Walking with Jesus

In a very confused and crooked world our beloved church is in the Omega of Apostasy. Dear brothers and sisters in the faith, many times in the Spirit of Prophecy and the Scriptures are references to the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. The evidence is now overwhelming that we are the final generation. As we look at Scripture referring to this hour of crisis, we are told of the awesome events.

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” II Timothy 3:1–4.

This is a picture of the confusion that exists in our world—every television news broadcast and every headline of newspapers reveal the fulfillment of these Scriptures. There is confusion in the political world. There is also confusion in the financial world. We have seen some of the great leading institutions go bankrupt, and the government is doing everything it can to put business operations on a better foundation again.

“We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude.

“The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 11.

“There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis. If men would give more heed to the teaching of God’s word, they would find a solution of the problems that perplex them.” Ibid., 13.

As we look at the financial picture of our world, the 2 million foreclosures of homes and businesses is shocking. People are losing their homes and losing their jobs. The American dollar was the leading of all our monetary systems of the world, but today, some nations are refusing to accept dollars in the monetary exchanges.

Money Depreciates Suddenly

Money will soon depreciate in value very suddenly when the reality of eternal scenes opens to the senses of man.

“God will have men who will venture anything and everything to save souls. Those who will not move until they can see every step of the way clearly before them will not be of advantage at this time to forward the truth of God.” Evangelism, 62, 63.

God’s Final Warning To The World And The Seventh-day Remnant Church Of God

“God cannot forbear much longer. Already His judgments are beginning to fall on some places, and soon His signal displeasure will be felt in other places.

“There will be a series of events revealing that God is master of the situation. The truth will be proclaimed in clear, unmistakable language. As a people we must prepare the way of the Lord under the overruling guidance of the Holy Spirit. The gospel is to be given in its purity. The stream of living water is to deepen and widen in its course. In all fields, nigh and afar off, men will be called from the plow and from the more common commercial business vocations that largely occupy the mind, and will be educated in connection with men of experience. As they learn to labor effectively they will proclaim the truth with power. Through most wonderful workings of divine providence, mountains of difficulty will be removed and cast into the sea. The message that means so much to the dwellers upon the earth will be heard and understood. Men will know what is truth. Onward and still onward the work will advance until the whole earth shall have been warned, and then shall the end come.

“A Present-Day Work—More and more, as the days go by, it is becoming apparent that God’s judgments are in the world. In fire and flood and earthquake He is warning the inhabitants of this earth of His near approach. The time is nearing when the great crisis in the history of the world will have come, when every movement in the government of God will be watched with intense interest and inexpressible apprehension. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire and flood and earthquake, with war and bloodshed.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 96–97.

September 11, 2001—the world was awakened in that great tragedy. That great tragedy has changed the living; it changed the business world and complicated travel. We were reminded that we are living in a very dangerous time.

The curtain is now going up on the last act of the drama of the ages. “The world is a theater; the actors, its inhabitants, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. With the great masses of mankind there is no unity, except as men confederate to accomplish their selfish purposes. God is looking on. His purposes in regard to His rebellious subjects will be fulfilled.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 27.

What is the responsibility of the Seventh-day Adventist people and their leaders and pastors in this final world crisis? The Seventh-day Adventist Church was raised up by God soon after 1844 to do a special work.

The Law Of God

We were ordained by God to present to the world the law of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice, the Sanctuary message, the Three Angels’ Messages, the 2,300–day prophecy, the Seventh-day Sabbath, and the state of the dead, which separates us from the Protestant churches. The gift of prophecy was restored to the Seventh-day Adventist people soon after 1844.

The True Gospel Of Jesus Christ

The real gospel of Jesus Christ is portrayed in the following inspired words: “The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 415, 416.

So we see that the true gospel of Jesus Christ is to reveal His love, His holy law and justice. The true gospel of Jesus is power in the life to be a perfect overcomer; not by what we do, but what we want and let God do in us. This true gospel of Jesus gives men, women, and children the understanding of victory over sin by the power of the Holy Spirit. Any gospel that does not reveal the love of God in daily living is a false gospel.

The Purified Heart From Sin Creates Obedience To All Known Truth

“To the heart that has become purified, all is changed. Transformation of character is the testimony to the world of an indwelling Christ. The Spirit of God produces a new life in the soul, bringing the thoughts and desires into obedience to the will of Christ; and the inward man is renewed in the image of God. Weak and erring men and women show to the world that the redeeming power of grace can cause the faulty character to develop into symmetry and abundant fruitfulness.” Lift Him Up, 286.

“The Christian’s life is not a modification or improvement of the old, but a transformation of nature. There is a death to self and sin, and a new life altogether. This change can be brought about only by the effectual working of the Holy Spirit.” The Desire of Ages, 172.

We Can Be Perfect Overcomers Here

“The warfare against self is the greatest battle that was ever fought. The yielding of self, surrendering all to the will of God and being clothed with humility, possessing that love that is pure, peaceable, and easy to be entreated, full of gentleness and good fruits, is not an easy attainment. And yet it is his privilege and his duty to be a perfect overcomer here. The soul must submit to God before it can be renewed in knowledge and true holiness. The holy life and character of Christ is a faithful example.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 106, 107.

“We can overcome. Yes; fully, entirely. Jesus died to make a way of escape for us, that we might overcome every evil temper, every sin, every temptation, and sit down at last with Him.” Ibid., vol. 1, 144.

Every Seventh-day Adventist is to be an ambassador for Christ, revealing how God has transformed us by the renewing of our minds.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1,2.

Walking With Jesus Is Abiding In Christ

“Walk continually in the light of God. Meditate day and night upon His character. Then you will see His beauty and rejoice in His goodness. Your heart will glow with a sense of His love. You will be uplifted as if borne by everlasting arms. With the power and light that God imparts, you can comprehend more and accomplish more than you ever before deemed possible.” The Ministry of Healing, 514.

Abiding in Christ is walking with Christ and revealing the character of Christ in every thought, word, and action by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” John 15:4–8.

“Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” I John 3:6–9.

When we abide in Christ, we have the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us from sinning. Those who will not yield their will, thoughts, and mind to God cannot abide in Christ. Therefore, they cannot be overcomers in Christ; they cannot be saved in God’s kingdom. According to the sixth verse of John fifteen, those who will not yield their mind and will to God will end up in the lake of fire. Only those who abide in Christ, walking with Him in this sin-cursed world as overcomers, will walk with Jesus in life eternal.

Dear friends, we have talked about the coming of the Lord and the final events that will lead us into the time of trouble; it is now before us.

God’ Last Call To His Remnant People In This Remnant Of Time

“ ‘The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the Lord: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy: for He shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.’ Zephaniah 1:2, 3, 8–18.” Testimonies, vol. 9, 94, 95.

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Romans 13:11, 12.

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)” II Corinthians 6:2.

Dear friends, let us remember what Jesus said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14.

And again, our prophet, Ellen White, wrote:

“To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few—this will be our test.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 136.

Only a few are to be chosen. Who are they?—The loyal, true, and obedient to the law of God; keeping the Sabbath fully; revealing the character of Christ in daily living.

“The Holy Spirit never leaves unassisted the soul who is looking unto Jesus. He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto him. If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image.” The Desire of Ages, 302.

Let us remember that the only treasure we take from this world to the next is our character.

“A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. … To everyone engaged in this work Christ says, I am at your right hand to help you.

“As the will of man co-operates with the will of God, it becomes omnipotent.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 332, 333.

Perfect Obedience Is Possible And Mandated By God

“By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.” Ibid., 312.

Elder Ron Spear served as field secretary for the Review and Herald, working at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In the early 1980s, Ron Spear felt impressed that God was calling him to begin publishing a magazine that would feature the fundamental truths of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He has been and continues to be a leader in holding up the banner of Christ to help prepare a people for the soon coming of Jesus. He can be contacted by email at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.