Question:
It is troubling for me to study about the last days. When I read that the majority are going to forsake us, I find myself weeping. How are we to deal with these conditions which we even now see coming at us from all directions?
Answer:
Studying last day events should always have a sobering effect upon us. But when we study, we should never allow ourselves to become overwhelmed by what we read. What we do need to remember is that God is in control of every event. There is nothing that happens in this world or to us of which God is not completely aware. What we need to understand is that God has revealed to us everything that is necessary so we can be victorious and be overcomers in this life. Being victorious overcomers does not mean that we will be able to change the events which we are told will take place. It only allows us to anticipate them and take measures for ourselves so that we will not be caught in some trap.
The devil has set many traps hoping that he will catch some of the saints of God. He does not use just one method. He has many methods. We need to make sure that we are reading and studying in such a way that we are taking into account what Inspiration has said, rather than what men have said. If we are depending upon God rather than upon some man, we will be found on the right side.
As I have traveled around the world, I have found that, for the most part, those who live in the Western world are very oriented toward and conscious about money. If you want to gain a following and build a bank account, then what you need to do is to write a book or produce a video in which you unfold secrets which nobody else knows. There seems to be something about the words: “They do not want you to know these things,” and it seems almost instantly that there is support and a following. We all want to know. We all want to have the inside information. This does not change as things move into the spiritual arena.
Men and women who are not knowledgeable about the Three Angels’ Messages have developed theories and prognostications concerning what is going to be taking place in the future. Some have been spiritually minded and others have been totally secular minded, but the surprising thing is that many historic Seventh-day Adventist ministry leaders have been drinking in all this information which has come from questionable sources and are formulating the information into an Adventist format and proclaiming it as gospel. The tragedy of all this is that many unsuspecting people are being swept into these fable-ridden theories and are making decisions that could affect their outlook on last day events and eventually affect their salvation.
We need to be very careful of those seeking support, who come with theories and prognostications which are designed to scare. Our God has not called us to fear; He has called us to hope. Even though we may not be able to escape the events of the last days, we can have peace in our hearts. I believe that it is God’s will that we are moved by reason and Inspiration rather than by speculation, which is not based on Inspiration.
When you hear a story about the last days, check it out with divinely-inspired writings. This will bring peace and eliminate fear for what is coming on the earth.
Pastor Mike Baugher is Associate Speaker for Steps to Life. If you have a question you would like Pastor Mike to answer, e-mail it to: landmarks@stepstolife.org or mail it to: LandMarks, Steps to Life, P. O. Box 782828, Wichita, KS 67278.