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The Goal

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Life today is very busy, and each day does not seem to get any slower, only faster. Weeks go flying by and things that we plan to accomplish often do not happen. There just never seems to be enough time. Like most people, I have many goals for my life. When I was younger my goal was to make it through college and become an engineer. As I have become older and reached some of those goals, I have made different ones to reach, but none of them are ever reached without personal effort. Sometimes these goals can consume much time, and we must be careful not to become so absorbed and so busy that we forget the most important things in life. Jesus told a parable of a sower who went out to sow seed (Matthew 13:3). Some of the seed fell among thorns and were choked out (verse 7). That can also happen with our important goals; they can be choked out by the cares of this life.

“Success in any line demands a definite aim. He who would achieve true success in life must keep steadily in view the aim worthy of his endeavor. Such an aim is set before the youth of today. The heaven-appointed purpose of giving the gospel to the world in this generation is the noblest that can appeal to any human being. It opens a field of effort to everyone whose heart Christ has touched.” Education, 262.

Human examples of people who reach goals

Olympics – For Michael Phelps to reach his Olympic swimming goals he had to do some work. Firstly, he had to think about his diet and make sure that he ate enough to make up for the amount of physical exertion from swimming. Secondly, he had to have a workout plan. As well as practicing his different swimming strokes, he lifted weights and had a whole training program, especially tailored for his swimming goals.

Those who have high goals go to great lengths to achieve them. Their whole life is centered around it, and they are totally focused on the prize before them.

“The victory of success is half won when one gains the habit of setting goals and achieving them. Even the most tedious chore will become endurable as you parade through each day convinced that every task, no matter how menial or boring, brings you closer to fulfilling your dreams.” – Og Mandino quotes (American Essayist and Psychologist, 1923-1996).< http:thinkexist.com> December 2010.

“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” – Michelangelo quotes (Italian sculptor, painter, architect and poet, considered the creator of the Renaissance, 1475–1564). Ibid.

“Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude.” – Thomas Jefferson quotes American Third United States President (1801-09). Author of the Declaration of Independence (1762–1826). Ibid.

“A goal properly set is halfway reached.” – Abraham Lincoln.

“You’ll fail at a 100 percent of the goals you don’t set.” – Mark Victor Hansen.

“People with goals succeed because they know where they are going. … It’s as simple as that.” – Earl Nightingale quotes (United States motivational writer and author, 1921–1989).

My question for Christians

What is our goal? What is the single most important thing that we should be reaching for? The apostle Paul talked about his own life that according to outward appearance he was a good person keeping the law. But he said he counted all these things as loss for Christ. What he really needed was to know Christ; not have an outward observance of the law, but have Christ and His righteousness because all our righteousness is as filthy rages. He wanted to know Christ. He said not that he was already perfect, but he pressed on that he might lay hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of for him. Paul pressed on toward the goal of perfection, to reflect Christ’s character, to be ready for heaven. He said that he once just kept the law outwardly, but that was not righteousness. Only Christ can provide the righteousness. (See Philippians 3:1–16.)

The Christian’s goal is to seek first the kingdom of God, and all other things will be provided. First, let us define what heaven is. Heaven is more than just a place, even though there is a place called heaven.

“Love to man is the earthward manifestation of the love of God. It was to implant this love, to make us children of one family, that the King of glory became one with us. And when His parting words are fulfilled, ‘Love one another, as I have loved you’ (John 15:12); when we love the world as He has loved it, then for us His mission is accomplished. We are fitted for heaven; for we have heaven in our hearts.” The Desire of Ages, 641.

Before we are ready to go to heaven, we have to have heaven in our hearts.

How are we going to reach the goal?

Generally, humans have to focus on one thing at a time to reach their goal. If you want to become a physician, you would not go to a mechanic school. At the same time you cannot become a physician in just one day. It would be impossible to take all the training necessary to be a physician in one day, one month, or even one year. Much study, time and effort are needed before taking the examinations to reach that goal. Goals are only reached by taking one step at a time.

Heaven Our Goal

If heaven is our goal, what are some steps that we can take that will help us reach that goal? What can we do today to help us be ready to live in the holy atmosphere of heaven?

The most important things that we can do to help us be ready is to spend time with God every day, in prayer and Bible study. After that, ask yourself, What am I doing today to help reach the goal of the Christian—heaven? It will certainly be different things for each of us. There may be some things that we need to do to help others. Maybe there is some sin that needs to be overcome with God’s help.

If heaven is our goal it must be foremost on our mind, thinking about it every day because no goal is ever reached without effort or thought. No one wins a race by not thinking about it. I Corinthians 9:24–27; Matthew 13:44–46. With all of the cares in this life it is necessary to prioritize and make sure that time is set aside for the most important goal.

What is Heaven like?

1 Corinthians 2:9 – eye has not seen

Isaiah 11:6–9 – no hurt in God’s holy mountain

Isaiah 25:8, 9 – no death or tears

Isaiah 33:17, 24 – see the king; not say I am sick

Isaiah 35:5–10 – no sickness or sorrow

Isaiah 51:11 – come to Zion with singing

Isaiah 65:17–25 – new heaven and new earth, not hurt

Heaven is a worthy goal! It is a wonderful place. There is no sadness or hurt there. If we are planning on being there we must first have heaven in our hearts here on earth. If it is a desirable place to be, then we must be desirable people to be around. If people find us odious, maybe we need to ask God to help us, so people will start saying that it is like heaven to be in our presence.

“Make the home life as nearly as possible like heaven. Let the members of the family forget not, as they gather round the family altar, to pray for the men in positions of responsibility in God’s work.” Child Guidance, 548.

What is Jesus’ Goal for Us?

“The religion of Christ never degrades the receiver; it never makes him coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. On the contrary, it refines the taste, sanctifies the judgment, and purifies and ennobles the thoughts, bringing them into captivity to Christ. God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. He has given in His holy law a transcript of His character.

“The ideal of Christian character is Christlikeness. There is opened before us a path of constant advancement. We have an object to gain, a standard to reach, that includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. There should be continual striving and constant progress onward and upward toward perfection of character.

“We shall be individually, for time and eternity, what our habits make us. The lives of those who form right habits, and are faithful in the performance of every duty, will be as shining lights, shedding bright beams upon the pathway of others; but if habits of unfaithfulness are indulged, if lax, indolent, neglectful habits are allowed to strengthen, a cloud darker than midnight will settle on the prospects in this life and forever debar the individual from the future life.” Counsels for the Church, 78, 79.

“You may reach God’s ideal if you will resolve that self shall not be woven into your work. To know that you are striving in spirit and in works to be Christlike, will give you strength and comfort and courage. It is your privilege to become meek and lowly in heart; then angels of God will co-operate with you in your revival efforts. Christ died that His life might be lived in you, and in all who make Him their example. In the strength of your Redeemer you can reveal the character of Christ, and you can work in wisdom and in power to make the crooked places straight.” Gospel Workers, 164.

“Earnestly and untiringly we are to strive to reach God’s ideal for us. Not as a penance are we to do this, but as the only means of gaining true happiness. The only way to gain peace and joy is to have a living connection with Him who gave His life for us, who died that we might live, and who lives to unite His power with the efforts of those who are striving to overcome.

“Holiness is constant agreement with God. Shall we not strive to be that which Christ so greatly desires us to be—Christians in deed and in truth—that the world may see in our lives a revelation of the saving power of truth? This world is our preparatory school. While here we shall meet with trials and difficulties. Continually the enemy of God will seek to draw us away from our allegiance. But while we cleave to Him who gave Himself for us we are safe.” In Heavenly Places, 33.

“I urge you to turn your thoughts from worldly things and center them on the things of eternity. Christ has placed everlasting life within your reach, and He has promised to give you help in every time of need. … We should never rest satisfied with present attainments. If we put mind and heart into the work of reaching God’s ideal for us, if we go to Christ, the mighty helper, for aid, He will give us the very assistance that we need. He will bestow on us the very power that will enable us to be victorious in the struggle against evil.” Ibid., 355.

“The power of a higher, purer, nobler life is our great need. The world has too much of our thought, and the kingdom of heaven too little.

“In his efforts to reach God’s ideal for him, the Christian is to despair of nothing. Moral and spiritual perfection, through the grace and power of Christ, is promised to all. Jesus is the source of power, the fountain of life. He brings us to His word, and from the tree of life presents to us leaves for the healing of sin-sick souls. He leads us to the throne of God, and puts into our mouth a prayer through which we are brought into close contact with Himself. In our behalf He sets in operation the all-powerful agencies of heaven. At every step we touch His living power.

“God fixes no limit to the advancement of those who desire to be ‘filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.’ Through prayer, through watchfulness, through growth in knowledge and understanding, they are to be ‘strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power.’ Thus they are prepared to work for others. It is the Saviour’s purpose that human beings, purified and sanctified, shall be His helping hand. For this great privilege let us give thanks to Him who ‘hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son’ [Colossians 1:9, 11–13].” The Acts of the Apostles, 478. [All emphasis supplied.]

Jesus’ goal for us is to be one with Him (John 17:18-26); to be so much in love with Him that we are like Him in character; to spend so much time with Him that He will know without a doubt that we never want to be separated from Him, but desire to be with Him in heaven forever.

Recently, as I was driving and listening to a Christian radio station, I heard a man share some of his story. He spoke of his parents how, as he was growing up, they never showed any affection for each other. He said he was certain that they loved each other, but he never saw any evidence of affection. When he met his future wife, she was a very outgoing, caring person who loved people, and it was she who really showed him true love. After they married, they went as missionaries to a foreign land and on their return to the United States of America he was offered the position of president at a Christian college. His wife helped him on campus by counseling people, doing a radio program, and entertaining people in their home. While they were at the college, he noticed that his wife started to become forgetful, which she had never been before. They soon discovered that at fifty-five years old she had developed Alzheimer’s. The disease progressed to the point where his wife needed full-time care, so he quit his position at the college and stayed home to take care of his wife. They would go on daily walks together until she was physically unable to do that. She had not spoken to him for a full year, and then one day, on Valentine’s Day, he said to his wife, “I love you!” She responded to those words as he went over to her bed and gave her a big hug. That was the last day she ever said a word. He took care of his wife for 15 years before she died. He said, “I loved her so much! The hard thing was that she could not respond to my love, but I loved her anyway.” Every day he was there showering his love on her and caring for her, though she could not respond.

Every day Jesus is here showering us with His love, taking care of us, waiting to see if we will respond in some way to His love. But sometimes all we do is complain when we think that His care hurts us because we are going through a bad experience.

God waits for us to respond to His love, to trust Him that He is working all things out for our good. He gives and gives to us, and then He waits patiently for a response. He wants us to love Him back and be one with Him. Just the thought that God wants to have the same relationship with me that He shares with His Son is beyond what I can take in and sends shivers down my body.

Doesn’t that make you want to have that same relationship with God? Is that a goal you would desire to reach? What are you doing about it? Are you reaching out every day to the goal God has for you? If not, why not start today? Jesus wants us to be one with Him just as He is one with the Father. He is showering His love on each of us right now and waiting for our response. Don’t keep Him waiting any longer!

Jana Grosboll, a network engineer, lives in Derby, Kansas. 

That Which was Lost is Found

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“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.”

Luke 15:1, 2

After the Pharisees and scribes had murmured against Christ and the work He was doing, He, knowing their hearts, told a series of parables that are recorded in the fifteenth chapter of Luke. Each one of these parables—the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son—conveys the same principle and was told in the presence of the Pharisees and scribes who were so actively impugning Christ’s work.

In Testimonies, vol. 3, 99–104, there is a presentation of these three parables which clearly indicates that the object of each one was to open the eyes of Christ’s listeners to the fact that when a sinner, represented by the found sheep and coin and the returning son, turns from his sinful ways and returns to Christ, there is to be rejoicing, not condemnation.

Another possible explanation for these parables is that the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son could be understood to represent this world. According to the Spirit of Prophecy, of all the created worlds, this is the only one that has eaten of the forbidden fruit and been lost (see Christ’s Object Lessons, 190, 191). As we return our allegiance heavenward, what if the angels treated us just as the son that remained at home treated the prodigal? Surely Christ will say to them, “It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.” Luke 15.32.

While both of these interpretations are applicable, there is perhaps a third interpretation for the parable of the lost coin. We read Christ’s words, “Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:8–10.

In the parable, it was a woman who lost one of ten coins. In Scripture, a woman is used to represent the church. Thus the first point for us to note is that the church has lost one of ten pieces of silver—interestingly, the same number of coins as the number of commandments.

Does the word of God provide a hidden treasure in this parable?

“Those who desire to find the treasures of truth must dig for them as the miner digs for the treasure hidden in the earth. No halfhearted, indifferent work will avail. It is essential for old and young, not only to read God’s word, but to study it with wholehearted earnestness, praying and searching for truth as for hidden treasure. Those who do this will be rewarded, for Christ will quicken the understanding.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 111.

In Psalm 12:6, we read, “The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.”

In Proverbs 2:1–5, the Bible records the enlightening words of Solomon: “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.”

In these texts, the Hebrew word translated as words can also be translated as commandments. When we compare scripture with scripture, an interesting interpretation of this parable begins to unfold. Is it possible that the lost coin also represents a lost commandment as well as a lost sinner and a lost world?

How did the woman find the lost coin? She lit a candle to shed light on her search. In Psalm 119:105, we read, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Therefore a suggestion for an alternative interpretation to this parable might be that the church lost one of the ten commandments and by searching for it in God’s word, they found it.

In 1885, Ellen White preached a sermon in Grimsby, England, in which she spoke of how Sabbath reform in the early Seventh-day Adventist Church came about as a result of the proclamation of the third angel’s message:

“The open door in heaven reveals the temple of God, in the most holy place of which is the ark, and in this ark is the law of ten commandments written with the finger of God on tables of stone. The light that shines forth from the open door attracts the attention of the people of God, and they begin to see what that ark contains—the law of ten commandments. They are seeking for light, and as they trace down that law, precept by precept, they find right in the bosom of the decalogue the fourth commandment as it was instituted in Eden and proclaimed in awful grandeur from Sinai’s mount, ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it’ [Exodus 20:8–11]. They then see that instead of observing the seventh day, the day that God sanctified and commanded to be observed as the Sabbath, they are keeping the first day of the week as the Sabbath. But they honestly desire to do God’s will, and they begin to search the Scriptures to find the reason for the change. Failing to find this, the question arises, Shall we accept a truth that has become unpopular, and obey the commandments of God? or, shall we continue with the world, and obey the commandments of men? With open Bibles they weep, and pray, and compare scripture with scripture, until they are convinced of the truth, and conscientiously take their stand as commandment-keepers.” The Present Truth, November 3, 1885.

Can we not conclude, then, that the parable of the lost coin was in one sense a prophecy about finding, through searching the word of God, the lost commandment that clearly shows the seventh day as the true Sabbath?

In searching God’s word, comparing scripture with scripture, we find a surprising number of references from Christ Himself regarding the commandments as a whole and the implications of keeping them.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.

“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21.

“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” John 15:10.

“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men. … Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Mark 7:7–9.

From these texts as well as from many others, it is clear that Christ kept His Father’s commandments and exhorted His followers to do the same. Let us look at one example in God’s word of Sabbath-keeping that should confirm to anyone who doubts the importance of finding the lost piece of silver, the lost commandment.

In Luke 23:50–56, there is a clear indication of faithful—and maybe even surprising—obedience to a commandment that many today seem to have lost. “And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on. And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.”

Doesn’t this story make it clear that if we want to serve our Lord, we must do so according to His commandments? May the world soon realize that there is indeed a lost coin, a lost piece of silver, a lost commandment that must be found and returned to its rightful place in our lives if we truly love the Lord.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” I John 5:3.

John Pearson is part of the Steps to Life team. He can be contacted by email at: johnpearson@stepstolife.org.

Devil’s Deceptions

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What should be the final authority for your belief and practice? Many different answers have been proposed for this question. To some it is the opinions of learned men; to others it is the conclusions of science, or the creeds or decisions of ecclesiastical councils; to yet others it is simply the voice of the majority. But there is a more satisfactory answer than any of these.

The prophecies in Revelation 13 and 14 are very clear that in the very last days of this earth’s history there is going to be worldwide religious legislation. In Revelation 13:15–17 we read the following: “He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” [Emphasis supplied.]

In the previous verses it is predicted that the earth will be deceived by this power and that it will pass legislation regulating how worship is to be conducted, and all who refuse to worship according to these laws will be prohibited to buy or sell. Eventually, a death decree will be added to this law.

While studying the Bible we find over and over again that God never forces the will or the conscience. Notice what the Lord says to the inhabitants of this world in the very last chapter of the Bible: “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.

Salvation is offered in the Bible as a free gift, but it is only to those who want it, to those who are willing to comply with the conditions. The conditions are mentioned right in this very same chapter. In Revelation 22:14, 15 it says, “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 [those who break the seventh commandment], and murderers [those who break the sixth commandment], and idolaters [those who break the second commandment], and whoever loves and practices a lie [those who break the ninth commandment].”

At the end, it will be the commandment keepers on the inside of the Holy City, and those who break the commandments will be on the outside. It has been recorded very simply, very plainly and very clearly in the book of Revelation, so even a child can understand. God never forces a man’s will or his conscience. He gives an invitation to all to be subjects of His government and to be loyal to the government of heaven.

Satan, on the other hand, constantly resorts to deception. He is called, all through the Bible, the deceiver. He deceived our first parents and is repeatedly called a deceiver and a liar. Jesus called him the father of lies! If Satan fails in his attempt to deceive or seduce, his next step is to compel by cruelty. And that is exactly what we read in Revelation 13:15–17. Eventually, laws will be made to put to death any who refuse to worship in accordance with the laws.

At first, those who are faithful to God will not be able to buy or sell. How will these people feed their families? How will they have clothes, food, shelter, transportation, or anything else if they are unable to buy or sell? If that law fails to make them worship the beast, eventually the death decree will be established, as it says in verse 15. Through fear or force, Satan endeavors to rule a person’s conscience and to secure homage to himself. To accomplish this he has studied the past and he has worked over and over again through both religious and secular authorities. We believe, from reading Revelation 13, that he will do exactly the same in the future as he has done in the past and will move upon religious and secular authorities to make and enforce human laws that are in defiance of the law of God.

We know that this religious legislation in Revelation 13 is in defiance of the law of God because it enforces the mark of the beast, the worship of the image of the beast. In Revelation 14:9–11 we read, “Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’ ”

Liberty of conscience has been bought at a high cost, a sacrifice that you and I cannot comprehend. The people of the United States of America have liberty of conscience as a result of people who fled from persecution in Europe and other places and said, “We are going to have a government where people have civil and religious liberty.” But, we have political corruption in our world today, even in our own country. This political corruption is destroying the love of justice and the regard for truth so that people are to the place where they want security more than they want freedom.

We are going to see the prophet’s words exemplified in the soon coming conflict that is predicted in Revelation 13 and 14. “The dragon [the devil] was enraged with the woman [a symbol of the church in Bible prophecy], and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Then I stood on the sand of the sea.” Revelation 12:17; 13:1. In other words, he had almost all of the world’s population on his side.

What are you going to do in such a time as that? Are you going to be deceived along with the majority, or are you going to read the word of God and say, “I am going to be obedient to the law of God, and I am going to live in harmony with that law”? Do you remember what Jesus said to the devil? He said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:4.

After Jesus had fasted for 40 days in the wilderness and was literally starving to death, He held to the position that He would not go contrary to the word of God, not even to provide food for Himself, one of the most basic necessities of life.

How is it with you? What is your position on the word of God and the law of God? Are you loyal to the commandments of God and to the government of God? Or will you be deceived by the miracles worked through people receiving manifestations of spirits—spiritualism? There is only one class of people who will stand and not be deceived by the final deceptions that will take the world captive, and they are pointed out in the book of Isaiah. “To the law and to the testimony [the testimony of the prophets]: If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.

This is the final authority and test to know whom to believe and what to practice to be on God’s side of the great controversy. It is not whether you go along with miracles or religious legislation or anything like that. The question and/or test that will provide security in the final conflict between truth and error is the word of God—the law of God. Test the spirits to see if they are in harmony with God’s law. That is the question Isaiah asks. Is it in harmony with God’s law and is it in harmony with the Bible, the testimony of God’s prophets? If it is not in harmony with God’s law as found in Exodus 20:3–17, then there is no light in it and it is not on God’s side.

God’s word is a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). If there is no light, then the spirit is an evil one, a fallen spirit, one of the devil’s angels. Any miracle done or command made not according to the Word cannot be trusted, because the devil is a liar and a deceiver. His policy has been deception from the first and will continue to be to the last. The only protection and safeguard against the influence of false teachers or the delusive power of spirits of darkness, according to Isaiah 8:20, are the Scriptures. Only an intelligent knowledge of the word of God, the Scriptures, will provide a safeguard against deception and enable you to evaluate the miracles, the teachings, and recognize the devices the devil uses to deceive the world.

The devil knows very well that the Bible shows him for who he is. For this reason he has devised many distractions to keep God’s people from gaining a knowledge from God’s word. Every possible device has been invented to keep men and women occupied, entranced and busy, so they do not obtain that crucial knowledge. The devil knows that the plain utterances of the Bible reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God’s work, the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity, and right now he is putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His followers, because he knows his time is about to run out.

“The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures.” Darkness Before Dawn, 36.

It is only through the Holy Scriptures that a person will be able to tell the difference between what is true and what is false. The counterfeit will appear so much like the true that most of the people in this world will think they are experiencing the most wonderful revival and reformation that has ever been, but they will be deceived.

Those who endeavor to keep all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. Every testimony, every miracle needs to be tested by the testimony of the Scriptures. It will only be possible to stand in a time like this if you are standing in the power of God. In order to endure this deceptive trial that is fast approaching, an understanding of the will of God as revealed in His word is needed. To honor God is to understand what the Bible says about His character, His government, His purposes, and then choose to act in accordance with that government, with that character, with those purposes.

Only those who have filled their minds with Bible truth will be able to stand firm through that great deceptive time. I challenge you to study your Bible and Spirit of Prophecy today. Find out what the Bible says. “Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble.” II Peter 1:10.

To every soul, to every person there is going to be asked a close, searching, test question. The test question is simply, “Am I going to obey the laws of God as revealed in His word, or am I going to obey the laws of men when they contradict the law of God?”

The decisive hour is near. Are your feet planted on the unchangeable word of God? Are you prepared to stand in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? The third angel’s message closes telling of the people who go through this time of test and trial and come out victorious. It says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.

John the Revelator has pointed out a time of worldwide lawlessness for which God will judge the world and send the sinners to destruction. The Bible is very clear in both the Old and New Testaments that this world is going to be destroyed at the coming of Christ. The mass of world population will be caught in deliberate violation and disobedience to the law of God just as it was before the flood. The people who do not receive the mark of the beast and do not worship his image are described as people who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12). Are you going to be in that number?

Several times in the gospels it is recorded that Jesus told His disciples what would happen to Him when He went to Jerusalem. He said, “We are going to Jerusalem, and I am going to be betrayed by the chief priests and scribes. They are going to give Me to the Gentiles—to the Roman government, to mock and scourge, and I am going to be crucified, and then on the third day, I am going to rise again” (Matthew 16:21; 20:19).

The Bible says that when He told the disciples this, they were exceedingly sorry (Matthew 17:23). In fact, they were so sorry about it that they could not accept it. They just could not believe it. Many people today believe that the whole world is going to be converted, but this is not taught in the Bible. In fact, it says just the opposite.

The world is going to be converted to worship antichrist. They will believe that they are worshiping Christ, but it is not the real One. The disciples were deluded by the teachings of popular theology in their time. They thought Jesus was going to give temporal dominion to the children of Israel and give victory over the Roman government. They could not tolerate the thought that He was going to die an ignominious death, but when the time came, exactly what Jesus predicted happened. The words that they needed to remember were somehow banished from their minds, and when the time of trial came, it found them unprepared. The death of Jesus as fully destroyed their hopes as if He had not forewarned them of what was going to happen. In the same way, in the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation, the future of our world and what is going to happen just before the end of the world is opened up to us just as plainly as what Jesus told His disciples was going to happen to Him.

But, these events connected with the close of probation and the important truths concerning the time of trouble that is coming upon this world, even though they are clearly presented in the Bible, are misunderstood. There are multitudes of people in the world today that have no more understanding of these things than if they were not even recorded in Bible prophecy. And Satan is watching to catch away the truth, to catch away every impression that would make you wise unto salvation so that the time of trouble will find you unready.

Have you ever thought about the fact that when God sends to men warnings that are so important that they are represented in symbolic form as being presented by angels flying in the midst of heaven, as you see in Revelation 14:6–12, that God requires every person who has reason, to pay attention to what He is trying to warn us about? The fearful judgments that are pronounced in the Three Angels’ Messages against the worship of the beast and his image, against Babylon, should lead every Christian to a diligent study of the Scriptures of the prophecy, to learn what this mark is, what this image is, and how to avoid receiving it.

But the masses of the people turn away their ears from hearing the truth. They are turned to fables. The apostle Paul predicted that this would happen. Looking down to the last days, he wrote, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.” II Timothy 4:3, 4. Paul predicted that would happen in the future. That has happened. The multitudes today do not want Bible truth, because it interferes with the desires of their sinful, world-loving hearts. Satan provides them the deceptions that they love, so they can have an easy religion, and they can go to heaven sitting down, as it is said.

Would you like to be one of God’s people, one of His children in these last days? God is looking for a people on the earth who will maintain the Bible and the Bible only as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms. The opinions of learned men are not good enough, because they are still men. The deductions of science are not good enough. The deductions of science have been proved false over and over again in the past. Much of what we believe, much of our deductions, much of our conclusions will be proved false in the future. That is not good enough for a final authority, especially on religious things.

What about the creeds and the decisions of ecclesiastical councils? These are numerous and discordant as are the churches that they represent. How about the voice of the majority? A study of religious history reveals what it was like in the days of Jesus. The majority has been wrong over and over again; in fact, almost every time, because the devil is a deceiver and he deceives the whole world (Revelation 12:9).

What should be the final authority as evidence for or against any point of religious faith?

Before accepting any doctrine or teaching, the question you need to ask is: “Is there a plain ‘Thus says the Lord,’ in support of this doctrine or teaching?” That is not too hard of a question to require. Paul was teaching the truth to people who did not know a lot about it and commended them, saying, “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11. The apostle Paul preached the gospel to people, and they decided to check him out.

They did not just accept it because Paul said it, because Paul was a human being. These people in Berea said, “We are going to find out if what the apostle Paul is teaching is really true. We are going to check the Bible.” So they started searching the Scriptures every day to find out if what the apostle Paul taught about the Messiah was really true. For doing that, the apostle Paul commended them. God is going to have a people in the last days who maintain the Bible and the Bible only as the standard of all doctrines and the basis of all reforms.

Before accepting any doctrine, precept, or teaching, we should demand a plain “Thus says the Lord” in its support. If the Lord does not say so, what confidence can you have? Even the apostle Paul commended the people who checked him out to see, “Is this really what the word of God says?” Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31, 32. In other words, Jesus said, “If you abide in My word, then, that is what proves you are My disciples, and the result will be that you will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

What side of the great controversy are you going to be on as we approach the end of the world?

(Bible verses are from the New King James Version.)

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

Editorial – Impossible Ordinances

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Concerning the ordinances mentioned in Colossians 2:14–23, which Paul says not to touch, taste or finger (handle), he continues by saying that these things have indeed a reputation of having wisdom in self-imposed worship and humility and in unsparing abuse of the body not having any value to protect against overindulgence of the flesh. (See verse 23.) In his epistles, Paul accuses those who desire to teach Christians to keep the ceremonial law of doing so for the satisfaction of the flesh. For example: “As many as desire to look good in the flesh, these compel you to be circumcised, only that they be not persecuted for the cross of Christ. For not even those having been circumcised themselves keep the law, but they desire you to be circumcised so that in your flesh they may boast.” Galatians 6:12, 13. [Literal translation.]

What is it about keeping the ceremonial law that involves unsparing abuse of the body, self-imposed worship, and, furthermore, allows a person then to boast in his flesh? In the time of the apostles, the Jews and those Christians who attempted to keep the ceremonial law did not keep it only in the manner as prescribed by Moses, but also as taught by the Jewish scribes and doctors. Concerning this, one writer describes it as follows: “Feasts, rituals, sacrifices, pilgrimages, tithes, Sabbaths, and fasts—these were all alike but expressions of the profound determination to keep God’s law as expounded in the synagogue. … For scrupulosity, unhesitating logic, conscientiousness as regards the moral aspect of every act of life it stands unparalleled. … Pharisaism laid upon the people burdens impossible to be borne. The rabbis’ insistence upon tithes and other religious charges must have been burdensome in the extreme, but even more deadening must have been their insistence that righteousness was impossible except through an unbroken observance of the Mosaic and the Moral Law; for who among the people could hope to master the accumulation of rabbinical teaching? In proportion as legalism grew, did the old prophetic teaching retreat, and life became less a direct service of a loving Jehovah and an ever increasingly fettered and hopeless succession of impossible tasks.” (A History of New Testament Times in Palestine, Shailer Mathews, A.M., D.D., New York, The MacMillan Company, 1914, 176–178.)

The abuse of the body and self-imposed worship involved, first, all rules by which eating or drinking or traveling or even acts of mercy and kindness were forbidden or restricted because of either the seventh day Sabbath, or ceremonial sabbaths, feast days, or certain weeks, months, or years. Second, the person who was successful in doing all these things (like Saul of Tarsus) could look down on others who did not succeed in the rigor of the system and could glory in their superior righteousness, which righteousness Paul said was rubbish (Philippians 3:8).

Recipe – Pomegranate Apple Grapefruit Juice

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2 grapefruits, peeled

3 red or green apples, organic, if possible

½ cup pomegranate arils

 

Juice the grapefruits, apples and pomegranate arils. Enjoy the delicious, refreshing, vitalizing boost of natural vitamins C and A.

Food – Tropical Tangy Grapefruit

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We can thank the Jamaicans for this relatively recent addition to the citrus family, with fruits spotted in the forests of the Caribbean on the island of Barbados in the middle 1700s. The grapefruit was known as the shaddock or shattuck until the 1800s. Its current name alludes to fruit grown in clusters as it resembles large clusters of yellow grapes on the tree, with premature fruit similar in shape to unripe green grapes.

The fruit we know today as grapefruit is most likely a natural cross between the pummelo and the sweet orange, now cultivated in many tropical, semi-tropical, and warm temperate regions worldwide for the sweet-sour fruit that often graces the breakfast, lunch, or dinner table.

Grapefruit come in white, pink and red varieties, colors that refer to the fleshy interior. Pink and red grapefruit contain over fifty times the carotenoid of white, which convert to healthy levels of vitamin A, an antioxidant required for maintaining healthy mucosa, skin, and peripheral vision. They are also high in lycopene, an antioxidant believed to help lower the risk of prostate cancer. White grapefruit contains the flavonoid naringin which is responsible for giving it its bitter taste and is essentially an antioxidant that seeks and destroys free radicals (cancer-promoting agents).

This luscious, nutritious fruit contains fairly high levels of potassium, important in controlling blood pressure, as well as the B vitamin inositol, helpful in metabolizing fat and cholesterol, reducing triglycerides, and critical for cell growth in the bone marrow, eye membranes, and intestines. Grapefruit is even more highly valued as a powerhouse of vitamin C–just a half provides nearly 70 percent of the recommended daily allowance. Vitamin C, a powerful natural antioxidant, aids the body in developing resistance against infectious agents by optimizing immune function. In addition, vitamin C is required for the maintenance of healthy connective tissue and early wound healing.

Some people with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other inflammatory disorders find that eating grapefruit daily seems to alleviate these symptoms. This relief is thought to stem from plant chemicals that block prostaglandins, substances that cause inflammation.

Grapefruits do, however, contain a class of compounds known as furanocoumarin derivatives, that interfere with the action of various prescription medications, posing a potentially lethal health risk.

Consult your healthcare practitioner before consuming grapefruit or the juice if taking pharmaceutical drugs. People on medication for kidney disease must also be cautious when consuming grapefruit.

Soothe the inflammation of a sore throat and cough with the juice of a grapefruit combined with warm water and honey. Consume regularly until relief occurs.

Enjoy a sectioned grapefruit raw or briefly broiled. Nothing compares in flavor to a freshly squeezed glass of grapefruit juice. Frozen substitutes excellently when fresh is not available. Having a natural affinity for avocado, grapefruit can be combined in a salad with orange and tangerine sections arranged over baby greens or spinach topped with a creamy avocado dressing.

 

Recipe

Pomegranate Apple Grapefruit Juice
2 grapefruits, peeled ½ cup pomegranate arils
3 red or green apples, organic, if possible
Juice the grapefruits, apples, and pomegranate arils. Enjoy the delicious, refreshing, vitalizing boost of natural vitamins C and A.

 

Life Sketches – Your Eternal Destiny

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For three and a half years while the disciples were with Jesus, watching Him lovingly minister day after day to the multitudes, they failed to learn to get along with each other. In fact, the night Jesus was betrayed, the Bible says, “Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, ‘The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called “benefactors.” But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table?  Yet I am among you as the One who serves’ ” (Luke 22:24-27).

O, friend, herein is the secret to how you can resolve differences. Jesus promised them that after He ascended to heaven He would give to them a special gift that would guide them into all truth and solve all the problems that they had had for over three years—getting along. In Luke 24:49, it says, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Acts 1:8 says, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” So, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, what happened? “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1). Jesus also promised in John 16 that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth, and when people are all guided into all truth, they have the unity of the faith. Paul says in Ephesians 4:1-3, “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Unity and harmony takes work. Jesus told His followers that they must learn how to endure, to bear with one another, because they had differences of thought. They were going to need lowliness, gentleness, and longsuffering. But it is not enough just to have those things. The Holy Spirit must give gifts in the church that result in the unity of all Christian believers. Ellen White wrote, “Christ declares that our heavenly Father is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him, than earthly parents are to give gifts to their children.” Reflecting Christ, 304.

Notice how it is described in Ephesians 4:11–15, (literal translation): “He Himself gave some [gifts] to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ.”

Notice, it is God’s plan for His believers to grow up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, to come into the unity of the faith. And this can only be done as the Holy Spirit guides people back to Bible truth. Jesus said in His last prayer with His disciples before Gethsemane, “Sanctify them … ,” that is,  My followers, “… sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The truth is God’s word, and when people come into harmony with it, they will be in harmony with each other. The reason there is not harmony in Christianity today is because Christians are not fully in harmony with God’s word.

Jesus said, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

Peter was appointed to take the gospel to the Jews, along with James and John, but Paul was especially appointed to take the gospel to the nations. It is never convenient to be a missionary, for it involves hardship. It also involves an expenditure of money, time, and resources. However, this has been the mission since then for those God has appointed as missionaries to those who do not know the gospel. Paul and Barnabas went out and began to preach the gospel in various places. One of the first places they preached after leaving Antioch was in Cyprus. It says of them, “Being sent out by the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:4, first part).

Notice, when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit is going to send that person out as a witness for Christ. It was the Holy Spirit that sent out Barnabas and Saul. “They went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. … they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John as their assistant.

“Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, an intelligent man. This man called for Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so his name is translated) withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith” (Acts 13:4, last part–8).

The devil has always had agents of various kinds to try to keep people, especially those having education, influence or leadership ability, from accepting the gospel. This has been the case for thousands of years. This sorcerer had closed his eyes to the truth of the Bible that had been available to him. This is a dangerous thing to do, for God may do something to get you to see the error of your ways. In doing such, a judgment came upon this man.

Acts 13:9–12 says, “Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, ‘O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.’ And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

The sorcerer was leading people away from the truth that the apostles were presenting. So they had to stand their ground and oppose him, not because they did not like him, but because he was leading other people to reject the gospel. That is more serious than most people realize. Peter said, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

It is a false idea that there are many ways of salvation. There is no other way. Only through the gospel of Jesus Christ can you be saved. Everything else leads to death and loss of eternal life, what the Bible describes as the second death (Revelation 20:14). In this world, we know something about death because it is all around us. We see death, we go to funerals, we have cemeteries, and we are very conscious of the frailty of life. However, for the saved, the death that is experienced in this world is only temporary.

In Acts 24:15, speaking to Felix, the governor, Paul said, “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” He acknowledged that both he and Paul believed the same thing, that there is going to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and of the unjust. So, death in this world is temporary. But the big question is, after a person dies, in which resurrection will they participate? Will it be the resurrection of the just, or will they participate in the resurrection of the unjust? Everybody will be raised, but not all will be raised in the same resurrection. Some will be raised in the resurrection of the just and others in the resurrection of the unjust.

In Daniel 12:2, it says, “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.” So, it is very serious to lead somebody to reject the gospel and teach them to distrust the Bible and the word of the prophets and the apostles, because if you do not believe, you cannot receive salvation. Jesus said, “He that believes on Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47, literal translation).

However, if you don’t believe, He said to the Jews, “You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life” (John 5:40). On another occasion Jesus said to the Jews, “ ‘I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.’ So the Jews said, ‘Will He kill Himself, because He says, “Where I go you cannot come?” ’ And He said to them, ‘You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe I am He, you will die in your sins’ ” (John 8:21–24). That is a very serious business. Death is not serious; death is of small moment, small account, to a person who is a Christian. It is just a moment of silence and darkness—a sleep. At the resurrection he will be raised; he will awake to everlasting life.

However, if you die in your sins because you do not believe, you have no hope. You will then be part of the resurrection of the unjust. For this reason, it is unwise to reject the gospel, and even more serious to lead somebody else to reject the gospel, because in doing that you rob them of their hope of an eternal inheritance.

In Acts 13:14, 15, we read that when Paul and Barnabas left that area “… they came to Antioch and Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, ‘Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.’ ”

They asked Paul and Barnabas if they had any exhortation to give to the people. Paul (Saul) replied that indeed he did and related the experience of the Israelites on their pilgrim journey from Egypt to the Promised Land as recorded in Exodus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. “Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, ‘Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: The God of this people Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He brought them out of it. Now for a time of about forty years He put up with their ways in the wilderness. And when He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land to them by allotment.’ (See the book of Joshua.)

“ ‘After that He gave them judges for about four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet [described in the book of Judges]. And afterward they asked for a king; so God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years [described in 1st and 2nd Samuel]. And when He had removed him, He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, “I have found David the son of Jessie, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” From this man’s (David’s) seed according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Saviour—Jesus—after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel (the first part of Matthew). And as John was finishing his course, he said, “Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose” (John 1).

“ ‘Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. Now when they had fulfilled all that was written [in the Old Testament] concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people (1 Corinthians 15:6). And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: “You are My Son, today I have begotten You” (verse 7). And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: “I will give you the sure mercies of David” (Acts 13:34). Therefore He also says in another Psalm: “You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10).

“ ‘For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest what has been spoken in the prophets come upon you:

“Behold, you despisers,

Marvel and perish!

For I work a work in your days,

A work which you will by no means believe,

Though one were to declare it to you” ’ ” (Acts 13:16–41).

The Gentile people who were also listening to Paul’s discourse had never heard the story of Jesus or the gospel that their sins could be forgiven by believing, without animal sacrifices. “So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God” (Ibid., verses 42–44).

But now something terrible happened—something that has existed for generations up to the present time. Some people feel that their race is superior and their nation superior to other races of people and look down upon others who are different from them for various reasons, even skin color. The Jews had that very problem—exclusivism. They became envious of the fact that now the Gentiles were going to be offered salvation and there would eventually be more Gentiles that would accept Jesus than there would be Jews.

It says, “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul. Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: “I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, that you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth” ’ ” (Ibid., verses 45–47).

Friend, how is it with you? There are many people today doing the very same thing that the Jews did in this instance. They don’t like somebody in a church or in a certain place, so they reject the gospel. These Jews rejected the gospel because of racial prejudice. By rejecting the gospel, a person declares that they are unworthy of eternal life.

God will allow those who declare themselves to be unworthy of eternal life by rejecting the gospel of Jesus and refusing to believe in Him to have their choice, but it will be at an eternal cost.

Don’t ever forget that you choose for yourself your own eternal destiny.

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

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

Bible Study Guides – Thought and Speech

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May 22, 2011 – May 28, 2011

Key Text

“The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.” Proverbs 10:20.

Study Helps: Christ’s Object Lessons, 335–339; The Review and Herald, June 12, 1888.

Introduction

“If we are pure in heart, our words will be pure, our actions will be holy.” The Youth’s Instructor, January 9, 1896.

1 A POWERFUL INFLUENCE

  • What do our habits of speech reveal about our true character? Proverbs 15:28; 18:21.
  • How may we be grieving the Holy Spirit and jeopardizing our faith by careless speech? Matthew 12:36, 37.

Note: “Closely connected with Christ’s warning in regard to the sin against the Holy Spirit is a warning against idle and evil words. The words are an indication of that which is in the heart. ‘Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh’ [Luke 6:45 ]. But the words are more than an indication of character; they have power to react on the character. Men are influenced by their own words. Often under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. They are deceived by their words, and come to believe that true which was spoken at Satan’s instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision, they are often too proud to retract it, and try to prove themselves in the right, until they come to believe that they are. It is dangerous to utter a word of doubt, dangerous to question and criticize divine light. The habit of careless and irreverent criticism reacts upon the character, in fostering irreverence and unbelief. Many a man indulging this habit has gone on unconscious of danger, until he was ready to criticize and reject the work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, ‘Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned’ [Matthew 12:36, 37].” The Desire of Ages, 323.

2 FALSE WITNESS

  • What suffering comes from lies? Proverbs 12:20; 20:17.

Note: “Parents and teachers, be true to God. Let your life be free from deceitful practices. Let no guile be found in your lips. However disagreeable it may be to you at the time, let your ways, your words, and your works show uprightness in the sight of a holy God. Oh, the effect of the first lesson in deceit is terrible! Shall any who claim to be sons and daughters of God give themselves up to deceitful practices and lying?

“Never let your children have the semblance of an excuse for saying, Mother does not tell the truth. Father does not tell the truth. When you are tried in the heavenly courts, shall the record be made against your name, A deceiver? Shall your offspring be perverted by the example of those who ought to guide them in the way of truth? Instead of this, shall not the converting power of God enter the hearts of mothers and fathers? Shall not the Holy Spirit of God be allowed to make its mark upon their children?” Child Guidance, 150.

  • What must we recognize about gossip? Proverbs 10:18; 11:12, 13; 20:3.

Note: “Floating rumors are frequently the destroyers of unity among brethren. There are some who watch with open mind and ears to catch flying scandal. They gather up little incidents which may be trifling in themselves, but which are repeated and exaggerated until a man is made an offender for a word. Their motto seems to be, ‘Report, and we will report it.’ These tale-bearers are doing the devil’s work with surprising fidelity, little knowing how offensive their course is to God. If they would spend half the energy and zeal that is given to this unholy work in examining their own hearts, they would find so much to do to cleanse their souls from impurity that they would have no time or disposition to criticize their brethren, and they would not fall under the power of this temptation. The door of the mind should be closed against ‘they say’ or ‘I have heard.’ Why should we not, instead of allowing jealousy or evil surmising to come into our hearts, go to our brethren, and, after frankly but kindly setting before them the things we have heard detrimental to their character and influence, pray with and for them?” The Review and Herald, June 3, 1884.

3 ATTITUDES

  • How do wrong attitudes tend to spread? Proverbs 17:20. What warnings are we given about this? Hebrews 12:14, 15.

Note: “I beseech all who engage in the work of murmuring and complaining because something has been said or done that does not suit them, and that does not, as they think, give them due consideration, to remember that they are carrying on the very work begun in heaven by Satan. They are following in his track, sowing unbelief, discord, and disloyalty; for no one can entertain feelings of disaffection, and keep them to himself. He must tell others that he is not treated as he should be. Thus they are led to murmur and complain. This is the root of bitterness springing up, whereby many are defiled.” The Review and Herald, September 14, 1897.

  • What general guidance does the Bible give concerning speech? Proverbs 10:19; 17:27, 28; Ecclesiastes 5:2.

Note: “Too often, fretful, impatient words are spoken, words which stir the worst passions of the human heart. Such ones need the abiding presence of Christ in the soul. Only in His strength can they keep guard over the words and actions.” Our High Calling, 161.

“If we desire to see the King in His beauty we must here behave worthily. We must outgrow our childishness. When provocation comes let us be silent. There are times when silence is eloquence.” Maranatha, 327.

“The Christian can not always be in the position of prayer, but his thoughts and desires can always be upward. Our self-confidence would vanish, did we talk less and pray more.” The Youth’s Instructor, March 5, 1903.

  • What makes our speech refreshing to others? Proverbs 16:24; 27:2.

Note: “When we can associate together to help one another heavenward, when the conversation is upon divine and heavenly things, then it amounts to something to talk; but when the conversation centers upon self and upon earthly and unimportant matters, silence is golden.” Sons and Daughters of God, 166.

4 THE SOURCE OF OUR WORDS

  • What is the real source of our words? Luke 6:45.

Note: “Our minds take the level of the things on which our thoughts dwell, and if we think upon earthly things, we shall fail to take the impress of that which is heavenly. We would be greatly benefited by contemplating the mercy, goodness, and love of God; but we sustain great loss by dwelling upon those things which are earthly and temporal.” The Faith I Live By, 222.

  • What is the key to improving our speech? Proverbs 10:20; 25:11, 12.

Note: “As God works upon the heart by his Holy Spirit, man must co-operate with him. The thoughts must be bound about, restricted, withdrawn from branching out and contemplating things that will only weaken and defile the soul. The thoughts must be pure, the meditations of the heart must be clean, if the words of the mouth are to be words acceptable to Heaven, and helpful to your associates.” The Review and Herald, June 12, 1888.

  • How is moral backbone formed? Proverbs 12:5; 21:5; 20:11.

Note: “Your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. Your imagination was not given you to be allowed to run riot and have its own way without any effort at restraint or discipline. If the thoughts are wrong the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 310.

“Our thoughts are to be strictly guarded; for one impure thought makes a deep impression on the soul. An evil thought leaves an evil impress on the mind. If the thoughts are pure and holy, the man is better for having cherished them. By them the spiritual pulse is quickened, and the power for doing good is increased. And as one drop of rain prepares the way for another in moistening the earth, so one good thought prepares the way for another.” The Faith I Live By, 222.

5 MENTAL RESTRAINT AND COMMITMENT

  • How do the apostles confirm the idea of tightening the reins of the mind for God? I Peter 1:13–16; II Corinthians 10:5; Philippians 4:8.

Note: “The noble powers of the mind have been given to us by the Lord, that we may employ them in contemplating heavenly things … and yet how often the mind is given to the contemplation of that which is earthly, sensual, and base! We give our time and thought to the trivial and commonplace things of the world, and neglect the great interests that pertain to eternal life. The noble powers of the mind are dwarfed and enfeebled by lack of exercise on themes that are worthy of their concentration. …

“Let every one who desires to be a partaker of the divine nature, appreciate the fact that he must escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. There must be a constant, earnest struggling of the soul against the evil imaginings of the mind. There must be a steadfast resistance of temptation to sin in thought or act.” The Review and Herald, June 12, 1888.

  • How can we tone up our mental powers? Proverbs 16:1–3; Colossians 3:1–3.

Note: “By beholding we are to become changed, and as we meditate upon the perfections of our divine Model, we shall desire to become wholly transformed and renewed in the image of his purity. There will be a hungering and thirsting of soul to be made like Him whom we adore. The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the more we shall speak of him to others, and represent him to the world.” The Review and Herald, June 12, 1888.

Review and Thought Questions

1 Where do words often leave their strongest influence?

2 What is our duty with regard to gossip?

3 How does a root of bitterness grow like a weed?

4 How can we better carry out the words of Romans 14:19?

5 What deep wisdom can we gain from Proverbs 16:1–3?

Copyright © 2002 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – A Teachable Spirit

by

May 15, 2011 – May 21, 2011

Key Text

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” Proverbs 8:33.

Study Helps: Testimonies, vol. 5, 682–691; Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 313–316.

Introduction

“The obedient ear will receive reproof with humility, patience, and teachableness.” Sons and Daughters of God, 166.

1 A BASIC DUTY

  • Name one of life’s first duties. Proverbs 1:8, 9.

Note: “You must not walk independently of all counsel. It is your duty to counsel with your brethren. This may touch your pride, but the humility of a mind taught by the Holy Spirit will listen to counsel, and will banish all self-confidence. When counsel is given that conflicts with your personal wishes, you are not to think that your own wisdom is sufficient for you to give counsel to others, or that you can afford to neglect the counsel given.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 315.

  • How does God regard the unteachable? Proverbs 12:15.

Note: “Some who are imperfect in character are connected with solemn, sacred interests; and when chosen for a special work, they should not feel that their own wisdom is sufficient, that they need not be counseled, reproved, and instructed. Brethren, if you feel thus, you will separate from the Source of your strength, and will be in peril. You may be left to your own supposed sufficiency, to do as Judas did—betray your Lord.” Gospel Workers, 414.

  • How should we regard counsel? Proverbs 25:9–12.

Note: “Those who are the most closely connected with God are the ones who know His voice when He speaks to them. Those who are spiritual discern spiritual things. Such will feel grateful that the Lord has pointed out their errors.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 134.

2 COUNSELING TOGETHER

  • How can a healthy church relationship foster the making of wise plans? Proverbs 11:14; 15:22.

Note: “The evils of self-esteem and an unsanctified independence, which most impair our usefulness and which will prove our ruin if not overcome, spring from selfishness. ‘Counsel together’ is the message which has been again and again repeated to me by the angel of God. By influencing one man’s judgment, Satan may endeavor to control matters to suit himself. He may succeed in misleading the minds of two persons; but, when several consult together, there is more safety. Every plan will be more closely criticized; every advance move more carefully studied. Hence there will be less danger of precipitate, ill-advised moves, which would bring confusion, perplexity, and defeat. In union there is strength. In division there is weakness and defeat.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 29, 30.

  • In what ways do we each benefit from the knowledge and experience of one another? Proverbs 15:31, 32; 20:5.

Note: “Let us cherish a spirit of confidence in the wisdom of our brethren. We must be willing to take advice and caution from our fellow laborers. …

“It is a mistake to withdraw from those who do not agree with our ideas. This will not inspire our brethren with confidence in our judgment. It is our duty to counsel with our brethren, and to heed their advice. We are to seek their counsel, and when they give it, we are not to cast it away, as if they were our enemies. Unless we humble our hearts before God, we shall not know His will.

“Let us be determined to be in unity with our brethren. This duty God has placed upon us. We shall make their hearts glad by following their counsel, and make ourselves strong through the influence that this will give us. Moreover, if we feel that we do not need the counsel of our brethren, we close the door of our usefulness as counselors to them.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 500.

3 FACTORS TO CONSIDER

  • What do we too often forget about Godly counsel? Proverbs 13:1, 8, 10; 27:9.

Note: “There will be men and women who despise reproof and whose feelings will ever rise up against it. It is not pleasant to be told of our wrongs. In almost every case where reproof is necessary, there will be some who entirely overlook the fact that the Spirit of the Lord has been grieved and His cause reproached. These will pity those who deserved reproof, because personal feelings have been hurt. All this unsanctified sympathy places the sympathizers where they are sharers in the guilt of the one reproved. In nine cases out of ten if the one reproved had been left under a sense of his wrongs, he might have been helped to see them and thereby have been reformed. But meddlesome, unsanctified sympathizers place altogether a wrong construction upon the motives of the reprover and the nature of the reproof given, and by sympathizing with the one reproved lead him to feel that he has been really abused; and his feelings rise up in rebellion against the one who has only done his duty. Those who faithfully discharge their unpleasant duties under a sense of their accountability to God will receive His blessing. God requires His servants to be always in earnest to do His will. In the apostle’s charge to Timothy he exhorts him to ‘preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine’ [II Timothy 4:2].” Testimonies, vol. 3, 359, 360.

  • What balanced understanding is needed when seeking counsel from others? Jeremiah 17:5–7.

Note: “Some of our conferences are weak in Christian experience because their leading men—and the people have followed their example—have sought for the approval of man with far greater anxiety than for the approval of God. They have looked to man for help and counsel more than to God. They have made men their burden-bearers, and have accepted human wisdom just when and where they should have depended upon God. And too often those of whom they sought counsel needed help themselves; for their souls were not right with God.” Gospel Workers, 414.

4 COUNSEL FROM HEAVEN

  • How and why are we to avoid excessive or unnecessary burdening of others for counsel? Galatians 6:3–5.

Note: “There must be far more personal responsibility, far more thinking and planning, far more mental power brought into the labor put forth for the Master. This would enlarge the capacity of the mind, and give keener perceptions as to what to do and how.” Gospel Workers, 416.

  • How can we know God will answer as we counsel directly with Him? Proverbs 4:1, 2; 1 John 2:3–5; 5:13–15.
  • Why do prayers sometimes seem to go unanswered? Proverbs 8:33; 19:20; 28:9; James 4:3.

Note: “Let none deceive themselves with the belief that God will pardon and bless them while they are trampling upon one of His requirements. The willful commission of a known sin silences the witnessing voice of the Spirit, and separates the soul from God. Whatever may be the ecstasies of religious feeling, Jesus cannot abide in the heart that disregards the divine law. God will honor those only who honor Him.” Messages to Young People, 114.

“When we make request of Him [God], He may see that it is necessary for us to search our hearts and repent of sin. Therefore He takes us through test and trial, He brings us through humiliation, that we may see what hinders the working of His Holy Spirit through us.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 143.

  • What will come to those who reject God’s counsel as given through the Spirit of Prophecy? Proverbs 29:18.

Note: “The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. ‘Where there is no vision, the people perish.’ Proverbs 29:18. Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony. He will bring in spurious visions, to mislead and mingle the false with the true, and so disgust people that they will regard everything that bears the name of visions, as a species of fanaticism; but honest souls, by contrasting false and true, will be enabled to distinguish between them.” The Faith I Live By, 296.

5 CAUTIONS REGARDING COUNSEL

  • What type of counsel is increasing? Proverbs 19:27.

Note: “We are to treat with kindness and courtesy those who refuse to be loyal to God, but we are never, never to unite with them in counsel regarding the vital interests of His work.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 108.

“Teachers of falsehood will arise to draw you away from the narrow path and the strait gate. Beware of them; though concealed in sheep’s clothing, inwardly they are ravening wolves. …

“We are not bidden to prove them by their fair speeches and exalted professions. They are to be judged by the word of God. [Isaiah 8:20; Proverbs 19:27 quoted.] What message do these teachers bring? Does it lead you to reverence and fear God? Does it lead you to manifest your love for Him by loyalty to His commandments?” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 145.

  • How are we warned against the extreme of totally submitting our mind to another’s will? I Timothy 6:20, 21; Jeremiah 17:5.

Note: “Satan often finds a powerful agency for evil in the power which one human mind is capable of exerting on another human mind. This influence is so seductive that the person who is being molded by it is often unconscious of its power. God has bidden me speak warning against this evil.” Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 1, 23.

“This entering in of Satan through the sciences is well devised. Through the channel of phrenology, psychology, and mesmerism, he comes more directly to the people of this generation and works with that power which is to characterize his efforts near the close of probation.” Ibid., 19.

Review and Thought Questions

1 How will the godly respond to difficult reproofs?

2 Why is there benefit in “a multitude of counselors”?

3 Explain the problems that arise from false sympathy.

4 What should we realize about the Spirit of Prophecy?

5 When can counsel become dangerous?

Copyright © 2002 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.

Bible Study Guides – Mercy and Truth

by

May 8, 2011 – May 14, 2011

Key Text

“Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart.” Proverbs 3:3.

Study Helps: The Review and Herald, October 8, 1895; Testimonies, vol. 4, 330–340.

Introduction

“Life’s best things—simplicity, honesty, truthfulness, purity, integrity—cannot be bought or sold. They are as free to the ignorant as to the educated, to the humble laborer as to the honored statesman.” The Ministry of Healing, 198.

1 THE BROTHERHOOD OF MANKIND

  • Name one principle which God would have us understand about all human beings. Proverbs 22:2.

Note: “Caste is hateful to God. He ignores everything of this character. In His sight the souls of all men are of equal value. … Without distinction of age, or rank, or nationality, or religious privilege, all are invited to come unto Him and live.” The Desire of Ages, 403.

  • Name some examples of warnings that have been given against the spirit of envy. Proverbs 14:30; 23:4, 17, 18.

Note: “So far as talk is concerned, A B is qualified to lead the meetings; but when moral fitness is weighed, he is found wanting. His heart is not right with God. When others are placed in a leading position, they have the opposing spirit of himself and his wife to meet. This unsanctified spirit is not manifested openly, but works secretly to hinder, perplex, and discourage those who are trying to do the very best they can. God sees this, and it will in due time receive its just reward.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 333.

2 SEVEN ABOMINATIONS

  • By what attitudes do people often offend God? Proverbs 6:16–19. Why must we be more careful with our speech? Matthew 12:36, 37.

Note: “Satan would be pleased to have anyone and everyone become his allies in the work of weakening the confidence of brother in brother, and sowing discord among those who profess to believe the truth.” Maranatha, 63.

“No man who does not utter the real sentiment of his heart can be called a truthful man. Falsehood virtually consists in an intention to deceive; and this may be shown by a look or a word. Even facts may be so arranged and stated as to constitute falsehoods. Some are adept at this business, and they will seek to justify themselves for departing from strict veracity. There are some who, in order to tear down or injure the reputation of another, will, from sheer malice, fabricate falsehoods concerning them. Lies of self-interest are uttered in buying and selling goods, cattle, or any kind of merchandise. Lies of vanity are uttered by men who love to appear what they are not. A story cannot pass through their hands without embellishment. Oh, how much is done in the world which the doers will one day wish to undo! But the record of words and deeds in the books of heaven will tell the sad story of falsehoods spoken and acted.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 335.

  • How serious of a matter is lying? Leviticus 19:11; Acts 5:4.

Note: “ ‘All liars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death’ [Revelation 21:8]. God is a God of sincerity and truth. The word of God is a book of truth. Jesus is a faithful and true witness. The church is the witness and ground of the truth. All the precepts of the Most High are true and righteous altogether. How, then, must prevarication and any exaggeration or deception appear in His sight? For the falsehood he uttered because he coveted the gifts which the prophet refused, the servant of Elisha was struck with leprosy, which ended only with death.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 336.

3 THE POWER OF TRUTHFULNESS

  • How much should we value real truth? Proverbs 3:3, 4.

Note: “Even life itself should not be purchased with the price of falsehood. By a word or a nod the martyrs might have denied the truth and saved their lives. By consenting to cast a single grain of incense upon the idol altar they might have been saved from the rack, the scaffold, or the cross. But they refused to be false in word or deed, though life was the boon they would receive by so doing. Imprisonment, torture, and death, with a clear conscience, were welcomed by them, rather than deliverance on condition of deception, falsehood, and apostasy. By fidelity and faith in Christ they earned spotless robes and jeweled crowns. Their lives were ennobled and elevated in the sight of God because they stood firmly for the truth under the most aggravated circumstances.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 336.

  • How can we avoid much of the resentment and bitterness which result from careless talking among brethren or sisters? Ecclesiastes 7:21, 22.

Note: “What a world of gossip would be prevented if every man would remember that those who tell him the faults of others will as freely publish his faults at a favorable opportunity. We should endeavor to think well of all men, especially our brethren, until compelled to think otherwise. We should not hastily credit evil reports. These are often the result of envy or misunderstanding, or they may proceed from exaggeration or a partial disclosure of facts. Jealousy and suspicion, once allowed a place, will sow themselves broadcast, like thistledown. Should a brother go astray, then is the time to show your real interest in him. Go to him kindly, pray with and for him, remembering the infinite price which Christ has paid for his redemption. In this way you may save a soul from death, and hide a multitude of sins.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 58, 59.

  • What happens in our hearts when we choose to follow truth? Proverbs 8:6–8.

4 LOYALTY AMONG BELIEVERS

  • For what type of wisdom did Solomon specifically pray? I Kings 3:9.
  • What should we remember when tempted by apostates to condemn and betray our brethren in the faith? Proverbs 12:22, 23.

Note: “Those who apostatize in time of trial will, to secure their own safety, bear false witness, and betray their brethren. Christ has warned us of this, that we may not be surprised at the unnatural, cruel course of those who reject the light.” The Desire of Ages, 630.

“As in the days of Christ spies were on His track, so they are on ours now. If Satan can employ professed believers to act as accusers of the brethren, he is greatly pleased; for those who do this are just as truly serving him as was Judas when he betrayed Christ, although they may be doing it ignorantly.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 3, 1163.

“The world crucified Jesus Christ, and is at enmity with Christ and with those who love truth, because the truth condemns the children of this world in their sinful, Christless lives. The worldling will betray the children of God, will speak against them, and falsely accuse them. But let no one who claims to be a follower of Christ receive the accusations that spring from the envyings and jealousies of those who love not truth. If you listen to accusations and charges against the children of God who are striving to obey the truth, you thereby become seduced by the enemy, and he will use you as his agent. Those who live in daily communion with Christ will learn to place a proper estimate upon their brethren, and will respect and sympathize with those who are in harmony with the pure, the good, and the true, and will condemn the course of those who are vile, profligate, and unclean before God, and despisers of his truth and righteousness. They will not help the enemy in his work of condemning the righteous and clearing the guilty.” The Review and Herald, December 11, 1894.

  • What danger do we face under persecution? Matthew 24:10.

5 WINNING QUALITIES

  • How can our own standard of mercy and truth either win others to Christ or repel them from Him? Proverbs 16:6,7.

Note: “He who has the Spirit of Christ will have modesty of demeanor, and his words will reveal that the Holy Spirit is cherished. Christians will not be bold, rash, dictatorial, boastful, denunciatory, and revengeful, but will manifest an unassuming, gentle spirit, and will show that they discern and appreciate the virtues of others.

“They will give due respect to all saints, counting them members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. They will speak kindly when in conversation, whether they are young or old, high or low, learned or unlearned. Their words will not be like piercing swords. They will not have a spirit to humble their brethren by accusing and condemning them for their faults or errors.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 182.

“Christians are to be indeed the representatives of Jesus Christ; they are not to be pretenders. Shall the world form its conceptions of God by the course of those who only take the name of Christ, and do not His works? Shall they point to those who claim to be believers, but who are not believers at heart, who betray sacred trusts, and work the works of the enemy, and say, ‘O these are Christians, and they will cheat and lie, and they cannot be trusted’? These are not the ones who truly represent God. But God will not leave the world to be deceived. The Lord has a peculiar people on the earth, and He is not ashamed to call them brethren; for they do the works of Christ. They make it manifest that they love God, because they keep His commandments. They bear the divine image. They are a spectacle unto the world, to angels, and to men.” Our High Calling, 123.

Review and Thought Questions

1 How does envy manifest itself even among capable men?

2 How does God view exaggerations against brethren?

3 What must we consider when an evil report comes to us?

4 Why is just discernment needed today?

5 What are people waiting to see in us?

Copyright © 2002 Reformation Herald Publishing Association, 5240 Hollins Road, Roanoke, Virginia. Reprinted by permission.