sea, but it does not move forward with the wave unless propelled by sail or steam. And so with the life of many vacillating Christians—sometimes on the mountain top, and again in the valley of doubt, but with no visible advancement in spiritual attainments or experience. Their condition is well described in the jubilee melody,

“Sometimes up, and sometimes down, Sometimes almost to the ground.”

Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen, slave spiritual, 1867.

God’s promises to His children represent all the power of heaven. They are not promises merely, but they are backed by the oath of Jehovah. Paul, presenting these sure promises, says:

“Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it [to Abraham] by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” (Hebrews 6:17, 18).

And to show that this assurance applies to our day, Paul writes, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:29).

The Christian’s hope is based upon the promises of God. Faith brings the reward. The sincere faith of the humblest suppliant at the throne of grace is more powerful than “all the power of the enemy.” True is the word of the poet,

“Satan trembles when he sees The weakest saint upon his knees.”

What Various Hindrances We Meet, William Cowper, 1779.

Simple faith makes real the promises of God. Paul writes: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Through faith the hope of the child of God becomes very real and tangible. We have a loving heavenly Father. Jesus Christ is our Elder Brother, and our Advocate with the Father. Heavenly angels are our constant attendants. A city with mansions is being prepared for us in heaven. (See John 14:2, 3).

The true and faithful of earth will have homes in that beautiful city. This earth will be made new and glorified, to become the eternal dominion of the saints. Here they will dwell through an endless life of joy and bliss beyond our comprehension.

These are the rewards which the Christian contemplates “with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (I Peter 1:8). And these are the promises which become as real and substantial to us as the events of every-day life. Through faith they are the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Past, Present, and Future, James Edson White, 1909, 38–48.

The Approaching Storm

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The basis for this study is found in Luke the 8th chapter verses 22–25, first part, which says, “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He [Christ] went into a ship with His disciples: and He said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed He fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to Him, and awoke Him, saying, Master, Master, we perish. Then He arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.  And He said unto them, Where is your faith?”

This is a scriptural record of an actual experience which took place in the life of Jesus Christ and His disciples. They had just experienced a very busy day. Since early morning Christ had been teaching and healing. They were so busy that they had not taken time for food or for rest. To make matters even worse they were constantly being surrounded by malicious criticism and misrepresentation by the Pharisees who continually pursued Christ making His labors more severe and harassing.

So now at the close of this busy day the Lord was utterly wearied and He determined to seek a retirement in a secluded place across the lake. Dismissing the multitude Jesus and His disciples hastily set off in a boat to relieve the pressure of the crowd. Overcome with weariness and hunger Jesus lies down in the stern of the little boat and is soon sound asleep. The evening is calm and pleasant and the boat gently rides upon the lake, but suddenly a strange darkness spreads over the lake and the wind sweeps wildly down the mountain gorges as a fierce tempest bursts upon them. The waves lashed by such howling wind dash completely over the tiny boat threatening to engulf them. These hardy fishermen have guided their craft safely through many a storm but this time their strength and skill avail nothing.

The disciples are helpless in the face of this tempest, for Satan is attempting to destroy both the Master and His disciples. So absorbed are these men to save themselves that they have completely forgotten that Jesus is on board. Now as death is imminent they recall that it was Christ who commanded them to cross the lake and in their helpless condition they cried, Master, Master! but in such a stormy darkness they see no one and their voices are drowned by the roaring tempest. Doubts and fears grip their hearts. Had Jesus forsaken them? Could it be that He who would conquer disease and demons and even death itself could not help them now?

Again, they called for help, for the boat is beginning to sink. Another moment and they will be swallowed up by the angry waters. Suddenly there is a flash of lightning and they see Jesus lying asleep – undisturbed by the raging storm. In amazement they cry out, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish” (Mark 4:38)? Their cry arouses Jesus and in the lightning glare they see the peace of Heaven on His face. Again, they cry, “Lord, save us! We perish” (Matthew 8:25)! Never did a soul utter that cry unheeded.

Jesus arises as the waves sweep over them. Lifting His hands He says to the angry sea, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). Immediately the stormy billows cease their attack. The clouds roll away, the stars shine forth, and the tiny boat rests upon a quiet sea. Jesus looks around at His disciples and asks sorrowfully, “Why are ye so fearful?” “Where is your faith” (Mark 4:40; Luke 8:25)? In this life and death crisis Jesus did not ask the questions that are so often to be found in the minds of uncertainty. He did not ask like we would today, “Don’t you have a bank account that you can count on? Don’t you have some investments? Don’t you have a lot of friends that will help you? What type of insurance do you carry, and how much?” No, He asked a very personal, heart searching question: “Where is your faith?”

As Seventh-day Adventists we believe that men are justified by faith for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6), and we believe that “faith cometh by hearing … the word of God” (Romans 10:17). But how many of us know the faith that will be required of each one to meet the coming storm? When we are surrounded by riots and protests leading to civil strife and war here in America and with the united evangelical movement joined against us, when suddenly every security we’ve ever known has vanished in a time of trouble such as never was, what good will it be then to talk about the prestige of our great institutions? the luxury of our beautiful churches which architects have built with our sacrificial money? the well-edited literature and international broadcasts that our church presents? when every religious body in this world will be against us? I ask, Are we ready for persecution, even the facing of a universal death decree? Then to discover that our very best friends, even those within the church we love, are testifying against us. When our world collapses around us, will we be strong enough in the faith to stand alone or will we be captured in total fear as were the disciples? What will our answer be when Jesus speaks, “Where is your faith?”

In Revelation 14:12 the remnant have two characteristics. They keep the commandments of God and they keep the faith of Jesus. Let’s consider just for one more moment the faith of Jesus – literally. “When Jesus was awakened to meet the storm, He was in perfect peace. There was no trace of fear in word or look, for no fear was in His heart. But He rested not in the possession of almighty power. It was not as the ‘Master of earth and sea and sky’ that He reposed in quiet. That power He had laid down, and He says, ‘I can of Mine own self do nothing’ (John 5:30). He trusted in the Father’s might. It was in faith—faith in God’s love and care—that Jesus rested, and the power of that Word which stilled the storm was the power of God,” His Father. The Desire of Ages, 336.

Let us think now of some very serious questions which I hope will awaken your mind to the approaching storm that is so soon to break upon us. I trust we will truly keep the faith of Jesus. There is a sinister force at work in our world today to overthrow the cause of God. “The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 11. “We are on the very verge of the time of trouble, and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of are before us. A power from beneath is leading men to war against Heaven. Human beings have confederated with satanic agencies to make void the law of God.” Ibid., 43. [Emphasis added.]

Let’s take the word consolidation. Never in my life span have I seen such a surge of consolidation that we now see taking place. The financial structures of this world are consolidating. Bank after bank merge together in a colossal empire. Giant corporations are swallowing up one another so that a few are now controlling every aspect of life. Even denominational churches are consolidating so that today a few are emerging with a powerful political clout. Even the nations are consolidating. Take the North American Process Technology Alliance (NAPTA). You find the joining together of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. And then look at the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in which the third world countries are joining together for their power. Look across the Atlantic to the European commonwealth. Here countries are uniting in a European union which has one currency and a tremendous trade power.

Now let’s look at the word confederation. We hear much today of a United Nations for a new world order, and for what purpose? for peace? so that there will be no more war? Don’t be fooled. Inspiration has made it clear that it is to make void the law of God producing a worldwide united power in which it will not be possible to buy or to sell unless you have the mark of the beast.

Things are developing fast. The Lord said the last movements would be rapid ones. How is this crisis coming? Selected Messages, Book 2, 367: “The word of God plainly declares that His law is to be scorned, trampled upon, by the world; there will be an extraordinary prevalence of iniquity.” And nobody can shut their eyes today at the evils and say this is not here. It is. “The professed Protestant world will form a confederacy with the man of sin, and the church and the world will be in corrupt harmony.

“Here the great crisis is coming upon the world. The Scriptures teach that popery is to regain its lost supremacy, and that the fires of persecution will be rekindled through the time-serving concessions of the so-called Protestant world.” Ibid., 367, 368.

Did you catch that? Did you notice a confederacy between Protestants and the man of sin? Need I tell you that this just recently happened when Protestant and Catholic leadership in 1994 signed the document called “Evangelicals and Catholics Together”? An idea that was conceived by Charles Colson, the founder of the prison fellowship and a Catholic priest by the name of Richard Neuhaus.

Christianity Today, the evangelical magazine, was so excited that it called this document the most important. It said, “All who accept Christ as Lord and Savior are brothers and sisters in Christ. Evangelicals and Catholics are brothers and sisters in Christ. However imperfect our communion with one another, however deep our disagreements with one another, we recognize that there is but One church.” [Emphasis added.] Oh, it’s here, friend!

The Great Controversy, 445, says, “When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common … .” Let me tell you, the crisis is not coming; the crisis is here now! From our pulpits is being preached peace and safety. The purpose of this great ecumenical movement is to reestablish papal power as it was before the reformation. The papacy accomplished its authority in A.D. 538 by conducting councils, conventions, and evangelical alliances and they are using the same strategy today. “Was not this the way things went with Rome? Are we not living her life over again? And what do we see just ahead? Another general council! A world’s convention! Evangelical alliance, and universal creed!” Ibid.

There have been two great Vatican councils that have been held and there are numerous evangelical alliances that are now being formed by dialogs between Catholics, Protestants and Jews. I know of this personally because one day while I was pastor in Sacramento, California, I received a call from a Catholic priest from a nearby church. He remarked that there is a great ecumenical movement now. He wanted to come speak in my church on our Sabbath day. He would then invite me to come and speak to his people on a Sunday. My answer was, no thank you. …

Let me read to you from the Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, vol. 10, of the Bible Commentary, pages 410 and 411: “The ecumenical movement will … become a concerted effort to unite the world as to secure universal peace and security by enlisting the power of the civil government in a universal religio-political crusade to eliminate all dissent. SDA’s envision this crusade as the great apostasy to which John the revelator refers to ‘Babylon the great’ (Revelation 17:5).” …

In The Great Controversy, 571, are these words: “The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times (2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4). … Shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ?” And then Testimonies, vol. 7, 108: “To bind ourselves up by contracts with those not of our faith is not in the order of God. We are to treat with kindness and courtesy those who refuse to be loyal to God, but we are never, never to unite with them in counsel regarding the vital interests of His work.” [Emphasis added.] These things will only lead to persecution. The Great Controversy, 445: “When this shall be gained, then, in the effort to secure complete uniformity, it will be only a step to the resort of force.”

“In the movements now in progress in the United States to secure for the institutions and usages of the church the support of the state, Protestants are following in the steps of papists. Nay, more, they are opening the door for the papacy to regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she has lost in the Old World. And that which gives greater significance to this movement is the fact that the principal object contemplated is the enforcement of Sunday observance … .” The Great Controversy, 573.

Did you notice those words? “To regain in Protestant America the supremacy which she lost in the Old World.”

History reveals that in Europe during the 1260 years of papal supremacy Rome was in complete control of every kingdom and every law was based on Catholic law. Do we realize what it must have been to live there? Freedom of worship as we know it today was absolutely forbidden. You could be destroyed to think differently from than that which Rome taught. Freedom as we have experienced it in our lifetime did not exist then. Approximately a hundred and fifty million were put to death as heretics. You see, the reason why the founders of America established a strict separation of church and state was to give full freedom for religious groups to flourish as their own message would grow. But today’s religious right is not satisfied with this freedom. It feels driven by the name of God to conduct its doctrinal principles into the political arena.

I was amazed to read The Monitor of McAllen, Texas, January 24, 1995, in which the editor said some very bold things. He talks about the political principles, for example, of this new religious right. He says, “It tends to confine women to traditional roles proscribing any productive rights and impose public manifestations of religion such as school prayer. It is punitive in its outlook on people who receive government assistance and as a retributive view of criminal justice offering strong support for capital punishment.” Then are these words: “The religious right brooks no tolerance or possibility of divergent moral beliefs by equally religious folks. Perhaps for that reason it seems so full of hatred and intolerance, hardly biblical values, and for those who do not subscribe to its agenda, the religious right unleashes its version of the inquisition.” Here we see developing in America the beginning of the image of the beast.

Will churches seek the aid of the state? The Great Controversy, 443: “It was apostasy that led the early church to seek the aid of the civil government, and this prepared the way for the development of the papacy … . Said Paul: ‘There’ shall ‘come a falling away, … and that man of sin be revealed’ (2 Thessalonians 2:3). So apostasy in the church will prepare the way for the image to the beast.”

God speaks of this in the second angel’s message when He said in Revelation 14:8: “… Babylon is fallen, is fallen.” In 1935 there was a man, Professor Beltz, who sent out questionnaires to the leading Protestant ministers throughout America. The statistics speak for themselves. These ministers of Protestant churches confessed as follows, that they believe no longer in the Bible as being trustworthy. So spoke the Baptists, 37%; the Congregational Church, 91% said they no longer believe the Bible to be trustworthy; the Episcopalians, 96%; the Presbyterians, 80%.

Thirty-five years later (1970), Look Magazine sent out a survey to the students in North American seminaries, asking them a question about the Second Coming. Only one percent believed that Jesus Christ would ever return. And these are the ministers that are in the churches today. Should we be amazed when we look at the books that are coming from our presses today which are teaching the doctrines of Babylon, that we can be saved in sin, that we don’t have to keep the law, that obedience is not required, that we do not have to overcome, that Jesus did it all for us on the cross? All we have to do is just believe.

We see the image of the beast developing. The Great Controversy, 445: “When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.”

What is meant by giving life to the image of the beast? Testimonies, vol. 5, page 712: “When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with popery; it will be nothing else than giving life to the tyranny which has long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active despotism.”

And so, in The Great Controversy, 449: “Hence the enforcement of Sundaykeeping in the United States would be an enforcement of the worship of the beast and his image.” Have we been told when it will be formed? Yes, we have. Selected Messages, Book 2, 81: “The Lord has shown me clearly that the image of the beast will be formed before probation closes.”

And what is the mark? “The mark … is the observance of the first day of the week.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 117.

And what will the enforcement of the national Sunday law do to our church? “When the law of God is made void the church will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate, will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 368.

And what will happen to our nation? The Review and Herald, May 2, 1893: “The result of this apostasy will be national ruin.”

We see it all coming together. I believe as we have been told in Testimonies, vol. 5, 451, “The angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return.” “We may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.” Ibid.

Let me tell you friend, a storm is coming. May I ask you again that personal question, Is Christ on board your ship? When the storm breaks, will the Master ask, “Where is your faith?” Will you cringe in despair or will you be able to go to sleep at night just like Jesus in that little boat, without fear in a raging storm because His faith was in His God, His Father. God give us this kind of faith today is my prayer.

For more than fifty years Lawrence Nelson served the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a church pastor, evangelist, and then in Conference, Union, and General Conference leadership. When God laid upon him the responsibility to “tell it like it is” to alert the people how the church was leading them into the worldwide ecumenical movement he was forbidden to preach in any church within the Oregon Conference. Though nothing could be found in his preaching that was contrary to the doctrines of the church he was considered divisive. Thus Keep the Faith Audio Tape Ministry was born.

 

The Happiest Place on Earth

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God has told us that He created men and women for happiness, and yet the majority in our world today do not experience it.

Many people mistakenly think that happiness is dependent on some type of outward circumstance. In other words, the thought that if I had a better job, if I had a nicer spouse, if I had better health, if I lived in a better house, and another hundred “ifs,” then I would be happy. That is a delusion.

Unhappiness began in heaven—in a perfect society. Nobody was sick; there was not one who did not have enough of anything they wanted or needed. It was a perfect society. There was no defect in the society of heaven, and yet, in a perfect place, unhappiness developed, because a leading angel found himself dissatisfied. Why? He became dissatisfied for two of the very same reasons that people become dissatisfied today. First, because he could not be first and highest in command, so he became jealous of Jesus Christ, who was above him.

A couple of thousand years ago, one of the most famous men of antiquity, Julius Caesar, was leading a group of soldiers through a deep mountain valley. Julius Caesar was not only one of the most famous men of antiquity, he was also one of the most wicked. As they passed through the deep mountain valley they noticed on the top of the mountain a little village with smoke rising from the home hearths. Julius Caesar was reported to say to one of his aids walking with him, “I would rather be number one in that little village than to be number two in Rome.” This was the same problem that Lucifer had and it is all through the human race.

Lucifer wanted to be number one but God did not consent for him to be number one and he was dissatisfied. The Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, sometimes had council meetings together where the angels were not included. These were secret councils. The angels were not told what happened in these secret councils. Lucifer was jealous thinking that he should be included. Because he was not accorded supreme honor, he began to ask some questions in which he impugned the justice of God and talked to the angels about his dissatisfaction. Ellen White wrote, “He bent all his powers to allure the angels from their allegiance. The fact that he was an archangel, glorious and powerful, enabled him to exert a mighty influence. His complaints against God’s government, at first met with no favor; yet being urged again and again, they were finally accepted by those who had before been loyal and happy subjects of the King of Heaven. There was not the shadow of justification or excuse for disaffection; but envy and jealousy, once cherished, gained a power that paralyzed reason and destroyed honor and loyalty.” The Signs of the Times, September 14, 1882.

It is impossible to reason with a person once his reason has been paralyzed. That happens to human beings all the time. If you have that problem, if there are times in your life when you get so wrought up with depression or anger or any other emotion that your reason becomes paralyzed, you must overcome that by the grace of God, or you will not be in kingdom of heaven.

Lucifer told the angels that God had shown preference to Jesus Christ, to the neglect of himself. He then started telling some lies. Jesus called the devil the father of lies (John 8:14).

“Henceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 19. Eventually, the result was contention among the angels. Satan and his sympathizers were striving to reform the government of God because they were discontented and unhappy. Remember, this problem started in heaven, the place that we say we want to go. But here angels are discontent because they could not look into God’s unsearchable councils.

How arrogant for a created being to think that he would have a right to make demands on what his Creator should or should not do. This opened into a revolt and we see this same arrogance displayed by human beings today in all kinds of situations. The Bible says because of this, war broke out in heaven (Revelation 12:7–9).

The translation of the Hebrew word Mich-a-el, which we call in English Michael, is One who is like God. Michael [Jesus] and His angels fought and the dragon fought, and his angels. The war in heaven was angels against angels. Evil did not prevail. The dragon (Satan) and his angels were cast out to the earth. The very same technique that Lucifer used to deceive the angels, by which he eventually succeeded in persuading approximately one third of them to rebel against the government of God, he started using down here on this earth with our first mother, Eve.

He lied about God just as he had to the angels. He also lied about herself, telling her that she was immortal and that if she ate the fruit she would become like God. Only God has immortality.

Since the fall in Eden, the devil has continued to stir up dissatisfaction among the people of the world, even among God’s professed people. For example, when the children of Israel were delivered from the land of Egypt there were 600,000 men over 20 years of age, and of those 600,000 men only two of them entered the land of Canaan. That is an awful record, all because of dissatisfaction.

God had miraculously rescued them from slavery but they did not trust Him. The first time they didn’t have enough water they murmured against Moses saying, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt, to kill us …” (Exodus 17:3, literal translation). They continually complained. In Numbers 11:1 it says, “… when the people complained, it displeased the Lord … His anger was aroused … .”

Verse 4 says, “Now the mixed multitude who were among them yielded to intense craving; so the children of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Who will give us meat to eat?’ ” They craved their Egyptian diet, not satisfied with the manna that fell from heaven that sustained them in health for 40 years. Today, there are still people craving their Egyptian diet over the original diet that God gave mankind in the beginning.

Ellen White wrote in The Signs of the Times, March 7, 1906, “Do not look on the dark side. When the Israelites were content with the portion of manna that God gave, they found it sweet and full of nourishment. When they became dissatisfied, it was loathsome to them. Content is a blessing; discontent, a curse.”

Unfortunately, “Because of their dissatisfied, impatient, and rebellious spirit, they wandered for forty years in the wilderness.” Ibid., July 22, 1886.

“Whenever their appetite was restricted, the Israelites were dissatisfied, and murmured and complained against Moses and Aaron, and against God …” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, 1102. The Bible says that the Lord gave them angel’s food. So why were they not happy with it? “In Egypt their taste had become perverted. God designed to restore their appetite to a pure, healthy state, in order that they might enjoy the simple fruits that were given to Adam and Eve in Eden.” Ibid. If they had been willing to deny their appetite in obedience to God’s restrictions, there would have been no feeble one in all their tribes.

“God’s commands are never designed to make men unhappy.” The Signs of the Times, September 29, 1881. God never tells you to do something or not to do something for an arbitrary reason or to make you unhappy.

“They [God’s commandments] are the dictates of infinite wisdom, goodness, and love. While they secure the glory of God, they also promote the happiness of men. His restrictions are a safeguard against depravity of heart and corruption of life. The appetites and passions, indulged without restraint, enslave and degrade the higher and nobler powers.” Ibid.

We are living in a time when men want to please themselves without restrictions of any kind. However, any restriction that God gives is given for the happiness of mankind. This problem of dissatisfaction did not cease in the wilderness. Some hundreds of years later God’s people became dissatisfied with the guidance of the King of kings through the prophets. They told Samuel they wanted a human king. Now just think that through. They already had a King, the God of heaven, but they wanted to trade Him for a human king so they could be like everybody else. So God gave them what they wanted.

Human carnal nature can not help itself but be dissatisfied. Right after Jesus had fed the five thousand, the multitudes became dissatisfied with Him. “Their dissatisfied hearts queried why, if Jesus could perform so many wondrous works as they had witnessed, could He not give health, strength, and riches to all His people, free them from their oppressors, and exalt them to power and honor? The fact that He claimed to be the Sent of God, and yet refused to be Israel’s king, was a mystery which they could not fathom. His refusal was misinterpreted.” The Desire of Ages, 385. This mystery that they could not fathom caused many to leave Jesus and never come back. They became dissatisfied, one of the most successful tools of the devil.

“The world is full of dissatisfied spirits who overlook the happiness and blessings within their reach, and are continually seeking for happiness and satisfaction that they do not realize.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 640.

The reason for this is the same reason the devil had in the beginning. He wanted control as do people today. Control springs from selfishness. It is rampant in people who have not died to self, have too much idle time, and who have never been born again in the Spirit of God.

“It is in a life of service only that true happiness is found. He who lives a useless, selfish life is miserable. He is dissatisfied with himself and with every one else.” The Review and Herald, May 2, 1907.

If we do not overcome the temptation to dissatisfaction, we will lose heaven. It is a habit that once it gains a hold in your mind will eventually lead to dissatisfaction with everything. If you were taken to heaven, you would eventually be dissatisfied with the Lord Himself.

The story of Abraham in Genesis 12 reveals the secret of overcoming the temptation to dissatisfaction. Abraham was seventy-five years old at the time, “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’ ” (verses 1–3).

God made some wonderful promises to Abraham. First, He promises He would bless him and make his name great. Today we see that has happened. Christian, Jewish and Muslim nations all know that Abraham is great and call him their father.

Abraham knew how the world would be blessed through him. Though the nations around him worshiped idols Abraham worshiped the true God. The Lord had appeared to him and explained the plan of salvation. He knew that someday the Messiah would come through one of his descendants and as a result, salvation would be available to everybody in the world. That thrilled him more than anything else. God had promised Abraham that He would bless him and make of him a great nation. But Abraham questioned how could this be, as he had no children.

“And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, ‘This one [Eliezer of Damascus, Abraham’s servant] shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.’ Then He brought him outside and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be’ ” (Genesis 15:4, 5).

God promised Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. The Messiah would come from one of his descendants. His name would be great and he would be made into a great nation. But that was not all. Along with these promises would be a test.

Hebrews 11:8, 9, says, “By faith Abraham when he was called to go out into a place which he would receive as an inheritance, obeyed. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (literal translation).

Abraham packed up and left his home, Ur of the Chaldees, without knowing where he would be led. Ur of the Chaldees is down by the Persian Gulf in the southern part of what is now called Iraq. Nimrod had founded a whole group of cities there in Mesopotamia, which means the land between the rivers.

It was a very fertile tropical country and in ancient times a large part of the world population lived there. They were a highly civilized group of people. Modern archeology has found out some very interesting things about Ur of the Chaldees. The streets were paved. The streets in the city had lights at night. Houses were built with indoor plumbing with running water. The people did not live in tents but in houses, permanent dwellings that were built out of brick or masonry.

God called Abraham from a comfortable living from one of the most wealthy, civilized cities in the world to an unknown place and by faith he obeyed. God said, I want you to leave your country, and leave all your relatives.

Ellen White says it was no light test that was brought upon Abraham, no small sacrifice that was required of him. There were strong ties to bind him to his country, his kindred, and his home. And what was worse, Abraham was not able to explain why he was doing this or where he was going so that his friends could understand. This must have appeared to his friends and family that he was crazy.

Abraham did not question God’s instructions. When God told Abraham something, he obeyed and he did not need to ask any questions. The Bible describes Abraham as the father of the faithful. The apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:7, 29).

So, Abraham left his home and went to Haran. Eventually he landed in southern Palestine in a place that was later called Shechem.

Abraham no longer had a masonry house. There were no paved streets or city lights at night. He lived in a tent and was not dissatisfied because, “God has spoken, and His servant must obey; the happiest place on earth for him was the place where God would have him to be.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 126.

If you are a child of Abraham and you know that you are where God wants you to be, that is all you need to know and you will be satisfied. Unfortunately, dissatisfaction is still a problem for God’s children all over the world today. Have you ever met somebody who is dissatisfied with where they are? In fact, often people come to work at places like Steps to Life and they are so dissatisfied in Wichita, Kansas, that they want us to move the ministry somewhere else. That has happened many times. We are asked why we do not move this ministry to Hawaii or some other place they would desire to be. Why not move the ministry to Colorado where there are some mountains to look at?

If you are a Christian, the question is the same as was the question for Abraham: Where does God want me to be? That’s it. If I know that, then that is all I need to know. It is not important if there are mountains, or how the economy is, or the condition of the soil, or any number of other things. All I need to know is, Is this where God wants me to be? That was all Abraham needed to know.

The happiest place on earth is where God wants you to be. The happiest place on earth for Abraham was where God wanted him to be, even without the temporal comforts of the city he had left.

Then came more trials. It had stopped raining and the land was in a famine. Abraham had a lot of livestock that he had the potential of losing, as well as not being able to get enough food for his family. They were threatened with starvation. What would he do now?

Often when trials come, people start to question if that is really where the Lord wants them to be. But not Abraham; he knew the Lord had led him there so he did not go back to where he had come from. To avoid starvation and losing everything he went as close as he could to the land of promise. He went down to the land of Egypt a while to sojourn there.

Abraham could not explain the leadings of providence and had not realized his expectations but he never questioned Him who knows all. Ellen White wrote, “God leads His children by a way that they know not, but He does not forget or cast off those who put their trust in Him.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 129.

God has always sent His children trials of various kinds to prepare them for heaven and Abraham had to go through some very severe trials. In Canaan he found that the whole land, populated with Canaanites, not only worshiped idols, but on the mountains they offered human sacrifices. It was a terrible place to be, but Abraham stayed, knowing that the Lord had led him there. For him it was where God had put him. There would be a purpose because the happiest place on earth for him was where God would have him to be.

My friend, if you surrender your life to God, it will cut short the thousands of problems the people of this world have, because you need to ask far fewer questions. All you need to ask is, What do You want me do and where do you want me to live?

It worked for Abraham; he was at the place where God would have him be. He would then rest in the Lord and wait to see the bright side of what God was going to do in his life. Do you see how simple it is? You just need divine guidance in your life and you don’t need to get in all the quandary the people in this world have.

Thank God for the example of Abraham in Scripture and for the faith that he manifested. Pray that God will impart to us that same faith that Abraham had and that we may learn the lesson of satisfaction in this life and overcome the temptation to be dissatisfied. Remember, the happiest place on earth is where God wants you to be.

(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 in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

 

 

Unity Through Faith in Christ

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On the night of His betrayal, Christ made a very interesting statement, recorded in Luke 22:37. “For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘AND HE WAS NUMBERED WITH THE TRANSGRESSORS.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” [Emphasis added.]

Christ was quoting from Isaiah 53, a chapter that so faithfully and clearly describes Himself as the Messiah that Jewish parents refuse to discuss the chapter with their children. Thankfully, we are not so blind to the mercies of God that we refuse to recognize His prophetic voice speaking in the message He gave Isaiah centuries ago.

What are the things concerning Christ that “have an end” that He was referring to in Luke 22:37? A careful reading of Isaiah 53 will answer that question. Much of what Isaiah described about Christ ended at the cross—being “numbered with the transgressors”—but the entirety of the assertion He made in Luke has yet to come fully to pass. Christ continues to experience the sinfulness of sin as He pleads His blood before the mercy seat in the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary. And that ordeal will not end until the sanctuary is cleansed and He returns to this earth with the host of heaven to gather His saints.

Thus we ponder if Christ’s statement that “the things concerning Me have an end” has a broader application. Indeed, many things concerning Him did have an end when He was crucified. But there is, in my opinion, another end yet to come, and that will occur when Christ returns to gather His saints and ends the misery that sin has brought upon this earth.

What must we do to cope with the trials of life until that glorious event occurs? Remember that Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

Our hope lies not in this life, but in the life to come. Christ referred to that eternal life time and time again when He was on earth, though at the time few comprehended what He meant. The most famous reference, perhaps, is in John 3:16, a text that most professors of Christ learned at their parent’s knee.

The promise of eternal life, though, occurs over and over again in the record of Christ’s life as recorded in the gospels, and that promise is always based on the same condition—obedience—sometimes clearly stated and sometimes implied by the context of the statement.

In Matthew 19, we have this record: “Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ So He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments’ ” (Matthew 19:16, 17).

This is a rather amazing statement for a reason that might be easily overlooked. Clearly Christ is mindful here of His human nature and recognizes the inherent capacity for sin in the natural heart, which He assumed when He came to this earth to rescue man from the wages of sin. Mindful of this, of the potential sinfulness of humanity, He refused to accept the accolade offered by this rich young ruler: “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.” After that assertion, Christ clearly states the one and only condition for eternal life: “keep the commandments.”

The gospel writer who wrote most frequently of the reward of eternal life was the apostle John, usually in his record of Christ’s interactions with non-believers or in response to questions from His erstwhile followers.

John records an interesting exchange in the sixth chapter of his gospel narrative, where there is a comprehensive record of the feeding of the five thousand and the events that followed.

Perceiving the intent of the masses to “take Him by force to make Him king” (John 6:15), Jesus absented Himself from the scene and sought solitude. After reuniting with His disciples in a rather startling manner (verses 19 and 20), He engaged in an extended conversation with the people about Himself as the bread of life.

“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst’ ” (John 6:35). A bit later, Christ made a less symbolic, more direct statement regarding eternal realities; “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47). Unfortunately, there were not many who were willing to carry their belief in Him to complete fulfillment, as we see as this crisis in Galilee was building.

Christ’s statements that followed were unacceptable to the masses, for they failed to understand the symbolism in His assertion that “… unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (verse 53).

Even after Christ clearly stated in no vague language, “It is the Spirit Who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (verse 63), “many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (verse 66).

In the following chapter, John records a conversation that again was so full of symbolism that few truly understood His meaning.

“On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water’ ” (John 7:37, 38).

The meaning of this statement that so puzzled His hearers is made clear in the Spirit of Prophecy:

“The flowing of the water from the rock in the desert was celebrated by the Israelites, after their establishment in Canaan, with demonstrations of great rejoicing. In the time of Christ this celebration had become a most impressive ceremony. It took place on the occasion of the Feast of Tabernacles, when the people from all the land were assembled at Jerusalem. On each of the seven days of the feast the priests went out with music and the choir of Levites to draw water in a golden vessel from the spring of Siloam. They were followed by multitudes of the worshipers, as many as could get near the stream drinking of it, while the jubilant strains arose, ‘With joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation’ (Isaiah 12:3). Then the water drawn by the priests was borne to the temple amid the sounding of trumpets and the solemn chant, ‘Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem’ (Psalm 122:2). The water was poured out upon the altar of burnt offering, while songs of praise rang out, the multitudes joining in triumphant chorus with musical instruments and deep-toned trumpets.

“The Saviour made use of this symbolic service to direct the minds of the people to the blessings that He had come to bring them. ‘In the last day, that great day of the feast,’ His voice was heard in tones that rang through the temple courts, ‘If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink. He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’ ‘This,’ said John, ‘spake He of the Spirit, which they that believe on Him should receive’ (John 7:37–39). The refreshing water, welling up in a parched and barren land, causing the desert place to blossom, and flowing out to give life to the perishing, is an emblem of the divine grace which Christ alone can bestow, and which is as the living water, purifying, refreshing, and invigorating the soul. He in whom Christ is abiding has within him a never-failing fountain of grace and strength. Jesus cheers the life and brightens the path of all who truly seek Him. His love, received into the heart, will spring up in good works unto eternal life. And not only does it bless the soul in which it springs, but the living stream will flow out in words and deeds of righteousness, to refresh the thirsting around him.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 412.

In the eleventh chapter of John we have the record of the death and resurrection of Lazarus. After Christ and His disciples come to Bethany on the fourth day following Lazarus’ death, there is an interesting exchange between Martha and Jesus in which Martha’s understanding of the state of the dead is clearly revealed. “Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again.’ Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day’ ” (John 11:23, 24).

In response, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this? ’ ” (verses 25 and 26).

Though Martha responded positively, her response indicated that she failed to fully comprehend what belief in Christ fully means.

“To the Saviour’s words, ‘Believest thou?’ Martha responded, ‘Yea, Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world’ (verses 26, 27). She did not comprehend in all their significance the words spoken by Christ, but she confessed her faith in His divinity, and her confidence that He was able to perform whatever it pleased Him to do.” The Desire of Ages, 530.

There are two other passages in John’s gospel that should bring great joy to the believer. In John 16:33, Christ provides a reason for the continuing hope that His followers should have: “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.”

There is no greater peace, in the fullest meaning of the word, that one can have than is obtained in recognizing that Christ’s victory over the enemy of souls is our victory as well. Truly, “in the world” we “will have tribulation.” We have an enemy who is determined to drag humanity down into the same miserable pit of sin and degradation that he currently occupies. Nevertheless, by fully believing in Christ, by nurturing that measure of faith that each of us has been given, we can “be of good cheer” and “overcome the world.”

The final passage in the gospel of John that expresses the eternal life available to all who have faith in Christ is given in Christ’s prayer in John 17.

John 17:20–23: “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

All who understand fully what “belief” in Christ entails will indeed be unified in the bonds of Christian brotherhood that John summarized succinctly but powerfully in his first missive: “if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7).

We cannot “walk in the light” unless we have complete faith in Christ as the Redeemer of mankind and fully believe that His blood cleanses us from all sin. Then that unity that Christ prayed so fervently for in John 17 will be a reality and we will indeed have true Christian fellowship with one another.

The gospel writers were not alone in their affirmation that obedience through faith in Christ imparts righteousness to the believer—that righteousness by faith that alone provides the spotless wedding garment to the saved. Paul alluded time and time again to the inseparable union of faith, righteousness, and eternal life.

One of his strongest statements occurs in Philippians 3:8, 9: “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.”

As Paul’s long, final imprisonment began and his itinerate ministry was drawing to a close, he continued to bear faithfully the message that God had laid upon his heart. When arraigned before Felix, he took the opportunity to preach one of his most meaningful and memorable sermons.

For two years, “a ray of light from heaven had been permitted to shine upon Felix, when Paul reasoned with him concerning righteousness, temperance, and a judgment to come. That was his heaven-sent opportunity to see and to forsake his sins. But he said to the messenger of God, ‘Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee’ (Acts 24:25). He had slighted his last offer of mercy. Never was he to receive another call from God.” The Acts of the Apostles, 427.

Let us not be like Felix, who had at his disposal for two years one of the greatest expositors of the gospel, who apparently conversed with him at will, but who rejected this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to know more fully the way of salvation.

“And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ” (Acts 24:24).

“The faith in Christ” … Felix rejected his opportunity to understand what that meant. Thankfully, by the grace and love of God, we have on record Paul’s explanation of what it means to be in Christ and to have faith in Christ, so that we are “without excuse” if we fail to grasp the full import of what that means.

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21–26).

“… through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe …”

Unity through faith in Christ!

All quotes NKJV unless otherwise noted.

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.

 

How to Strengthen Faith

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One of the most common excuses Satan presents to a praying heart is, “Your faith is too weak to expect God to answer.” This lie is often accepted as the truth. Yet Jesus has exposed the Devil’s lie. He said that if we have a tiny mustard seed of faith, mountains can be removed.

In our own “Gethsemane” experience God helped us to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in strengthening faith. We share these faith-strengthening principles with you. These principles are all Biblical. … You can also experience wonderful answers in exercising the faith God has given you.

We remembered God’s past answers to prayer.

“And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee” (Deuteronomy 8:2). …

For years we had been impressed with the way God’s professed people of “old” forgot God. The Scriptures declare that the reason for their many backslidings was:

“They forgot God their Saviour” (Psalm 106:21).

“They soon forgot His works” (Psalm 106:13).

“Thou … hast forgotten God” (Deuteronomy 32:18).

We concluded that since forgetfulness of God leads to a weak, backslidden faith, remembering will lead to increased faith and confidence. This is in harmony with the principle, “we … beholding … are changed into the same image” (2 Corinthians 3:18). If we look at failure, our hearts will be filled with fear and our faith will weaken.

As we reviewed past miracles from our God of love, we could cry out, “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee” (Psalm 56:3).

“I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. I will meditate also of all Thy work, and talk of Thy doings” (Psalm 77:11, 12).

“Remember His marvellous works that He hath done; His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth” (Psalm 105:5).

“He hath made His wonderful works to be remembered” (Psalm 111:4).

When we were sick almost unto death, we determined to drill ourselves on God’s wonderful works to others as well as to ourselves. We thought of His word that made the worlds. (See Psalm 33:6, 9.) We cried out to God, “Your word was powerful enough to speak the worlds into existence.” We remembered “the sabbath day, to keep it holy … for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth” (Exodus 20:8–11).

We went through God’s dealing in various ages. He opened the Red Sea and let His people go through on dry land. He caused the walls of Jericho to fall down without human aid. We traced God and His dealings through the Old Testament and into the New Testament. We followed our Lord Jesus. We visualized the leper coming to him (Mathew 8:2), and Jesus healing him by His word. We saw the woman with the issue of blood healed according to her faith. On and on we went. We found that this remembering gave us peace and strengthened our faith almost beyond description. We actually realized the fulfillment of the promise in Isaiah 26:3: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.”

To stay our minds on our Lord is to increase our faith, our trust, our confidence.

We observed that whenever we found our faith weakening and we talked about what God had done for us in the past, our faith became much stronger. Try it out. It works for anyone. It is a principle of strengthening faith.

We looked away from our circumstances.

At one time we seemed almost to lose our minds. We could see nothing but failure ahead. There seemed no ray of light whatever. As we glared at the dismal future, God’s Spirit flashed the following text into our minds:

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

We knew that God was speaking directly to our hearts. As we now recall, we had not read this Scripture in a long time. God was saying to us, “Stop looking at the problems. You have already recognized them. You have fully identified them. Problem-centeredness will not solve problems. But there is power in looking to Me.” We had great difficulty in turning our minds from the problems. They were so close, so stupendous. But as we cried out to God, He helped us to look toward Him.

“Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22).

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me” (Isaiah 46:9).

We learned to talk faith even when we seemed void of it.

We scanned the Holy Scriptures. There we learned that men of faith talked faith. They talked and sang faith when all was dark.

Gideon’s army of 300 shouted faith when surrounded by an enemy army, numberless as the sands of the sea. (See Judges, chapter 7.)

Joshua’s men shouted victory against the walls absolutely impregnable. (See Joshua, chapter 6.)

Paul and Silas, held fast in the prison, sang faith at the midnight hour, and were immediately delivered. (See Acts, chapter 16.)

So it has been through the ages. The ten spies who talked doubt perished. (See Numbers 14:28–32.) The two who talked faith realized the fulfillment of God’s promise.

We learned that God rewards those using the “faith muscle” rather than the “doubt muscle.”

We prayed often before an open Bible.

We learned the Bible is full of activity in prayer. One might say the majority of prayers in Bible times were accompanied by gestures. These did not change God, but these gestures in prayer helped man’s faith. When men offered a sin offering, they laid their hands on in prayer. When a wave offering was presented to the Lord there was another gesture. When George Muller prayed before an open Bible, that did something to his faith. It is said that he received $7,500,000 when money was real money, without soliciting a penny. He cared for thousands of orphans, sent hundreds of missionaries overseas, and gave away thousands of pieces of literature. He prayed often before an open Bible. We took the Bible right in our hands and claimed its promises. The gesture was good for our faith. (See Romans 10:17.)

We placed our finger right on a Bible promise.

Have you ever heard of a man who promised in writing that he would pay another man a certain sum at a certain time? And when that date arrived he forgot to pay? Then the man whom he owed went to visit him. He opened his letter. He showed the man where he had promised to pay. He placed his finger right on the promise. It gave him assurance in asking and expecting an answer. So we placed our fingers right on God’s promise.

And “faith cometh by hearing … the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

We used supporting promises of God’s word.

Let us clarify what we mean by “supporting” promises. Supporting promises, as we identify them, are statements of Scripture which say God will keep His word. They say God cannot lie. They declare God will never break His word. We call these statements of Scripture “supporting” promises. They are, to us, in a different category from “specific” promises.

Specific promises, as we categorize them, are promises for specific things like: wisdom (James 1:5); guidance (Psalm 25:9); healing (Jeremiah 33:6); the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13).

When we claimed a specific promise, like the one for wisdom, we would also refer to the “supporting” promises. We would tell God why we believed He was giving the wisdom promised. It was because (and here we quoted the supporting promise), “God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent [change his mind]: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good” (Numbers 23:19)?

Other supporting promises that we referred to were:

  • Matthew 24:35
  • Hebrews 6:18
  • Joshua 23:14
  • Corinthians 1:20
  • Psalm 89:34
  • Isaiah 46:11
  • Peter 3:9
  • Psalm 119:89
  • Titus 1:2
  • Samuel 15:29
  • Isaiah 54:10
  • Psalm 119:90
  • Hebrews 10:23
  • Mark 9:24
  • John 11:41

We lifted up our hands to Jesus our Intercessor and Provider.

For years we had studied the teaching of the Scriptures regarding the “lifting up of holy hands” (1 Timothy 2:8 and Psalm 141:2).

We had learned that when Aaron was consecrated by Moses, his hands were waved before the Lord, containing things that represented Jesus. (See Leviticus 8:27–29).

We read the Psalmist’s statement, “Let … the lifting up of my hands be as the evening sacrifice” (Psalm 141:2).

We knew the evening sacrifice was a lamb (Numbers 28:4).

We knew this was a type of Jesus, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29).

So as we lifted up our hands, we knew that this was a symbolic way of saying to the Lord, “We have no merits in our life. We have no worthiness of our own. But there is Jesus, the Lamb of God, standing between God’s justice and our guilt. We are coming through His name, in His merits.” The Father in heaven throws open the whole treasure house of the universe to Jesus, His Son, who has made our prayer His own.

We discovered that this gesture in prayer, though not often engaged in, yet in times of trouble brings great assurance. It destroys Satan’s insinuation that because of our unworthiness we cannot expect answers to prayer.

 We tried to let our eyes of faith meet our Lord’s eager eyes.

We do not profess to have attained in this method of increasing faith.

But God’s eyes are looking for someone to look skyward. (See 2 Corinthians 16:9).

We cry out, … “our eyes are upon Thee” (2 Chronicles 20:12).

Thus as we look to Jesus “the author and finisher [perfector] of our faith,” something wonderful takes place (Hebrews 12:2).

[All emphasis author’s.]

This is an extract from the book The Science of Prayer Its ABC’s, Glenn and Ethel Coon, 77–83. This book is a recommended read for those desiring a closer communication with their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Themes of First Peter

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In view of the present condition of this country, it would be beneficial to reflect on the themes brought out in the first letter of the apostle Peter.

Sacrifice and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The major theme of Peter’s first letter is Christ’s sacrifice on the cross of Calvary and His resurrection. This is the foundation of the Christian religion.

The foundation of any structure is most important. In fact, if a fault is found with the foundation, the whole building is in jeopardy. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross is the foundation of our hope and faith. It is so important that both the redeemed as well as the angels will study this subject throughout eternity. Peter wrote, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:2). You are only a part of the elect if you have been sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ.

In verse 3 Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Verse 11: “searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them [the Old Testament prophets] was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.”

The theme is repeated again in verses 18–20: “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”

Before creation, the Father and the Son knew not only what Satan (Lucifer) was going to do, but also that Adam and Eve would fall. One might wonder what would have happened if God, looking down through the passage of time and seeing the poor choice Lucifer would make, decided not to create him? What if in seeing the mistake that Adam and Eve would make, they were not created?

Nobody would ever have known about it except God. If that were the case there would not have been freedom of choice, because anybody foreseen to make the wrong choice, would not be in existence.

In the first few pages of The Desire of Ages, Ellen White said that from eternity, the Father and Son saw the rebellion of Satan and the fall of man; and not only that, they saw what would be necessary in order for fallen man to be saved. If you are saved, someday you will get to study until you fully understand that a God who was infinite in wisdom, and infinite in power, could not find any way to redeem a fallen race except by the sacrifice of His Son (The Desire of Ages, 22).

The Father knew ahead of time the outcome. God’s dear Son knew every detail of His life before He ever came to this world as a man. He knew He would be rejected by most of the people, spit on and flogged, and finally be crucified. He knew that the majority of those He came to save would not accept Him as their Saviour. Even with this intimate knowledge, the plan did not change and went ahead.

In verse 20, Peter said that before the foundation of the world, before the world was ever created, Christ was ordained to save fallen man (see 1 Peter 1:20). It is awesome to think about. This subject is repeated throughout his book. In Chapter 2 verse 21 it says, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” and, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (verse 24).

I don’t understand it; I cannot explain it; but the Bible says it is by His stripes, His wounds, that I am healed. That is something to meditate on and try to understand. In 1 Peter 3:18 he says, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but being made alive by the Spirit.”

You would think Peter had said enough about this theme, but he is still not done. In chapter 4, verse 1 he says again, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” I have studied this verse for decades and I still cannot explain it. In chapter 4 verse 13 he says, “But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

In the last chapter of the book, chapter 5, verse 1, Peter says, “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness (I saw) of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: …” Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection is the foundation of the Christian religion. Peter talked about it. He wrote about it, taught about it, and preached it for the rest of his life.

The Holy Spirit

Peter writes about the Holy Spirit in his first letter. In 1 Peter 1:2 he says, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of [or by] the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.”

In this verse sanctification and obedience are connected with the Holy Spirit. Verse 12 says, “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they [the old testament prophets] were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”

Peter says the preaching of the gospel is by the Spirit. The writing out of the prophecies of Christ was by the Holy Spirit as he indicates in verse 11, and the preaching of the gospel to you is by the Holy Spirit. But he has a lot more to say about the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:22 says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” We can obey the truth only through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul agrees with this truth.

“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory (the Holy Spirit) and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified” (1 Peter 4:14).

Love

The third major theme in 1st Peter is love. We usually think of the apostle John as being the apostle that dwells most fully upon love, but Peter also makes it a major theme of his letter. In 1 Peter 1:22, he talks about it twice. It says, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” That is a command. We are commanded to love one another fervently with a pure heart.

Another command says, “… love the brotherhood …” (1 Peter 2:17). In 1 Peter 3:8, Peter uses some really strong language. He says, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous.”

In chapter 4 verse 8 Peter gets stronger than previously: “… above all things (this is more important than anything else) have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’ ” Is there anybody who does not have a multitude of sins that need to be covered?

Remember the divine rule. Jesus says, As you do to others, it will be done to you (see Luke 6:38, last part).

If I want my sins to be covered, I should be willing to do the same when I find out about other people’s sins and not broadcast them to the world or to the church. Love covers. That is something to think through. This does not apply to those things that need to be made right.

The Bible says that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:24). Our God does not want to publicize our sins. He would like to cover them up and later blot them out. If that is God’s intention with our sins, then it would be good to consider what we should do with other people’s sins when they come to our notice.

There are people who claim Peter as their spiritual father and talk about him as though he is the head of the church while being out of harmony with his writings.

Submission and Obedience

“Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:2). Obedience means that you are subject to somebody or something like a law.

Verse 14: “… as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance.” Obedience means submission, to somebody or something.

In chapter 2 Peter refers to the people that have not learned this and how they are going to stumble and be lost. He says, “Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone, and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense. They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed” (1 Peter 2:7, 8).

They stumble because they are disobedient. Then in verse 13 he gets very direct in his counsel on this subject: “Therefore submit …” I want to tell you, friends, submission is one of the ugliest words in the English language for the population in the United States today. We have millions of people that refuse to submit. They don’t submit to their parents. They don’t submit to the government. They don’t submit to anything. They are rebels, but, no rebel will be in the kingdom of heaven. Peter says, “… submit yourselves to every ordinance …” In other words, every law. Submit yourselves to every ordinance of men.

However, some say that the government is wicked, but read the history of the Roman Empire. It was one of the most wicked governments up to that time with some believing that it was the most wicked government that has ever existed in all time. In the command to submit, Peter was not making reference to a righteous government but to an evil government and he said, “… submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good” (verses 13, 14).

Nobody who is stirring up trouble for the government is in harmony with 1 Peter 2:13–17. Such are in direct violation of the word of God. That is not a condition in which to be found in the day of judgment.

This admonition also applies in the workplace where people have supervisors. Supervisors are often the most unpopular people in the business because nobody wants to submit to their leading. We live in an age where people only want to do what they want to do, when they want to do it, the way they want to without anybody telling them what to do. This is not just in the world, but in the church, and also the home. Peter says, “Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully” (verses 18, 19).

Is it possible that you could suffer wrongfully in the workplace because of a supervisor that is not understanding but he is still your supervisor?

Peter touches on some very unpopular subjects, particularly in chapter 3, verse 1: “Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands …” This is so unpopular today that I am scared to say anything about it other than read it from the Bible, and then you can argue with Him.

Verses 5 and 6 continue, “For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.”

Some people are ready to throw the preacher out just for reading a text like that, but it is in the Bible. Peter wrote it. We all must learn the lesson of submission. No one is excluded. If we fail to learn this lesson, we will never be in the kingdom of heaven.

Now we come to another one that is just as sensitive as the one we just read, because Peter is not done yet. 1 Peter 5:5: “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders …” Oh, no, somebody says, You don’t know how bad my parents are. I may not, but it is in the Bible. But now, notice what it says in the last part of the verse. “Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility … .” All, even if you are ninety years old should be submissive to each other.

Friend, the Christian world has not learned submission. That is why we have the troubles we have today. We have not learned it in our homes or even in the church. Everyone wants to do what is right in their own eyes and not be subject to anyone else. Everything is upside down.

This has to do with the government of God and in His government there is order. Do you know that certain angels are appointed to be over other angels? When Jesus was crucified on the cross, Ellen White says that the weakest angel could have delivered Him instantly, and they would have liked to. And there were no doubt millions of them around watching, but they didn’t move. They didn’t do anything to deliver Christ from the cross. Ellen White tells us that a commanding angel told them, No. You are not to interfere in anything that you see, and when the angels are told by the commanding angel not to interfere, they obey.

Angels understand the lesson of submission, and unless we learn that lesson we will never be fit for the kingdom of heaven.

Order

There can never be order unless people have learned submission. That is why Peter deals so much with submission, because unless people have learned that, you cannot have order. Without order there is only chaos.

In 1 Peter 2:5, he says, “You also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” Peter here is talking about Christians scattered over a large territory. He says, you are built up a spiritual house. A house is an establishment where members of family live together and they have family government.

Although ideally a family home has government, unfortunately today, there are many that do not have much order in their family. The result is often chaos.

Peter talks about this need for order again in verse 9: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation …” A nation is a group of people who are organized under a single government. He says, You are a holy nation. That has to do with order, order in the church.

Concerning Christ, Peter wrote, “who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him” (chapter 3:22). Notice there is order in the universe and every created thing is subject to Jesus Christ.

In chapter 5, verse 2 Peter talks to pastors or elders in the church and he tells them, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers [managers], not by constraint, but willingly” (literal translation).

There are people who do not believe in the necessity of church organization. In Ellen White’s day some fought organization for almost twenty years. James White fought for organization almost single-handedly while others thought that to be organized would make them become like Babylon.

If there is no one to oversee a church, ministry, school, or family, there will be no order. Without organization nothing will get done. However, you can’t have an overseer if people are not willing to be overseen.

The New Testament church had elders who were overseers of the work. These overseers were not dictators. Peter said in verse 3, “Nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” They may be managers but never to have a dictatorial spirit. Fathers and mothers want their children to obey them because of love and respect and trust and not because they are afraid of punishment. When fear is the reason for obedience the home is very unhappy.

Everlasting Inheritance

Another major theme in 1 Peter is the everlasting inheritance of the people who are going to be saved and Peter has some wonderful descriptions of it in this little letter where he gives short lists of instruction and counsel to Christians on different subjects. Remember, these instructions are from an inspired apostle to individual Christians about how to live a holy life:

  • Holiness (1 Peter 1:13–18).
  • Results of being born again (1 Peter 1:22, 23).
  • What to discard from your life (1 Peter 2:1, 2).
  • What to do in relation to others (1 Peter 2:17).
  • Call for unity 1 Peter 3:8–11).
  • Appeal for loving Christian service (1 Peter 4:7–11).
  • Description of the Christian struggle (1 Peter 5:6–9).

Peter packed a lot into this little letter. Those desiring to go to the kingdom of heaven would be wise to heed the instruction given and order their lives in harmony with what Peter wrote.

In mercy, God has given us plain, clear instruction about how we should live, and how we should relate to one another, both in the church and in the world. God will deliver us from the rebellious spirit that we see in the atmosphere all around today. He will help us to develop a submissive spirit so that we can obey His law and His leading and guiding in our lives. God will also help us to learn the lesson of living in harmony and unity and experience a fervent love for each other if we ask Him. Pray for the Holy Spirit to work a miracle in you.

(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 in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Rise and Shine

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The only hope we have for this world’s suffering and woe is for Jesus’ Second Coming. This is my ardent hope. I daily pray for it, and I dream every night for it. I am trying to implement methods and projects to hasten Jesus Christ’s coming. I believe Jesus is the only answer for the problems of humanity.

As I travel to many different countries, especially to Asian countries, Korea, China, and Japan, I see many, many problems, tragedies, and sufferings, especially sufferings of the saints. Jesus Christ must come soon and we must do everything in our power to hasten His coming.

When I think about, talk about and pray about the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, it always brings tears to my eyes, because when Jesus Christ comes, I will again meet people that I have been separated from through death, especially my mother. My mother has been very special to me. She was the one who brought me to Jesus Christ. Without her prayers I would not be here standing before you. I know that many have a yearning heart to be reunited with many people, especially family members.

When Jesus Christ comes, a shout of joy is going to fill the air of this earth. We will not be separated again. This reunion and fellowship will not be just temporary, but will be throughout eternity.

My heart especially suffers right now. Four members of our China staff workers – two pastors, our business manager, one young lady and one of the treasurers have received prison sentences; one for 10 years, two of them for 9 years, and the young lady for 7 years. I cannot see them or hear their voices again. They are locked into jail and from time to time I just receive their letters through some mediums. It just breaks my heart. We need the latter rain of the Holy Spirit soon so that we can finish the work and go home together, even with those poor people who are locked into jails, simply because they have printed millions of books, Spirit of Prophecy books, and truth-filled books, and scattered them into many, many different provinces in China. Simply because of their dedication of giving truth-filled books to the people, they are locked into jail.

I am the one who taught them about the truth, baptized them, and assigned them the work, so they are like my own children. I experience heartache every day when I think about them. I want Jesus to come, soon.

We do not have any might or strength of our own to hasten Jesus Christ’s coming, but God is going to do something for us so that we can rise and shine with His truth, throughout the world, so that all the inhabitants of the earth are going to focus on God’s people. Sooner or later we will be surprised that all the eyes of the world will give their attention to us. They will focus on the remnant of the woman, that small number of people of God, the true church. That time will come.

We are living in a very difficult time to draw the attention of the people to our messages. I have been an evangelist for many years and I find it more and more difficult to grab the attention of the people. Someday soon God is going to do something very special for you and me. We are going to arise and shine like never before and the people’s attentions, kings and presidents, queens, princes, royal people, common people, farmers, carpenters and everybody alike are going to give their attention to our messages. It will be at that time that we are going to really hasten Jesus Christ’s coming.

Isaiah 60:1–5 says, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.”

Do you really believe this prophecy is going to be fulfilled before our eyes in your future? I believe it with all my heart. Various ministries are asking donations for the support of outreach projects. But actually Isaiah says that the treasures of the world, the treasures of Egypt, are going to flow into our fund. There will be no more problem of financing. Our ministries and evangelism are going to be supported by the people who did not know this truth. I begin to see that many ministries, especially ours, are being supported by non-Adventists, non-believers. This is a miracle, and I can see the possibility of the treasures of the world are about to flow into us and support God’s work.

This prophecy will be fulfilled before our eyes, and I believe it with all my heart that the sons and daughters who left our houses because they were sick and tired of seeing formalism in our homes and especially in our churches, are going to come back. They will return to the church and to our homes. That is what the Bible prophecy says because they see God’s people arise and shine. They will say, “That’s what I heard when I was young. That’s what I expected when I was a young child. That is what I have been waiting for, expecting for, in my own homes and in my own churches.”

These prodigal sons and daughters, from all over the world, are going to stand up and say, “I am going back to my father’s house,” and they will come. Maybe they will wear ragged clothes, but we don’t care. They are going to stand and return to our homes and our churches. I am yearning for that day before Jesus Christ comes, when these wonderful promises of the Lord will be fulfilled. Now, he says, “Arise and shine for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” The glory of the Lord became our light. We are going to arise and shine because the Lord’s light became ours in our hearts. That light is “… the glory of the Lord.”

In Christ’s Object Lessons, 420, it says, “Christ does not bid His followers strive to shine. He says, Let your light shine.” Why do we not strive to shine? Because the glory of the Lord came upon us; it is not our light, but the light of the glory of God. It will shine throughout the world. This is a very important experience. We may call it the “latter rain” or “loud cry” experience. No matter what you call it, it is the same experience. We just arise, and the glory of God is going to shine throughout the world. [Emphasis author’s.]

In Exodus chapters 33 and 34, Moses sensed that God did not want to go along with them to the land of Canaan. I can just imagine the conversation between Moses and God. God might have said, “Well, Moses, I’ll send one of My angels to drive away all the Amorites and Canaanites from the land and let you settle down there, but I am not going to go among you lest I consume you in the way.”

Moses worried very much, and probably replied to the Lord, “Lord, I’m not one who volunteered for this job. You are the One who called me to lead this people to the land of Canaan. But in the middle of the ways, You said that You changed your mind and You are not going to come with us. This people is called by Thy name. If you let this people die in the wilderness, Your name is going to be dishonored. Lord, don’t You do that. Please come with us.”

Regardless of the exact conversation that occurred, God agreed to go with them, but Moses was not yet satisfied. He asked something humanity should not ask. He said, “Lord, show me Thy glory” (Exodus 33:18).

This request was accepted with a condition. God would put him in the cleft of the rock and cover him with His hand before passing by. God said that no man can live after he sees His glory. But for Moses He would do a very special thing, something never done before for any humanity.

In order to make the explanation short, the words of a beautiful hymn explains this experience. “Rock of Ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.” What beautiful words. “Let the water and the blood, from Thy riven side which flowed” (Augustus Toplady, 1763). That is the symbolism of the Rock of Ages, Jesus Christ. There is a cleft left for us, the riven side of Jesus Christ. On His side, there is a place where the spear of the Roman soldiers pierced. In that cleft you and I can hide ourselves for that is our salvation. It is the only place we can go and hide ourselves and to behold the glory of God.

When Moses asked the Lord, “Show me Thy glory,” God responded, “I am going to proclaim My name, My goodness, before you.” In Exodus 34:6, Jesus Christ proclaimed His goodness, which is His character. “I am the Lord God, merciful, gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth” (literal translation).

His glory, His character, His name, and His truth—all are descriptions of the Lord. How can we really understand His character, His truth, His name, properly and how are we able to bear His glory and behold His character and His truth? We can rise and shine with His glory only when we go into the cleft, the cleft of the Rock of Ages and hide ourselves in Jesus Christ. When we truly understand that Jesus Christ was wounded so that we can be healed, why Jesus Christ stretched both His hands on the cross so that we can be saved, when we truly understand through the Holy Spirit, the meaning of the cross, the true sacrifice and love coming down from the heart of the Father, only then will we be able to understand His character.

When we truly understand and experience it as it is in Christ, then we will be able to behold the glory of God and experience it in our hearts. The presence of the Lord may be in us, and then we will have light. We will have a power that this earth has never seen and the work is going to be finished and Jesus will return.

We have about 600 Bible workers in our ministry and we are adding many more numbers in China alone. The director of colporteurs in China gave me this report. He said: “Pastor Kang, now we have covered all of the provinces in China with millions of books.” It is done already by the grace of God. Many of the workers went to jail for a few days and others for a few weeks and were released, but many of them have received sentences of many years. He told me that we covered just about all major areas and cities in China with our books, except Tibet.

With that report, I wept, not because our ministry has done something great, but because we have done something to hasten Jesus’ coming. I want Jesus to come soon.

I have been praying to God for many years, “Lord, You put that burden in my heart. You put that burden in our ministry as far as Chinese-speaking, Korean-speaking, and Japanese-speaking people are concerned. Help us to do something to make a dent so that we can hasten Jesus Christ’s coming.”

I do not preach a wishy-washy, mellow, soft message. If I do that I would be damned by the Lord. I preach the straight three angels’ messages of Revelation 14. I tell clearly what constitutes Babylon and the condition that leads to Babylon and how to come out of her. I preach about the seventh-day Sabbath and many listen. I also teach about the everlasting gospel. I have found out as an evangelist that you don’t have to argue doctrinal points. I did that for many years, but not anymore. I evangelize according to the blueprint laid out in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. I preach the everlasting gospel. When the people are touched by the Holy Spirit with that gospel, they realize that is what they have been searching for and that is what they have missed. When a person experiences the everlasting gospel, the state of death is easily accepted, as well as the seventh-day Sabbath, for their hearts are wide open.

We need to rise and shine with the glory of God. When we truly understand the everlasting gospel, we understand the meaning of the cross.

The gospel power is the power of creation. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 24:14: “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Jesus said this eternal gospel is not wishy-washy and compromised, as has been preached by many Protestant as well as Seventh-day Adventist preachers. When the true gospel is preached as a witness to all the nations, then the end shall come. The essence of the three angels’ messages, which is the everlasting gospel, is understood intellectually and when we truly experience it in our hearts, we will always come to Jesus Christ with a contrite heart and with a humility. Lord, have mercy upon us and let Jesus Christ live in us. If Jesus Christ lives in us, the words we preach, the words we teach, are going to be so powerful that the Holy Spirit will persuade the people, will convert people and will convince people of the truth.

In speaking of those who will be saved, the Holy Spirit inspired Isaiah to write, “Fear not: for I am with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; Even every one that is called by My name: for I have created him for My glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him” (Isaiah 43:5–7).

You are made by His power for His glory. If you are called by God’s name, you must be created for His glory. The gospel power is the power of creation. When God says something, it is done. He said, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3), and there was light. It did not take any seconds. When God said, “Let there be sun” (verse 14), there was sun, dazzling bright and big, hanging in the sky and giving the dazzling bright light and energy, continuously preserved so that we can be preserved. That is the power of creation.

When we believe the gospel, when we believe Jesus’ death on the cross, something happens in our hearts and in our lives. Our guilt is gone and we are freed from the bondage and the power of sin. Because we are created and made by His power, we will be able to walk freely and become true overcomers of our sins and our sinful nature, which includes sinful impulses and all different kinds of temptations and evils coming from the devil. That is the people who are called by the name of the Lord. It is not our work; it is not by our own merits and strength, but by the grace of Jesus Christ.

This new creation includes true humility. Humility is more than just outward behavior and words. Humility is genuine when you feel that you do not have anything to boast about. That is true humility.

The Bible calls me a saint, but only through God’s grace. The Bible calls me righteous, but only by the grace of God. All I can say before God is, “I am a sinner and I confess.” When we become a people who are really touched by God’s creative heart, humbly united in the truth, we all are going to someday rise up and shine together before the world, no matter what kind of miracle power Satan brings. All will see the power of the gospel, and many of them are going to make their decision either for God or against. The probation is going to be closed and Jesus Christ will come. I know and I believe it with all my heart and that is why I give my life and everything that I have for this cause.

Revelation 14:6 and 7, the first angel’s message says, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come.” And then the next sentence says, “And worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” It says to “worship the Creator.” Proclaim this gospel power, the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, of the cross. This is a creative power that creates salvation within. It is not by our own efforts and strength but by the power of God that we become new creatures, not only in intellectual understanding, but in our hearts, every day.

In The Desire of Ages, 409, it says,  “The religion of Christ is sincerity itself. Zeal for God’s glory is the motive implanted by the Holy Spirit. …” Jesus implants His motivations, His nature, within us. That is the gospel power. That is how we become righteous. We think righteously, we behave righteously, because we are implanted with the motivation of God’s nature, through the Holy Spirit.

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312.

“The sanctification of the soul by the working of the Holy Spirit is the implanting of Christ’s nature in humanity.” Ibid., 384.

The ancient Jewish people knew the truth intellectually in their minds but they did not understand the power of the gospel. Their knowledge was a curse to them. It is better not to know it than to know it and not truly understand it. Many Adventist families have been so cursed in our day—“knowing” the truth without truly knowing it.

There are two ways to understand the glory of God – one is through His gospel and the second, through an understanding of His truth. Jesus Christ is going to come soon and we have to do everything in our power to hasten His coming. It first has to start from the true repentance experience in our own hearts today.

We do not want to stay on this earth any longer. We want to go home. We must get ready today. We must rise and shine today.

 Pastor David Kang was the director of Light for Life U.S. Ministry operating out of Commerce, Georgia. His sermons are broadcast weekly on New York and Virginia Korean television stations. Pastor Kang passed away in 2016 awaiting the return of His best friend, Jesus to reunite him with those with whom he labored and tirelessly worked for while he could. He is sadly missed.

What Seest Thou?

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One of the most miraculous organs that God gave humans is the eye. But just like any organ of the body, it can be abused through misuse or mistreatment—more commonly by the former rather than the latter.

God’s word gives us much guidance regarding use of our eyes and provides many examples of the results of their misuse. In Isaiah, the prophet was moved to write one of the clearest statements regarding the importance of guarding what we behold:

“The sinners in Zion are afraid; Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:

‘Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?

Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?’

He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,

He who despises the gain of oppressions,

Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes,

Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed,

And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:

He will dwell on high;

His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks;

Bread will be given him,

His water will be sure.”

Isaiah 33:14–16

[Emphasis supplied.]

The pen of inspiration noted the importance of Isaiah’s counsel in the following passage:

“Clad in the armor of Christ’s righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict. ‘Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners’ (Song of Solomon 6:10), she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer.

“The darkest hour of the church’s struggle with the powers of evil is that which immediately precedes the day of her final deliverance. But none who trust in God need fear; for ‘when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall,’ God will be to His church ‘a refuge from the storm’ (Isaiah 25:4).

“In that day only the righteous are promised deliverance. ‘The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure’ (Isaiah 33:14–16).”

“The word of the Lord to His faithful ones is: ‘Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity’ (Isaiah 26:20, 21).” Prophets and Kings, 725, 726.

It is comforting to recognize that through Isaiah the Lord has promised the faithful that if they abide by His counsel, if, among other forms of obedience, they shut their eyes from seeing evil, they will be fed and sheltered during the time of trouble.

Some of the counsel that inspiration provides concerns not only our physical vision, but our imagination—our mental vision—as well.

“We want the transforming grace of God to take right hold of our thinking powers. We may think evil, we may continue to keep our minds upon objectionable things, but what does this do for us? It conforms our entire experience to that which we are looking upon. But by beholding Jesus we become changed into His likeness. The servant of the living God sees to some purpose. The eyes are sanctified, and the ears are sanctified, and those who will close their eyes and ears to evil will become changed.” Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, 670.

This passage makes reference to a text that needs to be understood in its fullest meaning by those who are serious about overcoming: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We commonly understand this text to mean that we become changed into what we spend our time beholding. If we regularly view activity that transgresses the commandments, statutes, testimonies, and words of counsel that the Lord in His mercy has given us, how can we hope to be overcomers? Eventually we will become changed into what we are beholding.

“Everything that can be done should be done to place ourselves and our children where we shall not see the iniquity that is practised [sic] in the world. We should carefully guard the sight of our eyes and the hearing of our ears, so that these awful things shall not enter our minds. When the daily newspaper comes into the house, I feel as if I wanted to hide it, that the ridiculous, sensational things in it may not be seen. It seems as if the enemy is at the foundation of the publishing of many things that appear in newspapers. Every sinful thing that can be found is uncovered and laid bare before the world.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 211.

When this was written, there was no television or Internet, but if we understand the principle of this counsel, we must recognize that it is obvious that the same danger that inspiration recorded as existing from reading the newspaper exists to an even greater degree when those dangers are presented in living color.

The psalmist also provided wise counsel to us when he recorded one of the enlightened rules by which he guided his own life:

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;

I hate the work of those who fall away;

It shall not cling to me”

(Psalm 101:3).

“The vows of David recorded in Psalm 101 should be the vows of all upon whom rest the responsibilities of guarding the influences of the home. David declared: ‘I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. … I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes’ (Psalm 101:2, 3 KJV).

 

“The enemy of souls will invent many things to lead the minds of our youth from firm faith in God to the idolatrous practices of the world. Let the cautions given to ancient Israel be carefully studied. Satan’s efforts to spoil the thoughts and confuse the judgment are unceasing, and we must be on our guard. We must be careful to maintain our allegiance to God as His peculiar people.” In Heavenly Places, 215.

“Say firmly: ‘I will not spend precious moments in reading that which will be of no profit to me, and which only unfits me to be of service to others. I will devote my time and my thoughts to acquiring a fitness for God’s service. I will close my eyes to frivolous and sinful things.’ ” Maranatha, 145.

Psalm 119, the psalm that makes the necessity of obedience to God’s laws, precepts, and testimonies so inarguably evident, also addresses the importance of the appropriate use of our eyes in this appeal to Omnipotence:

“Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things,

And revive me in Your way” (Psalm 119:37).

Inspiration makes a clear reference to this prayer of the psalmist in the following passage:

“Watchfulness and vigilance are needed now as never before in the history of the race. The eye must be turned off from beholding vanity.” That I May Know Him, 267.

One well-known example of the consequences of misuse of the eyes is contained in the sad story of Achan.

“And Achan answered Joshua and said, ‘Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I have done: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. And there they are, hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, with the silver under it’ (Joshua 7:20, 21).”

“Achan’s covetousness was excited by the sight of that costly robe of Shinar; even when it had brought him face to face with death he called it ‘a goodly Babylonish garment.’ ” Patriarchs and Prophets, 496.

The story of Achan clearly demonstrates that we must not allow our eyes to linger in areas or on things that God in His mercy has forbidden us to behold—either physically or mentally. Note that Achan “saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels” (Joshua 7:21). His error was in letting his vision linger on the spoils and coveting them as his own. He failed to recognize these objects as what in reality they were—an allurement used by Satan to lead him into sin.

Another well-known example of the dangers of allowing our vision to linger on things that we should not is provided in the following Scripture:

“Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold. So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, ‘Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite’ (2 Samuel 11:2, 3)?”

Perhaps at this point in time he had not yet written the following:

“My eyes are ever toward the Lord,

For He shall pluck my feet out of the net” (Psalm 25:15).

If David had had his eyes “ever toward the Lord,” he would have averted his vision away from the sensuous scene before him. The many griefs that followed in his life may well have been avoided.

Often in the course of our daily Christian walk, we are confronted with images that, as Christians, we should consciously and conscientiously turn from. Tabloids in the grocery check-out line, billboards, inappropriately dressed worldlings—life is full of these kinds of allurements.

It is imperative that we recognize that Satan is the prince of this world and is absolutely determined to lead as many people astray as possible. It is also important that we recognize that those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus are his special targets.

“As the people of God approach the perils of the last days, Satan holds earnest consultation with his angels as to the most successful plan of overthrowing their faith. He sees that the popular churches are already lulled to sleep by his deceptive power. By pleasing sophistry [dishonesty or fraudulence] and lying wonders he can continue to hold them under his control. Therefore he directs his angels to lay their snares especially for those who are looking for the second advent of Christ and endeavoring to keep all the commandments of God.” Maranatha, 208.

Adventists are the very ones “who are looking for the second advent of Christ and endeavoring to keep all the commandments of God” and are therefore subject to these special efforts of Satan and his evil agents. It matters not to them how they succeed in their efforts—whether they lead the professed people of God to transgress in thought, word, or deed. Thus it is absolutely imperative that those who are expecting to cross the Jordan in triumphant victory guard their vision, whether they are seeing with their eyes or with their imagination. Christ made that clear in the Sermon on the Mount:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:27, 28).

The apostle John also warned about feasting visually in forbidden areas:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:15–17).

Well, what’s a person to do? We have an enemy who knows us better than we know ourselves. Is there a safe harbor for us?

In the world of business, there is an area of practice that involves personnel management called “human resources.” One of the things that profession dwells on is compliance with the rules and regulations developed over time by the government to protect the rights of workers. The intent of these regulations is to ensure that all employees are treated equally. To accomplish that task, there are what are called “safe harbors.” If you do this one particular thing with respect to some rule or regulation, you are assured that you are in compliance enough to avoid penalty.

Wikipedia puts it this way: “A safe harbor is a provision of a statute or a regulation that specifies that certain conduct will be deemed not to violate a given rule. It is usually found in connection with a vaguer, overall standard.”

Let’s look at an example for clarity. There is a law against reckless driving. What constitutes reckless driving is sometimes—even often—a matter of personal opinion. However, driving at 25 miles per hour is considered a safe harbor against reckless driving in most situations. On the other hand, driving at 90 miles per hour is considered an unsafe harbor under just about any situation.

So, what’s the safe harbor for those striving to be among the 144,000? God’s word provides the answer in many places, but we will look at Psalm 19:8:

“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8).

As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matthew 6:22, 23)!

This is a text that is worth much study. What does Christ mean when He says “if your eye is bad”? What does He mean by “your whole body will be full of darkness”? And especially intriguing is His statement that “if therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” Clearly, we have some introspection to do! Having bad eyes, eyes that linger on forbidden things, has perhaps greater consequences than we might initially realize. Remember our initial text from Isaiah: he who shuts his eyes from seeing evil will dwell on high.

By keeping our eyes—especially our mind’s eye—turned upon the word of God in all of its manifestations, we indeed find a safe harbor for our conduct. The psalmist made note of that in Psalm 26:2, 3:

“Examine me, O Lord, and prove me;

Try my mind and my heart.

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes,

And I have walked in Your truth” (Psalm 26:2, 3).

If we keep the lovingkindness, the blessings, of our Lord constantly in our mind’s eye, what is the result? The psalmist tells us: we walk in His truth.

Paul wrote some simple words in his letter to the Colossians that deserve much thought:

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1–3).

On initial reading, one might simply think that the meaning of Paul’s counsel expressed in these texts is obvious. However, spending some time meditating on this passage brings to mind a wealth of wise instruction.

First of all, we recognize that to be raised with Christ is to be baptized—to make a public statement of our intent to be overcomers, to concede that we need the grace of Christ as we accept the challenge of the battle and the march that is the Christian’s life.

Next, we are instructed to “seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.”

Inspiration alludes to this text in the following passage:

“We need to have more distinct views of Jesus and a fuller comprehension of the value of eternal realities. The beauty of holiness is to fill the hearts of God’s children; and that this may be accomplished, we should seek for divine disclosures of heavenly things.” Steps to Christ, 99.

Colossians 3:2 contains an extremely valuable jewel of counsel: “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” How many of our trials and temptations would vanish if we heeded this advice. Every temptation that faces us, every effort of Satan to lead us astray would fall helplessly to the ground if we heeded this counsel. “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” Even taken literally, the truth of this counsel is evident.

By virtue of man’s choice to obey the serpent rather than the Creator and eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, this earth is the realm of Satan. Scripture makes that abundantly clear. See John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11, and Ephesians 2:2, as well as many other texts that make it too plain to be misunderstood that Satan holds sway over mankind.

So, what are we to do? How can we succeed in keeping our vision on things above and not on things on the earth? The apostle John adds to the advice toward that end that Paul has given us in his first epistle:

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever” (I John 2:15–17).

We are back where we started—noting the importance of keeping our eyes focused on appropriate things and avoiding looking at anything that takes the mind away from “things which are above.”

How thorough and clear is God’s word of warning to His faithful children about the dangers of beholding “things in the world.” Reference after reference, text after text can be cited that addresses this issue.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead,

And your eyelids look right before you” (Proverbs 4:25).

May God help us as we strive to “shut our eyes from beholding evil” so that we might “dwell on high.”

All quotes NKJV unless otherwise noted.

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.

 

 

 

Divine Understanding

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The Psalmist says,

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” Psalm 111:10

WHAT IS WISDOM?

The word “wisdom” in the Hebrew language is Chokmah, a word occurring 141 times in the Bible. Chokmah is comprehensive in its meaning:

  1. technical knowledge (Exodus 28:3; 35:26);
  2. practical, worldly wisdom (1 Kings 4:30; Isaiah 47:10);
  3. ideal human wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:2);
  4. wisdom as an attribute of God (Psalm 104:24; Proverbs 3:19; Jeremiah 10:12; 51:15).

Wisdom is distinguished from knowledge in that wisdom has to do with character and conduct, whereas knowledge is primarily intellectual enlightenment. Knowledge may be an accumulation of unrelated and unorganized facts without the ability to apply these facts to personal life. Wisdom is the faculty of being able to make a practical use of facts.

SO WHAT IS UNDERSTANDING?

An intermediate step may be conceived of in the term understanding. Understanding implies the ability to evaluate and organize facts, an essential framework for wisdom.

The word “understanding” as found in Psalm 111:10 originates from a Hebrew word which means, intelligence, success, discretion, knowledge, policy; sense or wisdom.

So while “understanding” has to do with the ability or power to acquire and interpret knowledge, while it has to do with the mental faculties, intelligence and the ability to comprehend yet according to the Holy Scriptures, it is intimately connected to wisdom, which makes a practical use of facts, for it has to do with character and conduct.

So we read again, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: his praise endureth for ever” (Psalm 111:10).
Therefore good, true or divine understanding cannot be separated from obedience! Obedience to God’s revealed will, obedience to God’s word demonstrates that a person has true understanding!

WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD OR THOSE WHO PROFESS TO BELIEVE IN HIM BUT DISOBEY HIM? ARE THEY WITHOUT UNDERSTANDING?

“Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom … . But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord. …” (Jeremiah 9:23, 24).

The man who knows not God or the man who professes to know Him but does not obey has understanding, but it is not true or divine understanding. It is that understanding that allows man to glory or that uplifts himself instead of his Creator.

Paul says of such men that while they possess understanding, yet their understanding is darkened. “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:17, 18).

WHAT CAUSES COMPLETE BLINDNESS?

Jesus taught, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness” (Matthew 6:22, 23)!

The “light” of the body is that insight that places relative value on the things of time and eternity. When Jesus used the word “eye,” He was addressing the eye of the soul that gives a man heavenly vision, and that enables him to behold that which is invisible to the natural eyesight. Such eyesight is a guide to the soul in the same way that physical eyesight is a guide to the body. Hebrews 11:27 reads, “By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.” And 2 Corinthians 5:7 tells us, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Ellen White, commenting on the words of Jesus points out, “But when the eye is blinded by the love of self, there is only darkness. ‘If thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness.’ ” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 91.

The apostle John tells us also what causes spiritual blindness: “But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes” (1 John 2:11).

The word “darkness” is derived from a root word which means shadiness or more specifically darkness of error. Even among Christians are many whose understanding is darkened because of a failure to obey God.

As a REMINDER, “Disobedience has closed the door to a vast amount of knowledge that might have been gained from the Scriptures. Understanding means obedience to God’s commandments. The Scriptures are not to be adapted to meet the prejudice and jealousy of men. They can be understood only by those who are humbly seeking for a knowledge of the truth that they may obey it.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 112.

ALSO
The golden rule for understanding spiritually is not intellect, but obedience. If a man wants scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity is his guide; but if he wants insight into what Jesus Christ teaches, he can only get it by obedience.

If things are dark to me, then I may be sure it will be made evident by disobedience. Intellectual darkness comes through ignorance; spiritual darkness comes because of something I do not intend to obey. No man ever receives a word from God without instantly being put to the test over it. We disobey and then wonder why we don’t advance spiritually.

All God’s revelations are sealed until they are opened to us by obedience. You will never get them open by philosophy or thinking. Immediately you will obey, a flash of light comes. The only way you can gain understanding is by being born again. Obey God in the thing He shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. It is not study that does it, but obedience. With the tiniest fragment of obedience, heaven opens and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away.

Dr. Edward Heppenstall agrees with Oswald Chambers when he penned, “Christianity consists of two things: a true knowledge of Christ and an experience of Him. Christ comes not merely with information. He comes so that we exclaim with delight, ‘Once I was blind, but now I see’ (John 9:25).”

Thomas a’ Kempis, (1380–1471) German scholar & clergy, taught, “God walks with the humble; He reveals Himself to the lowly; He gives understanding to the little ones; He discloses His meaning to pure minds, but hides His grace from the curious and the proud.”

WHO CAUSES THE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN BEINGS TO BECOME DARKENED?

Paul states, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4).

WHO IS THE “god OF THIS WORLD”?

  1. The devil claims to be the god of this world – “Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:8, 9).
  2. He is “the god of this world” because the world is largely under his control. He rules in the hearts of most of its inhabitants – “And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:1, 2).

Satan is called by other titles such as “prince of this world” (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:11) and “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).

Therefore, it is he who darkens people’s minds by way of all manner of sinful practices! Satan’s principal work is to blind or darken men’s minds.

SUMMARY OF HOW SATAN DARKENS HUMAN BEINGS’ MINDS:

  • By keeping them from the study of God’s word.
  • By deranging the power of the mind through excesses of body and soul.
  • By wholly occupying the mind with things of this life.
  • By appealing to pride and self-exaltation.

KEEP IN MIND!

The battle between Christ and Satan is a battle for the minds of men (see Romans 7:23, 25).

TWELVE WAYS THE UNDERSTANDING BECOMES DARKENED!

  1. Sin darkens the understanding – “The enlightening of the understanding must become a part of the experience. Sin has darkened the reasoning powers, and hell is triumphing.” SpTBO7, Testimonies for the Church Containing Messages of Warning and Instruction to Seventh-day Adventists, 22. “Blindness of the heart is a terrible barrier to the discerning of truth … Sin is the disease of the soul, in consequence of which the understanding fails to do its appointed work on the heart and memory.” PH028, Elder Daniels and the Fresno Church, 6, 7.
  2. Failure to heed the call to repentance – “During the preceding months of the Baptist’s ministry, many had refused to heed the call to repentance. Thus they had hardened their hearts and darkened their understanding.” The Desire of Ages, 136.
  3. By rejecting former messages – “Those who rejected the first message could not be benefited by the second; neither were they benefited by the midnight cry, which was to prepare them to enter with Jesus by faith into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. And by rejecting the two former messages, they have so darkened their understanding that they can see no light in the third angel’s message, which shows the way into the most holy place.” Early Writings, 260, 261.
  4. By the use of alcoholic/strong drink – Satan “tempts men to the use of wine and strong drink, by which the understanding is darkened, the senses confused, and the image of God defaced.” Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists,
  5. By impure thoughts, actions and willful disobedience – “Impurity in thought or practice obscures spiritual vision, so that the soul can not contemplate and be charmed with the character of God. The world is full of disobedience, and the understanding of men has become so darkened by a sinful course of action that righteousness is not clearly discerned, and is not therefore appreciated above unrighteousness.” The Signs of the Times, October 3, 1895.
  6. By cherishing doubt – “There are those who walk amid perpetual doubts. They feed on doubts, enjoy doubts, talk doubts, and question everything that it is for their interest to believe. To those who thus trifle with the plain testimonies of God’s word, and who refuse to believe because it is inconvenient and unpopular to do so, the light will finally become darkness; truth will appear to the darkened understanding as error, and error will be accepted as truth. When thus shrouded in error, they will find it perfectly natural and convenient to believe what is false, and will become strong in their faith.” The Review and Herald, January 5, 1886.
  7. Because of continual transgression – “It was the love of God toward the children of men that moved Him to proclaim His law from Sinai. Because the understanding of men had become darkened by continual transgression, God, in His infinite mercy, condescended to bestow upon them the living oracles in all their original purity.” The Signs of the Times, December 2, 1880.
  8. Allowing the devil access to our minds – “When the Pharisees expressed their discontent because of the class of people with whom He mingled, Jesus set the matter before them in the parable of the lost sheep. But their understanding was darkened; for Satan had power over their minds, and they arrayed themselves in opposition to Jesus.” Ibid., November 20, 1893.
  9. Because of the false theories of Satan – “The idols of the heathen stood between them and their God, obscuring God from their vision. Thus it is today. By the cunning deception of Satan false theories are made a power to rob God. Man’s spiritual understanding is darkened by Satan’s sophistry.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 12, 221.
  10. By defects of character – “By some the truth has been preached for a lifetime, but the understanding, darkened by defects of character which are not overcome, prevents them from discovering truth in its matchless loveliness.” Ibid., vol. 20, 180.
  11. By exalting one’s idea above God’s will – “Those who exalt their own ideas above the plainly specified will of God are saying, as did Pharaoh, ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?’ Every rejection of light hardens the heart and darkens the understanding; and thus people find it more and more difficult to distinguish between right and wrong, and they become bolder in resisting the will of God.” Christ Triumphant, 109.
  12. Because of deliberately stifling one’s convictions of duty – “He who deliberately stifles his convictions of duty because it interferes with his inclinations, will finally lose the power to distinguish between truth and error. The understanding becomes darkened, the conscience callous, the heart hardened, and the soul is separated from God. Where the message of divine truth is spurned or slighted, there the church will be enshrouded in darkness; faith and love grow cold, and estrangement and dissension enter. Church-members center their interests and energies in worldly pursuits, and sinners become hardened in their impenitence.” The Great Controversy, (1888), 378.

WHO IS IT THAT ENLIGHTENS THE UNDERSTANDING OF HUMAN BEINGS?

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Ephesians 1:17, 18).

In commenting on these verses God’s messenger records, “The ministry of the divine Spirit in enlightening the understanding and opening to the mind the deep things of God’s holy word, was the blessing which Paul thus besought for the Ephesian church.” The Great Controversy, ix.

The apostle John wrote, “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come. He shall glorify Me: for He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you” (John 16:13, 14).

God’s Servant wrote, “The work of the Holy Spirit is to enlighten the darkened understanding, to melt the selfish, stony heart, to subdue the rebellious transgressor, and save him from the corrupting influences of the world.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 441.

WHAT SHOULD BE OUR ATTITUDE CONCERNING BEING ENLIGHTENED?

The wise man said, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5, 6).

“You should cultivate a spirit of entire submission to the will of God, earnestly, humbly seeking to know His ways and to follow the leadings of His Spirit. You must not lean to your own understanding. You should have deep distrust of your own wisdom and supposed prudence.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 360, 361.

“It is unsafe for men to lean to their own understanding; therefore they should daily seek strength and wisdom from above. God should be in all their thoughts; then all the wiles and subtleties of the old serpent cannot betray them into sinful neglect of duty. They will meet the adversary with the simple weapon that Christ used, ‘It is written,’ or will repulse him with, ‘Get thee behind Me, Satan’ (Luke 4:8).” Ibid., vol. 5, 409.

WHY IS IT UNSAFE FOR MAN TO LEAN TO HIS OWN UNDERSTANDING?

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart” (Ephesians 4:17, 18).

In The General Conference Bulletin, April 1, 1899, we are also given the answer: “Through the power and work of Satan, the world has mistaken and forgotten God, and is living in sin. Man’s influence works against God. His knowledge of God and His word is perverted. His understanding is darkened.”

TODAY JESUS WANTS TO DO FOR YOU AND ME WHAT HE DID FOR THE DISCIPLES!

“And He said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning Me” (Luke 24:44).

“Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures” (verse 45).

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.