Issue: 2014 April

Inspiration – Camp Meetings

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The last evening we enjoyed upon the Nora campground, the Lord blessed me with unusual freedom in speaking to the people, of the necessity of having Jesus in their company as they returned to their homes. I spoke of the importance of coming to such meetings with a mind to work for their own salvation, and that of others. They should have the object before them of earnestly seeking for a deeper work of grace, and a more thorough knowledge of the truth, that they may “be ready always, to give an answer to every man that asketh, a reason of the hope that is in them, with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience, that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ” (I Peter 3:15, 16). “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good. And an evil man, out of the evil treasure of his heart, bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).

There can be no influence so detrimental to a camp meeting, or any gathering for religious worship, as much visiting and careless conversation. Frequently men and women assemble in companies, and engage in conversation upon common subjects; which do not relate to the meeting. Some have brought their farms with them, and others their houses, laying their plans for building. Some are dissecting the characters of others, and have no time or disposition to search their own hearts, to discover the defects in their own characters, that they may correct their wrongs, and perfect holiness in the fear of God. If all who profess to be followers of Christ would improve the time out of meeting in conversing upon the truth, and dwelling upon the Christian’s hope, and in searching their own hearts, and in earnest prayer before God, pleading for His blessing, there would be a much greater work accomplished than we have yet seen. Unbelievers, who falsely accuse those who believe the truth, would be convinced, because “of their good conversation in Christ.” The words and actions are the fruit which we bear; “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:20).

God gave direction to the Israelites to assemble before Him in the place which He should choose, and observe special days, at set periods, wherein no unnecessary work was to be done; but the time was to be devoted to a consideration of the blessings of God bestowed upon them. At these special seasons they were to bring gifts, free-will offerings, and thank-offerings, unto the Lord, according as the Lord had blessed them. They were directed to rejoice—the man-servant and maid-servant, the stranger, the fatherless and widow—that God had by His own wonderful power brought them from servile bondage to the enjoyment of freedom. And they were commanded not to appear before the Lord empty. They were to bring tokens of their gratitude to God for His continual mercies and blessings bestowed upon them. These offerings were varied, according to the estimate which the donors placed upon the blessings they were privileged to enjoy. Thus the characters of the people were plainly developed. Those who placed a high value upon the blessings God bestowed upon them, brought offerings in accordance with their appreciation of His blessings. Those whose moral powers were stupefied and benumbed by selfishness and idolatrous love of the favors received, rather than of fervent love of their bountiful Benefactor, brought meager offerings. Thus their hearts were revealed. Besides these special religious feast-days of gladness and rejoicing, the yearly passover was to be commemorated by the Jewish nation. The Lord covenanted that if they were faithful in the observance of His requirements, He would bless them in all their increase, and in all the works of their hands.

God requires no less of His people in these last days, in sacrifices and offerings, than he did of the Jewish nation. Those whom God has blessed with a competency, also the widow and the fatherless, should not be unmindful of His blessings. Especially should those whom God has prospered render to God the things that are God’s. They should appear before Him with a spirit of self-sacrifice, and bring their offerings in accordance with the blessings God has bestowed upon them. But many whom God prospers manifest base ingratitude to Him. If His blessings rest upon them, and He increases their substance, they make these bounties as cords to bind them to the love of their possessions, and they allow worldly business to take possession of their affections, and their entire being, and neglect devotion and religious privileges. They cannot afford to leave their business cares, and come before God, even once a year. They turn the blessings of God into a curse. They serve their own temporal interests, at the neglect of God’s requirements.

Men, with their thousands, remain at home, year after year, engrossed in their worldly cares and interests, and feel that they cannot afford to make the small sacrifice of attending the yearly gatherings to worship God. He has blessed them in basket and in store, and surrounded them with His benefits on the right hand and on the left, yet they withhold from God the small offerings He has required of them. They love to serve themselves. Their souls will be like the unrefreshed desert without the dew or rain of heaven. The Lord has brought to them the precious blessing of His grace. He has delivered them from the slavery of sin, and the bondage of error, and has opened to their darkened understandings the glorious light of present truth. And shall these evidences of God’s love and mercy call forth no gratitude in return? Will those who profess to believe that the end of all things is at hand be blind to their own spiritual interest, and live for this world, and this life alone? Do they expect their eternal interest will take care of itself? Spiritual strength will not come without an effort on their part.

Many who profess to be looking for the appearing of our Lord are anxious, burdened, gain-seekers for this world. They are blind to their eternal interest. They labor for that which satisfieth not. They spend their money for that which is not bread. They strive to content themselves with the treasures they have laid up upon the earth, which must perish. And they neglect the preparation for eternity, which should be the first and only real work of their life.

Let us all who possibly can, attend these yearly gatherings. All should feel that God requires this of them. If they do not avail themselves of the privileges God has provided for them to become strong in Him, and in the power of His grace, they will grow weaker and weaker, and have less and less desire to consecrate all to God. Come, brethren and sisters, to these sacred convocation meetings, to find Jesus. He will come up to the feast. He will be present, and He will do for you that which you need most to have done. Your farms should not be considered of greater value than the higher interests of the soul. All the treasures you possess, be they ever so valuable, would not be rich enough to buy you peace and hope, which would be infinite gain, if it cost you all you have, and the toils and sufferings of a life-time. To have a strong, clear sense of eternal things, and a heart of willing obedience to yield all to Christ, are blessings of more value than all the riches, and pleasures, and glories of this world.

These camp meetings are of importance. They cost something. The servants of God are wearing out their lives to help the people, while many of them appear as if they did not want help. For fear of losing a little of this world’s gain, some let these precious privileges come and go, as though they were of but little importance. Let all who profess to believe the truth, respect every privilege that God offers them to obtain clearer views of His truth, and His requirements, and the necessary preparation for His coming. A calm, cheerful and obedient trust in God is what He requires.

You need not weary yourselves with busy anxieties and needless cares. Work on for the day, faithfully doing the work which God’s providence assigns you, and He will have a care for you. Jesus will deepen and widen your blessings. You must make efforts if you have salvation at last. Come to these meetings prepared to work. Leave your home cares, and come to find Jesus, and He will be found of you. Come with your offerings as God has blessed you. Show your gratitude to your Creator, the giver of all your benefits, by a free-will offering. Let none who are able come empty-handed. “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house, and prove Me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10).

The Review and Herald, August 2, 1870.

Keys to the Storehouse – Come and See

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Right now we have the opportunity to choose which kingdom we would prefer to occupy our lives. We know that the apostles were attracted to Jesus and had their minds on Him when they said, “Rabbi, … where dwellest Thou?” John 1:38.

“Moved by an irresistible impulse, they followed Jesus—anxious to speak with Him, yet awed and silent, lost in the overwhelming significance of the thought, ‘Is this the Messiah?’ …

“Of one purpose only were they conscious. One presence filled their thought. They exclaimed, ‘Rabbi … where dwellest Thou?’ In a brief interview by the wayside they could not receive that for which they longed. They desired to be alone with Jesus, to sit at His feet, and hear His words. …

“He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day.” The Desire of Ages, 138, 139.

Does your heart burn within you with a longing you cannot explain when you repeat the words, “Rabbi, where dwellest Thou?” Asking that question, the apostles’ hearts longed to be totally connected with Him. The Holy Spirit was the source of that longing that drew their hearts to Jesus.

They desired to be alone with Him, to sit at His feet and soak in His words. Is that your desire? There was joy in the heart of the divine Teacher as these souls responded to His grace. The invitation is still open today. Come and sit at His feet and listen to His words and you, too, can bring joy to His heart by responding to the drawing of His Holy Spirit.

Jesus longs to establish in your heart the kingdom of righteousness and peace as He did in the hearts of His disciples. Many refused Him when He walked this earth, but those who did accept the invitation received righteousness and peace in their hearts through their time of trouble. Will you respond to the Holy Spirit’s call to “ come and see ”? Do not close the door to the call of One who seeks to establish in your heart His kingdom of righteousness and peace. With whom you desire to sit alone and spend time reflects which kingdom you seek—the kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of this world.

Father: Put into my heart the words “Rabbi, where dwellest Thou?” Open my spiritual ears that I might hear the call “ come and see ” and give me grace to respond to the drawing of the Holy Spirit that I may desire to sit at the feet of Jesus and to hear His words. You have promised that if I delight myself in Thee, You will give me the desires of my heart (Psalm 37:4) and I claim that promise right now. Amen.

Current Events – Pope and Cope exchange Hope for Catholic/Charismatic Union

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Pope Francis has now sent a video message to Word of Faith father Kenneth Copeland, urging reconciliation between Catholics and Charismatics.

“The Catholic and Charismatic renewal is the hope of the church,” exclaims Anglican Episcopal Bishop Tony Palmer, before a group of cheering followers at the Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Palmer said those words are from the Vatican. Before playing the video message from Pope Francis to Kenneth Copeland, Palmer told the crowd, “When my wife saw that she could be Catholic, and Charismatic, and Evangelical, and Pentecostal, and it was absolutely accepted in the Catholic Church, she said that she would like to reconnect her roots with the Catholic culture. So she did.”

The crowd cheered as he continued, “Brothers and sisters, Luther’s protest is over. Is yours?”

Kenneth Copeland noted the incredible nature of this development: Said Copeland, “Heaven is thrilled over this. … You know what is so thrilling to me? When we went into the ministry 47 years ago, this was impossible.”

The evangelicals to whom the message from Pope Francis was addressed received it with open arms.

Bishop Tony Palmer apparently has a personal relationship with the pope and is being sent as his envoy. He serves as a mediator in that he is an Anglican with his own ministry that is specifically focused on bringing unity to the churches. He is making the rounds to bring different denominations together.

Palmer says he understands that the spirit of Elijah is the spirit of reconciliation to turn hearts of the sons to the father and to each other. He very skillfully breaks down the distinctions between Protestants and Catholics.

It is crucial that all true Protestants understand the reasons for the protestant movement and the role of the Roman Catholic Church in Bible prophecy.

You can watch the presentation of Tony Palmer and the message from the pope at the following website: http://standupforthetruth.com/2014/02/pope-to-copeland-catholics-and-charismatics-must-spiritually-unite/

Watch Doug Batchelor’s commentary on the pope’s message at: http://youtu.be/IsF2q-8ez08

Please note that Steps to Life does not endorsed either of these commentaries. We simply wish for you to be aware of current events in the fulfillment of prophecy.

Inspired:

“Romanism is now regarded by Protestants with far greater favor than in former years. In those countries where Catholicism is not in the ascendancy, and the papists are taking a conciliatory course in order to gain influence, there is an increasing indifference concerning the doctrines that separate the reformed churches from the papal hierarchy; the opinion is gaining ground that, after all, we do not differ so widely upon vital points as has been supposed, and that a little concession on our part will bring us into a better understanding with Rome. The time was when Protestants placed a high value upon the liberty of conscience which had been so dearly purchased. They taught their children to abhor popery and held that to seek harmony with Rome would be disloyalty to God. But how widely different are the sentiments now expressed!” The Great Controversy, 563.

Living a Victorious Life

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Many try to live the life of a Christian, desiring to serve God in every way. At the same time, we must face the reality that many have become discouraged at their continual failure. Maybe you are just drifting along in this Christian life, thinking that there is no hope of living like Jesus. But I want to tell you the good news; there is hope! This hope has already been given to us in the word of God.

We have been told: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48. This is the utmost challenge. How in the world can I be as perfect as the Father of Jesus? It is impossible, so why expect this? There are some Bible examples of Christian perfection. There are those who have walked through our same experiences and have succeeded, after coming to Jesus, and live a sanctified life. There are stories of others who have fallen and later repented of their sins that are encouraging examples of victory.

The first righteous man the Bible mentions is Enoch. It is recorded, “And Enoch walked with God; and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24. What did he do right? He walked with God. That sounds very simple. The apostle Paul adds a little more information and explains that it was “by faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death.” Hebrews 11:5. Enoch walked with God by faith. His faith was in the promise of the Redeemer Who would come. Because he had this hope, he lived by faith. It continues: “… and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” He not only walked with God, but he pleased God. All that God required was for him to walk with Him. This is so simple, yet it is so hard for people to grasp the concept and allow this beautiful truth to sink into their hearts. Praise God for His patience!

Another example of an excellent person who walked with God and who is a favorite Bible character with many people is Joseph. Joseph was raised in a God-fearing family. It was not perfect, like all of our families, but he grew up fearing God. He was the favorite of his father, Jacob, which unfairly provoked so many relationships that were not conducive to harmony in the family. The ensuing jealousy of his brethren was the cause of him being sold to the Ishmaelites, which landed him as a slave in Egypt. For many years Joseph’s life was not one to be envied however, God had His hand over Joseph for a special purpose and there were many experiences he went through that prepared him for this work. We also can learn from the experiences of Joseph. He was a very attractive young man, and Potipher’s wife attempted on a number of occasions to lure him into an illicit relationship. But Joseph walked with God and repelled her advances saying, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” Genesis 39:9. Joseph’s refusal to sin and the consequent accusations against him caused him to be thrown into prison. “But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” Verse 21. Mortal eyes could not yet see God’s big plan for Joseph’s life, but God had His hand over Joseph and was in control of every event affecting him. Joseph’s faith did not falter, and while in prison he shared his faith to his captive audience.

To have victory over our own sinful nature we must walk with God continually. We must have Him with us even as we go to the grocery store and allow Him to direct us in what items we purchase to put into our bodies to keep us healthy, giving the enemy no room to distract us.

The story told of the three worthies while captive in Babylon is one that parallels well with the time in which we live today. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were among the princes that were taken captive and given the new names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, of which we are more familiar. There are several points in this account that are very important to understand. Daniel 3:8–10 says, “Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews. They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever. Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image.” Nebuchadnezzar felt so proud and honored to have an image of his own interpretation of the dream God had given him. Considering himself a god in his high position, like Satan, he craved the worship of all the people.

Continuing their accusation: “And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, ‘Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?’ ” Verses 11–15.

There is a movement today happening around the world, particularly in Europe, pushing for a day off each week, apparently to be set-aside for the family. Bible students know what is behind this push, which of course is Sunday and will be the spurious Sabbath that all will be required to acknowledge. It is hidden behind the guise of a necessity for the family, which would absolutely be a benefit.

At first, Nebuchadnezzar looks like a nice guy, a patient king. He offers a second chance and an opportunity for them to change their minds. He basically said, You can save your skins if you just bow down! But then followed the awful declaration in which he was really challenging the God of heaven, the God of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. His declaration was similar to Pharaoh’s when he said to Moses, “Who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.” Verses 16, 17. What a statement of faith! They knew their God, that He would not be mocked.

We can identify with these men as we make spiritual preparation for the Sunday law that we know is coming. We must determine in our minds not to worship the image that will be set up and be prepared to tell the authorities that our God, Whom we serve, is able to deliver us out of any punishment that is devised for those who refuse to conform to this law. That is all fine, but …!

What if God doesn’t deliver you? What if God has assigned that you and I be martyrs for His honor and glory? Those faithful men fearlessly standing before the king of the greatest nation on the earth at that time said, “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.” Nobody dared to challenge the king as they did. So, he “… commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated. And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?” Verses 18–24. Suddenly God opened this king’s eyes and he saw what you and I today don’t physically see while we walk with God, the presence of Jesus safeguarding His loved ones.

“They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Verses 24, 25. That is one reason why they were able to answer the king and say, “No,” and even if he was going to take their lives, they said, “We’re not going to obey you anyway.” They were confident in their individual relationship with their God, they were in His presence; they walked with Him.

The only reason we sin and fall into the traps that Satan has set for us is because we lose the awareness that God is with us. When we forget or neglect our morning devotions, we walk away from Him and miss His guidance. The day never goes well without His companionship.

The story continues in verses 26 and 27, “Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.” What an encouragement is this story from past times; we cannot thank God enough for giving us this story of faith.

The Bible is full of stories of faithfulness. In John 1:47, it says, “Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to Him, and said to him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile!” Nathaniel, a person that walked with God, and Jesus declared him to be righteous, an Israelite in whom there is no guile.

Our greatest example of faithfulness is our Saviour, Jesus Christ. “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:14, 15.

Was He tempted beyond our human capability? Absolutely not! In this one sense, I have to clarify, but He was tempted in everything that we humans could be tempted. I do believe He was tempted even more, because for Him, being part of the Godhead, and knowingly, that He could not yield His power so He could be our example. He could have called a legion of angels to come and save Him, but He would have ruined His example for us and broken the agreement He had with the Father. In that sense, He was harassed even harder by the enemy. In Philippians 2:5, Paul tells us to “let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” The battle we fight is in the mind, and all power is given to us to win this war by having the mind of Christ.

Jesus, “Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in the fashion of a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Verses 6–8. As a man He became obedient unto death. Are you ready to die, to die for your faith? We need the fullness of God in us.

In I Peter 2:21–25, it reads, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.” How can I follow the example of Somebody that has more power than I and “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth. Who when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” Jesus committed Himself to His Father Who was the source of His power. “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”

“For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:16–18.

Jesus went through suffering and temptations and He succeeded, by the power of His Father. We are living in the time of the end, and we want to be part of that group who sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. “And I looked, and lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.” Revelation 14:1. That name describes their character, the character of God, their Father. That name is engraved in every cell and in every feeling. It influences everything they do.

“These are they which were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Verses 4, 5. In Jesus there was not found any guile, neither was there in the three Hebrews who were tossed into the fiery furnace. God says, in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Never are we asked to do anything without being given power to accomplish the task.

An instruction manual for righteousness has been given to man, the Bible. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished into all good works.” II Timothy 3:16, 17. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” I Corinthians 12:28. Our ignorance is without excuse.

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 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.” John 15:1–4. The key word is abide. The word abide came from the word abode, which is dwelling, a house.

If we are attached to the vine, we will produce fruit. To increase fruit production the branches must be pruned. Ever so lovingly He prunes away our bad habits, all the time giving us grace so we don’t get discouraged. We may not notice the changes in our own lives, but others will see the evidence when patience is displayed instead of the past quick temper. Paul identifies these fruits in Galatians 5:22, 23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Do these attributes describe you?

“Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for His seed remaineth in him.” I John 3:9. That sounds very simple. Looking at the parable in Luke 8:11, we see that the seed is the word of God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” John 1:1, 2. Paul said, “Knowing this that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:6, 7. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20.

God certainly understands human nature but makes no excuse for sin when He has provided a remedy in abundance. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take need lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.” I Corinthians 10:12–14. One of our biggest idols is self – my needs, my wants, my own opinion and my own comfort – the importance of me!

“Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13. How many blessings are missed that can never be recovered because we don’t take the time to “be still, and know that I [God] am God.” Psalm 46:10.

There is a promise found in I John 3:5: “And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin.” God is able to keep us from falling through Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:21 tells us, “And she shall bring forth a Son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.”

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:1. This is so encouraging, for if we do fall we can raise a hand and call out as did Peter when he took his eyes off Jesus and sunk into the water, “Lord, save me!”

“But when he [Peter] saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” Matthew 14:30. Immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him. Paul spoke of this great mystery: “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but is made manifest to His saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:26, 27.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. Surround yourself with the things of God and don’t give the devil any ground. Jesus has shown the way, and His word overflows with counsel how to live a righteous life – walk with Jesus! He is coming soon to take His children home. “Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputed not iniquity, and is whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalm 32:2. Let this be our prayer!

Harold Cortes serves as the pastor for 7th Day Sabbath Church in Colton, California. He has a wife and two children. Brother Cortes grew up in the Seventh-day Adventist faith in Colombia, South America and received his medical degree in Mexico. After coming to the United States he obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, and it was there that he received the call from the Lord to become a pastor and has been serving the church in Colton since 1977.

Useless … Unless Broken

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“And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Matthew 21:44

To illustrate the truth of this text, we are going to study a little from the life of Judas; Judas, a man whose very name invokes loathing and antipathy with just a passing mention. A man that, rather than fall on the Rock and be broken, had the Rock fall on him and was ground to powder. But, do you know that Judas loved Jesus? Did you know that in Jesus’ teaching Judas recognized a superiority to all other teachings he had heard? Did you know that he desired to be with Jesus and to be changed by him? Did you know that Judas hoped, by connecting himself with Jesus, that he could experience this change of heart? If these things are true, and we will discover from Inspiration that they are, what went wrong, terribly, irrevocably, and eternally wrong? We are going to look at The Desire of Ages, to assist us in answering these questions. In finding answers to these questions, consider seriously this tragic account and learn a lesson through this sad history, such that we choose a different course and be spared the dreadful end that befell Judas on account of his choices.

In The Desire of Ages, beginning with page 716, it says, “The history of Judas presents the sad ending of a life that might have been honored of God. Had Judas died before his last journey to Jerusalem he would have been regarded as a man worthy of a place among the twelve, and one who would be greatly missed.” Judas was loved. He was respected. He led an outwardly exemplary life. He looked good. He had wonderful talents and characteristics. He did not appear the demon we often picture him in our minds. He had compassion on the poor and on the suffering. He worked miracles. However, because of these outward characteristics, the reality of his character was not seen. “The abhorrence which has followed him through the centuries would not have existed but for the attributes revealed at the close of his history. But it was for a purpose that his character was laid open to the world. It was to be a warning to all who, like him, should betray sacred trusts.” Ibid. So God had a very powerful purpose in preserving this sad narrative. Let’s pay close attention that God’s purpose of instruction for us may not be in vain.

We join the story shortly before Passover. Judas had already covenanted to betray the Saviour. “A little before the Passover, Judas had renewed his contract with the priests to deliver Jesus into their hands. Then it was arranged that the Saviour should be taken at one of His resorts for meditation and prayer. Since the feast at the house of Simon, Judas had had opportunity to reflect upon the deed which he had covenanted to perform, but his purpose was unchanged. For thirty pieces of silver—the price of a slave—he sold the Lord of glory to ignominy and death.” Ibid. By the way, Simon, the host of that feast, was also Simon the leper, healed by Jesus, rescued from a horrendous disease and a terrible death, and from the loathing and banishment from society. He was restored, by Jesus, to his family, his friends, to health, to respectability, and … to his son Judas. Yes, it seems that Judas the betrayer was the son of Simon the leper. Yet it was this Healer, this benefactor that Judas had already covenanted to betray.

We wonder, stunned, how could he have done this wicked and dastardly deed? But dear friends, before we become too smug, too self-assured, and before we continue our lesson, I would like to share one sentence for your consideration and thought. It is taken from The Acts of the Apostles, 312, and is a very powerful, yet frightening statement. And in this one sentence we see the root cause of Judas’ demise. If we are honest with ourselves, this sentence will cause us some earnest heart searching. It says, “One sin cherished is sufficient to work degradation of character.” Is there any sin that you cherish or hang on to? “One sin cherished is sufficient to work degradation of character.” And my friends, the result will be every bit as dreadful as was the result for Judas. But this degradation does not happen all at once. Consider this, also from The Desire of Ages.

“Judas had naturally a strong love for money; but he had not always been corrupt enough to do such a deed as this. He had fostered the evil spirit of avarice until it had become the ruling motive of his life. The love of mammon overbalanced his love for Christ. Through becoming the slave of one vice he gave himself to Satan, to be driven to any lengths in sin.” The Desire of Ages, 716.

One vice is all it took. One vice first allowed to be retained, then fostered, then cherished places us under the control of Satan to “be driven [by him] to any lengths in sin.”

But as we just saw, Judas had not always been corrupt enough to betray His Lord. We read, “Judas had joined the disciples when multitudes were following Christ. The Saviour’s teaching moved their hearts as they hung entranced upon His words, spoken in the synagogue, by the seaside, upon the mount. Judas saw the sick, the lame, the blind, flock to Jesus from the towns and cities. He saw the dying laid at His feet. He witnessed the Saviour’s mighty works in healing the sick, casting out devils, and raising the dead. He felt in his own person the evidence of Christ’s power. He recognized the teaching of Christ as superior to all that he had ever heard. He loved the Great Teacher, and desired to be with Him. He felt a desire to be changed in character and life, and he hoped to experience this through connecting himself with Jesus.” Ibid., 716, 717.

Let’s review what we have learned so far. This to me is astonishing.

  1. He felt in his own person the evidence of Christ’s power.
  2. He recognized the teaching of Christ as superior to all he had ever heard.
  3. He loved Jesus.
  4. He desired to be with Him.
  5. He felt a desire to be changed in character and life.
  6. He hoped to experience this through connecting himself with Jesus.

Does this not sound like a converted man? Or at the very least, he was in the process of being converted? So what happened? What changed this process and caused his downfall?

“The Saviour did not repulse Judas. He gave him a place among the twelve. He trusted him to do the work of an evangelist. He endowed him with power to heal the sick and to cast out devils. But (and here is the crux of the issue) Judas did not come to the point of surrendering himself fully to Christ. He did not give up his worldly ambition or his love of money. While he accepted the position of a minister of Christ, he did not bring himself under the divine molding.” [Emphasis added.] Ibid., 717.

Oh, if we are to avoid the same dreadful fate as that of Judas, we must surrender fully to Christ. Do you understand the seriousness of this? “One sin cherished …” Is there a sin that plagues you, a sin that may be in your heart of hearts, though you may not consciously recognize the fact, is there a sin that you just can’t quite surrender to God? Well, if that is the case in any of our lives, we had better listen very carefully to what follows or we will end up like Judas. Because as we continue, we find that it was this lack of complete surrender that led Judas to betray His Lord. And that same result will also be ours if we follow the path, the choice of Judas. The next few paragraphs detail the characteristics Judas either retained or acquired because of his lack of a full surrender. These characteristics were directly opposite of those wonderful characteristics we just read about that were in him. Because of his lack of full surrender Judas

  1. Had a high opinion of his own qualifications
  2. Looked upon his brethren as greatly inferior to him in judgment and ability
  3. Regarded himself as an honor to the cause
  4. Was blinded to his own weakness of character
  5. Indulged his covetous disposition
  6. His heart was open to unbelief (note: was he in unbelief? No, his heart was simply open to unbelief)
  7. He was questioning if there might be some other reason for Jesus’ power and miracles
  8. He was afraid his own hopes and ambitions would be disappointed

Going back to The Acts of the Apostles, to the quote we previously read, the beginning of the paragraph reads, “In the epistle to the Hebrews is pointed out the single-hearted purpose that should characterize the Christian’s race for eternal life: ‘Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:1, 2). Envy, malice, evil thinking, evil speaking, covetousness—[are these not the very characteristics that Judas chose to retain?] these are weights that the Christian must lay aside if he would run successfully the race for immortality. Every habit or practice that leads into sin and brings dishonor upon Christ must be put away, whatever the sacrifice. The blessing of heaven cannot attend any man in violating the eternal principles of right. One sin cherished is sufficient to work degradation of character and to mislead others.” The Acts of the Apostles, 312. Can we doubt the truth of these words?

There is a similar statement found in The Desire of Ages that says, “Any habit or practice that would lead into sin, and bring dishonor upon Christ, would better be put away, whatever the sacrifice. That which dishonors God cannot benefit the soul. The blessing of heaven cannot attend any man in violating the eternal principles of right. And one sin cherished is sufficient to work the degradation of the character, and to mislead others.” [Emphasis added.] Ibid., 439. If you read just a few more paragraphs you would see the potent truth of these words about misleading others. I would suggest you read pages 719, 720 of The Desire of Ages.

But then the quote continues, “If the foot or the hand would be cut off, or even the eye would be plucked out, to save the body from death, how much more earnest should we be to put away sin, that brings death to the soul!” The Desire of Ages, 439.

Oh my friends, Judas lost his earthly relationship with Jesus, he lost all that he had so fondly cherished of this world, the power, the position, and the prestige, and he lost the earth to come—because he did not fully surrender to Jesus.

I would like to expand on this thought with a quote from Selected Messages, Book 1, 327. “We are to surrender our hearts to God, that He may renew and sanctify us, and fit us for His heavenly court. We are not to wait for some special time, but today we are to give ourselves to Him, refusing to be the servants of sin. Do you imagine you can leave off sin a little at a time? Oh, leave the accursed thing at once! Hate the things that Christ hates, love the things that Christ loves. Has He not by His death and suffering made provision for your cleansing from sin? When we begin to realize that we are sinners, and fall on the Rock to be broken, the everlasting arms are placed about us, and we are brought close to the heart of Jesus. Then we shall be charmed with His loveliness, and disgusted with our own righteousness. We need to come close to the foot of the cross. The more we humble ourselves there, the more exalted will God’s love appear. The grace and righteousness of Christ will not avail for him who feels whole, for him who thinks he is reasonably good, who is contented with his own condition. There is no room for Christ in the heart of him who does not realize his need of divine light and aid.”

“But you say, ‘This surrender of all my idols will break my heart.’ This giving up of all for God is represented by your falling upon the Rock and being broken. Then give up all for Him; for unless you are broken, you are worthless.” Ibid., 329.

Was Judas useful to Jesus? That almost seems like a blasphemous question, but we must think carefully about these things. Ultimately, Judas enacted the most dastardly deed that could be done on this earth. He betrayed His Lord. Why, because he did not fully surrender himself to Jesus. To make a full surrender we must recognize our need. We must be broken. Did Judas consider himself in need? Did he consider himself broken? No. Therefore, was he useful to God? No, absolutely not. He was less than useful. But if he had allowed himself to be broken, to fall on the Rock, he would have been useful to Jesus.

Today, each one of us has a choice. Will we fall on the Rock and be broken? Will we become broken that we might be of use to our Lord? Or will we choose to cherish some sin, however small, and repeat the history of Judas, and reap degradation, ignominy and ruin? The choice is yours. Today my friends, whatever the sacrifice, whatever the cost, surrender fully to Jesus.

Brenda Douay is a staff member at Steps to Life. She may be contacted by email at: brendadouay@stepstolife.org.

The Most Expensive Bridge

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The Brooklyn Bridge in New York City is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. It was completed in 1883, and with a main span of 1,595 feet (486.3 m) it was the longest suspension bridge in the world from its opening until 1903, and the first steel-wire suspension bridge at a cost of $15.5 million. Twenty-seven people died during its thirteen year construction.

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, 4,200 feet (1,280.2 m) and holding the record of the longest span until 1964, is heralded as one of the top ten construction achievements of the twentieth century. It opened in 1937 at a cost of $35 million. By 1971, when the last of the construction bonds were retired, the principle as well as nearly $39 million in interest had been raised entirely from bridge tolls. The cost to construct a new Golden Gate Bridge in 2003 was estimated to be approximately $1.2 billion. One can only imagine the cost ten years later!

However, there is another bridge that is far more valuable than anything man could even hope to construct. It spans between heaven and earth, bridging the gap that has been caused by man’s sin.

The Bible says that God is love (I John 4:8). John, called the beloved disciple, wrote more about love than any of the other disciples or Bible writers. The amazing aspect of God’s love is that it does not give up. An illustration of that love is seen when God saw Adam and Eve rebel against Him by disrespecting His command to not eat of the forbidden fruit. It would have been an easy thing for God to just say, Goodbye, let Me start over! I will start again and create another couple and see if they can obey instructions. Had He done that it would not have reflected His true character. He had another plan; He was not willing to give up that easily; He would reach them in their fallen condition and demonstrate to them His love.

I remember hearing the story of a little girl who had brain cancer. After a long and painful fight, her mother was told by the doctors that there was nothing more they could do. Because of the love she had for her child, she refused to give up and determined to find another doctor to help. If that doctor had the same opinion, she would continue to search for another. Love and her unwillingness to give up spurred her on while ever there was even a slim hope that her precious child could be saved. That is the way it is with God. He could have wiped out this race and started all over, but He did not, in the hope that some could be saved. What did it cost? His only begotten Son, Jesus, the darling of heaven was sent to this earth to bridge the gap.

Jacob saw this bridge in a dream. He had tricked his brother Esau into selling him the birthright of the firstborn and had obtained the blessing, deceiving his father by covering his arms with goat’s skins and providing his father’s favorite food and pretending to be Esau.

When Esau found out he had been tricked he was so angry that he threatened to kill Jacob. Rachel, who was outside Esau’s tent and heard his threat decided to protect her favorite son from his brother’s wrath. She told Jacob that he must pack a few belongings and leave immediately. Exhausted from his flight and afraid of his brother’s retaliation, Jacob became discouraged. His mind was filled with guilt because of what he had done to both his brother and his father, and wondering how God could even accept him, he made himself a bed on the ground and taking a stone for his pillow he fell asleep.

While he slept, “He dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” Genesis 28:12. John tells us more about the ladder that linked heaven with earth on which the angels ascended and descended. “And He [Jesus] saith unto him, Verily, verily I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” John 1:51. The use of the word hereafter indicates that at one time heaven must have been closed to the earth.

Jesus is the ladder on which Jacob saw angels ascending and descending. We can call this ladder a bridge because that is the purpose of a ladder, to make it possible to reach places that are otherwise inaccessible.

Christ is the ladder that reaches heaven. He bridged the gap between heaven and earth, making heaven accessible to man. As Jesus came up out of the water after His baptism, the Bible says that heaven was opened and a voice was heard saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. A link had been made between heaven and earth. Because of God’s gift in the life of His Son, the gap between heaven and earth was closed. It is now possible to get to the other side, which, without the bridge, would be impossible. Christ will take us places that are not possible to go by ourselves. Love does not give up but finds a way!

The most important consideration we should have in life is how to get from earth to heaven. “Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man can cometh unto the Father, except through Me.” John 14:6. Jesus is the only way. Only by obeying the truth, as taught by Him, is it possible to cross over and enter the new life. Let us analyze the construction of that bridge.

Pier #1: Jesus came to this world

It was not after Adam and Eve sinned that God instituted the plan of salvation. This plan had been formulated before the foundations of this earth were laid and was ready to come into operation in case any man should sin. This plan was not an afterthought; it was something that God thought through eons ago.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. … And the Word [Christ] was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:1–3, 14. “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.” Verse 10. That is amazing!

Jesus, the Creator, comes to His own people and nobody knows Him. The fact that the One Who has power to speak things into existence actually became a human being in order to save us is beyond computation. What did that cost? “It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his innocence in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin.” The Desire of Ages, 48.

David says, “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man that Thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that Thou visitest him?” Psalm 8:3, 4. When you look at the scheme of our entire universe, our whole solar system is but an atom, and we are nothing but a drop in a bucket by comparison, but Jesus saw fit to come to this planet and save a rebellious people. It is incomprehensible!

Though the time and place of His birth had been predicted, there was no place and no one ready to receive Him. The innkeeper missed the opportunity to host the Saviour of mankind and turning away Joseph and Mary caused their precious Baby to be born in a stable amongst the animals.

God’s Son has been given to the human race (Isaiah 9:6), and He will remain our brother throughout all eternity. Jesus retains human nature forever. He returned to heaven in a glorified, human body.

Pier #2: He lived a sinless life

For a bridge to reach from earth to heaven it required One who lived without sinning—Christ. He came to this world, born of a woman, and lived a sinless life. This is so important for us today because the entire human race was under the control of Satan until love wrestled this world out of Satan’s hands. Satan is not giving up easily but Jesus has reclaimed His rightful possession; He created it, and will save all those who desire to be saved.

When Jesus asked, “Which of you convinceth Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me?” John 8:46. There was not one person who spoke up. Jesus came and lived a sinless life so that you and I, in His power, can live sinless lives. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil in us so that we don’t sin. “Whoever is born of God doth not commit sin.” I John 3:9. Christ lived in unity with His Father, Who gave Him the power to resist the devil. That same experience is available to all who believe in Him.

The mother of Genghis Khan, clan chief of the Mongolian Empire that exceeded even that of the Roman Empire, understood the strength of unity. When he was a little boy, his father was poisoned. According to Mongol culture, when the father died, the rest of the family was forsaken by the community. Kahn’s mother gathered her children together and taught the great Kahn how they could remain intact. She told him to take an arrow and break it, which he did with ease. She then handed him a bunch of arrows, which he was not able to break. That same illustration teaches us about the unity Christ had with His Father that kept Him from every temptation, enabling Him to live a sinless life.

If a microscope was put on Jesus’ life, it would not reveal one wrong thing. Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” And it says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15, 16. Christ relied fully upon His Father. He said, “I can of Mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30. Jesus said the same thing about us, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5. But Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13.

Jesus relied upon power from His Father, and the key for our success is to rely upon Christ for our power. A battle raged against the entire demonic force as this bridge was being built. It was so fierce that while bowed upon the earth praying for hours in the midst of His struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane, Christ prayed, “Let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” Matthew 26:39. The Bible says He sweat great drops of blood (Luke 22:44). There are known cases in history of this condition called hematohidrosis. The struggle was so fierce that He “resisted unto blood.” Hebrews 12:4. Whatever your struggle, look to Christ. He understands and can give you deliverance. Nothing is impossible with God; Jesus has already won the victory for us. Jesus came to this planet and lived a sinless life so you and I could. Without an example for a world of sinful, human beings, we wouldn’t be able to do it, but Jesus did it for us and led the way.

Pier #3: He died

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death.” All have sinned and are under the penalty of death. Have you ever thought of yourself as being on death row? Isaiah saw a vision of God in heaven (Isaiah 6), and while in this vision he fell down and said, “I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips.” Verse 5. He was heartbroken when he saw the purity and righteousness of God in contrast with his own character. We are all guilty and on death row, and without someone to intercede in our behalf, we are in trouble. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3 that Jesus died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

When Jesus died on the cross of Golgotha, it appeared to the ignorant that He had lost the battle, but how wrong they were. Isaiah 53 clearly describes the chronological events of Christ’s life. He came to establish a kingdom of grace that all who believe in Him could be saved.

It is the death of Jesus that draws us to Him. When we spend time at the cross it will be the central theme in our lives. It will no more matter what football team wins or what’s happening with the Grammy awards. The things held with such importance in this world will be foolishness for us. When we look to Jesus and the cross, everything else just pales into insignificance. “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.” John 3:14.

Pier #4: The Resurrection

A Christian and Muslim were discussing the attributes of their religion. The Islam man, talking about the glories of Islam, said, We still have Mohammed with us today. The Christian said, I have a God who doesn’t live in a tomb, He is in heaven, He is a living God and He conquered death.

The empty tomb sets Jesus apart from every other false god. “Jesus said to her [Martha], I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25. This gives each one of us hope. Even Paul said that if we didn’t have any hope that we would rise from the grave we would all be a bunch of miserable people (1 Corinthians 15). Jesus was prepared to carry the weight of sin and die without the assurance that His sacrifice would be enough to bridge the gulf between sinful man and a holy God. It was an act of faith. His sacrifice was accepted and He arose again.

Pier #5: The Ascension

When Jesus died on the cross, the plan of salvation was not yet over though it is a common belief by many theologians that the atonement was finished on the cross. There’s something else that Jesus needed to do. Look at Romans 4:24, 25: “But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” He paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, but He was raised again for our justification. Without the resurrection we could never be justified.

To be justified means to be forgiven. Unlike many of us who like to remind people of what they have done, Jesus Christ forgives us for our past sins and treats us as if we had never sinned. He “was raised again for our justification.”

There was a reason that He ascended. Jesus said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” John 16:7. “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, He hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” Acts 2:33. Jesus ascended on high, and was accepted by the Father, and He shed forth the power of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost.

Now there are many involved in the plan of salvation to build this bridge. We have Jesus, the Father, angels and now the Holy Spirit. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to convince the world that they are sinners and have need of a Saviour. “And when He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” John 16:8. Without the work of the Holy Spirit we would be lost.

Pier #6: Christ’s Intercession

Hebrews 8 tells us that Christ is the minister of the sanctuary in heaven. “Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25. No matter how bad we have fallen, we simply need to come to Him, and ask for help.

During the Civil War a man neglected his duty and fell asleep while on guard duty. It was a crime punishable by death. The circumstances were very interesting. The soldier had helped his friend all day in the battlefield, carrying him back wounded. The wounded man had been assigned guard duty that night but he began to come down with a fever. His friend offered to take his place, but being exhausted from the day’s activities he fell asleep while on guard.

The parents of the guilty man received a letter informing them that their son was to be executed on a certain date. The father took the letter and went to Washington, D.C. to the White House and requested to see President Lincoln. Without a pass he was refused an audience. The desperate father pled with the doorman the urgency of his request but to no avail and was pushed away from the door that closed behind him. Totally discouraged, the father went a little way and sat down under a tree where he wept bitterly. Soon a little boy came and tugged on his shirt asking, “Mister, mister, what’s wrong?” Through tears he told the little boy the story about his son who had fallen asleep and was going to be executed. The little boy said, “Well, I’ll go see President Lincoln. I’ll get in there, you watch.”

“I’ve already tried that and they pushed me out,” said the father.

“You come with me,” replied the boy. So they went together, the distraught father trailing the little boy who boldly ascended the steps and opened the White House door without even knocking. The same guard was standing right there objecting to the intrusion. “We need to see the President,” said the little boy.

“Well, I’m sorry son, but this man doesn’t have a pass and we cannot let him in,” was the stern reply.

At that, the little boy started yelling at the top of his lungs, “Pa! Pa!” President Lincoln came out from his office, looked at the little boy, Tadd, his little son, and the father was able to tell his story to President Lincoln. That very day, President Lincoln wrote a letter of pardon.

You see, that is what Jesus does for us. We are all under the death penalty, but Jesus pleads in our behalf. He wants to get us all off death row, but we must be willing to confess and forsake our sins.

Pier #7: A Home Prepared

The bridge is almost complete. Jesus is coming back, and at that time it will be finalized. We will be able to span that bridge with Jesus and go to heaven with Him. John 14:1–3 tells us that He went to prepare a place for us, and He is going to come again and take us with Him wherever He goes.

Hebrews 9:28 tells us, “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.”

During Abraham Lincoln’s presidency a little cartoon was published in the newspaper. It was a picture of the White House on top of a cliff, and at its base was a cabin. A ladder was between the two, indicating that Abraham Lincoln had gone from poverty to the White House. The caption read, “The ladder is still there.”

There is still a ladder for us to climb today. But we have to be willing to get on it and accept the pardon that is offered.

During Andrew Jackson’s administration a political enemy of his was tried and sentenced to death. President Jackson heard about this man, whom he knew well, and wrote him a letter of pardon to stay his execution.

The man was given the letter and after he read it, he said, “You can have your piece of paper, I don’t want to be pardoned.” This confused the officials who did not know what to do, so they took it to John Marshall who was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court at the time for further instruction. He read the letter over, and after he talked to the prisoner, he said, “We cannot force you or anybody to accept a letter of pardon.” Because the pardon was refused, the prisoner was taken out and shot for his crime.

Friends, don’t refuse the pardon that has been made available. It does not matter how far we have fallen, or what sin we have committed; Jesus has provided a pardon. The Bible says all manner of sin can be forgiven unto man, except the unpardonable sin against the Holy Spirit, which is the only Source provided to convict us of sin. When we respond to His calling Jesus will give us deliverance. Jesus is coming soon. When He comes it will not be to forgive sin. When He returns it will be as a conqueror, King of Kings and Lord of Lords to deliver His people. Do not neglect this great salvation and let it slip away.

Mike Bauler was ordained into the ministry in 2005 and serves as pastor of the Historic Message Church in Portland, Oregon. Prior to locating in Portland, Pastor Bauler served as a Bible worker for Steps to Life Ministries. His goal is to help give the gospel to the greater Portland area with an emphasis in helping his Bible students discover the truths in Bible prophecy, which are so often neglected today. His wife, Amanda, a family nurse practitioner, and their daughters Hannah, Esther and Abigail assist him in his ministry.

Good for Evil

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A man’s character is more clearly revealed by the manner in which he treats his enemies than by the way he treats his friends.

The divine instruction on how to treat those who are personal enemies is found in Luke 6:27, 28. Jesus said, “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” We live in a world where many people, by their feelings or actions say, “He has slugged me once, I’ll slug him twice!” But Jesus said to love them and do good to those who hate you.

The apostle Paul, writing about this same subject gave this advice: “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore, ‘If your enemy is hungery, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:17–21.

This is often hard counsel for most to apply. It is far easier to pay back. After all, don’t they deserve it? Or at least, walk away and stay out of their lives, but return good for evil—that is way too hard! This world would be a much different place than it is today if there were more people trying to follow this counsel.

There have been men in the past who have lived by this rule. Many stories in the Bible tell of men who developed the ability to refrain from avenging themselves and, in return for evil, give good. One of those men who had developed this trait in an eminent degree was the man David. David is usually remembered by many other prominent things he did during his life—as a young teenager, fighting the giant Goliath, and later in his life committing that terrible sin against one of his mighty men of valor, Uriah the Hittite, as well as other things. He is not often considered for the tremendous patience that he developed during the many years of trial and suffering he experienced while being hunted for his life because of the insane jealousy of King Saul. Many times Saul attempted to kill him. In fact, once he took several thousand people with him to chase David and his men, who numbered only a few hundred, in order that he might kill him.

Something to think about is what you would do or how you would react if the person that was trying to kill you was all of a sudden in your power and you had the opportunity to kill that person if you so desired. In the book of I Samuel 24 we find a story about this same thing. It says, “Now it happened, when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, ‘Take note! David is in the wilderness of En Gedi.’ Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats. So he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.) Then the men of David said to him, ‘This is the day of which the Lord said to you, “Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.” ’ And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, ‘The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.’ So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.” Verses 1–7.

And then here’s what happened. “David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, ‘My lord the king!’ And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down. And David said to Saul: ‘Why do you listen to the words of men who say, “Indeed David seeks your harm”? Look, this day your eyes have seen that the Lord delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, “I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the Lord’s anointed.” Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it. Let the Lord judge between you and me, and let the Lord avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.’ ” Verses 8–12.

When Saul saw the corner of his robe in David’s hand he realized that David and his men had been back in the darkness of the cave, right there where he had been sleeping. He realized that his life had been spared, that David could easily have taken a sword and killed him while he slept, but he did not do it. Saul was humbled. He realized that David had returned to him good for evil. “So it was, when David had finished speaking these words to Saul, that Saul said, ‘Is this your voice, my son David?’ And Saul lifted up his voice and wept. Then he said to David: ‘You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.’ ” Verses 16, 17.

O friend, there it is. David was being hunted. Saul was going to kill him, to take his life. David had an opportunity to take Saul’s life. How easy it is for the Lord God of heaven to switch circumstances around so that everything is up-side down and those that apparently are on the defensive and do not have the resources, those that are on the weaker side end up having the advantage. Saul, with his vast army, had the advantage against David and his small band of men, but David, when the tables turned, spared Saul’s life and proved to him that he had no intention to do him any harm. Saul left and let David go, but this was just a temporary relief and David was still afraid because of everything that Saul had done. He would not venture to put himself in the hands of Saul. After Saul left it appeared that David would be left alone for a while, but it was during this period of time that David had another interesting experience.

After the prophet Samuel died, David felt less secure than he had before. The life of Samuel had been a positive influence on the whole nation. When a leader is godly, he has an influence on the whole nation that he leads. However, when a leader is wicked, the Bible says, “The righteous take cover.” David felt less secure knowing that Saul would feel a freedom to wreak vengeance upon him without Samuel being around.

During this time while David was in the forest and in the wild country around Carmel, near the little village of Maon, there was a very wealthy man who lived there who was a descendant of Caleb. He had 3,000 sheep, 1,000 goats, and other livestock and large possessions, and of course, he had shepherds who took care of his livestock. Whenever David’s men were around where Nabal’s shepherds were, they took care of Nabal’s sheep. David was a shepherd and knew all about sheep and livestock, and he had his men take care that nothing happened to Nabal’s sheep while they were nearby.

In fact, the Bible records that the shepherds appreciated this help very much. As long as David and his men were around, they didn’t lose any stock. David heard that Nabal was shearing his sheep and thought that since they had done all of this service for him maybe he would help with some provisions, so he sent ten young men to Nabal with the following instructions:

“Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel. Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David.’ ” I Samuel 25:5–8. When David’s men went with this request to Nabal, they received a terrible response. It says, “Then Nabal answered David’s servants, and said, ‘Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master. Shall I then take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men when I do not know where they are from?’ So David’s young men turned on their heels and went back; and they came and told him all these words.” Verses 10–12.

When they told him all these things, David became indignant; in fact, he became outraged that Nabal was returning him evil for good. David was human; he had not yet learned all the lessons in patience that God’s children must learn if they are going to enter the kingdom of heaven. “Then David said to his men, ‘Every man gird on his sword.’ … And about four hundred men went with David, and two hundred stayed with the supplies.” Verse 13. There was no question as to what was going to happen to Nabal and his houshold. However, there was a person who intervened. What happened next shows how God intervenes in the lives of His children when they are about to make a terrible mistake.

One of Nabal’s servants, recognizing they were in a dangerous situation and that David could destroy the entire household in order to get what he needed, if he so chose, went and told Nabal’s wife Abigail what had happened. “Now one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal’s wife, saying, ‘Look, David sent messengers from the wilderness to greet our master; and he reviled them. But the men were very good to us, and we were not hurt, nor did we miss anything as long as we accompanied them, when we were in the fields. They were a wall to us both by night and day, all the time we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore, know and consider what you will do, for harm is determined against our master and against all his household. For he is such a scoundrel that one cannot speak to him.’ Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five sheep already dressed, five seahs of roasted grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and loaded them on donkeys. And she said to her servants, ‘Go on before me; see, I am coming after you.’ But she did not tell her husband Nabal.” Verses 14–19.

“Now when Abigail saw David, she hastened to dismount from the donkey, fell on her face before David, and bowed down to the ground. So she fell at his feet and said: ‘On me, my lord, on me let this iniquity be! And please let your maidservant speak in your ears, and hear the words of your maidservant. Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent. Now therefore, my lord, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, since the Lord has held you back from coming to bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now then, let your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be as Nabal. And now this present which your maidservant has brought to my lord, let it be given to the young men who follow my lord. Please forgive the trespass of your maidservant. For the Lord will certainly make for my lord an enduring house, because my lord fights the battles of the Lord, and evil is not found in you throughout your days.

“ ‘Yet a man has risen to pursue you and seek your life, but the life of my lord shall be bound in the bundle of the living with the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall sling out, as from the pocket of a sling. And it shall come to pass, when the Lord has done for my lord according to all the good that He has spoken concerning you, and has appointed you ruler over Israel, that this will be no grief to you, nor offense of heart to my lord, either that you have shed blood without cause, or that my lord has avenged himself. But when the Lord has dealt well with my lord, then remember your maidservant.’ ” Verses 23–31.

In this speech from Abigail is seen a man who was irritated and a woman who had wisdom to speak words that would be soothing and calm the wounded spirit. She addressed David with as much reverence as if she were speaking to a crowned monarch. She gave him kind words to soothe his irritated feelings and pled with him on behalf of her husband. We see in this woman a person who is full of wisdom and the love of God. She was what Jesus referred to as a peacemaker. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9. Abigail was full of kindness and peace and she shed upon David and his men a heavenly influence soothing their irritated feelings which prevented them from committing a rash impulse. If there were more people like Abigail, much evil in the world could be stopped. When David listened to this gentle, kind reproof, he accepted it with a humble heart. Later he wrote, “Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil.” Psalm 141:5.

David gave thanks and blessings because she had advised him righteously. He said, “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, who sent you this day to meet me! And blessed is your advice and blessed are you, because you have kept me this day from coming to bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand.” I Samuel 25:32, 33. So many people refuse to receive a rebuke well, and some, if they are reproved, and do receive the rebuke without becoming impatient, think that they have done something wonderful. But how few there are who take a rebuke with gratitude of heart and thanksgiving, blessing those who seek to save them from pursuing an evil course.

This was a second time where David showed an unusual characteristic, the ability not only to receive a rebuke but to thank the one who was rebuking him for keeping him from doing something he should not do.

The world needs more people like Abigail, more peacemakers, more people who have wisdom to soothe the feelings of those that have become irritated, to stop the evil consequences. The Bible says that the person who has love in his heart does not become irritated. (See I Corinthians 13.)

There was still another time when David demonstrated that the way a man treats his enemies reveals more clearly his character than the way he treats his friends. The Bible records that after Samuel died, Saul arose and he went into the wilderness of Zif with 3,000 men, having decided again that he was going to kill David. Remember, David had already had an opportunity to kill him in the cave and he had not done it. At that time Saul was humbled and wept saying he was sorry. But now, some time later, his jealousy and envy again got the best of him. The Bible says, “Who can stand in front of envy?” Saul decided again to go after David. David sent out spies to find out what Saul was doing. “So David arose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Now Saul lay within the camp, with the people encamped all around him.” I Samuel 26:5.

It’s interesting how easy it is for the Lord to turn upside-down the counsels of men so that the strongest are weak, and the most prudent and the wise do not have the skill that they thought they had. Saul and his army were out to kill David again. David finds out where they are and sneaks up there with his men in the dark and sees, of all things, that there were no watchmen. Even in ancient times armies had night watchmen that were supposed to watch over the army, but the whole of Saul’s army was asleep; there wasn’t anybody awake or watching. David said, “I’m going to go down there. Will one of you go with me?” And Abishai said, “Yes, I’ll go with you.”

So they went down into the camp. It says, “Then Abishai said to David, ‘God has delivered your enemy into your hand this day. Now therefore, please, let me strike him at once with the spear, right to the earth; and I will not have to strike him a second time!’ ” I Samuel 26:8. Here was the second opportunity for David, if he had wanted, to kill the one who was seeking to kill him.

It is a natural reaction to think that if you try to kill me, I’ll kill you first. Many murders have been committed because of that reasoning. Twice David had the opportunity to kill the person that was trying to kill him. “But David said to Abishai, ‘Do not destroy him; for who can stretch out his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and be guiltless?’ David said furthermore, ‘As the Lord lives, the Lord shall strike him, or his day shall come to die, or he shall go out to battle and perish. The Lord forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.’ ” Verses 9–11.

So they took the spear that was stuck in the ground right by Saul, and they took the cruse of water, the jar of water, which was right by it and they slipped out silently just as they had come. And when they got on a hill, a sufficient distance away, so that they could not easily be chased and over run, David cried out to Abner and said: “ ‘This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.’ Then Saul knew David’s voice, and said, ‘Is that your voice, my son David?’ ” Verses 16, 17. David suggests that one of Saul’s men come and fetch those things that David had taken. This time Saul was more impressed than he was the time before, saying, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more.” Verse 21. However, David knew better than to trust himself with Saul, so he left.

David, the man described as the man after God’s own heart, demonstrated the principle of “do good to those who hate you.” How is it with you? Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44. The apostle Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:21. That is the rule we must follow if we are to reflect the character of Jesus.

(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 of Free Seventh-day Adventists in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at: historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Editorial – Liberty

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Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” II Corinthians 3:17.

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13.

One of the ways to distinguish the true Christ from Antichrist is that the true Christ brings liberty but Antichrist brings bondage:

“Only by terrible struggles has the right of religious liberty been maintained. When the stake and the scaffold proved ineffectual to destroy the Reformation in Germany, popery summoned her armies, the Catholic States banded together to crush out Protestantism, and for thirty years the tempests of war swept over these now fertile plains and populous cities. At the opening of the thirty years war, in 1618, the country had reached a high state of prosperity. It is said that at that time the methods of cultivation were fully equal to those of 1818. ‘Germany was accounted a rich country. Under the influence of a long peace its towns had enlarged in size, its villages had increased in number, and its smiling fields testified to the excellence of its husbandry. The early dew of the Reformation was not yet exhaled. The sweet breath of that morning gave it a healthy moral vigor, quickened its art and industry, and filled the land with all good things. Wealth abounded in the cities, and even the country people lived in circumstances of comfort and ease.’ Since the Reformation, a school had existed in every town and village in which there was a church, and a knowledge of reading and writing was generally diffused among the people. The Bible had found its way into their houses. The hymns of Luther were sung in their churches and their homes.

“But during the terrible years that followed, all this was changed. Foreign soldiery, savage and blood-besmeared, traversed the country, marking their course by pillage, fire, and murder. The greatest imaginable horrors were so common that it was a matter of surprise when they failed to be perpetrated. At the approach of the troops, the terror-stricken people sought safety in one-fiftieth of the population remained, and there were regions left without inhabitant.

“Such was the spirit of popery in the seventeenth century, and such is her spirit today. Let Rome but gain the power, and our own favored land would witness scenes like those that covered Germany with heaps of slain, and made her harvest fields a lair for the wild beasts.” Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists (1886), 176, 177.