As I was reading my Bible, I came to a verse that I have read many times before; however, this time it made more of an impression on my mind than ever before. Jesus said, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears.” Luke 9:44. This had more meaning when I considered what Jesus was talking about. He added, “The Son of man should be delivered unto men.”
He had already told His disciples that, “The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day,” Luke 9:22, but they just could not comprehend what He was telling them. They had such high hopes for themselves of having a place in His kingdom that they mistakenly expected Him to set up His kingdom in Jerusalem. They could not conceive of Jesus being taken from them or of Him suffering such a terrible trial and death.
Peter just took a hold of Jesus and said, That’s not going to happen to you. We can read about it in Matthew 16:22: “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” If Peter and the rest of the disciples would have just accepted what Jesus was telling them they would have prayed to be ready and they would have been prepared for the crisis. This makes me wonder, Are we prepared for what is just ahead of us?
When the most awesome thing that had ever happened in the history of the universe was transpiring, the disciples were devastated, disappointed and discouraged. It was right to be sad and solemn but at the same time they could have understood what was being accomplished and not been discouraged, disappointed and worried about what was going to happen to them. They did not understand the wonderful plan of redemption. This historical story leads me to think of something in the Spirit of Prophecy that our modern day prophet has told us.
“Let these sayings sink down into your ears.”
“Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?
“Before His crucifixion the Saviour explained to His disciples that He was to be put to death and to rise again from the tomb, and angels were present to impress His words on minds and hearts. But the disciples were looking for temporal deliverance from the Roman yoke, and they could not tolerate the thought that He in whom all their hopes centered should suffer an ignominious death. The words which they needed to remember were banished from their minds; and when the time of trial came, it found them unprepared. The death of Jesus as fully destroyed their hopes as if He had not forewarned them. So in the prophecies the future is opened before us as plainly as it was opened to the disciples by the words of Christ. The events connected with the close of probation and the work of preparation for the time of trouble, are clearly presented. But multitudes have no more understanding of these important truths than if they had never been revealed. Satan watches to catch away every impression that would make them wise unto salvation, and the time of trouble will find them unready.” The Great Controversy, 593, 594.
We are living in the closing scenes of this world’s history and we need to know how to face the end time events. We have heard about the Sunday laws and we hear about not being allowed to buy or sell and we have heard about being in prison. But are we sure that we understand all that we need to know about the latter rain, about the perfection of character and about Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)? Are we really ready to face death for our faith?
Here is another statement from the pen of inspiration that causes me to stop and think and ask myself the question—do I really understand my true condition?
“We want to understand the time in which we live. We do not half understand it. We do not half take it in. My heart trembles in me when I think of what a foe we have to meet, and how poorly we are prepared to meet him. The trials of the children of Israel, and their attitude just before the first coming of Christ, have been presented before me again and again to illustrate the position of the people of God in their experience before the second coming of Christ—how the enemy sought every occasion to take control of the minds of the Jews, and today he is seeking to blind the minds of God’s servants, that they may not be able to discern the precious truth.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 406.
It is time that we, as Seventh-day Adventists, spend much time on our knees and examine our characters. Are we really ready for probation to close? Are we ready to experience the greatest event that has ever happened? Are we ready to see the dead in Christ rise and the living take on immortality and go up in the clouds with Jesus and the angels? It will be real and I pray that each one who reads this article will be ready to enter into eternal life.
This was the last article written by the late Ruth Grosboll just prior to her death. She was an integral part of the team working at Steps to Life until December, 2009.