Keys to the Storehouse – Cute But Deadly!

I saw a chipmunk in our back yard. How cute—I thought! We put a birdfeeder out and many birds started appearing in our yard for meals. It was entertaining to see this cute little chipmunk out under the feeder, along with little birds, gathering the seeds that had fallen. The birds adjusted to the chipmunk being there without fear.

Then one afternoon I witnessed that little chipmunk carrying off a little bird to his den. What a shock! About an hour later I watched him mingle among the birds before he again attacked another little bird and carried it off! Again I was shocked! I didn’t know chipmunks ate birds! Sadly, the chipmunk mingled with the birds that felt safe around him not knowing he was their enemy. Needless to say, we trapped the chipmunk and relocated him.

Many things, like the cute little chipmunk, seem so harmless that we find ourselves mixing with them until one day we realize we are hooked! That is how the devil works—he eases himself in pretending to be friendly, then watch out!

“He [Satan] bade his angels go and lay their snares especially for those who were looking for Christ’s second appearing, and who were keeping all God’s commandments. …

“If you can make them place their affections upon these things, we have them yet. They may profess what they please, only make them care more for money than the success of Christ’s kingdom, or the spread of the truths we hate. Present the world before them in the most attractive light, that they may love and idolize it. We must keep all the means in our ranks we can. The more means they have, the more will they injure our kingdom by getting our subjects. … Cause all the distraction you can. Destroy love for each other. … Make covetousness and love of earthly treasures the ruling traits of their character. As long as these traits rule, salvation and grace stand back. Crowd all you can around them to attract them, and they will be surely ours. Not only are we sure of them, but their hateful influence will not be exercised toward others to lead them to heaven.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, 179, 180.

Does this sound familiar? Anything that causes you to give your precious hours of probation over to them may be “cute” but “deadly” and be the cause of losing eternal life unless some life choices are changed.

The innocent birds had no idea their lives would end so suddenly. Be careful to avoid the clutches of the enemy that seem so harmless.

 

Heavenly Father:  Help me to be faithful that I may be part of the earth made new where there will be no death in Your creation at all. Remove this world from my heart that I may be ready for Your kingdom. Grant me spiritual discernment that I may see where Satan has redirected my feet and/or my thoughts.  Help me to keep my thoughts on heavenly and not the temporary pleasures of this earth. Save me from the cute but deadly. Amen.

Children Story – Vera’s Victory

Vera was one of those very lively little girls—you know the kind. Full of high spirits. The kind that makes a mother tired.

That particular afternoon Vera had been a little more lively than usual, and when the time came for her to go to bed, no one was more happy than her mother.

“At last!” sighed Mother, as she went downstairs after tucking Vera into bed and kissing her goodnight. “Now, perhaps I can have a little peace.”

Mother went into the dining room, now quiet and still. Feeling very tired, she decided to lie on the sofa for a little while and take a rest. Gradually she felt herself falling asleep. Then, before her eyes were quite closed, something began to happen.

Very slowly, very softly, the dining room door began to open. A little more, and a little more.

Who could it be? thought Mother, frightened. Had a burglar gotten into the house?

Then, what do you suppose? From behind the door came a white-robed figure. Yes, it was little Vera in her nightie.

Mother did not move. Nor did she say a word. She just pretended to be asleep, and watched.

Vera tiptoed across the soft carpet over to the dining table.

Now, in the middle of the table was a large bowl of apples, oranges, and nuts. On top of all was a big bunch of grapes. Vera had been looking at this bunch of grapes all day, wishing that it might be hers. Now she reached out her hand, picked up the grapes, and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door very quietly behind her.

Of course she thought that nobody had seen her. But Mother, as usual, had seen everything. Mother always does.

But now Mother felt very sad.

“To think that my Vera, my own little girl would wait till she thought I was not looking and then creep down here to steal that bunch of grapes! Oh, what shall I do! What shall I say to her?”

Then, just as Mother was feeling very much upset, something began to happen again.

Once more the dining room door began to open—very softly, very slowly. From behind it came the same little white-robed figure. It was Vera again, still in her nightie, and still clasping the bunch of grapes tightly in her hand.

Tiptoeing over to the table, she put the bunch of grapes back in exactly the same place that she had found it. Then, in a big, loud voice, she said, “And there, Mr. Devil, that’s where you get left.”

After that she turned around and started for the door. But before she had reached it, Mother was on her feet and her arms were clasped around Vera’s neck.

“Oh, darling!” she cried. “I’m so glad you won the victory over that temptation!”

What a happy time they both had then!

I like to think of what must have happened on the stairs that evening. All the way up, the voice of the tempter had said, “Go on, Vera; grapes have a lovely taste. Take one. Nobody will ever know. It will be all right. Mother will never find out.”

At the same time another voice inside her had said, “No, don’t, Vera. That would be stealing. That would be wrong. Mother would be disappointed. Do the right thing and take those grapes back! Put them back where you found them.”

Somewhere on the stairs the victory was won. And after that everything turned out happily—as it always does when we fight temptation and win.

Every boy and girl is tempted at some time or other to do something wrong. Sometimes the temptation is very strong indeed. Sometimes you may wonder what is the right thing to do. But if you listen to that little voice that speaks within your heart, the voice of conscience, you will not make a mistake. Jesus will give you the victory, if you ask His help.

The Story Book, Character-building Stories for Children, 18–21.

“He has made it possible for every tempted son and daughter of Adam, in every time of temptation, to gain a glorious victory. He has placed the power of heaven within the reach of His children.” The Youth’s Instructor, October 3, 1901.

Pen of Inspiration – Show Us a Sign from Heaven

The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired Him that He [Jesus] would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, “When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times” (Matthew 16:2, 3)?

The sign they asked was a miracle—some wonderful token in the heavens to gratify their curiosity. Signs were frequently given by the prophets; and if He were the Messiah, they argued, He would give some evidence to prove it. Those miracles which included only the relief of human necessities, the healing of the woes of mankind, had no particular interest for them; for they looked upon suffering and distress with hard-hearted, unsympathetic indifference. In relieving the oppressed and suffering, Christ cast a reproach upon them, not only for their careless indifference toward the poor, but because they were themselves the direct cause of much of the misery that existed.

Well had the prophet declared of this people: “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the Lord hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against Me. … Israel doth not know, My people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil-doers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward. … Every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them” (Isaiah 1:2–4, 23). “Judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey” (Isaiah 59:14, 15, first part).

Christ tried to present before the Pharisees their inconsistency. By certain indications in the heavens they professed themselves wise to foretell the weather. “When it is evening,” he said, “ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather today: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” If these signs in the heavens are sufficient evidence on which to base your faith, why do you not believe the evidence given of My mission? The works that I do, they testify of Me.

The relation of the Jewish nation to God has often been presented as a marriage relation—God the husband, the nation the wife. Their separation from God by wicked works is called adultery. The Jews had been unfaithful to the covenant that God had made with them. Not only spiritually but literally they were transgressors of the law of God. Christ would work no miracle to satisfy the curiosity of the people. “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign,” He said, “and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas” (Matthew 16:4).

It was not Christ’s mission to exalt Himself as an astrologer. His work was with sinful human beings, whom He came to save from hopeless woe and misery. The angel that foretold His birth declared, “Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). And more than six hundred years before, He Himself had declared: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:1–3). This was His mission.

Even the wicked Herod could perceive the greatness of the works of Christ; but the scribes and Pharisees could not be convinced. The works which they could not explain away they charged to the agency of the devil. The Holy Spirit was sent down to bless this people, but they barred the door of their hearts against His influence. Christ well knew that however strong and uncontrovertible the evidence He might give them, they would not receive it. Therefore He kept steadily at the work which had been planned in the councils of heaven, healing the sick and relieving the oppressed. He knew that in this work He has giving [sic] ample proof of His mission to those who were honest in heart. His heart was grieved by their obstinacy and determined resistance of light and truth. “If I had not done among them the works which none other man did,” He said, “they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father” (John 15:24).

Christ was God manifest in the flesh; in Him dwelt “all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). All this glory He longed to pour upon the world, but men refused to receive it. They were given evidence upon evidence; but they bound themselves up in their stubborn unbelief and prejudice. Therefore they were without excuse.

We are to learn a lesson from the sin of this people. Today there are many who have taken their position on the side of unbelief, as if it were a virtue, the sign of a great mind, to doubt. Because the works of God can not be explained by finite minds, Satan brings his sophistry to bear upon them, and entangles them in the meshes of unbelief. If these doubting ones would come into close connection with God, He would make His purposes clear to their understanding.

The position of those who resist light is thus set forth by the apostle Paul: “If our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the eyes of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4). The operation of the Spirit is foolishness to the unrenewed heart; but to those who are humble, teachable, honest, childlike, and who desire to know the will of the Father, His word is revealed as the power of God unto salvation.

The Youth’s Instructor, March 21, 1901.

Where Do You Stand?

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking

whom he may devour.”

1 Peter 5:8

 

The above verse is a familiar one, although it is one that most Christians accept somewhat casually. Indeed, many Christians see this text and others that refer to Satan and his efforts to lead God’s people astray as maybe a bit mythological, viewing Satan’s “alleged” existence as nothing more than an idle tale or the result of pagan influence on early Christians that has survived through the ages.

One woman, who was otherwise very intelligent, became quite upset on being told that Satan was responsible for the existence of the sin and misery that prevail on this earth. Her retort was that neither Satan nor God exists. Both are creations of man that serve as excuses for the various behaviors manifested by humankind.

To believe that way, of course, one cannot believe in any inspired writing, and certainly not the Bible. Regretful though it may seem, it is often best to leave unbelievers with that mindset to stew in their own juices, which they will eventually do, unless they let the light of truth shine into their hearts. Our only hope for these deluded souls is prayer, and lots of it.

However, to those who have read and studied the matter, the existence of a formidable foe is unquestionable. We are all familiar with the Fall of man, explained so clearly in Genesis 3. Man chose to obey “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world” (Revelation 12:9), rather than his Creator. As a result, “through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin” (Romans 5:12).

But why did Satan seek to cause man, the pinnacle of God’s creation, to fall?
“Satan was once an honored angel in heaven, next to Christ. … But when God said to His Son, ‘Let us make man in our image’ (Genesis 1:26), Satan was jealous of Jesus. He wished to be consulted concerning the formation of man, and because he was not, he was filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred.” Early Writings, 145.

Satan’s envy, jealousy, and hatred led eventually to rebellion. Subtle at first and executed with the utmost skill, his efforts succeeded in convincing one third of the angels that he deserved the place held by the Son of God. His rebellion is explained clearly and beautifully in the first chapter of Patriarchs and Prophets, “Why Was Sin Permitted.” Even though he was a created being, he credited himself for his beauty, talent, and intellect and sought to be equal with his Creator. “ ‘Shall the clay say to him who forms it, “What are you making?” ’ ” (Isaiah 45:9). Satan indeed manifested such a mindset toward his Creator!

The result, of course, was war in heaven—in heaven!

“And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7–9).

An excellent summary of the conflict that brought about this war is given in this passage from Inspiration:

“Looking unto Jesus we see that it is the glory of our God to give. ‘I do nothing of Myself,’ said Christ; ‘the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father.’ ‘I seek not Mine own glory,’ but the glory of Him that sent Me (John 8:28; 6:57; 8:50; 7:18). In these words is set forth the great principle which is the law of life for the universe. All things Christ received from God, but He took to give. So in the heavenly courts, in His ministry for all created beings: through the beloved Son, the Father’s life flows out to all; through the Son it returns, in praise and joyous service, a tide of love, to the great Source of all. And thus through Christ the circuit of beneficence is complete, representing the character of the great Giver, the law of life.

“In heaven itself this law was broken. Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be first in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to win their homage to himself. Therefore he misrepresented God, attributing to Him the desire for self-exaltation. With his own evil characteristics he sought to invest the loving Creator. Thus he deceived angels. Thus he deceived men. He led them to doubt the word of God, and to distrust His goodness. Because God is a God of justice and terrible majesty, Satan caused them to look upon Him as severe and unforgiving. Thus he drew men to join him in rebellion against God, and the night of woe settled down upon the world.” The Desire of Ages, 21, 22. [Emphasis added.]

So, Satan effected the Fall of our first parents and claimed the world as his domain. Because he was not privy to the plan of creation, which included provision for the salvation of mankind should he fail to maintain his obedience to his Creator, Satan was certain that he would have complete control over the human race as long as it should last and that man was rightfully his, since he chose to obey him rather than his Creator.

“The fall of man filled all heaven with sorrow. The world that God had made was blighted with the curse of sin and inhabited by beings doomed to misery and death. There appeared no escape for those who had transgressed the law. …

“But divine love had conceived a plan whereby man might be redeemed.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 63.

It was this plan for man’s salvation, conceived when the Father and Son consulted together regarding the creation of man in their image, that Satan had no knowledge of. If he had known about it, he would have known that although he might cause man to fall, there was a plan “whereby man might be redeemed.” Though there would be some who would choose to stand under Satan’s black banner, there would be a blood-stained banner raised that would provide redemption for all who chose to stand under it.

Even with Satan’s acquired knowledge of this fact, for he has now diligently studied the Bible for thousands of years, and the Spirit of Prophecy for more than a hundred, he is determined to cause as many to fall as he possibly can, for he knows now that he does not have to bear the penalty for lost souls. They will each bear their own fate. Satan’s punishment is to bear the penalty for those who have accepted the salvation wrought by the sacrifice of the Son of God. Thus the more he can cause to stand under his black banner, the less punishment he has to bear.

So the question for Satan becomes, How can I bring about the loss of the most souls?

Unfortunately for man, Satan is not bound by the law of God. He can lie, and it is through his lies that he succeeds in persuading so many poor souls to stand in his dark shadow—although many do so unknowingly.

How many has he convinced that their dead loved ones are already in heaven? Even “religious” publications promote that error. One immensely popular “Christian” publication has in almost every issue at least one if not several stories of actions, believed to have been committed by dead relatives, that have brought comfort to their survivors. How could these survivors doubt it when a departed relative, who supposedly has previously provided some comfort in a supernatural manner, leads them to believe that God has changed His mind regarding the day of worship?

In such an instance, those who have not made the Scriptures their safeguard will be deceived by Satan and his evil coconspirators into believing two of his lies: man’s soul is immortal and the seventh day is no longer God’s Sabbath day of rest. These two lies, by the way, have been and are being promulgated by the vast majority of the Christian world today.

But between now and then, Satan is diligently at work to cause man to have no regard whatsoever for God’s law. He insinuates thoughts into our minds that, unless rejected, will lead to man’s downfall.

“There is no safety for any of us unless we trust fully in God, and take a decided stand, guarding the avenues of the will, resisting the first insinuations of Satan, rejecting his counsel to yield to questionable impulses. This requires watchfulness, perseverance, and continual adherence to the word of God under all circumstances. We are here as probationers and are deciding our own eternal destiny.” The Signs of the Times, May 15, 1893.

“Those who would not fall a prey to Satan’s devices, must guard well the avenues of the soul; they must avoid reading, seeing, or hearing that which will suggest impure thoughts. The mind must not be left to dwell at random upon every subject that the enemy of souls may suggest. The heart must be faithfully sentineled, or evils without will awaken evils within, and the soul will wander in darkness.” The Acts of the Apostles, 518.

How many are there who fail to “guard well the avenues of the soul”? How many are there who willingly entertain every evil thought that enters their mind, not realizing that Satan slaps his knee in delight because he is causing another soul to fail of reaching the divine standard? How many fail to realize that they are “deciding their own destiny” and choosing—again, many unknowingly—to stand under the black banner of error?

It is not by chance that so many of the Bible writers have cautioned truth seekers against letting the mind wander wherever it may. Paul wrote more than once about the necessity of mental discipline.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:4–6).

Isaiah and Jeremiah also cautioned their contemporaries about evil thoughts. When Isaiah fulfilled God’s instructions to him to “Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins,” he summed up their faults by concluding that “Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity” (Isaiah 58:1; 59:7).

Jeremiah reached very much the same conclusion when he told the children of Israel, “O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you” (Jeremiah 4:14)?

Inspiration tells us that “In the struggle to reach the highest standard, success or failure will depend much upon the character, and the manner in which the thoughts are disciplined.” This Day With God, 66.

“Satan can not read our thoughts, but he can see our actions, hear our words; and from his long knowledge of the human family, he can shape his temptations to take advantage of our weak points of character. And how often do we let him into the secret of how he may obtain the victory over us.” The Review and Herald, February 27, 1913.

“There are many who are really troubled because low, debasing thoughts come into the mind, and are not easily banished. Satan has his evil angels around us; and though they cannot read men’s thoughts, they closely watch their words and actions. Satan takes advantage of the weaknesses and defects of character that are thus revealed, and presses his temptations where there is the least power of resistance. He makes evil suggestions, and inspires worldly thoughts, knowing that he can thus bring the soul into condemnation and bondage.” Ibid., April 8, 1884.

“Never forget that thoughts work out actions. Repeated actions form habits, and habits form character.” The Upward Look, 89.

And character determines where we stand. It is the only thing man possesses that he will carry with him to heaven. Inspiration states, “A character formed according to the divine likeness is the only treasure that we can take from this world to the next. Those who are under the instruction of Christ in this world will take every divine attainment with them to the heavenly mansions. And in heaven we are continually to improve. How important, then, is the development of character in this life.

“The heavenly intelligences will work with the human agent who seeks with determined faith that perfection of character which will reach out to perfection in action. To everyone engaged in this work Christ says, I am at your right hand to help you.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 332.

It is Satan’s sole objective to prevent man from acquiring this treasure, “a character formed according to the divine likeness,” and from standing under the blood-stained banner of Christ in this world so that he can stand spotless on the shores of the crystal sea in the next.

How many fail to realize that we do indeed have an enemy who walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour?

 

[All Bible quotes NKJV unless otherwise noted.]

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

The Song of Deliverance

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.”

Revelation 15:3

 

Music has ever been and will ever be connected with God’s marvelous works. Consider when this world was created. Wouldn’t it have been exciting to watch as the earth came into existence to see the sun appear from nowhere and in the darkness of the first night suddenly the moon appears? Can you imagine watching vegetation develop and seeing hundreds and thousands of varieties of creatures, from the tiny insects to the mighty leviathan, created before your very eyes? And then to see man made in the image of God?

I know you would have joined with the angels to sing with them as they praised God as we read in Job, “The morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7)!

And what about the Saviour’s birth some four thousand years later? Mystery of mysteries! The Son of God, the Creator of the universe becomes a helpless babe in a manger; born of flesh to show us how to overcome Satan. Wouldn’t it have been thrilling to have been out there watching with the shepherds and suddenly to hear and see thousands of angels singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14)?

And what about Christ’s triumphant return to heaven after His crucifixion and resurrection? Oh, how the angels sang as they neared heaven. Death had been conquered. The resurrection of the saints was now assured. Listen as the angels sang as we read in Psalm 24:7–9: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.”

Let us consider two other mighty events connected with music. First, we shall consider the song of Moses inspired by the divine deliverance, the mighty deliverance at the Red Sea; and second, the song of the Lamb when the greatest of all anthems will be sung around the throne of God on the sea of glass. It will be a song that the millions of redeemed will sing.

“Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and His rider hath He thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my Father’s God, and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:1, 2).

So reads some 16 verses. Every word so full of meaning, of war, of horses, of chariots which are cast into the sea, of a glorious triumph, a song of victory, but in order for us to catch the full significance we must review for a few moments the circumstances. God had revealed to Abraham centuries before that his children would become slaves for exactly 400 years, then they finally would receive the promised home in Canaan.

In Genesis 15:13, 14: “And He said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.”

The four hundred years had nearly been fulfilled. Only a fraction of time remained. Notice how God faithfully carries out His promise. Exodus 12:51: “And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.” [Emphasis supplied.]

You can count on God who never fails to keep His word. Think of it – only 24 hours remained in the 400-year period. And now God through Moses tells His people: Tomorrow, Pharaoh will let you go a free people. The Scripture says it happened “the selfsame day.” Free at last! The Bible states in Exodus 13:20, “And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness.” God led the way out of Egypt.

“He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people” (verse 22). What a God! Not only does He direct them by the cloud but He considers every need, even the physical needs. He provides a canopy to protect them from the desert heat of the day, and by night, He provides a burning fiery cloud to give warmth in the desert chill and to provide light in the darkness.

Thus it was that God led them to encamp at the edge of the Red Sea on a vast sandy plain, an area large enough for an encampment of some two million, with all their animals. Here they were surrounded by a rocky defile, the mountains running down into the very edge of the sea. At this spot the sea is some eight miles across. An Egyptian garrison is located just to the north. There is no possible way of escape. Word is brought to King Pharaoh of their situation. We read in Exodus 14:3: “For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They are entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in.”

Can you catch the picture as the children are encamped? Suddenly there is a shout of fear. They look behind them and they see 600 chosen chariots plus all the chariots of Egypt coming after them. This was the mightiest army in the world at that time, coming to enslave them once again, forcing them to return to Egypt. Before them is a vast sea of water, eight miles across. There is no bridge, no ships; they are surrounded by rugged mountains obstructing their way. Behind them they see the flashing armor reflected in the sunlight. This army is led by the king himself, guided by the pagan priests of Egypt. Humanly speaking there is positively no way of escape.

But that’s only half the story. What they did not know was the depth of the sea before them. Archaeologists claim to have found the very spot on the Red Sea where the children of Israel crossed. What had never been seen before in modern times were two columns of stone, some 20 feet high, two to three feet across, one on either side of this crossing. And on these stones was discovered the words inscribed by King Solomon who erected these pillars to commemorate the Divine deliverance of the children of Israel.

Terror filled the Israelite’s hearts as they saw the army coming and they cried to Moses. Verse 12 says, “Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.” But Moses knew just what was about to happen.

In Patriarchs and Prophets, 283, are these revealing words: “It was revealed to him [Moses] that Pharaoh would pursue them, but that God would be honored in their deliverance.” Let us never forget the promises of God as we near the end when we will be facing impossible situations. In Amos 3:7 we read, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.” Thanks for the Spirit of Prophecy that has given us such wonderful details of what we can expect. And so Moses speaks with positive assurance.

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace” (Exodus 14:13, 14). Immediately, God takes action. That cloudy column rises majestically into the heavens and passes over the Israelites, descending behind them, separating Israel from the enemy. What a surprise! The cloud gives light in the night to Israel but total darkness to the enemy.

And now comes the command. Verse 15: “And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto Me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.”

Imagine! Go forward? How? There’s no bridge, no boats, no rafts, it’s too far to swim, but by faith they did advance right up to the very water’s edge. Then Moses lifts his rod. One more step and the leader will be in the water. But wonder of wonders the sea divides before them. A mighty miracle is wrought by God and a path opens before them through the midst of the sea.

Remember, it is night. Patriarchs and Prophets, 287: “The light from God’s pillar of fire shone upon the foam-capped billows, and lighted the road that was cut like a mighty furrow through the waters of the sea, and was lost in the obscurity of the farther shore.” So, two million people with their flocks and herds follow the lighted path and walk on dry ground. The water stands on either side like a wall. Exodus 15:8: “And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.” According to the Hebrew and Chaldea dictionary that you will find in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, the word congealed means frozen water. In other words, God formed two walls of ice, forming a perfectly safe path to cross the watery deep.

The Psalmist has declared in chapter 77, verses 19 and 20, “Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters, and Thy footsteps are not known. Thou leddest Thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.”

Now the suspense deepens. The Egyptians have pursued the Israelites. As the Israelites are coming up on the other side and are out of the sea, the Egyptians are right behind them when suddenly God’s marvelous black cloud that has been a cloud of protection turns to a pillar of fire.

As morning breaks, the Israelites have safely reached the other side in Arabia. From a night of terrible peril God has brought complete deliverance. Jehovah alone has made Israel’s deliverance possible. Only by faith and faith alone did they go forward.

Now the Spirit of God rests upon Moses. He leads the freed slaves in a triumphant anthem. It’s the song of Moses. “I will sing unto Jehovah, for He hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into the sea. The Lord is my strength and song” (Exodus 15:1, 2, first part). Can’t you just hear two million singing such praises? Oh, how they must have sung! They had been freed from 400 years of slavery. Now they are totally free.

“That song does not belong to the Jewish people alone. It points forward to the destruction of all the foes of righteousness and the final victory of the Israel of God. The prophet of Patmos beholds the white-robed multitude that have ‘gotten the victory,’ standing on the ‘sea of glass mingled with fire,’ having ‘the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb’ (Revelation 15:2, 3).” Patriarchs and Prophets, 289.

Humanly speaking, we too have an impossible ordeal to face. Said the Psalmist in chapter 115:1: “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake.”

Have we considered lately what God hath done for us? How He has made it possible for us to be delivered from the power of sin if we will only follow the path that He has made for us? “In freeing our souls from the bondage of sin, God has wrought for us a deliverance greater than that of the Hebrews at the Red Sea. Like the Hebrew host, we should praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice for His ‘wonderful works to the children of men’ (Psalm 107:8).” Patriarchs and Prophets, 289.

Our hearts should be filled with the melody of gladness when we consider the daily blessings of food and clothing and shelter and health and the loved ones that surround us. All of these are blessings from the hand of God.

But above our temporal blessings consider for a moment what the death of Jesus means to you and me personally. He has brought the happiness of heaven within our reach. Because of His matchless love we are now called the children of God. We can look for a life that never ends all because of His matchless sacrifice on Calvary. Praise Him for a heavenly inheritance! Praise Him for His boundless promises! Praise Him that Jesus lives to intercede in the sanctuary above for us!

“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me” (Psalm 50:23). All the angels of heaven unite in praising God. Let us begin learning that song that we are going to sing that we may soon join the ranks of the angels. Said the Psalmist, “While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being” (Psalm 146:2). “Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee” (Psalm 67:5).

One of the most beautiful and comforting passages of Isaiah refers to that pillar of cloud of fire revealing God’s care for us in the final struggles just ahead. “In that day [referring to the end of the world] shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain” (Isaiah 4:2–6).

Isn’t it beautiful that we can expect again the Lord to cover us with His glory and take care of us as He did the children of Israel in the coming time of trouble?

But now notice a contrast of those who are within the church today claiming to be Christians but have never surrendered to God. “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by Thy name, to take away our reproach” (Isaiah 4:1). These seven women are not pure women; they are impure. We are told they are taking hold of one man. The one man is Christ. They don’t want to follow His word; they don’t want to accept the Bread of Life. It says, they “will eat their own bread.” They have cooked up their own new theology based on manmade false doctrines upon which they are feeding. They even dress contrary to God’s way, refusing to put on His robe of righteousness which is given only to the obedient. They do not want to obey. All they want is His name, to be called Christians but refusing the clean, white fine linen which is the righteousness of Christ which God will place upon all who overcome every sin before He comes. Righteousness is sinlessness.

God’s saints are commandment keepers. They love Christ. “If ye love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). They are ready to be married to Christ. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God” (Revelation 19:7–9).

Are we ready for this experience?

God had a purpose in bringing Israel to the Red Sea. He chose this method to test their faith. With the enemy at their back, with mountains on either side, with an impassible sea before them, God gave the command, “Go forward.” What if they had hesitated? What if they had not gone forward until their feet reached the water’s edge? The result – God would have never opened up a path in the sea. “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned” (Hebrews 11:29).

“In marching down to the very water, they showed that they believed the word of God as spoken by Moses. They did all that was in their power to do, and then the Mighty One of Israel divided the sea to make a path for their feet.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 290.

This lesson is for us today. We who are living in this time of the end will find that at times duty seems hard to perform. Both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy picture a coming crisis, humanly speaking, that can only bring bondage and death, yet God speaks, “Go forward.” We must obey His command even though our eyes cannot penetrate the gathering darkness, even though the cold waves are gathering about our feet. We must remember that the obstacles that hinder our spiritual progress will never disappear before a halting and a doubting spirit.

“Those who defer obedience till every shadow of uncertainty disappears and there remains no risk of failure or defeat, will never obey at all. Unbelief whispers, ‘Let us wait till the obstructions are removed, and we can see our way clearly;’ but faith courageously urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things.” Ibid.

The cloud of darkness to the Egyptians was to the Hebrews a flood of light. While the world is daily encountering a hopeless darkness in these days the soul trusting in God’s word will be filled with a light of peace. The Lord is about to deliver His people and He alone can give the victory.

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are Thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are Thy ways, Thou King of saints.”

By the grace of God, His people will someday soon sing this song.

For more than fifty years, Lawrence Nelson served the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a church pastor, evangelist, and then in Conference, Union, and General Conference leadership. When God laid upon him the responsibility to “tell it like it is” to alert the people how the church was leading them into the worldwide ecumenical movement, he was forbidden to preach in any church within the Oregon Conference. Elder Nelson passed to his rest on April 18, 2012.

The Warning

Because Inspiration tells us that “Each of the ancient prophets spoke less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force for us” (Selected Messages, Book 3, 338, 339), we need occasionally to examine those prophecies to determine if and how they apply to us now. In this article, we will examine a series of Old Testament prophecies from the prophet Ezekiel.

Ezekiel said, “Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me, and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. And He said to me: ‘Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, “Thus says the Lord God.” As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.

“ ‘And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.’ Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe” (Ezekiel 2:2–10).

Who is the house of Israel today? Ellen White wrote, “I was shown that those who are trying to obey God and purify their souls through obedience to the truth are God’s chosen people, His modern Israel.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 109.

Ezekiel was to give a message that he knew would not be received. He was told: “But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. … Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house” (Ezekiel 3:7, 9).

“So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me. … Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore hear a word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me” (verses 14, 17). This experience was similar to that of Jeremiah when he decided that he got in so much trouble delivering God’s messages that he would not speak the word of the Lord anymore, but there was a fire in his bones and he couldn’t stop.

The Lord said, “When I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life, that same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand” (verse 18).

This is also a warning for today. If you are called to be a watchman and refuse to give the warning message, regardless if it is heeded or not, God will require it of you. He will ask why you didn’t give the warning? Would you rather be in trouble with men or with the Lord? Seventh-day Adventists have been given a warning message to share with the world and will be held accountable for how they handled that message.

Ezekiel 5:5, 6 says, “ ‘Thus says the Lord God: “This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.” ’ ” Have you noticed the word rebellion continues to come up?

Everything in this prophecy will happen again in the modern house of Israel just before the close of probation. Read the first verses of Ezekiel 7, the prophet that says the end has come, the day of judgment has come, and the day of doom has come.

In that context, with Ezekiel sitting before the elders, the Lord gave him a vision. God knows everything. He knows all the secret things that are going on in your life, everything that you attempt to cover. Adam and Eve were the first to attempt to cover their sin by hiding from God and making for themselves fig leaf garments. The very fact that they covered up shows that they were aware that they had done something wrong. So it is with all who attempt to cover their sins.

In vision, God showed Ezekiel exactly what was going on in the house of Israel that almost nobody knew about. Ezekiel said, “He stretched out the form of a hand, and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain.

“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.’ So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance.

“Furthermore He said to me, ‘Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations’ ” (Ezekiel 8:3–6).

The Lord then said it gets worse. “So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall. Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, dig into the wall;’ and when I dug into the wall, there was a door” (verses 7, 8).

Today, this would be referred to as digging up dirt, and if the problem is brought out, the one responsible would be accused of being critical, or of church bashing. But, in reality, those who criticize the watchman are actually criticizing the One who sent him to give the warning message.

The Lord told Ezekiel to dig, to investigate. Because the apostasy was covered up, unless you dig you would not know anything was wrong. So Ezekiel dug, “Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, dig into the wall’; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. And He said to me, ‘Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.’

“So I went in and saw, and there—every sort of creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up” (verses 8–11).

Who were they burning incense to? Ellen White said, “Anciently it was a great sin for the people of God to give themselves away to the enemy, and open before them either their perplexity or their prosperity. Under the ancient economy it was a sin to offer sacrifice upon the wrong altar. It was a sin to offer incense kindled by the wrong fire.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 300.

“Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, “The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.” ’

“And He said to me, ‘Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.’ [This is the third time Ezekiel was told to turn and see something worse.] So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz [a Samarian, Babylon deity, the god of vegetation and fertility].

“Then he said to me, ‘Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.’  [The fourth mention of greater abominations.] So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east” (Ezekiel 8:12–16).

Pagans worshiped the rising sun in the east. When God instructed His tabernacle to be built, the entrance was situated so that those walking into it faced toward the west. On entering, they would face toward the altar of incense before the veil into the Most Holy Place where God’s holy law was kept within the ark with their backs to the sun. But here Ezekiel saw people at the temple who had turned their backs on the Lord and were facing the rising sun in the east. These people had turned their backs on the cross of Christ and the way of salvation.

What we are reading about here also is to take place just before the close of probation. Ezekiel 9:1–3, first part says, “Then He called out in my hearing with a loud voice, saying, ‘Let those who have a charge over the city draw near, each with a deadly weapon in his hand.’ And suddenly six men came from the direction of the upper gate, which faces north, each with his battle-ax in his hand. One man among them was clothed with linen and had a writer’s inkhorn at his side. They went in and stood before the bronze altar. Now the glory of the God of Israel had gone up from the cherub, where it had been, to the threshold of the temple.”

It is very serious when God leaves His own temple. “And He called to the man clothed with linen, who had the writer’s inkhorn at his side; and the Lord said to him, ‘Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.’ To the others He said in my hearing, ‘Go after him through the city and kill’ … ” (verses 3, last part–5, first part).

These are the people accused of digging up dirt. They refuse to go along with the mainstream who are not living according to Biblical principles. They recognize there is something drastically wrong and are compelled to speak up. They are not liked because they are not quiet, and if there’s anything that human organizations don’t like it is someone protesting what the majority are doing. These people are not popular because they are “crying out,” they are making a noise.

Look at the context here. It is those who cry out who are marked by the angels with a mark on their foreheads. This mark is the seal of God and is only received by those who protest the apostasy. They are hated by many people who consider them critical and negative. So the first person comes and puts a mark on people, and then after him there are several others who come and kill.

Notice what it says: “ ‘Go after him through the city and kill; do not let your eye spare, nor have any pity. Utterly slay old and young men, maidens and little children and women; but do not come near anyone on whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.’ So they began with the elders who were before the temple” (verses 5, last part, 6). Notice that it is the ministers who will feel the wrath of God first.

“Then he said to them, ‘Defile the temple, and fill the courts with the slain. Go out!’ And they went out and killed in the city. So it was, that while they were killing them, I was left alone; and I fell on my face and cried out, and said, ‘Ah, Lord God! Will You destroy all the remnant of Israel’ ” … (verses 7, 8)? Are you not going to have any people left in the world? Are all the people that profess to serve You, are they all going to be killed?

“Then He said to me, ‘The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great, and the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity; for they say, “The Lord has forsaken the land, and the Lord does not see!” And as for Me also, My eye will neither spare, nor will I have pity, but I will recompense their deeds on their own head.’

“Just then, the man clothed with linen, who had the inkhorn at his side, reported back and said, ‘I have done as You commanded Me’ ” (verses 9–11).

This is a Scripture that needs study to understand. We are not to sit by and do nothing when we see wrong done in our families or local church, but be faithful watchmen if we want to receive the mark or seal of God in our foreheads.

Ellen White commented on this Scripture saying, “The Lord reads the heart as an open book.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 1303. Nothing escapes His attention.

The Lord declares concerning those who are not connected with God and follow their own evil imaginations: “ ‘They have turned unto Me their back, and not the face, though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them; yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction’ (Jeremiah 32:33). We are amid the perils of the last days, the time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter. Study also the tenth chapter which represents the hand of God as at work to bring perfect method and harmonious working into all the operations of His prepared instrumentalities. The eleventh and twelfth chapters [of Ezekiel] also should receive critical, thoughtful attention. Let these prophecies be studied on your knees before God.” Ibid.

She says, “… unless you take up the stumbling-blocks which by your own perverse spirit you have laid in the way of many who have been connected with you, God will turn His face utterly from you and your associates.

“True religion is the imitation of Christ. Those who follow Christ will deny self; take up the cross, and walk in His footsteps. Following Christ means obedience in all His commandments.” Ibid., 1303, 1304.

Can we really call ourselves followers of Jesus Christ if we don’t obey His commandments? Jesus Christ is the commander of the heavenly hosts, and a commander must be obeyed. He is a general of the armies of heaven. She says, “Following Christ means obedience in all His commandments. No soldier can be said to follow his commander unless he obeys orders.” Ibid., 1304.

Notice: “Those who do not now appreciate, study, and dearly prize the word of God spoken by His servants will have cause to mourn bitterly hereafter. I saw that the Lord in judgment will at the close of time walk through the earth; the fearful plagues will begin to fall. Then those who have despised God’s word, those who have lightly esteemed it, shall ‘wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord and shall not find it’ (Amos 8:12). A famine is in the land for hearing the Word.” Last Day Events, 234, 235.

When that time comes, you will not be hearing any sermons like this. “The ministers of God will have done their last work, offered their last prayers, shed their last bitter tear for a rebellious church and an ungodly people.” Ibid., 235.

No more sermons, no more prayers, no more tears. It’s over. Inspiration says, “Their last solemn warning has been given. O, then how quickly would houses and lands, dollars that have been miserly hoarded and cherished and tightly grasped, be given for some consolation by those who have professed the truth and have not lived it out.” Ibid.

No minister of God will then be praying for you or giving you an offer of salvation. At that time the last prayer has been made. All will have received the mark of salvation or the mark of destruction.

O, “for the way of salvation to be explained, or to hear a hopeful word or a prayer or an exhortation from their ministers. But no, they must hunger and thirst on in vain; their thirst will never be quenched, no consolation can they get; their cases are decided and eternally fixed. It is a fearful, awful time.” Ibid.

My dear friend, that time has not come yet but we are told that probation will close suddenly and when we are least expecting it. It is dangerous to hold on to something with the intention of overcoming it at some time future. There are many stories where people waited too late and then tragedy struck. Right now is the time of our visitation, not some future time.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on His final journey, He wept, but not primarily for Jerusalem, which would soon be destroyed. He saw a much bigger catastrophe.

Our eyes need to be open to what is happening in Adventism today. As was presented to Ezekiel, we need to dig and see what has been covered up as the average Adventist has no idea how closely the Seventh-day Adventist Church today is linked up with the papacy. “When the Saviour saw in the Jewish people a nation divorced from God, He saw also a professed Christian Church united to the world and the papacy. And as He stood upon Olivet, weeping over Jerusalem till the sun sank behind the western hills, so He is weeping over and pleading with sinners in these last moments of time.” The Review and Herald, October 8, 1901.

Dear friend, if you are one of the sinners that Jesus is weeping over and pleading with, now is the time to call upon His name and repent. “Soon He will say to the angels who are holding the four winds, ‘Let the plagues loose; let darkness, destruction, and death come upon the transgressors of My law.’ Will He be obliged to say to those who have had great light and knowledge, as He said to the Jews, ‘If thou hadst known, even thou at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes’ (Luke 19:42)?” Ibid.

If you have turned your back on the Lord, now is the time to turn around. We all will have to face God one of these days. May God help us all to get the things in our lives into perspective and make sure our sins are blotted out before Jesus returns.

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

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

Editorial – Doubting Prophet

The word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “ ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me’ (Jonah 1:1, 2). …  As the nature of this commission, with all its difficulties and seeming impossibilities loomed up before Jonah, he began to question the wisdom of the call. As he questioned, he forgot that the God whom he served was all-wise and all-powerful, and he began to doubt whether he should undertake to carry out such a commission. While he hesitated, still doubting, Satan overwhelmed him with discouragement. Seized with a great dread, he ‘rose up to flee unto Tarshish.’ Going down to Joppa, and finding there a ship ready to sail, ‘he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish’ (Jonah 1:3).” The Review and Herald, December 4, 1913.

About six weeks later after a most successful evangelistic campaign in Ninevah, “When Jonah learned of God’s purpose to spare the city that had corrupted its ways b efore him, he should have cooperated heartily in this merciful design. But he yielded to his inclination to question and doubt, and, as the result, was once more overwhelmed with discouragement, and lost sight of the interests of others in his concern over himself. He felt as if he would rather die than live to see the wicked city spared; and in his dissatisfaction he exclaimed, ‘Now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.’ ”  Ibid., December 11, 1913.

Through some trial of discouragement, is the devil keeping you from doing what God wants you to do and has instructed you to do in His Word?

“Satan attacks us at our weakest points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the attack, God has provided help for us, and in His strength we may conquer. … The hour of man’s necessity is God’s opportunity. He sees our danger and provides help for us.” In Heavenly Places, 262.

“God loves His purchased possession, and He longs to see them overcome the discouragement with which Satan would overpower them. Let no thought of unbelief afflict your souls; for unbelief acts as a paralysis upon the spiritual energies. Do not magnify your difficulties, but keep the Lord in your remembrance, watching unto prayer.” The Signs of the Times, September 10, 1896.