“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
1 Corinthians 10:12
The church is being sifted. As the winds of persecution and heresy unite to purge God’s threshing floor and all the chaff is blown out, the wheat remains. Regarding this time of shaking and sifting, Mrs. White writes, “As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in our ranks. Some who are now ready to take up weapons of warfare will in times of real peril make it manifest that they have not built upon the solid Rock; they will yield to temptation. Those who have had great light and precious privileges, but have not improved them, will, under one pretext or another, go out from us.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 400
Generally, there are two reasons for doing something—the reason given and the real reason. The reason given is pretext. Say a person is offended or hurt by something someone says or does, and this is the reason given for the person to stop coming to church. But if we were to look much deeper, we would find that the real reason is an unconverted heart. However, many will convince themselves to believe the pretext, and as a result, they will depart—go out—from God’s people.
“The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. … Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work, few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. …
“The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time, the gold will be separated from the dross in the church. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness. Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even from places where we see only floors of rich wheat. …
“The deeper the night for God’s people, the more brilliant the stars. Satan will sorely harass the faithful; but, in the name of Jesus, they will come off more than conquerors. Then will the church of Christ appear ‘fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.’ ” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 80–82
That terrible description of the awful sifting time just ahead speaks of the test over the mark of the beast and the time when people will be unable to buy or sell unless they are willing to receive that sign of apostasy and rebellion. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us and if we have not yielded to the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we will find ourselves unable to stay true to God.
Let’s look at some of those downward steps, the various ways through which men arrive at last at the final jump from the church of God into Babylon.
In Line with the World
It is suggested that men take the journey to follow the world step by step—little by little—by yielding to worldly demands and conforming to worldly customs.
Inspiration tells us that our people are in constant danger of conforming to the world. “There is constant danger among our people that those who engage in labor in our schools and sanitariums will entertain the idea that they must get in line with the world, study the things which the world studies, and become familiar with the things that the world becomes familiar with. This is one of the greatest mistakes that could be made.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 534
Our danger is being influenced by what we read, look at, and listen to. The longer we look to and listen to the world we will eventually come to many of their conclusions.
“Those who seek the education that the world esteems so highly are gradually led further and further from the principles of truth until they become educated worldlings. At what a price have they gained their education!” Ibid., 535, 536. Is it possible then that someone can be a man or woman of God at the start of their education, but end up a child of the devil? Yes, it is. And he need only, at each point, to take one step. “And there are some who, having secured this worldly education, think that they can introduce it into our schools. But let me tell you that you must not take what the world calls the higher education and bring it into our schools and sanitariums and churches. … I speak to you definitely. This must not be done.” Ibid., 536. It is dangerous, and it is one of the ways leading downward.
Now during the shaking, all those who have been thus influenced by the world will go out, unless they have had their hearts brought back like Paul’s experience in Arabia or Moses’ experience in the desert of Midian.
“Many a star that we have admired for its brilliancy will then go out in darkness.
“God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. … God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 81, 82
Being Good, but Good for Nothing
Now we will look at something that ought to come very close to each one of us as we examine ourselves. “Every selfish, covetous person will fall out by the way.” Early Writings, 269. You don’t have to go to a worldly university to learn to be selfish and covetous, for we are born that way and will stay that way unless we are born again (John 3:3).
“Like Judas, who sold his Lord, they [selfish, covetous persons] will sell good principles and a noble, generous disposition for a little of earth’s gain. All such will be sifted out from God’s people.” Early Writings, 269. Judas was part of Jesus’ inner circle, but he fell out because he was selfish and covetous—he wanted his own way and what others had—and this is another way that many people will be sifted out.
Is there any hope for me if I am selfish? Yes, but all the selfishness must be sifted out of me or else it will sift me out of God’s church. If I cling to my selfishness, I will be sifted out, but if I am willing to let the grace of God sift me, then I have hope.
Continual giving starves covetousness to death. The devil doesn’t like that, but Jesus does. He so loved that He gave Himself; the Father so loved that He gave His Son. And as we unite with Jesus in unselfish ministry for others and unselfish giving for God’s work to help the poor and needy, it helps to sift out our selfishness and covetousness.
Related to selfishness and covetousness is an idol that looks so sweet that many people think that it will never do much harm: the love of ease. “I know that many think far too favorably of the present time. These ease-loving souls will be engulfed in the general ruin.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 80. Ease-loving souls are people who don’t want to do anything bad, they just don’t want to do anything at all. We are studying various roads to hell and one of them is the road of just being good—good for nothing, ease-loving, avoiding responsibility.
It is represented by the man in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. The master had given one servant five talents, another servant two talents, and a third one talent. This third servant wrapped it in a napkin and put it in the earth. When the master came back, the servant thought he had played it safe, but the master didn’t commend him. He was not willing to exert himself to go beyond what had been imparted to him. I pray that God will deliver us from the ease-loving spirit that dodges and evades responsibilities.
Ease loving often masquerades as perfectionism—the idea that I am so conscientious that I don’t want to do anything unless I could do it the very best. The only way I can do anything very good is to have practically nothing to do. If I can’t do it perfectly, then I really shouldn’t do it at all. I warn you, this is one of the devil’s most subtle deceptions. And when men and women get to the judgment, some will be surprised how sanctimonious was the guise under which the enemy led them away. Fear can also cause people to spurn responsibility. “I just can’t do it because I might do it wrong.” Each of these is a ditch on opposite sides of the same road.
“The life of selfish ease and freedom from responsibility is the idol of others. These are Satan’s snares, set for unwary feet. But these slavish bands must be broken. … God’s watchmen will not cry, ‘Peace, peace,’ when God has not spoken peace.” Ibid., 83. So I’m not going to speak peace to people who desire to be good, but are largely good for nothing. My soul longs that God shall arouse every lackadaisical, half-hearted, ease-loving soul with the spirit to do more and more and more.
Too Much
There are also people who try to do too much and botch the job. But that is no reason why others should take any one of the talents God has given them and wrap it up nicely in a napkin and put it on a shelf. Sometimes pride is wrapped up with the talent. “What if I can’t do it perfectly?” “What if I fail?” God may allow failure for the express purpose of removing pride from the heart.
Dwight L. Moody was not an educated man, as the world counts it. He had been a shoe clerk before his conversion. He wasn’t a preacher, just a man who wanted to work to save souls. Ira Sankey was a cultured and well-educated man, known for the composition of many well-known hymns such as The Ninety and Nine, and for his strong baritone voice. Moody and Sankey had been invited to London to preach in a large theater before the royal family of England as well as lords and ladies from all around. Sankey led out with a song service. Moody, the simple shoe clerk, rose to speak to the thousands of people before him. As he started to read the Bible text he fumbled with it. He couldn’t get through it. He felt humiliated and started to read it again. Sankey tried to help him. Again and again he tried to read the text, but was unable to get through it. He broke down and wept. In silence, he reached out in prayer, “Oh Lord, if You can help a poor ignorant man like me to say something to these people that will help them, then, Lord, help me.” And with that, he began to talk to them. For 20 minutes all over that theater the Spirit of God was at work. The king and queen of England were weeping in their box. The human vessel had been broken and the light shone out.
If we would get away from our own ideas of how things should be done, God is willing and ready to do great things through us. But God works no miracle for the soul who, for whatever the reason, hugs the shore and loves the life of ease and freedom from responsibility. All such will eventually be sifted out.
Esau’s Problem
I am always saddened when I read about the life of Esau. Esau had a big problem—himself. “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.” Hebrews 12:16. Esau’s attention was focused to that spot just below the ribs, and to satisfy his appetite, he was willing to sacrifice his birthright for a bowlful of stew. Esau couldn’t control his appetite, so it controlled him.
“The controlling power of appetite will prove the ruin of thousands, when, if they had conquered on this point, they would have had moral power to gain the victory over every other temptation of Satan. But those who are slaves to appetite will fail in perfecting Christian character.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 491, 492. The people who receive the latter rain and give the loud cry will be those who have gotten the victory over pride, selfishness, love of the world, every wrong word and action, and over appetite.
“Health reform is to do among our people a work which it has not yet done. … Many who are now only half converted on the question of meat eating will go from God’s people, to walk no more with them.” Counsels on Health, 575. This speaks directly to the effects uncontrolled appetite has on loyalty to God and His church. Only half converted regarding health reform, these people will be sifted out. This mentions specifically the question of meat eating and is linked definitely with the approaching sifting from God’s church. If anyone still hungers for the fleshpots of Egypt (sin), you must ask God to sanctify your appetite. He accomplishes this only after we turn away from eating meat and any other food that is eaten against counsel—anything that we cherish more than God. We must be watchful regarding good food for even it can become an idol. Our appetite must be converted here if we are to sit at the Lord’s table there.
Jesus went into the desert and fasted for 40 days, for me. He broke the power of appetite and He will enable me to do the battle on my own account. Yes, I can have—and so can you—victory over appetite.
A Fire and a World of Iniquity
James tells us that if a man can control the tongue, he is a perfect man who will be able to bridle the whole body (James 3:2). But the danger of the tongue is not what goes in, but what comes out of the mouth. You can disarm a man by taking his sword away, but you cannot get rid of the sword which pierces—the faultfinding, gossiping, and accusing tongue. Isaiah understood this, for when he caught a view of the Lord, he said, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips.” Isaiah 6:5, first part. In response, an angel came and took a live coal from off the altar and put it on his lips. Imagine, if that had been a literal thing, it would have been very painful. Are you and I willing to have this radical treatment applied to us so that we can be cured of faultfinding, accusation, and criticism? People who may have no interest in the world, who are not controlled by their appetite, may be especially prone to the temptation to criticize.
Remember the prayer of the Pharisee? “God, I thank You that I am not like other men.” Luke 18:11. He went on to list all the things he didn’t do. He was a pretty good Pharisee, as Pharisees go, but he used his tongue to find fault and criticize even in prayer. It was a fixed habit with him. The publican on the other hand prayed, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” Which of these men went down to his house justified? In this time, of all times, we need to be delivered from this spirit of criticism and faultfinding.
This is God’s church, His movement. We should view with suspicion anyone who comes with what they call light, new light, old light, any kind of light, all the while accusing and condemning those upon whom God has laid the burden of the work. No matter how it might try to conceal with the sheep’s clothing of longing for the latter rain and the loud cry in an effort to hide the wolf that would tear and divide the flock, we must not be misled by the sheep’s clothing when the growl of the wolf is still occasionally heard. The dragon cannot forever masquerade as a lamb.
“But men are to be condemned who start out with a proclamation of wonderful light, and yet draw away from the agents whom God is leading. This was the way in which Korah, Dathan, and Abiram did, and their action is recorded as a warning to all others. We are not to do as they have done—accuse and condemn those upon whom God has laid the burden of the work.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 56
As we have looked over some of the various ways of being sifted out, we see that one side of the road to heaven is worldliness—conformity, a drifting away from God’s standards—while on the other side of the road is pharisaical conformity to the standards of reform, yet with the spirit of criticism and self-righteousness.
Can the Blind Lead the Blind?
“And He spoke a parable unto them: ‘Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?’ ” Luke 6:39. If we follow anyone other than Jesus Christ, then we might find that we have fallen into the ditch, and the only question is, in which ditch will you land?
How horrible it would be to be so loyal to a church or doctrine that I would be willing to follow it even if it embraced worldly trends and participated in the wickedness of the world, then to discover that in the crisis hour when the mark of the beast is enforced, that I have lost heaven? Equally as tragic, if, in the name of reform and standing for standards, I become so pharisaical that I pull away from my brothers and sisters who may not agree with me and find myself outside the church of God. Do you think it will matter in the Day of Judgment if you followed a preacher or an elder or a teacher? If you are not following the testimonies of the Holy Spirit and the Bible, you eventually will find yourself not only disloyal to God’s standards, but disloyal to His church as well.
Friend, the devil doesn’t care which of these downward steps you take. His only interest is that you take one, and that you do it so committedly that you ultimately leave God’s church and take up residence in Babylon. He wants you to believe that you are a good Pharisee, all while you criticize and find fault. He wants you to think that food is just something that you need to survive and not something that can control your life, until the decisions you make are no longer those that would lead you to heaven. He wants you to be afraid to fail or too proud to try, instead sitting back in ease, satisfied to have no responsibility at all. The devil wants us to look at, listen to, and see the things of this world until our sinful hearts become so much a part of it, that they no longer yearn for heaven.
There is only one thing that will take us through.
“ ‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.’ ” Revelation 3:15–17
This is Jesus’ message to the Laodicean church, to the church of the judgment hour—to you and me. No matter what we think of ourselves, our true condition is pathetic—wretched, miserable, blind, and naked. But Jesus has the answer for us.
“ ‘I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed, and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.’ ” Verses 18, 19
That gold is faith and love. If we love Jesus, we will in love cling to His standards no matter who goes against them. Love is the answer—love for God and love toward our fellow man.
“We must come up to a higher plane of action. Let the spirit of Jesus vitalize the souls of the workers. … Do not allow all your strength and energy to be given to worldly, temporal things … . We have not a moment’s time to use selfishly. Let all we do be done with an eye single to the glory of God.” Sabbath-School Worker, July 1, 1885
“In the instruction that Christ gave to His disciples, and to the people of all classes who came to hear His words, there was that which lifted them to a high plane of thought and action. If the words of Christ, instead of the words of men, were given to the learner today, we would see evidences of higher intelligence, a clearer comprehension of heavenly things, a deeper knowledge of God, a purer and more vigorous Christian life.” The Review and Herald, November 7, 1907
“Those who are looking for the Lord soon to come, looking for that wondrous change, when ‘this corruptible shall put on incorruption,’ should in this probationary time be standing upon a higher plane of action.” Counsels to the Church, 169
We must not be satisfied with doing only the minimum requirements in our work of developing perfection of character. God has an infinite purpose for us. He will show the points on which we must improve in order that we may measure up more perfectly with heaven’s high ideals. With a glad heart, we must endeavor to grow every day in grace and in the knowledge of heavenly things. Let us set a quiet example of Christian living that others may follow and let us be ever loyal to God and His church. With one hand we must cling to what our Lord has said through His word and the Spirit of Prophecy, and with the other cling to His true church which He has placed here in this world to carry on His work.
Pastor W. D. Frazee studied the Medical Missionary Course at the College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda, California. In 1942, he began a faith ministry that would become the foundation for the establishment of the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute. Pastor Frazee passed to his rest in 1996.