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Question – Why do I suffer?

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Why?

“Why is it so hard?”

“There are thousands in the Christian age who have fallen into an error similar to that of the Jewish people. They feel that they must depend on their obedience to the law of God to recommend them to His favor. The nature and importance of faith have been lost sight of, and this is why it is so hard for many to believe in Christ as their personal Saviour.” The General Conference Bulletin, March 5, 1895

“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

“Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Be anxious for nothing … .” Philippians 4:6, first part

“Why am I left alone?”

“You may never be lonesome, never feel that you are alone, if you will take Jesus as your Companion and your Everlasting Friend.” Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol. 2, 632

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid … for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6

“Why do I suffer?”

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

“To have strong faith, we must be placed in circumstances where our faith will be exercised. … It is our privilege to be strong in the strength of God under all circumstances and to glory in the cross of Christ.

“In this life we must meet fiery trials and make costly sacrifices, but the peace of Christ is the reward. …

“Persecution should bring joy to the disciples of Christ, for it is an evidence that they are following in the steps of their Master.” God’s Amazing Grace, 90

“Why do I worry?”

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? … Therefore do not worry about tomorrow … .” Matthew 6:25, 34, first part

“A life in Christ is a life of restfulness. … Your weakness is united to His strength, your ignorance to His wisdom, your frailty to His enduring might. …

“Commit the keeping of your soul to God, and trust in Him. … Rest in God.” A New Life, 39, 40

May we always remember that the whys of this world have but one answer, Jesus Christ.

The Lion

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A large, powerful cat, second only in size to the tiger, the lion has been given the title, “king of beasts.” They can live in a variety of habitats, but they like grassland, savannah, and scrubland the most.

A full-grown male is six to seven feet long and stands about four feet high at the shoulder. They can weigh as much as 500 pounds. The female, called a lioness, is typically five feet long and stands about three feet at the shoulders. She can weigh up to 400 pounds.

The coat is short and can be a buff yellow, orange-brown, silvery gray, or dark brown. The males have the shaggy mane around the neck just behind the ears, but the females do not. The mane can make the males look larger and more intimidating to rivals and more impressive to a potential mate. However, the mane is a product of high hormone levels in the lion, and if the hormone level decreases, he will lose the mane.

Lions live in prides made up of several generations of lionesses, breeding males, and their cubs. One might find a pride with as many as 37 members, but the average is around 15. They live in well-defined territory. If prey is abundant, that territory can be about eight square miles, but if prey is sparse, the territory could expand to as much as 250 square miles. That involves a lot of walking to find some lunch. Lions lay stake to their territory by roaring and scent marking.

Did you know? A lion’s guttural roar can be heard five miles away.

Living in an open savannah, the lionesses of a pride will do most of the hunting, and the males will take their meal from the lionesses’ kill. But don’t let that fool you, or make you believe that the male lions are lazy. They are actually adept hunters and in the scrubland or wooded habitat, they will spend less time with the pride and hunt their own food. Lions eat medium to large-sized animals such as zebra, antelope, and wildebeests, but you might find them taking on a hippo or elephant if the victim is young or sick. They often steal carrion or even fresh kills from hyenas.

A hunting pride is potentially nature’s most formidable predatory force on land. Once they have acquired their meal, they tend to gorge themselves and then rest for several days before hunting again. A male lion can consume more than 75 pounds of meat at a single meal and then rest for a week before resuming the hunt. If prey is abundant, both the lion and lioness will only hunt for two or three hours per day, spending the remaining hours of the day resting.

Lions are polygamous (meaning more than one lioness), but the lionesses typically stay with the one or two adult males in their pride. Breeding is a busy time, and once pregnant, a lioness will give birth in about 108 days, with a litter of one to six cubs.

Cubs are born helpless, blind, and wearing a thick coat marked with dark spots to provide camouflage. Once they reach maturity, the spots disappear. They begin to follow their mothers at three months, are weaned by the sixth or seventh month, and are participating in the hunt by 11 months. However, they probably cannot live on their own until about two years of age. They are considered fully mature at three to four years old.

Sources: Britannica.com/animal/lion

The Bible identifies both Jesus and Satan as lions, though with entirely different characteristics.

“We are approaching the end of this earth’s history, and Satan is working as never before. He is striving to act as director of the Christian world. With an intensity that is marvelous he is working with his lying wonders. Satan is represented as walking about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He desires to embrace the whole world in his confederacy. Hiding his deformity under the garb of Christianity, he assumes the attributes of a Christian, and claims to be Christ Himself.” Last Day Events, 155

“Once again the Saviour was presented to John, under the symbol of the ‘Lion of the tribe of Judah,’ and of ‘a Lamb as it had been slain.’ These symbols represent the union of omnipotent power and self-sacrificing love. As the Lion of Judah, Christ will defend His chosen ones and bring them off victorious, because they accepted Him as ‘the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.’ Christ the slain Lamb, who was despised, rejected, the victim of Satan’s wrath, of man’s abuse and cruelty—how tender His sympathy with His people who are in the world! And according to the infinite depths of His humiliation and sacrifice as the Lamb of God will be His power and glory as the Lion of Judah, for the deliverance of His people.” The Home Missionary, November 1, 1893

Christ’s representation as a lion ready to defend and protect His children should give us all comfort in times of difficulty, fear, and discouragement.

Hot Foot Bath

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Equipment

  • Basin deep enough to hold sufficient water to cover the feet and ankles
  • Thermometer, if available. If not, test the water temperature with your elbow. Temperature should be between 39-43° C/103-110° F
  • Washcloth (to use as a cold compress as needed), bath towel, and sheet
  • Rubber sheet or plastic to protect the bed or floor around the chair
  • Bowl of very cold water
  • Pitcher or dipper to add hot water

Some Precautions to Keep in Mind

It is best to determine first if a patient has a pre-existing condition or may be taking medications that would make the use of the hot foot bath unsafe, and consult with their physician before administering the treatment.

Getting Started

  • The room should be warm and free of drafts. All necessary materials should be at hand. The patient can either lie on the bed or sit in a chair.
  • Pour hot water, to tolerance, into the tub to the level that it will cover the feet and up to two inches above the ankles.
  • Once the patient’s feet are in the tub, drape the patient with the sheet, draping also around the tub.
  • As the water in the tub begins to cool, add more hot water. The purpose is to maintain the water temperature at 39-43° C/103-110° F. This in essence gives the patient a fever. Continue this for 20-60 minutes.
  • If the patient becomes too warm, begins to sweat, or has head congestion, wet the washcloth in the cold water, wring it out, and place it on the patient’s forehead. Continue re-wetting the washcloth to keep the patient cool. If sweating continues, give the patient water through a straw.
  • When finished, remove the washcloth from the patient’s head, lift his/her feet above the tub, and pour the cold water over both the feet and ankles.
  • Dry the feet thoroughly, including between the toes with the bath towel.
  • The patient should rest for 30-60 minutes following the treatment.

Source: traditionalhydrotherapy.com/Techniques/HotFootBath; hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases-vascular-disease

Longing to See the Light

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At the end of June 2018, a soccer coach and his 12 players in Thailand went into the Tham Luang Nang Non cave for an hour-long excursion after practice. They took a rope, a flashlight, and some batteries. The young men ranged in age from 11–16, and their coach was just 25 years old. Their adventure was meant to be of short duration so they did not prepare for a long trip. But as it turned out, it became an 18-day nightmare when the entrance to the cave unexpectedly flooded due to monsoon rains and they were trapped with no food or warm clothing. The oxygen in the cave began to run low and eventually the light from the flashlight went out. They kept themselves alive only by drinking fresh water that dripped from stalactites in the cave.

Ultimately, over the course of three days—July 8, 9, and 10—all of the boys and their coach were rescued. During their rescue each boy was led out of the cave by two experienced divers: one leading the way and the other following behind. They emerged from the cave hungry and cold, but safe and longing to see the light.

This brought to mind the scripture found in John 8:12, where Jesus said, “ ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’ ”

We live in a world of darkness and sin—a darkness so deep that sometimes it is impossible to believe that we will ever see the light again.

“A large number of precious souls are groping in darkness, yet longing and weeping and praying for light.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 65

“Light means revelation, and the light is to shine amid moral darkness. … Apart from Christ there is no light at all. There need not be a cloud between the soul and Jesus. … His great heart of love is longing to flood the soul with the bright beams of His righteousness.” Lift Him Up, 221

Dear Father, as Your people, You have given us great light and the opportunity to take truth and life to a world in darkness. Help us to be faithful to that charge.

Our Only Safety

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The daily record of disasters shows that there is no safety anywhere. Even in our homes we are in danger; for storms, floods, and fire are sweeping off thousands, while earthquakes are destroying additional thousands. If there ever was a time when we should be sober and watch unto prayer, it is now. Our lives are safe only when hid with Christ in God. We need every day to purify ourselves even as He is pure. There is always hope for us in God. Faith is our defense, for it connects our human weakness with divine power. The Review and Herald, January 29, 1884

Story – How God Sent the Flour

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It was time for worship. Mother’s dear friend Miss Clara was visiting with the family. Bobby proudly handed her his new Bible to use. After worship was over, Miss Clara said to Bobby, “What a beautiful copy of God’s word you have!”

“Yes,” answered Bobby. “It is the nicest Bible in the whole world, for God sent it right to me.” Then he told her of his answer to prayer for a Bible of his very own.

“God always does above all we can ask or think,” said Miss Clara. “He delights in ‘going over the top’ in good things.”

“Did He ever supply your needs for something, too?” asked Howard.

Miss Clara laughed and said, “That means you want a story.” When she had cuddled up the baby and gathered the boys around her, she went on. “I’m going to tell you a true story of how God sent us food. When I was a girl, my father was a minister. Once when he had to go to a meeting, he didn’t have even one cent to leave Mother with which to buy food while he was gone. The people had not paid what they had promised. Father had just enough money to buy his ticket. He told Mother he would not go and leave us without money, but Mother quoted that beautiful verse that you have learned, ‘My God shall supply all your need,’ and told Father he must go, that God would take care of us.

“We had some potatoes, a few cans of fruit, a little dried corn, and salt in the house, but the flour bin was empty. Mother did not believe in going in debt, and we bought only what we could pay for. Oh, yes, I forgot to say that we still had one loaf of bread when Father left. But when that was gone, there was no flour to make any more. Mother smiled and told us that God knew we needed flour, so we shouldn’t worry. She had us all kneel with her while she asked our heavenly Father to send us a sack of flour. When she arose, she made the rising for bread, just as if the flour bin were full. Then she said, ‘Now children, I’ve done all I can; God will do the rest.’ We all went to bed strong in faith that God would answer our prayers. I almost expected to wake up in the morning and find a sack of flour in the kitchen. When my brother came downstairs, the first thing he asked was, ‘Has God sent the flour yet?’

“Mother lifted the lid from the bread bowl and let us see how light and foamy the rising was. All it needed was the flour. We ate a scant breakfast of potatoes and salt, and then Mother knelt by the empty flour bin and praised God because He had said His children would never need to beg for bread.

“Still no flour came. Mother and I washed the dishes, and Mother started to sing the old song, ‘Oh for a faith that will not shrink.’ My little brother, who was looking out of the window, said, ‘Somebody is tying a horse to our fence.’ We children all hurried to look out, fully expecting to see the woman carry in some flour. To our great disappointment she came up the path empty handed.

“Mother invited her in, and she sat down, acting rather embarrassed and strange. She was not a Christian and never had been to church, but her daughter had been converted during the revival Father had held; and I knew Father and Mother had been praying that she and her husband might know Jesus, too.

“She talked about the weather, and kept twisting her scarf. Finally she said, ‘I want to tell you a strange thing that happened to me this morning. As I was getting breakfast, I heard a voice say, “Take Brother Hayden some flour.” I knew no one was in the kitchen but me, and I got scared. Then I heard it again. “Go take Brother Hayden some flour.” I suppose I’m a fool, but do you need flour?’

“By this time Mother was crying, and saying, ‘Praise the Lord.’ She told the woman of our prayers for flour, showed her the empty bin, and the crock of rising. The woman too then began to cry, and going to her buggy, she gave my brother a sack of flour, handed me a basket of potatoes, while the younger brother and sister carried in a jar of milk and a bucket of butter. ‘I just thought if God was telling me to take you flour, like as not you needed the butter too, so I brought it along,’ she told Mother.

“Mother kissed her, and said, ‘You look like an angel to us.’ Then she mixed her bread, put it to rise, and we held a real thanksgiving prayer meeting. Seeing how God had led her to help us so touched the woman that she gave her heart to Him that day in our house.

“She seemed to know Father had not been paid, so before he got home from the meeting, people came from all parts of his parish and paid Mother both in food and money a great deal more than they owed.”

“Was that good bread?” asked Bobby as Miss Clara finished the story.

“Indeed it was,” said Miss Clara, “it was like heavenly manna.”

My Favorite Prayer Stories, Joe L. Wheeler, ©2015, 65–67

Our Violent World

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The subject of the growing and increasing violence all over the world today is dealt with extensively in Bible prophecy. For example, Paul writes: “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:1–5. Paul continues that evil men and seducers will become worse and worse, deceiving others and being deceived themselves.

In reading about the condition of the world in the days of Noah as described in Genesis 6:11, we find that “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.”

Jesus described the last days of this world to His disciples, saying, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:37–39. Violence was prevalent all over the world in the days of Noah.

The world also was a violent place during the time of the city of Sodom. The Bible records the following account of sexual assault in the days of Sodom:

“Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. And he said, ‘Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant’s house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way.’ And they said, ‘No, but we will spend the night in the open square.’ But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

“Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. And they called to Lot and said to him, ‘Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally.’ So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, and said, ‘Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof.’ And they said, ‘Stand back!’ Then they said, ‘This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.’ So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.” Genesis 19:1–11.

The next day, God sent fire from heaven and Sodom and Gomorrah were burned to the ground.

Jesus talked about Sodom, too. “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.” Luke 17:28–30

The day and age we live in is as violent and sinful as it was before the flood and again at the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Statistics show that in 2021, 2.55 million acts of violence were committed in the United States. Let’s look at some of the causes of violence today in America.

Substance abuse—the use of mind-altering drugs—is one of the main causes. There are several reasons why drug use is associated with violent behavior.

First of all, drugs, such as alcohol, have the effect of anesthetizing the higher control centers in the brain, damaging a person’s ability to make calm, rational judgments. Roughly 50 percent of the victims and perpetrators of assault violence are under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol is also strongly associated with domestic violence.

A second reason that the use of mind-altering drugs is associated with violence is because addicts commit crimes to obtain money to buy the drugs.

Third, confrontations occur among those who are involved in the manufacture, sale, and distribution of these drugs, because millions or even billions of dollars are involved.

The Bible strictly prohibits the use of mind-altering drugs for pleasure. There are many texts in both the Old and New Testaments that address the use of alcohol and drugs, but let’s look at just two.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.” Proverbs 20:1

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18

The Greek word asotia, which is the word translated as “excess” or “dissipation,” depending on which version of the Bible a person is reading, means “unsavedness, wastefulness, wantonness, profligacy, or prodigality.”

The King James Version translates asotia as “excess,” but this Greek word has never meant “excess.” The New King James Version translates asotia as “dissipation” and is a much more accurate translation of the word. Paul is saying that if a person drinks wine and other alcoholic beverages, then he can do so to the point of wantonness and becoming utterly corrupted, beyond all hope, beyond saving. Harsh, but true words.

The Greek Lexicon translates the word nepho as “to be sober.” But it also can be translated “not intoxicated” or “to abstain from wine.” People seem to get stuck on the word drunk and in so doing, they excuse themselves from the consequences found in the Bible.

Someone will say, “I don’t intend to get falling-down drunk. I’m not going to commit a mortal sin. I’m just going to get a little buzzed.” The tragic last words, I’m sure, of every man and woman who is now addicted to alcohol and whose lives and those of their families have been ruined. It may be true that one man can drink a couple of drinks and go home. But too many in this world drink until they are unable to function normally.

Alcohol is absorbed very rapidly into the blood stream, so from the very first swallow, you are a little bit drunk, and with each subsequent swallow, you become increasingly drunk. A drinker may only have had two or three sips, but even this limited amount of alcohol consumption will have a damaging effect on the judgment center of the brain, and affect his ability to make sound judgments. Those who choose to drink liberally until they are in a completely drunken state will be unable to think clearly, see clearly, or to control their bodies.

The Bible says that the drunkard will not inherit the kingdom. Drunkard can be translated as “drinker.” It is not necessary for a person to drink to excess to be prohibited from entering the kingdom. Choosing to be a drinker when God has given the admonition not to drink alcoholic beverages, has made drinking no less of an idol to the “casual” drinker than it would be to the drunkard.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10

“Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19–21

As with any sin, the first step—that first drink—starts a person down a path that makes it easier to continue to drink. We really have no idea, from one person to the next, how much a person can drink before they are drunk and no longer in control of their faculties and bodies.

If you want to go to heaven, then drinking alcoholic beverages, according to these verses, is a sin that needs to be repented of and forsaken. In heaven, there are no drinking establishments nor liquor stores, and there will be no drunkards. If you are really serious about having eternal life, you will give up those things which the Bible expressly prohibits and ask the Lord to show you the truth and how to live it.

If all the peoples of the world would live as Christ lived, there would be a natural decrease in violence in society.

Another cause of the increase in the violence that we see today is the result of the callous disregard for human life to a degree that we have never before seen. Seemingly normal, sane people are participating in extreme acts of violence. Why?

There is a Bible principle that can clearly explain this tremendous increase in crime, and it is this: It is a law of the human mind that by beholding, by looking at something or allowing something to have a continual influence over our minds, we become changed into the image, into the character likeness, of that which we behold (see Patriarchs and Prophets, 91).

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18

But what happens if what we are looking at—consuming, listening to, reading, following—is not the glory of the Lord?

All around us, the world is filled with sinful enticements. The most attractive, alluring forms can be found in the entertainment industry—television, radio, movies, music, social media, internet, to name a few. We see God’s law broken in sinful acts of violence performed in movies and television programs—shootings, stabbings, physical assaults, sexual abuse, kidnapping. Actors and actresses “pretending” to be people and things they are not, using the Lord’s name in vain, smoking, drinking, immodestly dressed, and promoting adultery, fornication, and promiscuity. We cannot hear the voice of the Holy Spirit while listening to music with its rhythm that so disturbs the natural cadence of the body, throwing the central nervous system into chaos as the artist also spews violent words describing murder, bigotry, abuse, drug and alcohol use, promiscuity, and other sinful acts.

Fewer than 15 percent of American homes had a television in 1950. By 1990, 93 percent of American homes had a television set. Within that period, the annual number of murders in America increased from 7,942 to 21,860. The murder rate more than doubled.

Consider what happens to infants and small children who are unable to judge whom they should look to as a role model. Research today shows that watching television, especially violent scenes, is most dangerous to the very young. Infants at 14 months of age will imitate behaviors they see on television.

American children today, ages two to five years, are watching over 27 hours of television per week. Remember, they cannot distinguish between fact and fantasy, even when they are being coached. Television exposure has been demonstrated to significantly increase children’s aggressiveness by 160 percent in two years, according to one study.

A 1982 report found that, as a result of watching television on a regular basis, children “may become less sensitive to the pain and suffering of others.” It also found that it made the children more fearful of the world around them.

A review performed in 2010 found that youth, ages 12–17, who play video games, exhibited “increased aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, and decreased empathy and prosocial behavior.”

What, then, does television do to teenagers? Here are the results:

  1. decreased interest in reading;
  2. decreased interest in learning;
  3. development of poor health habits;
  4. development of poor or immoral attitudes;
  5. increased sexual activity, with the first sexual encounter occurring at a younger age.

A study done in 2002 regarding the causal link between TV and aggressive behavior found: “Even after making statistical allowances for factors such as psychiatric disorders, economic status, and prior violent acts, … they found that those who watched one to three hours of TV per day were about 60% more likely to get in a serious fight, threaten someone, or use a weapon to commit a crime than those who watched less than an hour a day. More than three hours of TV more than doubled the risk.”

Tragically, extensively watching violence on television, children become numb to the horror of violence. They begin to accept violence as a way to solve problems. They will imitate the violence they see on television and will identify with the television characters. Television has a powerful influence in developing children’s value systems and shaping their behavior.

It has been estimated that the evil effects of television viewing are responsible for half of the current number of homicides, rapes, and assaults in the United States. If we did not have television in our society, we could expect that we would be having at least 10,000 fewer homicides, 70,000 fewer rapes, and 700,000 fewer injurious assaults every year.

A study was conducted from 1977–1979, with 557 participating six to ten-year-old children from five countries. Its purpose was to examine the “longitudinal relationship between early exposure to TV violence and adult aggressive behavior for both males and females.” A follow-up study was conducted in the late 1990s involving 329 of the original participants who were, at that time, between the ages of 20–25. So, what did this study find? When exposed to TV violence in early childhood, aggressive behavior was predicted in both males and females and the test subjects identified with the aggressive TV characters. Research indicates that although exposure to media violence may have short-term effects on adults, its negative impact on children is long-lasting.

The internet and social media are just as addictive as television. Violence and pornography are available 24/7 on the worldwide web. People troll these medias in search of victims on a day-to-day basis, to rape, rob, or kidnap. Child pornography is readily available on the internet.

Games involving war, murder, robbery, as well as games that simply take up your time—time that could be spent in Bible study, witnessing, and prayer—are prevalent.

Sources: washingtonpost.com/archive/opinions/1993/04/17/is-tv-to-blame-for-violence; apa.org/topics/video-games/violence-harmful-effects; drugabusestatistics.org/drug-related-crime-statistics; aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for Families/FFF-Guide/Children and TV Violence; science.org/content/article/does-tv-make-us-violent; apa.org/pi/prevent-violence/resources/tv-violence

Friend, it is a law of the human mind that by beholding we will be changed. We cannot escape it. Our Creator made us that way. What we behold, what we look at, goes into our minds and is stored in our memory banks. The sum total of what we have been watching becomes part of our characters.

The Bible has a great deal to say about what we should and should not listen to and watch.

“The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness has seized the hypocrites: ‘Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?’ He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; bread will be given him, his water will be sure.” Isaiah 33:14–16

Isaiah is speaking about the last days, the days in which we are living right now. He describes a people who will escape the terrible trouble that is coming upon this world and be saved. Unlike most of the people who will profess to be Christians yet will be breaking God’s law because they still find pleasure in sin, these people will be living a righteous life in harmony with God’s law. (See 1 John 3 and 1 John 5.)

If I am to be delivered in the last days, I must be living a righteous life. This includes removing anything that I might see or hear that would influence me away from this righteous life, anything that would cause me to speak words or do things that would make my profession a lie. God holds me, and you, responsible for what we see, where we go, and what we listen to. We must be as soldiers guarding the avenues to the soul—our eyes, ears, and mouth. We must choose to do what is right at all times. We cannot blame someone else because they have the television or radio on. If we are not vigilant about what we allow ourselves to come into contact with, then we will have to answer to the Lord in the day of judgment for what we have done.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

“Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28

“Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes.” Psalm 101:3, first part

If you are addicted to alcohol, you cannot go to the places where it is sold or even hang out with the people you used to drink with, if you want to remain free from it. In the same way, if you are addicted to television, the internet, or social media, the only way you are going to get free from them is to get that television out of your house, remove access to the internet and social media platforms from your phone and computers.

If you are looking at sin, if you are listening to sin, you will not be found guiltless in the day of judgment.

Philippians 4:8 tells us where our focus should be, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble [uplifting or honorable], whatever things are just [not sinful], whatever things are pure [pure in dress and language], whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Friend, no one will see Jesus if they lack holiness of character. “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14

Many people today spend too much time filling their minds and hearts with the attractions and enticements of this world and so little time in God’s word. And John tells us what will happen to these people when they continue to reject the pleading of the Holy Spirit.

“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.” John 12:40

He, meaning God, is looking for a people who study His word, obey His commandments, come to Him often in prayer, and who seek a transformation of character that will bring them face to face with Jesus and the Father on a soon-to-dawn morning. But for those who prefer the things of this world, continually rejecting His offer of salvation, He will harden their hearts, and the Spirit will leave them alone with their idols.

What decisions are you making? Each decision that you make right now will determine your eternal destiny. Are you seeking a righteous and holy life, obeying His commandments, keeping your mind pure and holy, filled with His word, and your body free from defilement? Make the right decision today.

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.

The Adoption of God

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Over six thousand years ago a terrible thing happened. Mankind, in the form of Adam and Eve, gave over their kingdom to Lucifer, the deceiver and liar called Satan and the devil. Adam was the first king of earth appointed by God. He gave him dominion over everything on earth. “Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ ” Genesis 1:26

What a wonderful place the world must have been. No disease or death, no hate or war. A place of peace and tranquility. Our little blue orb of a world, set far from the rest of the universe, was a place of goodness and virtue. God visited often, walking and talking with Adam and Eve in the garden. He gave them instruction and answered their questions. But because of Satan, our world took a turn toward destruction and disaster. When Eve was deceived by the wiles of Satan in the form of a serpent, she never imagined what her “little” sin would mean for the world. It seems little to us, but to God, it was a test of obedience, and selfishness was the true name of that sin.

Selfishness is an invasive sin. We do not realize that our selfishness will have great repercussions, not only on ourselves but on others around us. It was selfishness that led Eve to take the fruit and eat it. She thought she would gain more than what God had already given them. She was not happy with all that God had given them, and like Satan, wanted more. After all, the fruit did look delicious. That fatal step caused a cascading affect that permeated the world with sin. God said, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Genesis 2:17. This truth was not believed by Eve. If it had, she would never have eaten the fruit of the tree. She allowed her own thoughts and the promptings of Satan to sway her to follow her own way. She gave into unbelief and selfishness. As Eve did, how often do we allow our own desires and the promptings around us to turn us from the path of God onto the path of Satan?

We can see after all these years that God was true to His word. Billions of people have died over the centuries since Eve’s fateful encounter with Satan. Yet this truth has not yet been fully realized. God spoke not only of physical death, but of a spiritual death yet to take place when the judgment of God has been concluded.

People today are all mixed up about death and the afterlife. Many think that we will live on after physical death. They mistakenly believe that all are spiritually immortal, yet God said, “Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me. … For I raise My hand to heaven, and say, ‘As I live forever.’ ” Deuteronomy 32:39, first part, 40

Paul writes, “I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep this commandment without spot, blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing, which He will manifest in His own time, He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power.” 1 Timothy 6:13–16. If we all had eternal life, if we were all going to be saved, why would the rich young ruler ask Jesus, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Matthew 19:16

No, the lie that Satan told from the beginning was that we would not die. There was not a single “good” thing the rich young ruler could do to inherit eternal life. There is no merit in any of our actions. This is why the ultimate plan of redemption had to be set into motion. From the beginning, God planned for every human being to be in heaven. Paul writes that we were “preordained” or “predestined” to be with God. Yet because of sin, not all will be with God in the end, only those who have been “conformed to the image” of Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” Romans 8:29, 30

Every person must decide if he or she will be one of these predestined sons of God or if they will remain a son or daughter of Satan. God sees the end from the beginning, but we must move forward with our choice only seeing the beginning of the end. If we make that choice to be one of God’s people, we will become adopted by God as one of His own. “Having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” Ephesians 1:5

God wants every person to become one of His sons and daughters. God loved us so much that He sent His only Begotten Son. “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4, 5

In the beginning, Adam and Eve needed no Saviour. They were created sinless, without blame. They were not “born under the law” since there was no law broken. But when sin had abounded, our first parents were now “under the law” of God and needed to be “redeemed” as “those who were under the law” to be adopted back into the family of God. They gave away their citizenship to heaven and their dominion over earth when they fell for the temptations of Satan and sinned. As their descendants, we are born under the law of God since sin is in the world. We are not born as Jesus who was a blend of the divine and human. We are born fully human into the family of Satan, “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Ephesians 2:3. Like all of us, Adam and Eve needed to be adopted back into God’s family as “sons of God.”

Mankind does not realize the peril they are in today. When born into the world, we are born under the condemnation of God’s law. We are born as sinners who need a Saviour. Like Adam and Eve, we, too, are a part of the wrong family and we must reject this family of Satan and sin if we are to join the family of God. Sin is pervasive. We inherit the degradation of sin in our bodies from the lineage of our parents. We are inundated with sinful acts, sinful scenes, and sinful talk all around us. Our minds are polluted by daily living, even if we are not partaking in sinful practices. This world has become so corrupted by Satan that even the most devout Christian struggles because of the onslaught of sin around them. How can we endure this terrible daily trial?

The answer is in Jesus. He had all our human traits. He understood human failings. Yet He was also the God of heaven. With this mixture of human and divine traits, He is well able to understand and sympathize with our weaknesses. When in the wilderness of temptation, He endured great hunger and thirst, given His divine nature, He could have stopped His suffering any time He desired, yet He suffered as any other human. This is the reason Jesus qualifies to be our High Priest who can remediate our sins. “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14–16

To become part of God’s family, our actions, attitudes, speech, eating habits, and views must be like that of God. In heaven, when Lucifer sinned, it was because his views and attitudes changed. He let selfishness and pride dominate his character. This was opposite to the rest of the angels of God. Heaven was a happy, peaceful, busy place. All enjoyed their work and loved God and knew God loved them. But after pride raised its ugly head in Satan, dissatisfaction was felt in heaven. As Satan (Lucifer) nurtured these feelings, he began to entice other angels with his dissatisfaction. Sin is like a noxious weed sowing its way through a garden. It only takes one weed to start, but that one weed produces more weeds until the whole garden is filled with them. That is how Satan worked in heaven and now works in us.

Jesus is different in character. He is like His Father in heaven. “I and My Father are One.” John 10:30. “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. Jesus tells us we must be like the Father if we are to be adopted into His family. We must like the same things. We will enjoy the foods God gave us in the beginning of earth’s history. We will speak like God speaks with love and compassion. We will have attitudes that reflect the Spirit of God in all we do. If we have these traits, we will no longer be in bondage to sin. “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.” Romans 8:15–17

If we accept Christ as our Advocate before the Father, we must first accept His grace that was given to us. As children of the devil, there is nothing good in us, but through Jesus Christ a new life can be nurtured. We do not have to stay children of the devil because through the sacrifice of Jesus we can claim the promises of the redeeming love of God. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

Paul writes extensively about this “filthiness of the flesh” in his letters to the churches. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” Ephesians 4:31. Most people will recognize adultery, stealing, and other sins as traits we must overcome to be adopted into the family of God, but Paul lists the things of the heart that must be changed. He encourages us to replace them with virtues of godliness. “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Verse 32

The life that Jesus lived on this earth taught us that we must live to be like God in our thoughts, actions, and speech. It was not enough to just sacrifice His life for our sins; He also came to show us how to live by setting an example for us to follow. Adam and Eve knew the character of Jesus. They had talked with Him many times. After they sinned, they were crushed by their actions, and were deeply sorrowful. They would have done anything to once again enjoy the face-to-face fellowship with their holy God. Over time, we have lost spiritual fellowship with God. We do not see our sins in the same light as our first parents, but that does not make them any the less grievous.

The good news is we can regain that connection, that spiritual fellowship, if we put our trust in Jesus. He has made provision for us to know and to love His good will toward us.

We have something that ancient Israel did not have. We have the Bible complete with the history of the mistakes of Israel on through the endurance and godliness of Joseph, Daniel, Elijah, and Moses. We have the writings of the prophecies of Amos, Habakkuk, Obadiah, and more. And to complete the fullness of God, we have the teachings of Jesus and the witness of His disciples who, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, wrote down for us the great wonders and works of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What more could God have done! Yet, He went even further.

To ensure that we who come to Jesus and claim His promises will not falter, He gave us the Helper of heaven. The Holy Spirit is given to every man, woman, and child that will commit to following Jesus with all their heart. The Spirit is only given to those who are dedicated to God. He cannot live in those who are double-minded. James admonishes us, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:8. Jesus promises we will never be alone. Prayer, the study of His promises, and active duty are the staple of a good Christian character.

Thousands of years have passed since the time of our first parents. They rest today in the grave awaiting the great day of deliverance. They committed their lives to be obedient to God and His law. Perfect obedience is the principle of the followers of Jesus. Many have turned back because of selfishness, and not all were, or will be, adopted into the family of God. But those who are called and will be called the “sons of God” are found to be in perfect obedience to His law and its principles.

Time is growing so short. The road may be rocky, and the trials may be many, but the reward of following through to the end is an everlasting life that we can hardly imagine. We must be ready for that great day of God, ready to meet Him in the clouds, ready to sing with the angels in adoration and thankfulness for the love of God.

Michael C. Wells is the director of Anointing Oil Ministries.

Avenues of the Soul

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(Access Points for Satan) 

When I first began reading the Spirit of Prophecy, I came across an interesting phrase that really piqued my interest. It appears in many places, and one where it is given fullest treatment is in The Acts of the Apostles, pages 518, 519:

“Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness. ‘Gird up the loins of your mind,’ Peter wrote, ‘be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; … not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.’ ”

The more I have contemplated this passage, the more value I have seen in it. The first thing that interested me was the admonition to “guard well the avenues of the soul.” My initial thought was “What are these avenues that I need to guard?”

Thankfully, a search of the Spirit of Prophecy gave an answer: “All should guard the senses, lest Satan gain victory over them; for these are the avenues to the soul.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 507

If I had studied that initial paragraph from The Acts of the Apostles a bit more thoroughly, perhaps I would have understood what the avenues of the soul are, at least partially, for it says, “… avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts.” We read and see with our eyes. We hear with our ears. And sight and hearing are two senses that Satan has used successfully for thousands of years to lead folks astray.

We are given a similar warning in Counsels for the Church, 166:

“So far as in us lies, we should close every avenue by which the tempter may find access to us.

“Every Christian must stand on guard continually, watching every avenue of the soul where Satan might find access.”

Another warning is found in Selected Messages, Book 2, 324:

“Satan is watching every avenue whereby he can take advantage to enter with his specious temptations to spoil the soul.”

For over six thousand years, Satan has been studying the human race as a whole to determine how to most successfully use those avenues to cause its ruin. And since birth, he has been watching us individually to find ways to appeal to our senses so that we will think, speak, and act contrary to God’s will.

Think of how Satan appealed to our first mother to cause not only her downfall, but the downfall of the entire human race. “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.” Genesis 3:6. Sight, taste, and touch—three of the avenues skillfully used by Satan.

In commenting on this tragedy, Inspiration notes, “It seemed a small matter to our first parents, when tempted, to transgress the command of God in one small act and eat of a tree that was beautiful to the eye and pleasant to the taste. To the transgressors this was but a small act, but it destroyed their allegiance to God and opened a flood of woe and guilt which has deluged the world. Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences which will result from one wrong, hasty step! Our only safety is to be shielded by the grace of God every moment, and not put out our own spiritual eyesight so that we will call evil, good, and good, evil. Without hesitation or argument, we must close and guard the avenues of the soul against evil.” Testimonies, Vol. 3, 324

Had Adam and Eve closed and guarded the avenues of the soul, mankind might still be living in the splendor of Eden.

Now let’s look at the second sentence in our opening paragraph:

“The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest.”

There are two things worth noting here. First, it is imperative that we exercise control over our thought process. 2 Corinthians 10:5 gives us this warning:

“Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ … .”

What we think has such a profound effect on our character that there are many, many warnings in the Spirit of Prophecy about controlling our thinking.

The second caution this sentence provides is that Satan can indeed place thoughts in our minds. He cannot read our minds, but he can influence what we think about.

“The adversary of souls is not permitted to read the thoughts of men; but he is a keen observer, and he marks the words; he takes account of actions, and skillfully adapts his temptations to meet the cases of those who place themselves in his power. If we would labor to repress sinful thoughts and feelings, giving them no expression in words or actions, Satan would be defeated; for he could not prepare his specious temptations to meet the case.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 122, 123

An obvious question would be, “Who are those who place themselves in Satan’s power?” It is those who fail to repress sinful thoughts and feelings by giving them expression in words or actions. Satan could not tailor his efforts specifically to our character weaknesses and besetting sins if he does not know what those are as revealed by our words and actions.

Let’s now consider a few Bible characters who fell through a failure to guard these avenues that Satan uses so successfully. We have already considered Adam and Eve. Think now of David. How did Satan get to David? “Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king’s house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.” 2 Samuel 11:2

We don’t know how long David gazed at Bathsheba, but we do have some idea of what he was thinking, based on the record in 2 Samuel 11. The consequences of David’s failure, or even refusal, to guard the avenue of sight and reign in his thoughts made David guilty of not only breaking the seventh commandment, but ultimately the sixth as well. This story should be a powerful lesson to those who gaze unadvisedly at inappropriate scenes depicting immoral behavior.

Another familiar example we have of Satan’s use of our senses to bring about mankind’s destruction lies in the story of Sodom. In Testimonies, Vol. 3, 476, we read, “The senses of many are benumbed by the indulgence of appetite and familiarity with sin.” A few pages later, we read, “To indulge the taste at the expense of health is a wicked abuse of the senses. Those who engage in any species of intemperance, either in eating or drinking, waste their physical energies and weaken moral power. They will feel the retribution which follows the transgression of physical law.” Ibid., 486

That is exactly what happened in Sodom. Here is how Ezekiel makes note of it:

“Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit.” Ezekiel 16:49, 50

Indeed, their moral power was weakened and they felt “the retribution which follows the transgression of physical law.”

There is a very enlightening passage regarding the care we need to exercise in guarding the avenues of the soul:

“We have been bought with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish. What a price is this, unparalleled, infinite! But though Christ has bought us, and invites us to come to Him, still the world holds out its attractions to us, and strives for the mastery. Shall love for God, or love for the world, triumph in the conflict? Satan and his evil angels are watching at every avenue leading to the human heart, seeking to force souls to accept evil suggestions. The enemy presents bribes to win us to the world, as he presented bribes to Christ in the wilderness of temptation. Unless we depend upon a power out of and above ourselves, the enemy will succeed in accomplishing our ruin. But in looking to Jesus, by studying His life and character, by earnestly desiring to be like Him, our minds will be balanced in the right direction, that we may overcome selfishness, and choose a course of righteousness.” The Youth’s Instructor, October 27, 1892

Notice that this counsel ends with the sobering conclusion that Satan’s success is made possible because of our inherent selfishness. Truly, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately, incurably wicked!

“Now is the time to have every piece of the armor on. ‘We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.’ Ephesians 6:12. Here is our work, and Satan will come in through every avenue that is left unguarded, to blind minds as to the true and vital interests that are at stake for this time.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 930

“Let every soul be wide awake to close every avenue of the soul to the sophistry of Satan, as revealed in heaven and in Eden. Let us be armed with that vigilance that shall resist his enchantments.” Loma Linda Messages, 88

“Our only safety is in being shielded by the grace of God every moment, and not putting out our own spiritual eyesight so that we call evil good, and good, evil. Without hesitation or argument, we must close and guard the avenues of the soul against evil.” Gospel Workers (1892), 205

“Guard well the avenues of the soul. Place sentinels at the eyes, the ears, the lips. When prevarications and conjectures are brought before you, and your minds are disturbed, go to Jesus, and pray for help that you may not be ensnared by the wiles of Satan.” The Review and Herald, August 28, 1883

“Thoughts and meditations upon the goodness of God to us would close the avenues of the soul to Satan’s suggestions.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 222

If we are following the instructions that Paul gave to both the Colossians and the Corinthians to do all in the name of the Lord and to the glory of God, the avenues of the soul would remain beyond the reach of Satan and his emissaries.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. He may be contacted by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org

Come Before Winter

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During his last imprisonment before his martyrdom, the apostle Paul wrote Timothy a second letter—the last letter written from his pen. He ended this letter to Timothy saying, “Do your utmost to come before winter.” 2 Timothy 4:21, first part

Paul made this request for several reasons.

  • He knew that he was going to be martyred for the gospel, but he did not know when—that was up to the fickle-minded Nero.
  • He had important things that he wanted to discuss with Timothy who was like a son to him, and if Timothy delayed until it was not possible to travel by ship because of winter, he might not see him at all.
  • He had not been allowed any privileges at his second arrest and, therefore, had not been able to bring his outer coat with him. He would suffer cold in the winter without this garment.
  • He wanted access to inspired writings for study that were not with him, and he wanted Timothy to bring them.
  • Ellen White says that “The desire for love and sympathy was implanted in the heart by God himself. Christ in His hour of agony in Gethsemane, while bearing the guilt of sinful men, longed for the sympathy of His disciples. And Paul, though almost indifferent to hardship and suffering, yearned for sympathy and companionship. God would have His people cherish love and sympathy for one another. Humanity, elevated, ennobled, and rendered Godlike, is worthy of respect and esteem. The sons and daughters of God will be tenderhearted, pitiful, courteous, to all men, ‘especially unto them who are of the household of faith.’ ” Sketches from the Life of Paul, 309

Is there someone that you are acquainted with or related to who needs you to come before winter? If you wait, you may be unable to minister to them at all. There comes a time when you cannot minister to your parents. There comes a time when you cannot minister to your children. There comes a time when you cannot witness to your neighbor, fellow worker, or relatives. Why is this? Because we are limited by time which comes to an end. Jesus said, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” John 9:4

Come before winter.