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The Lying Tongue

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On January 26, 1998, the American people heard these now famous and historic words: “I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me. I’m going to say this again: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time, never. These allegations are false, and I need to go back to work for the American people.” Seven months later on August 27, 1998, President Bill Clinton made the following confession, “I did have a relationship with Miss Lewinsky that was not appropriate, in fact, it was wrong.” This action by President Clinton helped to solidify lying as a major character trait of this nation.

According to an article entitled, “The Destructive Effect of Deception:”

“The average American lies 11 times per week. To most of us, lying may seem easier than telling the truth.” (Ben Gustafson, January 26, 2017, Zephyrus, the official student-run news publication of Edina High School.)

According to a recent poll, “By the age of four, 90% of children have learned the concept of lying. Based on studies performed in the past, it is estimated that 60% of adults cannot have a ten-minute conversation without lying at least once. Within those ten minutes, an average of three lies were told. … Most people lie an average of 4 times a day which equates to 1,460 lies every year.” (Brandon Gaille, 25 Nose Growing Statistics on Lying, May 20, 2017)

“These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16–19

As we continue our study of the seven deadly sins that God hates, let’s look at the second deadly sin, the lying tongue.

12% of adults admit to telling a lie often or sometimes
80% of women admit to telling harmless half-truths occasionally
31% of people admit to lying on their resumes
13% of patients lie to their doctor
32% of patients stretched the truth to their doctor
30% lie about their diet and exercise regiments
6 lies/day men tell lies to their partner, boss, or colleagues
3 lies/day women tell to their partner, boss, or colleagues
more common to lie during phone calls than face-to-face chats
1 lie in 7 is discovered as far as liars can tell
10% of lies are just exaggerations and 60% were outright deceptions
70% of liars claim they would tell their lies again

Speaking false statements in our contemporary society is not only habitual, it is also an acceptable behavior. Nevertheless, God hates lying.

It is interesting that even though the Lord hates lying, there are those who see lying as something beneficial to mankind. In Psychology Today, May 1, 1997, Allison Kornet wrote an article titled “The Truth About Lying,” in which she quoted a psychologist who admits, “a certain amount of self-delusion—basically, lying to yourself—is essential to good mental health.” Also, that “… lies are life sustaining.”

Leonard Saxe, Ph.D., a polygraph expert and professor of psychology at Brandeis University, says, “Lying has long been a part of everyday life. We couldn’t get through the day without being deceptive.” Ibid.

Allison Kornet also remarked, “Incidentally, when researchers refer to lying, they don’t include the mindless pleasantries or polite equivocations we offer each other in passing, such as ‘I’m fine, thanks’ or ‘No trouble at all.’ An ‘official’ lie actually misleads, deliberately conveying a false impression. So complimenting a friend’s awful haircut or telling a creditor that the check is in the mail both qualify.” Ibid.

In our modern era, we have learnt to accept what we call “white lies” and “kind lies.” Dr. Bella DePaulo says, “Though some lies produce interpersonal friction, others may actually serve as a kind of harmless social lubricant. ‘They make it easier for people to get along.’ ” Ibid.

Many people will admit that they have come to the point in their lives where they cannot live without lying. The common cliché is “Everybody lies.” Heads of state, politicians, CEOs, security officials, doctors, religious leaders, professors, attorneys, husbands and wives, adults, children—everyone, it seems, lies.

The ninth commandment forbids us to lie, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Exodus 20:16

“False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive our neighbor, is here included. An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. This precept forbids every effort to injure our neighbor’s reputation by misrepresentation or evil surmising, by slander or tale bearing. Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 309

Regardless of how human beings feel about lying, God’s attitude regarding lying will never change. As far as He is concerned, the act of lying demands the death penalty. This is evidenced when He literally killed a husband and a wife for simply lying. “But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, ‘Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and to keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?

“While it remained, was it not your own? and after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in thine heart? You have not lied to men but to God.’  

“Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down, and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.

“Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?’ She said, ‘Yes, for so much.’ Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ Then immediately she fell down at his feet, and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.” Acts 5:1–10. (See also The Acts of the Apostles, 71–73.)

Jesus tells us the definition of a lie and who is the originator of it in John 8:44, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

The phrase “does not stand in the truth” defines a lie; it is antithetical (opposite) to truth. In Greek, the word lie that Jesus used to describe the devil means “a falsehood, to utter an untruth or attempt to deceive by falsehood.” Therefore, lying has much to do with deception. It is not only the opposite of truth but also anti-truth; it stands against the truth and seeks to take the place of it.

The dictionary defines a lie as “a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth.” John agrees with Jesus that deception is Satan’s nature, “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.” Revelation 12:9. God hates lying because it originated with Satan, who specifically crafted lies to lead God’s creatures completely out of the way of truth, completely away from the Lord who is the truth.

Inspiration tells us, “The rebellion which took place in heaven under the power of a lie, and the deception which led Adam and Eve to disobey the law of God, opened the floodgates of woe upon our world.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 190. “It was by a lie that he first gained control over men, and thus he still works to overthrow God’s kingdom in the earth and to bring men under his power.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 37, 38

According to Jesus, lying is the chief weapon Satan uses to overthrow human beings and to destroy God’s kingdom on earth. Consequently, all those who practice lying are children of the devil.

How does lying affect our health?

“According to a 2015 review article, constant lying is associated with an array of negative health outcomes including high blood pressure, increased heart rate, vasoconstriction, and elevated stress hormones in the blood.” (Bill Sullivan, Psychology Today, January 5, 2020)

According to U.S. News and World Report, “Lying is thought to trigger the release of stress hormones, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. Stress reduces your body’s number of infection-fighting white blood cells, and over the years, could contribute to lower-back pain, tension headaches, a rapid heartbeat, menstrual problems, and even infertility.” (Angela Haupt, How Lying Affects Your Health, August 20, 2012)

What are the spiritual implications for lying?

  1. “Every lying tongue will be silenced. Angels’ hands will overthrow the deceptive schemes that are being formed.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1647
  2. “Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.” Proverbs 21:6
  3. “The truthful lip shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Proverbs 12:19
  4. “Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18
  5. “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who deal truthfully are His delight.” Proverbs 12:22
  6. “A righteous man hates lying, but a wicked man is loathsome and comes to shame.” Proverbs 13:5

A person who loves and practices lying will suffer the penalty for lying. This was the case of Gehazi, Elisha’s servant. “But Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, ‘Look, my master has spared Naaman this Syrian, while not receiving from his hands what he brought; but as the Lord lives, I will run after him and take something from him.’ ” 2 Kings 5:20 (Also read verses 21–27.) Gehazi suffered the consequence of lying.

Common Reasons for Lying
To save face
Shift blame
Avoid confrontation
To get one’s way
To be nice
To make oneself feel better

Study participants admitted to lying the most to:

86% parents

75% friends

73% siblings

69% spouses

Source: thetreetop.com/statistics/lying

“Let not one soul think that he can hide from God’s wrath behind a lie, for God will strip from the soul the refuge of lies.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 182

Heaven has no place for liars.

“But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8

“Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.” Revelation 22:14, 15

“Satan offers to men the kingdoms of the world if they will yield to him the supremacy. Many do this and sacrifice heaven. It is better to die than to sin; better to want than to defraud; better to hunger than to lie. Let all who are tempted meet Satan with these words: ‘Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt eat the labor of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.’ Here is a condition and a promise which will be unmistakably realized. Happiness and prosperity will be the result of serving the Lord.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 495

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.

Salt of the Earth

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Salt processing dates back thousands of years. Salt was extracted by boiling spring water. China had salt works dating back to that same period. The ancient Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Hittites, Egyptians, and American Indians prized salt. It was important in trade as “currency” and was transported by boat across the Mediterranean Sea, camel caravan across the Sahara, and along specially built salt roads. Wars were waged over its scarcity and universal need; it was used to raise tax revenue and in religious ceremonies and other cultural traditions.

Salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride. It is made into table salt and rock salt. Salt is essential to life because it supplies the vital dietary minerals sodium and chloride. Saltiness is one of the basic human tastes. As one of the oldest food seasonings, it can give an otherwise unpalatable food an acceptable flavorful. Salting, brining, and pickling are essential methods of preserving food. Not only does salt flavor and preserve food, but it is also a good antiseptic.

Processed from salt mines, the evaporation of seawater, and mineral-rich spring water, salt is most commonly used to produce chemicals, plastics, and paper pulp. It is also used for de-icing highways and airplanes and used in agriculture. The annual global salt production is three hundred million tons, of which humans consume only a small portion. Salt is found in almost all processed foods.

Did You Know? Salt mines worldwide are located in Canada, Pakistan, Romania, Chile, Poland, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Peru, Columbia, Germany, and even the United States.

Essential for human health, sodium is an electrolyte. In liquid form, potassium, chloride, calcium, magnesium, and phosphate are also electrolytes. Electrolytes help to maintain the balance of various fluids in the body. Electrolytes help keep the body hydrated and maintain a balanced blood PH level. Blood pressure is under the control of our electrolytes. Insufficient levels of critical electrolytes can result in muscle weakness or severe muscle contractions. Serious electrolyte disturbances, such as dehydration or over-hydration, leading to too many or not enough electrolytes, can cause cardiac and neurological complications, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Did You Know? A 1-teaspoon serving of table salt contains about 2,400 mg of sodium.

As essential as salt is for human health, we must monitor how much we consume. Excessive consumption increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, kidney disease, and stroke. The recommended daily consumption for an adult is 2,000 mg of sodium. Reducing your sodium intake by 1,000 mg daily can significantly lower your risk of cardiovascular disease by as much as 30 percent, and maintaining a low-sodium diet will lower blood pressure. African Americans, middle-aged, and older adults should limit consumption to 1,500 mg per day and meet the recommended amount of potassium (4,700 mg daily) with a healthy diet of fruits and vegetables.

For the ancient Jews, salt served as a preservative, was used to remove blood from meat, and symbolized the eternal covenant between God and Israel.

Did You Know? The word salary comes from the Latin word salarium (sal is Latin for salt) and means “salt money.” The sayings “not worth his salt” or “not worth his weight in salt” come from using salt as currency. A Roman soldier’s salary was often paid, in part, with salt; if he didn’t do a good job, his salary (salt) would be cut. The Greeks and Romans bought slaves with salt, but if he wasn’t a good slave, they would say that he wasn’t worth the salt paid for him.

The Bible uses salt to symbolize several things.

Covenant of Salt – perpetual and not to be broken (2 Chronicles 13:5; Leviticus 2:13).

Long-Lasting Friendship and Loyalty – Immutable, God’s everlasting love for us (Psalm 136).

Adds Flavor – Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). He means that we are to enhance the beauty of the world around us, to uplift and glorify God in a world in darkness. As the salt of the earth, we are to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ so that God’s grace and love can be experienced.

As a Preservative – Just as salt preserves the freshness of food, it represents Jesus who preserves and sustains life and faithful in keeping His promises to us.

Sources: wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte; wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt; americanmineservices.com/top-10-largest-salt-mines-in-the-world; time.com/3957460/a-brief-history-of-salt; thebiblicalnutritionist.com/salt-in-the-bible

Cats – How Do They Do That?

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Felis Catus, a domesticated, carnivorous mammal.

Why can cats turn over when they fall and humans can’t? Cats have an extremely flexible spine and no clavicle (collarbone). This is how the righting reflex in cats is possible. Man, on the other hand, has a collarbone and his spine is less flexible which prevents him from having the righting reflex. A cat’s righting reflex begins to appear at 3-4 weeks of age and is perfected by 6-9 weeks. The cat’s tail may help the righting reflex, but cats without tails still have the reflex and primarily use their legs while twisting their spine in a specific sequence to effect the turn.

DID YOU KNOW? Large cat species like lions and tigers have the righting reflex, but it doesn’t guarantee they will always land on their feet.

And this righting reflex isn’t exclusive to cats. Other small vertebrates—rabbits, rats, lizards—and certain invertebrates like Anthropoda (stick insects)—can also do it.

Here is how the righting reflex works:

  • The cat visually determines down from up, although it can also use its vestibular apparatus (fancy words for the inner ear).
  • It bends in the middle, allowing the front half of its body to rotate on a different axis from the rear half.
  • It tucks its front legs, reducing the moment of inertia of the front half, and extends the rear legs, increasing the moment of inertia on the rear half of the body. The result is that the front half rotates in one direction as much as 90 degrees while the rear half rotates in the opposite direction as little as 10 degrees.
  • Then, by extending its front legs and tucking its rear legs, the cat switches; rear legs rotate more in one direction, as the front legs rotate less in the opposite direction. This process may be repeated two or three times to complete a full 180-degree rotation, all before it reaches the ground.

Cats also use terminal velocity (the maximum speed attainable by an object as it falls). When falling, particularly from heights above five stories, a cat will horizontally extend out all of its limbs, and its small size, light bone structure, and thick fur will cause drag to increase until terminal velocity has been reached. In simple English, the cat uses its body to slow itself down. Cats can still be hurt depending on just how far they fall. Studies have found that falls from seven stories or higher would result in severe injury and death.

Unlike the cat and the myriad of creatures God made with unique abilities to protect and help themselves, we cannot rely on ourselves nor keep ourselves upright for one minute. Solomon wrote, “I do not know how to go out or come in.” 1 Kings 3:7, last part. We must rely solely and entirely upon our heavenly Father.

Sources: wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_righting_reflex

Patience

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Recently, I read a Facebook post written by a gentleman with whom I attended academy some years ago. He has a profound depth of understanding of different aspects of life and spirituality. I was so impressed with this one, I wanted to share it:

Our inner self can be trained to wait on God, even though our outer self is stressed and anxious for answers. This is difficult in our fast-paced society, where the spiritual discipline of waiting on the Lord is often lacking.

We want everything—right now. But if we are always in a hurry, we will miss out on the close fellowship with God that takes time to develop. He will speak to our hearts if we are patient enough to listen.

After slaying the prophets of Baal, Elijah learned a valuable lesson about waiting on God. The Lord told him to stand on a mountain. A great wind came, followed by an earthquake, then a great fire, but the Lord was in none of these.

It was only after the wind, the earthquake, and the fire had all died away that the Lord spoke in a still, small voice. Had Elijah been impatient he would not have heard the Lord’s voice.

If we are to pray effectively, we must choose to wait patiently and listen for His word. Waiting and listening takes the focus off us and places it on Him, who is the answer to all our needs.

It is often in the silence that follows turmoil that the power of God is moving most mightily. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach us to wait in His presence.

Gaylen Healzer

No Time to Lose

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We have no time to lose. The end is near. Everything will be placed to obstruct our way, so that we shall not be able to do that which is possible to be done. I know from the light given me of God, that the powers of darkness are working with intense energy from beneath. We have warnings now which we may give, a work which we may do, but soon it will be more difficult than we can imagine. The Southern Review, September 12, 1899

In that fearful time the righteous must live in the sight of a holy God without an intercessor. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent . … Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.

We have no time to lose. We know not how soon our probation may close. Christ is soon to come.

When probation ends, it will come suddenly, unexpectedly—at a time when we are least expecting it. But we can have a clean record in heaven today, and know that God accepts us; and finally, if faithful, we shall be gathered into the kingdom of heaven. The Faith I Live By, 215

The Boy Who Wouldn’t Give Up

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Many years ago, a man, Judge Pemberton, was in a bookstore in Cincinnati, Ohio, when a boy came into the store. He was about 12 years old and was dressed in worn, shabby clothes. The judge watched him as he came to the counter.

“Do you have any geography books?” the boy asked the owner of the store.

“We have plenty of geography books,” the man replied.

“How much do they cost?” the boy asked.

“One dollar.”

The boy looked surprised. Putting his hand in his pocket, he pulled out some coins and began counting them. There were several nickels and dimes, but mostly pennies. He counted them three or four times before he put them back in his pocket. At last, he turned to go, saying softly to himself, “I didn’t know they cost so much.”

He got to the door and then turned back. “I have only sixty-two cents,” he told the shopkeeper. “Could you let me have the geography book now and wait a little while until I get the rest of the money?”

He eagerly waited for the answer, and seemed to shrink a little inside his ragged clothes when the shopkeeper kindly told him that he couldn’t do that. The boy was plainly disappointed, but he tried to smile and then left the store.

Judge Pemberton left as well, and caught up with the boy on the street.

“Where are you going now?” he asked.

“I’ll go to another bookstore and try again, sir,” the boy replied.

“May I go with you,” the judge asked, “and see what happens?”

The boy looked surprised. “Sure,” he said. “If you want to.”

The answer was the same at the second bookstore—and at two more that the boy visited, as well.

“Are you going to try again?” asked the judge as they left the fourth bookstore.

“Yes, sir,” the boy assured him. “I’ll try them all. Otherwise, I won’t know whether or not I can get a geography book.”

As the judge and the boy entered the fifth bookstore, the boy walked up to the counter and told the owner just what he wanted and how much money he had.

“You want this book very much, don’t you?” the man asked.

“Yes, sir. Very much.”

“Why do you want a geography book so badly?”

“To study it, sir. You see, I can’t go to school. I have to work most days to help my mother. My father is dead. He was a sailor, and I want to know about the places that he used to go.”

“I see,” said the bookstore owner softly.

“I’m going to be a sailor too, when I grow up,” the boy told him.

“Is that right?” the man replied. “Well, I tell you what I will do. I will let you have a new geography book, and you pay me the rest of the money when you can. Or I can let you have a used geography book for fifty cents.”

“Are all the pages in the used book?” the boy asked. “The very same pages as the new book—only used?”

“Yes,” the man answered. “It’s just exactly like the new book, except that it isn’t new.”

“Then I’ll take the used book,” the boy said. “And I’ll have twelve cents left. I’m glad they didn’t let me have a book at any of the other stores.”

The bookstore owner looked up puzzled when the boy said this. And Judge Pemberton explained that this was the fifth store the boy had come to looking for a geography book. The owner seemed impressed. When he handed the boy the book, he also handed him a new pencil and a tablet of paper.

“Here’s a little gift,” he said, “because you’re so determined to learn. Always have perseverance and courage, and you’ll do all right in life.”

“Thank you, sir,” said the boy. “You’re very kind.”

“What’s your name?” the man asked.

“William Haverly, sir.”

The judge looked at William. “You like books very much, don’t you?”

“Indeed, I do.” And the judge saw his eyes sweep longingly across the shelves of books in the store.

“Well, William,” said the judge, “Here are twenty dollars. Twenty dollars will buy some books for you.”

Tears of joy came into the boy’s eyes. “Can I buy anything I want with it?” he asked.

“Yes, you can buy anything you want with the money.”

“Then I’ll buy a book for my mother,” the boy said. “And another book for myself. I thank you very much, and I hope some day I can pay you back.”

The judge left him standing in the bookstore with a great smile on his face.

Many years later the judge went to Europe on one of the finest sailing ships then making the voyage across the Atlantic. The weather was beautiful until the very last few days before reaching port. Then a terrific storm arose. It was so violent that it would have sunk the ship if it had not been for the heroic efforts of the captain. The ship sprung a leak that threatened to fill the ship and sink it.

The crew were all strong men, and the officers were experienced and capable. But after they had manned the pumps for an entire night, the water was still gaining on them. They gave up in despair and were getting the life boats ready, although they knew that the chances were slim that such small boats could survive in the violent sea.

The captain had been in his cabin with his charts, trying to figure how far it was to land. Now he came on deck. When he understood the situation, he ordered the seamen back to the pumps. At his command they turned to their task once more. Then the captain started to go below to examine the leak. As he passed, the judge asked him, “Captain, is there any hope?” Several other passengers nearby came close to hear his reply.

The captain looked at the judge and said, “Yes, sir. There is hope as long as one inch of this boat remains above water! When I see none of the ship above water I will abandon the vessel, and not before—nor shall one of my crew. I will do everything humanly possible to save it, and if we fail, it won’t be because we didn’t try. Come, every man of you, and help work the pumps!”

The captain’s courage and perseverance and powerful will captured every mind on that ship, and everyone went to work. “I’ll land you safely at the dock in Liverpool,” the captain assured us, “if only you will each do your part.”

And he did land the passengers and crew safely, but the ship sank as they were mooring it to the dock. The captain stood on the deck of the sinking ship as the passengers filed down the gangplank. The judge was the last to leave. As he passed, the captain took him by the hand, “Judge Pemberton,” he said, “you don’t recognize me, do you?”

“I don’t recall that we have ever met before,” the judge answered.

“Oh, but we have,” said the captain. “Years ago in Cincinnati. Do you remember the boy who was looking for a geography book?”

“And are you that boy?” the judge exclaimed.

“Yes, I’m William Haverly. God bless you for what you did for me back then.”

“And God bless you, Captain, for your perseverance and courage,” the judge replied.

StoryTime, Character-building Stories for Children, ©2008, 12–15

Religion and Morality

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Morality:
the principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior

Religion:
a particular system of faith and worship

“The greatest want of the world is the want of men [women]—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.” Education, 57

Interestingly, the world has very little interest in understanding or even attempting to obtain the knowledge that there is a direct correlation between spiritual morality and actions. A popular belief has sprung up in the last decade or so, after the publication of such books as the DaVinci Code, that claims “every faith in the world is based on fabrication” used to maintain control over the peoples of the world; a fabrication that states the Bible is just a book, maybe even a good book.

I have often said that even if everything we know and understand about religion, as suggested above, is a lie, wouldn’t it be true that if every man, woman, and child on this earth followed the ten commandments, if everyone in the world “esteemed others better than themselves,” if they loved God and loved their neighbor, if we were less greedy and more giving, served rather than expected to be served, were more loving and less hate-filled, even if the end of all life was simply death with no God or heaven or eternity, the world would be a much better place. The Biblical principles espoused by most religions, when brought into the life, will result in doing and being good, making us all better people.

However, I do believe in God and heaven and eternity, and that it is only through the power and grace of God that man can live a moral life. The worldly people—those who believe they know what is best for themselves and determinedly seek to separate themselves from any relationship with God so that they can “be free” to do as they choose—perpetuate the deception utilized by Satan in heaven. Speaking of the sinless, holy angels, he suggested, “angels, being more exalted, needed no such restraint, for their own wisdom was sufficient guide. … He claimed that the unfallen intelligences of holy heaven had no need of law, but were capable of governing themselves and of preserving unspotted integrity.” The Truth About Angels, 37, 38

We know how well that assertion ended. One-third of the angels were expelled from heaven along with Lucifer, and here, he continues to suggest to those who follow him that they do not need to obey God’s commandments. Instead, they can govern themselves and should be free to determine their own course. The only difference is that instead of remaining able to preserve an unspotted integrity, they no longer feel the need for an unspotted integrity, or they believe that it will all be taken care of for them in the future.

Many have little interest in religion, believing it to be more opinion, conjecture, or even hope rather than science. Sciences of every kind—particularly psychology and neuroscience—have tied themselves into so many knots trying to develop ways of improving the human condition and techniques that will help people face the challenges of this life by changing a person’s beliefs, feelings, and behaviors only to find that they echo the ideas and techniques many religions have been using for millennia.

Today, science and a belief in God seem to clash, yet Inspiration tells us that without God, there is no science.

“By those who make the Scriptures their constant study, true natural science is far better understood than it is by many so-called learned men. Science, as revealed in Holy Writ, flashes light upon many hidden things in God’s word. The science of the Bible is pure, undefiled religion; it is the science of true godliness. And obedience to God, in all schemes of human benevolence—practical activity—is the science of salvation. The gospel is ‘the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.’ ” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, 251

“A knowledge of science of all kinds is power, and it is in the purpose of God that advanced science shall be taught in our schools as a preparation for the work that is to precede the closing scenes of earth’s history. The truth is to go to the remotest bounds of the earth, through agents trained for the work. But while the knowledge of science is a power, the knowledge which Jesus in person came to impart to the world was the knowledge of the gospel. The light of truth was to flash its bright rays into the uttermost parts of the earth, and the acceptance or rejection of the message of God involved the eternal destiny of souls.

“The plan of salvation had its place in the counsels of the Infinite from all eternity. The gospel is the revelation of God’s love to men, and means everything that is essential to the happiness and well-being of humanity. The work of God in the earth is of immeasurable importance, and it is Satan’s special object to crowd it out of sight and mind, that he may make his specious devices effectual in the destruction of those for whom Christ died. It is his purpose to cause the discoveries of men to be exalted above the wisdom of God. When the mind is engrossed with the conceptions and theories of men to the exclusion of the wisdom of God, it is stamped with idolatry. Science, falsely so called, has been exalted above God, nature above its Maker, and how can God look upon such wisdom?” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 186

“The science of redemption is the science of all sciences; the science that is the study of the angels and of all the intelligences of the unfallen worlds; the science that engages the attention of our Lord and Saviour; the science that enters into the purpose brooded in the mind of the Infinite …; the science that will be the study of God’s redeemed throughout endless ages.” The Truth About Angels, 298

Morality is best associated with religion as an outcome of it. True morality—like true religion—must be based upon Biblical principles. These principles, when practiced in life, will bring about change in the human mind and heart, which will result in moral thought and action.

“The sum and substance of true religion is to own and continually acknowledge by words, by dress, by deportment, our relationship to God.” Healthful Living, 119

“Morality cannot be separated from religion. Conservative tradition received from educated men and from the writings of great men of the past are not all a safe guide for us in these last days; for the great struggle before us is such as the world has never seen. …

“We are not one of us safe, even with past experience in the work, and certainly are not safe … unless we live as seeing Him who is invisible. Daily, hourly, we must be actuated by the principles of Bible truth—righteousness, mercy, and the love of God. He who would have moral and intellectual power must draw from the divine Source. At every point and decision inquire, Is this the way of the Lord?” Medical Ministry, 99

Sources: psychologicalscience.org/news/psychologists-are-learning-what-religion-has-known-for-years; goodreads.com/quotes/148789-every-faith-in-the-world-is-based-on-fabrication-that

Global Trends from a Prophetic Perspective

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At the writing of these words, the presidential election in the United States has already been decided. It is strongly felt that the history of this world has become more dynamic since that moment. The eschatological (end time) perspective has significantly accelerated. Certain historical events, viewed through an eschatological lens, can either speed up or slow down the passage of time. In this sense, time is not a constant but is subject to various changes. The history of this world demonstrates that geopolitical realities, which may appear utterly unshakable and eternal, often prove to be highly unstable, fragile, and susceptible to change. The dynamics of history can be surprising, though they tend to follow a fairly predictable mechanism of emergence, growth (expansion), disintegration, and decline—and occasionally, the rebirth—of states and civilizations. While geopolitical changes can occur relatively quickly, shifts in political systems within individual countries happen with even greater dynamism. The most dynamic, however, are changes in social sentiments.

In response to a specific crisis, public sentiment can transform at an extremely rapid pace, essentially overnight. The recent events surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are a perfect example of this. Crisis leads to change. A political-economic crisis triggers political-economic change. A religious crisis brings about religious change. Crises are naturally embedded in the stages of history. While not every change is preceded by a crisis, every crisis invariably leads to some form of change. I do not intend to turn a specific political event into a definitive turning point in world history. There have been many such turning points, and when connected, they form a line that, as defined by Jesus Christ, has a predetermined end. What matters is not the individual or event but the broader trajectory of the political and social change we are experiencing. This is not about sensationalism or media narratives and slogans but about seeing the bigger picture—assembling the puzzle pieces to understand the current political, social, and religious trends. Ultimately, these trends will lead to the breakdown of the wall separating church and state in the U.S., bringing us closer to fulfilling the role attributed to the United States in Revelation 13.

A Broader Perspective

Since the end of World War II, the world has operated under a bipolar system in which the United States led the “West” against the totalitarian Soviet empire. In 1980, the social movement “Solidarity” emerged in Poland, marking the beginning of the end of the communist system in Central and Eastern Europe. On February 6, 1989, negotiations began in Poland between the communists and representatives of Solidarity, which led to the end of the communist dictatorship in Poland just four months later.1

The fall of communism in Poland and the transition to a democratic and capitalist political system influenced the process of communism’s collapse across all of Central and Eastern Europe. However, few predicted that a power like the Union of Soviet Socialist Russia (USSR) would collapse under its own weight just three years later, on January 1, 1992, and become part of history.2 Thus, a new world order emerged, a new era in which the U.S. became the global hegemon—a political, military, and economic superpower.

The world entered a golden decade of Pax Americana, in which the U.S. displayed multilateral dominance in the global system, expanding American values of democracy and free markets. With the beginning of the new millennium, we can observe the rise of emerging powers—BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, China)—and the relative decline of the West, including the U.S. Globalization and shaping a multipolar international order favor the rapidly developing China in its struggle for global primacy with the West. China is already an unquestionable economic and trade powerhouse, systematically modernizing and implementing new technologies while increasing its military potential. However, it is worth noting that China has only a potential perspective for growth toward a new role as a world leader. At the same time, the U.S. remains the only global superpower and intends to maintain this global primacy. Therefore, a confrontation between the U.S. and China is inevitable if it intends to halt China’s rise. However, some, such as Ivo Daalder, the former U.S. ambassador to NATO, believe that “The Pax Americana will officially end on Jan. 20, 2025, when the U.S. inaugurates Donald J. Trump as its 47th president.”3

The position of the U.S. as the sole global superpower fits precisely into the Adventist scenario of the end times. Identifying the “beast from the earth,” resembling a lamb in Revelation 13, as the U.S. fulfills all the conditions that can only be realized by a power such as the United States. As the sole superpower, only this power can compel the world to accept the “mark of the beast.”4 This is confirmed by the language used in the brief description of the beast with the lamb-like horns. The Greek word poiei (“to make” or “to cause”) appears five times, which highlights its role as the global enforcer.5

The (Un)Holy Alliance

The overthrow of communism in Europe was achieved through the cooperation of the United States and the Vatican. The world learned of the secret alliance that was formed on June 7, 1982, thanks to the investigative journalism of Carl Bernstein that was published in Time magazine in February 1992. This cooperation resulted in burying communism, thus allowing the U.S. to achieve global political hegemony, while the Papacy emerged as the undisputed global moral authority.6 And so it happened! Communism fell, and from then on, in Eastern and Central Europe, the Catholic Church gained political influence that it had not held since the Middle Ages.

In the history of U.S. and Vatican relations, this was not the first meeting of heads of state. The first meeting between a U.S. president and the pope occurred in 1919. Many years later, in 1959, the second meeting occurred. The meeting between President John F. Kennedy and Pope Paul VI in 1963 sparked a cascade of meetings between American presidents and popes, with 29 such meetings by 2021. This shows a clear upward trend in the number of meetings, indicating the tightening cooperation between these two global players for the sake of common global interests.7

The Gulf. Does anyone still perceive a gulf?

The political cooperation between the U.S. and the Vatican, symbolized by the political alliance described in Time magazine, is one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is the powerful alliance between Protestants and Catholics, which today is essentially ready to fulfill its eschatological role. These two aspects of cooperation demonstrate the mutual understanding between Protestants and Catholics regarding the main directions of socio-political actions despite their theological differences. Even these theological differences no longer concerned Protestants once they understood the significance of the Reformation and the nature of Roman Catholicism.

Today, anti-Catholic sentiment has long ceased to be fashionable in Protestantism. Now, not only is the Roman Catholic Church respected and accepted by Protestants as one of the Christian Churches, but the current trend is such that many evangelical Christians are converting to Roman Catholicism. For young Protestants, the “move to papal Rome” has become fashionable because they want to belong to a church with ancient roots. At the same time, these young people often do not understand why the Reformation occurred.

An example of this trend is J.D. Vance’s abandonment of evangelical Christianity in favor of the Roman Catholic Church.8 Ellen White wrote long ago that there once existed an abyss between Protestants and Catholics, an abyss that no one questioned. However, she prophesied that Protestants would reach out across this gulf: “When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.”9 She also wrote: “There is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed … .”10

It’s interesting, then, what Protestants are saying today. Let’s take a look at the statement of Protestant theology professor Stanley Hauerwas: “… like many Protestants, I don’t see the gulf between us and our Catholic brothers and sisters as particularly pronounced. The separation I once saw as default now makes less sense to me.”11 He further argues: “Most of the reforms Protestants wanted Catholics to make have been made.”12 Really? Rome has not carried out any reforms of its false doctrines and dogmas that would address the issues raised by the Reformation. So why does a professor of theology such as Stanley Hauerwas claim this has happened? At the end of his article, Hauerwas shares a candid admission: “… a number of my Protestant graduate students have become Roman Catholics over the years. … They convert because Catholicism is an intellectually rich theological tradition better able to negotiate the acids of our culture. They also take seriously that Roman Catholicism represents a commitment to Christian unity toward non-Catholic Christians and between the poor and those who are not poor. I have watched these students join the Catholic Church over the years. They are not wrong. And yet, I remain a Protestant. It is hard for me to explain why that is.”13

If a Protestant theologian holds such views, imagine how the average Protestant perceives the Roman Catholic Church. Many evangelical Christians likely consider Catholics to be fellow Bible-believing Christians, or conversely, many evangelical Christians might actually consider themselves to be Catholics. Am I exaggerating? Unfortunately, this is the reality for many contemporary evangelical Christians in America. It has even reached the point where some Protestants openly proclaim that the Reformation is over.

At a conference of Pentecostal leaders associated with the ministry of Kenneth Copeland, which took place on January 21–23, 2014, Anglican Bishop Tony Palmer, referencing the 1999 Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification issued by the Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church, publicly declared that Luther’s protest is over. Palmer then asked, “If there is no more protest; how can there be a Protestant Church? Maybe now we’re all Catholics again.”14 This Anglican bishop and papal agent blatantly lied and manipulated the naive Pentecostals, who eagerly accepted every word of Palmer. After this statement, Palmer presented a short video message from Pope Francis, expressing his “longing” for the end of the division between Catholics and other Christians. The entire performance concluded with the Pentecostal leaders receiving the Pope’s blessing, after which they prayed for him, blessed him, and recorded their message for him on their smartphones.

The Reformation is still alive

This segment of evangelical and Pentecostal Christians, who desire so much to return to Rome, fails to understand that rejecting the Reformation means restoring totalitarian power to the Roman Church, which will lead once again to the persecution of those who stubbornly hold to their Biblical beliefs that oppose Catholic dogma. “The theological differences between Catholics and Protestants were once so great that millions preferred to die rather than compromise with Rome. Even the inquisitors were so convinced of the importance of these differences that they tortured and killed those with differing beliefs. The fact is that the doctrine of the Roman Church has not changed since the time of the Reformation. What has changed is the Protestants.”15

As long as the papacy continues to teach its false, unbiblical doctrines, the Reformation will remain alive in those Protestant churches that stay faithful to God’s word. As long as the principles of the Reformation remain alive in the hearts of every true Christian, we can be confident that the system foretold in Revelation chapter 13 will not arise.

Contemporary Protestant Fundamentalism

The neo-Marxist cultural revolution is destroying the principles, laws, and values of Western civilization. Developed over centuries, it also poses a threat to freedom of conscience. This left-wing progressivism manifested in censorship, climate hysteria, gender ideology, and LGBT+ issues, as well as the mutilation and manipulation of children through gender transition, leads to the point where conservative Christian churches are unwilling to passively observe the moral decay of society, especially as they begin to lose followers.16

Conservative Protestant churches in America have allied with conservative Catholics to counteract these unfavorable cultural changes. However, this action is not based on preaching the gospel but on organized efforts to influence politics and the government to implement policies that will halt the moral decline of the American nation.17 Thus, in the 1970s, the religious right was born, with the primary goal of restoring Christian America through influencing American politics and government. Politically-engaged conservative Christians aimed to elect conservative activists and politicians at all decision-making levels, influence legislation, and appoint judges to the Supreme Court who would share their views. Restoring Christian America for Protestant fundamentalists meant dismantling the Jeffersonian wall of separation between church and state. This would allow for legal, social, and moral changes through the political leaders they selected. “Unfortunately, while the religious right takes an undeniably positive stance on moral issues, the situation is different when it comes to personal liberty and religious freedom. The Adventist scenario of recent events, clearly described in the book The Great Controversy, can only unfold if the United States rejects the principles of the separation of church and state, as laid out in the First Amendment to the Constitution, principles to which the religious right has openly declared war.”18

There is something in the psyche of Seventh-day Adventists that causes us to react when someone tries to undermine the importance of the separation of church and state. This is not only due to our understanding of the prophetic role of the U.S. in an eschatological perspective, but also because history has shown that wherever the separation of church and state is lacking, discrimination against nonconformists and, ultimately, persecution of religious minorities occurs. This has always been the case in history. That is why John Locke wrote: “… so that neither one party may disguise their persecution and cruelty, contrary to the spirit of Christianity, under the guise of concern for the state and respect for the law, nor that others may seek to cover up their own immoral behavior and lawlessness under the pretext of religion—in short, so that no one may deceive themselves or others by pretending to be a faithful subject of the ruler or a sincere worshiper of God—I believe that, first and foremost, a separation between the affairs of the state and the affairs of religion must be made, and the boundaries between church and state must be justly defined. If this separation is not achieved, no dispute will ever come to an end—disputes between those who genuinely care for the welfare of souls or the state, or those who merely pretend to care.”19 Unfortunately, the religious right in the United States either does not understand this or, worse, refuses to understand it. From the Pharisees to today’s religious right, fundamentalists have always had good intentions but misguided zeal. Unable to draw people toward their religion through love and logic, they resort to wielding the secular sword.20 In the next article, we will look at selected examples from history to see what the lack of separation between church and state leads to.

Marcin Watras lives in Katowice, Poland. He is interested in the philosophy of religion and trends in society. He works for the European Union.

Endnotes:

  1. “1989. Czas, w którym wygasała czerwień”, January 31, 2019, https://dzieje.pl/aktualnosci/1989-czas-w-ktorym-wygasala-czerwien, accessibility: 05.11.2024
  2. “Upadek ZSRR: Koniec imperium zła”, November 24, 2018, https://historia.rp.pl/historia/art9546571-upadek-zsrr-koniec-imperium-zla, accessibility: 05.11.2024
  3. Ivo Daalder, “The end of Pax Americana”, Politico, November 8, 2024, politico.eu/article/pax-america-donald-trump-us-elections-president-reelection-deport/, accessibility: 10.11.2024
  4. Clifford Goldstein, Dzień smoka, publishing house “Znaki Czasu”, Warszawa 1996, p. 22
  5. Jonatan Dunkel, Apokalipsa, publishing house Orion plus 2001, p. 85
  6. Carl Bernstein, “The Holy Alliance: Ronald Reagan and John Paul II”, Time, February 24, 1992, https://time.com/archive/6719650/the-holy-alliance-ronald-reagan-and-john-paul-ii/, accessibility: 11.11.2024
  7. Papieskie audiencje dla prezydentów USA, November 29, 2021, ekai.pl/papieskie-audiencje-dla-prezydentow-usa/, accessibility: 11.11.2024
  8. youtube.com/watch?v=fVHdhnfVldE&t=1s
  9. Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 451
  10. Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 563
  11. Stanley Hauerwas, “The Reformation is over. Protestants won. So why are we still here?”, The Washington Post, October 27, 2017, washingtonpost.com/outlook/the-reformation-is-over-protestants-won-so-why-are-we-still-here/2017/10/26/71a2ad02-b831-11e7-be94-fabb0f1e9ffb_story.html, accessibility: 12.11.2024
  12. Ibid.
  13. Ibid.
  14. youtube.com/watch?v=fxup_QnfSHg
  15. Jonatan Dunkel, Apokalipsa, publishing house Orion plus 2001, p. 103
  16. America’s Changing Religious Landscape, report Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, pewresearch.org/religion/2015/05/12/americas-changing-religious-landscape/, accessibility: 17.11.2024
  17. Jonatan Dunkel, Apokalipsa, publishing house Orion plus 2001, p. 88
  18. Clifford Goldstein, Dzień smoka, publishing house “Znaki Czasu”, Warszawa 1996, p. 46
  19. John Locke, List o tolerancji, publishing house PWN, Warszawa 1963, p. 7
  20. Jonatan Dunkel, Apokalipsa, publishing house Orion plus 2001, p. 87

Immovable

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“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 15:57, 58

It’s a wonderful thing in this time when every wind of doctrine is blowing, to have things settled in our experience with God, to be settled in our minds regarding our relationship to the church, which is the body of Christ, to be so settled regarding our own hope for the future that it cannot be shaken.

Everything that can be shaken will be shaken (Hebrews 12:27). That means that only those things that cannot be shaken will remain. The time of shaking is coming and God intends that you and I, like Jesus, will be steadfast and immovable. Satan tried everything in his arsenal to turn Jesus from His purpose to give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of men. He tried fear, flattery, bribery, uncertainty, but Jesus was committed—steadfast and immovable—to carrying out His Father’s will.

Jesus had gathered His disciples to Him in the upper room to partake of the Passover supper. He instituted the sacrament that was to commemorate His death, and then told them that He was soon to leave them but they were to carry on His work.

“Simon Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, where are You going?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.’ Jesus answered him, ‘Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.’ ” John 13:36–38

Did Peter mean it? Yes, he did, but unfortunately he did not know himself in the way Jesus knew Him.

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’ But he said to Him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.’ Then He said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.’ ” Luke 22:31–34

Satan had been and still was trying to turn the disciples against Jesus. But our mighty and loving Jesus had prayed for them, especially Peter. However, Peter still had great confidence in himself that he would not allow Satan to overcome him. He still did not realize that what he needed most was a broken and contrite heart. He needed to be converted. So, with some not-so-humble boasting, Peter thanked Jesus for His prayers, but he didn’t need them. He was settled, ready to follow Jesus no matter where it led him. Prison? Death? He was prepared to follow Him even there. Peter believed every word that he spoke. He wanted to be ready, but Peter didn’t know himself. Jesus had prayed for Peter, but He also warned him that he needed to pray for himself because he would soon meet the most significant test of his life and fail unless he put his faith in God to uphold him.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: “I will smite the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.’ ” Matthew 26:31–33

Peter makes an incredibly sweeping statement: I will follow you anywhere, even to death. I will never be offended. No one will be more faithful to You than me. Was he sincere? Yes, he was. But, “Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And so said all the disciples.” Verses 34, 35

Is it possible for a person to believe he is steadfast in purpose, but in reality he is not settled or immovable at all? Is it possible to believe that everything is beyond question, no chance of regression or failure, and yet, to find in one’s own heart and life the elements for failure? Sadly, as exhibited by Peter and all but one of the other disciples, it is possible.

Am I Immovable?

The study of being immovable requires that we first engage in self-examination.

How does a person prepare for the shaking? Many have been tested and failed, so how would you prepare for the test or tests that so many before you have failed?

Soldiers are prepared to face the terrors of battle by months of training, drills, and preliminary testing. Exercises that include crawling on their bellies through barbed wire barriers, all while machine guns spray bullets over their heads. They run many miles with a loaded backpack—sometimes as heavy as 70 pounds—to build their stamina and strength. Days, even weeks, of survival training prepares them to live off the land and how to evade the enemy. Each soldier is pushed almost beyond their physical and mental endurance so that they can be certain they will not fail on the battlefield when their own life, as well as the lives of their unit mates, is on the line.

In much the same way, God is seeking to prepare us for the time when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. In His mercy and love, He allows testing and trial, but always provides aid.

“Trials and obstacles are the Lord’s chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success.” The Ministry of Healing, 471

Discipline and disciple come from the same root word. A disciple should then expect discipline, training, trials, and obstacles as the Lord’s chosen methods of preparing him for success.

“In His mercy and faithfulness, God often permits those in whom we place confidence to fail us, in order that we may learn the folly of trusting in man and making flesh our arm.” Ibid., 486

Our friends, our family—at home and at church—may fail us. Jesus met this test in the garden of Gethsemane. He met it when Peter fulfilled His prophecy and vehemently denied Him three times before the rooster crowed. He met it at the cross where only one disciple knelt unafraid and unashamed to publicly call Him his Lord. He met it again and again, when moving from one court to another, facing the hatred of the Jewish leaders and people. He met these tests and trials so that He could be an example to us, when everyone else fails us, when we ourselves fail. Mistakes are not always bad. They are but one way in which we can learn what is right.

There are many dear people who are troubled because of the mistakes, failures, and outright sins of people in the church; when Satan, the accuser of the brethren, accuses them before God he doesn’t have to make up a lot of lies. Satan finds plenty to do to keep busy just reciting our faults, failures, and mistakes. But Jesus can help us to have an experience in faith that is in no way dependent upon what others do.

Joseph was true to God even though his brothers sold him as a slave. For ten years as a servant and then for three years in prison he was true to God, and a few years later he had the privilege of saving his family, including the brothers who were ready to kill him. What a wonderful experience of immovability. This is the experience God wants all of us to have. The grace of God held Joseph steadfast and made sure that his life and experiences were included in the Scriptures to help us learn patience and to be comforted with the knowledge that we have our hope in Jesus.

“Jesus stands by our side, and shall we falter?—No, as the trials come, the power of God will come with them.” My Life Today, 94. With the trials He permits, God sends along His power so that we are able to meet our trials with confidence and overcome them. Each trial we overcome, the more immovable we become.

Movable Angels

One third of the angels apostatized and were cast out of heaven with their chosen leader. But for those angels who remained faithful to the Father and Son, there is something that keeps them from any instability.

“The angels ascribe honor and glory to Christ, for even they are not secure except by looking to the sufferings of the Son of God.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, 1132

What keeps the angels in heaven secure? Looking to the sufferings of the Son of God. It is through the efficacy of the cross that the angels of heaven are guarded from apostasy. Without the cross they would be no more secure against evil than were the angels deceived by Lucifer.

Angelic perfection failed in heaven. Human perfection failed in Eden. All who wish for security in earth or heaven must look to the Lamb of God. Friends, even angels must look to the cross to be secure and immovable. How can we believe that we can become immovable by our own effort?

In Revelation 5, God is seated upon His throne with a sealed book (scroll) in His right hand. A mighty angel proclaimed, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I [John] wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

“But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep, Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’ And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne … stood a Lamb, as though it had been slain … .” Verses 2–6, first part

Who is that Lamb? Jesus. He takes the book and opens the purposes of God to the universe.

Here is the Lamb. He takes the book, and three songs are sung. First, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fall on their knees before the Lamb, singing a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” Verses 9, 10

Next, angels around the throne joined the living creatures and the 24 elders, and the men and women redeemed from this world—Enoch, Moses, Elijah, and the multitude of others who were resurrected with Jesus and who accompanied Him when He ascended to heaven—ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands—all sang together:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” Verse 12

Just imagine it! All of heaven trembles with the sound of praise to the Lamb and to the Father. The song praising the power that was able to secure them so there was no danger of their failing. The love of the Godhead and Jesus’ death on Calvary created the fountain of blood by which we all are saved.

Then John sees the final response.

“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, ‘Blessing, and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever.’ ” Verse 13

The keeping power for the entire universe, from the highest seraph in heaven to the smallest child in this world, is in Jesus the Lamb of God, dying for us, risen for us, ascended for us, pleading for us, and coming soon for us to reunite the family of earth with the family of heaven.

Friends, be steadfast and immovable, knowing that the keeping power is in the Christ who died for us and who lives to triumph and conquer. Do not look for power in your problem. Look away from your problem to find the solution, Jesus Christ. We will never, never in this life or in the future life have security in any other save the Lamb who died for us and freely offers His keeping power to us.

Pastor W. D. Frazee was a Seventh-day Adventist evangelist, minister, and author. In 1942, he began a faith ministry that would become the foundation for establishing the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute, now Wildwood Lifestyle Center and Hospital. In 1996, he was laid to rest, awaiting the return of the Lord.

Will Your Anchor Hold?

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“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.”
Hebrews 6:19

An anchor keeps a ship secured in place, so that it does not drift listlessly around the ocean or too close to the rocks. It also keeps a ship where it is supposed to be in the harbor; otherwise it would drift into the other ships also taking refuge there because of a storm or high wind. As the ship’s anchor keeps it safe and secure, so will the Anchor of our souls keep us secured safely within His arms.

People are drifting today and it is interesting that when people drift they most often drift away and not towards. Husbands drift from wives. Children drift from parents. Christians drift from truth.

God doesn’t want us to be drifters.

Jesus said, “False christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders [working miracles] to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24

For 6,000 years, mankind has faced the deceptions of Satan. But the Bible tells us that a time is coming—and the signs all around us indicate that it is very near—when Satan’s deceptions will be so strong that, if possible, even some of God’s chosen people might be deceived. However, if God’s chosen and elect people will “live the life of Christ in this world” (To Be Like Jesus, 217), then they will not be deceived because they have a secure anchor. And sadly, so many people living in the world today do not.

For a ship’s anchor to be effective, it must be secured on the sea floor. Some anchors are made with a pointed end so that they will dig deeply and securely into the sand of the sea floor when dropped. However, Paul says our anchor is not secured here on earth. No, our anchor is secured in God’s heavenly tabernacle. And we can be assured that having our anchor secured there, no matter how turbulent and strong the storms of life may be, we will never be blown away or drift off course.

Every wind of doctrine.

“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. … Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. …

“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. All who assume the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will appear in the shame of their own nakedness. …

“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, 81

In the fall of 1979, I was a faculty member at Southwestern Union College in Keene, Texas (renamed Southwestern Adventist University in 1996). I vividly remember the shocking announcement made during a faculty meeting that one of our leading theologians had suggested at a public forum that 1844 was not as significant as we had previously thought. This was an attack on the foundation of the Adventist message, and leading Adventist theologians worldwide agreed with him.

What began as an attack on the doctrine of investigative judgment soon resulted in multiple attacks against William Miller and Ellen White’s prophetic ministry. In the 1980s, she was accused of plagiarism, followed by attempts to reinterpret prophecy. These attacks on the truths of God’s word have never stopped, and I expect they never will as long as we are in this world.

There is always a present truth.

God revealed the truth to the pioneers in the Second Advent Movement. That truth will endure even the most severe, detailed, and rigid investigation of the Greek and Hebrew languages in the prophetic scriptures. In 1979, when the significance of the investigative judgment of 1844 was questioned, the laity did not recognize it as an attack against the foundation of present truth, although it was.

Present truth is found at every advance in this world’s history. For Noah, it was the coming flood, and if the people wanted to be saved, they had to get on the ark or drown. For John the Baptist, it was the coming of the Messiah. For Martin Luther, it was justification by faith. The present truth today is that the investigative judgment is now in process.

It makes no sense.

Have you ever felt that God has asked you to do something that, to your mind, made no sense? The Bible gives us just such an example.

“When He [Jesus] had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, ‘Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.’ But Simon answered and said to Him, ‘Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.’ ” Luke 5:4, 5

Nighttime, when the fish couldn’t see the nets in the dark, was the best time to fish. This is how Peter made his living, so he knew that what Jesus was suggesting made no sense; and the skepticism in Peter’s voice when he answered the Lord showed that. However, as outspoken as Peter could be, and was at that moment, he nevertheless ignored his pride and did, by faith, as he was told. We must cultivate humbleness of heart so that we can turn away from our own pride. We are not to argue with Jesus, but obey Him with humility and love.

There is so much pride in this world. Even the Christian will follow the Lord and the prophet, until it doesn’t make sense to him, and then he won’t do it. From a fisherman’s perspective it was absolute nonsense, and totally irrational. The other fishermen would laugh him off the beach, but Peter was humble enough to obey. Can you imagine what was going through his mind? Perhaps the same thing that goes through your mind when what God asks or allows doesn’t make sense to you.

But Peter let down his net.

“And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking. So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.” Verses 6, 7

Peter’s boat and that of his partner weren’t little row boats or canoes. Their boats had been built for fishing and were capable of holding thousands of pounds of fish. Peter used casting-nets typically made of flax and linen—very strong. But the Bible says that Peter’s net was breaking with the weight of the fish, so he called to his partner for help. It also says that, once the fish were transferred from the net to the boats, both his and his partner’s boats were sinking from the weight and volume of the fish. Miracles happen when we agree to work with God.

God speaks to people in a way that they understand. He used parables to convey principles of right to those who heard Him speak. Peter understood fishing. In this miracle, more than any other, Peter could see and understand without any doubt that this Man was in control of everything.

“When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!’ ” But Jesus said to Peter, “Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men.” Verses 8, 10, last part

Peter immediately left his fishing boat. He understood that he no longer needed to worry about making a living because Jesus would provide for him. He gave up everything—boats, nets, and income—and he became an evangelist for Jesus. He was anchored with the right Person. Trusting in Jesus, he knew that he and his family would be taken care of.

There was a man.

Nathaniel Faulkhead lived in Australia and  served as the treasurer of the Seventh-day Adventist Echo Publishing House and was a leading worker in Australia. Ellen White traveled to Australia in 1891. During the voyage, God gave her a vision concerning the work there. In this vision, she was given explicit instructions concerning this man. When she was done writing—50 pages worth—she put it in an envelope to mail. But before she could mail it a voice said to her, “Don’t mail it yet, not yet, not yet, they will not receive your testimony,” So she kept it. She arrived in Australia, and time went on.

Mr. Faulkhead was not only a leader in the Seventh-day Adventist church but he was also a member of the Free Masons and very high up in the organization. Free Masons, Jesuits, Opus Dei, and many other organizations are secret societies, some of which are associated with the Roman Catholic Church. Mr. Faulkhead had reached the point where he was much more interested in the Free Masons than in the Adventist church and his job at the publishing house. Other Adventists became concerned and questioned his involvement with the secret society, but he was convinced that he was doing the right thing.

One day, almost a year after Mrs. White’s vision concerning this man, a fellow Adventist asked Mr. Faulkhead that if God gave Mrs. White a message for him concerning his membership with the Free Masons, would he accept it? No one knew that God had, in fact, already given Mrs. White just such a vision. The fellow Adventist had spoken hypothetically. Mr. Faulkhead replied that it would have to be a very strong message.

Just a few days later, Mr. Faulkhead dreamed that God had given Mrs. White a message for him. He arranged to meet with Mrs. White and asked if she had a message for him. She replied that she did, and that she’d had it for about a year. She explained that she had intended to mail it then, but that the Spirit of the Lord wouldn’t allow her to mail it. Mrs. White suggested that they arrange another meeting to discuss God’s message for him, but Mr. Faulkhead wanted to know the message immediately.

They sat down together. She retrieved the manuscript and began to read the particular points that the Lord had given her regarding the dangers of Free Masonry. She told Mr. Faulkhead that if he continued on this path, he would lose his soul. He was astonished.

She told him that people at the lodge addressed him as the Most Worshipful Master. At church, he gave little, but at the Masonic lodge, he gave much. He could not deny her words. Then Mrs. White waved her hand in a certain way, and Mr. Faulkhead turned pale. He placed his hand on her shoulder and asked if she knew what she had just done. She had, he said, given him the secret sign of the Knight’s Templar, another secret society organization. Only a member of the Knight’s Templar would know that sign. Mrs. White waved her hand again in a different sign. This was a sign known only to those in the highest positions within the Free Mason organization. Mrs. White stated that the angel of the Lord had shown her the signs. What was so impressive about the message was that God had spoken in a way he could understand. The next day at work, he told his fellow workers that the Lord had spoken to him through Mrs. White. Then, he went to the Masonic lodge and resigned.

God spoke to Peter in a way that a fisherman could understand, to Nebuchadnezzar in a way that an idolater could understand, and to a Free Mason in a way that he could understand. God speaks to all of us in a way that we can understand if we are willing to listen.

We must find our anchor for ourselves.

“Those who seek to remove the old landmarks are not holding fast; they are not remembering how they have received and heard. Those who try to bring in theories that would remove the pillars of our faith concerning the sanctuary or concerning the personality of God or of Christ, are working as blind men. They are seeking to bring in uncertainties and to set the people of God adrift without an anchor.” Manuscript Release No. 760: The Integrity of the Sanctuary Truth, 9

“If we are the Lord’s appointed messengers, we shall not spring up with new ideas and theories to contradict the message that God has given through His servants since 1844. …

“Our work is to bring forth the strong reasons of our faith, our past and present position, because there are men who, never established in the truth, will bring in fallacies which would tear away the anchorage of our faith. Even presidents of conferences will fear to move, as some have done, dictating and commanding and forbidding. …

“There will be many converted from among the Jews, … The day of the Lord will come suddenly, unexpectedly, and men are asleep.” Ibid., 14

“God never contradicts Himself. Scripture proofs are misapplied if forced to testify to that which is not true. Another and still another will arise and bring in supposedly great light, and make their assertions.

“But we stand by the old landmarks.” Ibid., 19

“Never was there a time when the enemy worked with such subtlety as at the present, and we need to realize that we are now to be fully prepared to meet whatever may come in the way of apostasy. The word of God declares that some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. …

“Satan will use his best plans to lead souls to bring in some new theories, some strange, fanciful ideas.” Ibid., 20, 21

“The truths given us after the passing of the time in 1844 are just as certain and unchangeable as when the Lord gave them to us in answer to our urgent prayers. The visions that the Lord has given me are so remarkable that we know that what we have accepted is the truth. This was demonstrated by the Holy Spirit. Light, precious light from God, established the main points of our faith as we hold them today. And these truths are to be kept before the mind. We must arouse from the position of lukewarmness, from being neither cold nor hot. We need increased faith and more earnest trust in God. We must not be satisfied to remain where we are. We must advance step by step, from light to greater light. …

“As the points of our faith were thus established, our feet were placed upon a solid foundation. We accepted the truth point by point under the demonstration of the Holy Spirit. I would be taken off in vision and explanations would be given me. I was given illustrations of heavenly things and of the sanctuary, so that we were placed where light was shining on us in clear, distinct rays.

“All these truths are immortalized in my writings. The Lord never denies His word. Men may get up scheme after scheme, and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from the truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message, will be safe from the many delusions that will come in in these last days.” Ibid., 22, 23

We must be anchored in the truth, or when every wind of doctrine blows, we will be blown away. Do you know what you believe and who you believe in? Our faith is not in Paul or John, Isaiah or Daniel, or even Ellen White. Our faith must be in the One who gave them their messages.

Become more and more anchored every day. Then you will stand steadfast when the winds blow.

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