Issue: 2022 July

Together With Him

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Derek Redmond is a retired British sprinter. For a time he held the British record for the 400 meter run and was a member of the team that beat the much-favored American team in the 4 x 400 meter relay at the 1991 World Championships—a race that was, up to that point, the second-fastest 4 x 400 meter relay in history.

Derek went to the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, but had to pull out during the opening round of the 400 meter race because of an injury to his Achilles tendon. But by 1992, he was once again in good form and heading to the Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He performed extremely well all the way through the quarter-final race. But after starting well in the semi-final, he tore his hamstring in the back straight about 250 meters from the finish line. Crippled with pain, he fell to the ground. The medical team brought a stretcher to carry him off the field, but Derek was determined to finish the race and began hobbling down the track.

As Derek slowly and painfully made his way toward the finish line, Jim Redmond, Derek’s father, pushed his way through security and ran to him. Wrapping his arm around the young man’s shoulder for support, they completed the final lap together. Although they crossed the finish line, because Derek had required help to finish the race, he was officially disqualified and the Olympic record states that he did not finish the race.

Source: Wikipedia.

Friends, it is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that this race of life will be won. Help from the Holy Spirit will not cause us to be disqualified, but will enable us to finish the race. Both the redemption of our own souls as well as the souls of those for whom we are laboring depend on our connection with God.

“God is stronger than any human influence. If we will accept Him as our Educator, if we will make Him our strength and righteousness, He will work in our behalf.” Loma Linda Messages, 444

“We cannot fall as long as we hope and trust in God. Let every soul of us, ministers and people, say, as did Paul, ‘I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air,’ but with a holy faith and hope, in expectation of winning the prize. Say to your soul, ‘Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance and my God.’ By precept and example encourage faith, confidence, assurance. This is the work of the Comforter, and it is your work to cooperate with God’s agencies.” The Home Missionary, November 1, 1893

“We may come to Him just as we are, helpless, destitute, needy, and He will not send us empty away. The riches of the universe belong to God … He can supply all our needs out of His abundant fullness. We receive our breath from Him; every blessing in nature that we enjoy is an expression of His love. We are likewise dependent upon Him for spiritual blessings, for grace and wisdom and strength to do the will of God. And He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children.” The Signs of the Times, August 21, 1884

Dear Lord, we are crippled with sin and unable to finish this race alone. Extend Your mighty arm to us and as we rely upon its strength, bring us home.

Story – Missing Grandpa

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Rebecca loved her grandpa! How many of you have to travel quite a ways to see your grandma and grandpa? And some of you can only go to visit them for a vacation or for Christmas? Well, Rebecca was fortunate because her grandma and grandpa lived in the same town she did. In fact, the school bus dropped her off at their house after school every day to wait until her mom got off work and picked her up.

The best thing about Grandpa was he had time. Grandma was often busy preparing dinner, doing church work, or tidying up the house. But Grandpa would always put down whatever he was doing when she arrived, pour her a big glass of lemonade, and just look her in the eye and listen to whatever she had to tell him about her day. Then some days they worked on the big puzzle they were putting together, some days they washed the car, some days they went to the library and then curled up to read, some days they ran errands, whatever, Grandpa was always there.

One morning Mother told Rebecca that she would not be going to Grandpa and Grandma’s after school. Grandpa wasn’t feeling well, she said. He was going to see the doctor. Rebecca was sorry Grandpa was sick, but she wasn’t too concerned. She got sick sometimes, but with a day or two in bed or perhaps a quick trip to the doctor, she was all right. She never even thought about how she would feel if Grandpa didn’t get better. Well, Grandpa did get better, for a while, but soon there were many days when Rebecca couldn’t go to Grandma and Grandpa’s after school, because Grandpa just needed to rest.

One afternoon, just before school let out for the day, the teacher called Rebecca to the door of the classroom. Standing just outside, she saw her pastor waiting. The teacher said that Mother had called and told her that the pastor was going to pick Rebecca up after school and take her home. Rebecca thought this was strange, but since her mother had called the teacher, she thought everything was okay. Rebecca liked the pastor, and they talked all the way home. But when they arrived, Rebecca saw several cars parked in the driveway. There was Grandma’s car, and Aunt Suzie’s car, and Daddy’s car. What were all these people doing over in the middle of the afternoon, Rebecca wondered. When she went into the house, she met Mother in the hall. Her eyes were red like she had been crying. She put her arm around Rebecca and pulled her close. “You know that Grandpa has been very sick,” she said. “Well, today his heart just couldn’t pump any more blood so it stopped. Grandpa died this afternoon. He will sleep now until Jesus comes to wake him up. Then we will all go to heaven together.”

Then Rebecca began to cry, too. She knew Grandpa loved Jesus, and she knew that she loved Jesus, so she was sure they would be together in heaven. But she still felt sad about not having Grandpa with her right now. Who would have time for her every day after school? Mother said it was all right to cry. It was all right to miss Grandpa now. Someone in everybody’s family dies sooner or later, because death is a very sad part of living in a sinful world. But Rebecca was sure glad for Jesus.

Now she was beginning to understand more about why He came to die on the cross. The pastor said at Grandpa’s funeral that Jesus died so that everyone who dies but who loves Him will only sleep for a short time until Jesus wakes them up.

Some of you may know how Rebecca was feeling. Maybe someone close to you has died. Aren’t you glad for Jesus, too? Jesus is always with us when we feel sad. When we cry, the Bible says Jesus cries, too. That’s because He loves us so much. He came here to be with us because He wanted to share in our troubles. And now He is making preparation to come again so that everything that makes us sad will be wiped away, and everything will be made new. I’m looking forward to that day, aren’t you?

Adventist Family Ministries, By Karen Flowers.

We Are Christ’s Representatives

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“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.”

1 Peter 4:12

Our daily experience with Christ should be of the highest value to us. We have an individual part to act in His service. Our blessed Saviour has given us … precious promises for our encouragement. He desires us to know that He is watching over us, and that He will teach us what He expects us to do. If the enemy comes to us in the morning, or during the day, with annoyances, let us remember these precious promises, and not allow ourselves to be ruffled. Let us remember that we are Christ’s representatives, and that we must not, by word or act, offend one another.

Do you think that perhaps no trials will arise? Certainly there will be trials. If there were not, you might rejoice that you had no devil to tempt you. But you will have temptations till the very close of time. Therefore you need to keep in close companionship with Christ. His angels are commissioned to watch over you. They are your appointed guardians. If someone says something that tends to provoke you, remember that at such a time silence is eloquence. Do not respond in a manner to retaliate. It will be better to say nothing than to speak unadvisedly. We will all have our battles to fight, though these struggles may vary in character, according to our disposition and our experience.

Let us rejoice that Jesus Christ has made it possible for us to lay hold upon divinity. When we feel exceedingly tried, let us remember that there is a heavenly angel by our side. This thought will help us to honor Christ, who has made it possible for us to become sons and daughters of God. Unless we are constantly on our guard, we may be caught unawares, and speak hastily. It may then be impossible for us to remove the impression from the minds of those to whom we have spoken, for some do not desire to get rid of such impressions. They seem to delight in cherishing evil. Let us, by keeping our words in harmony with the instructions the Saviour has given us, not give them any occasion for offense.

As we come in contact with varying dispositions, we shall undoubtedly find great provocation to speak unkindly. But remember that at such times silence is often eloquence. If you refrain from retaliating when you are provoked by others, you will surprise them. And, if repeatedly you preserve your dignity under provocation, they will realize that you are in connection with a higher Power.

The Upward Look, 242

He Was Not Mine to Lose

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I have mentioned my husband Roger’s death in other articles I have written over the last year and a half since joining the LandMarks staff. It has been two years this month since his unexpected passing. I would like to share my experience with grief. This may be more for me than the readers, but maybe my experience will bring one of you comfort and encouragement.

It had started as a beautiful, sunny Sabbath day. Roger and I had been to church and enjoyed a peaceful ride home. It seemed like every other Sabbath and there was no hint that it would end in a way I could never have imagined.

Within an hour of arriving home, he collapsed at my feet. I remember clearly the disbelief and fear that I felt as I yelled his name, patted his face, and begged him to wake up. I called 911 and then performed CPR, while I waited for the paramedics to arrive. My mind kept shouting, “How did this happen? He was fine. He was laughing.” Why?

The fire department in our little village is volunteer and all the firemen and paramedics were out in their fields harvesting wheat, so I’m not exactly sure how long I performed CPR before they arrived.

The 911 dispatcher was a young man, at least he sounded young. He was calm, supportive. His compassionate voice kept me updated on how soon help would arrive. He encouraged me when I said I was getting tired and wasn’t sure I could keep up the CPR. He stayed on the phone with me until everyone arrived. I don’t know who he was and I never got to thank him, but I hope somehow he knows how much of a lifeline he was to me that day.

I think everyone, even I, knew that Roger was beyond saving, but they all methodically did their jobs, making the supreme effort to bring him back. Once at the hospital, I waited less than ten minutes before the doctor came to tell me that he believed Roger had suffered a massive heart attack, a widow maker, and truly was gone. The only thought in my head was, “What will I tell his children?”

They let me sit with him for a while. I cried. I asked him why he left me. I asked God why He let him die. I went back through that last week trying to find some explanation for the unexplainable. But I didn’t find any answers.

I discovered that day that God often allows bad things to happen and doesn’t always make clear why. That’s not a complaint, it’s just a truth. I asked, “Why did You let this happen? You could have kept him alive or brought him back.” Even my four-year-old grandson said “God raised Lazarus from the dead. He could raise grandpa from the dead, too.” Yes, He could have, but He didn’t.

I went even further and asked, “If You were only going to give us five years together, why did You even bring him into my life at all?” That was the only moment of anger I really felt toward God and I quickly backpedaled on that one. Roger had brought so much happiness and love to my life. How could I be so ungrateful? And how could I feel anger toward Roger? I know that he would not have willingly left me.

So, as is my way, I threw myself headlong into doing what needed to be done. As long as there was something to do, I didn’t have to think about why or how alone and empty I felt.

I have to recognize how much Roger’s family did for me during this time. I have my own brother and his wife who came from a long distance to be with me for a while, but Roger’s family, his siblings and all their children, gathered around me and without them I’m not sure how I would have managed many of the things I had to do. They were open and giving beyond anything I could imagine. They told me I was part of the family, and I always would be.

I also have many friends who helped me; some waited with me at the hospital, others just stayed with me, in the beginning, so I wouldn’t have to be alone, and others helped me with the tasks that needed to be done to sell our home.

I won’t go into all the details since I have talked about this before. Suffice it to say that I was able to hold off facing my grief for just about a year. But grief must be faced at some point.

They say there are five stages of grief. The assumption, maybe only my assumption, that once a person dies, then those who are left behind begin the journey through the stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. However, for me, kneeling on that floor, pumping on Roger’s chest, I passed quickly through denial, anger and bargaining, but I got stuck on depression and acceptance.

It was easy not to face these two as long as there were things to do, but about ten months after Roger died, I realized that I had pretty much finished all the business of our life together. I started having trouble concentrating at work. I would hear certain songs and cry uncontrollably. I would watch funny videos and think how much Roger would have enjoyed them. I would laugh and laugh and then realize I was crying and couldn’t stop. Nothing seemed right and all I wanted to do was walk out into the field behind my house and scream Why until I couldn’t scream it anymore; but I didn’t do that. I held off the whys for as long as I could, and then they came rushing back. “Why did You take Roger away from me?”

After I first came to Steps to Life, I was proofing an article for this magazine and came upon a quotation from an Ellen White book that I had never heard of before. I found it in our bookstore and checked the quotation, but then spent a little time browsing through it. I came upon a letter Mrs. White had written to some friends who had lost their daughter. I read this one sentence and I’d like to say that it chased away all the sorrow and emptiness, but it didn’t. What I can say is that it gave me strength. I had put my faith in God and He had steadfastly led me to the best place I could ever be, had made everything possible that needed to be possible, and then He led me to that sentence, “[Y]ou are sustained by arms that never tire, and comforted with a love that is unchangeable, enduring as the throne of God.” Daughters of God, 217

As if He hadn’t already proved His faithfulness to me, He restated it for me in print. Those who know me will understand why this is significant. I have many times said, and maybe you have, too, that I wish God would just leave me a note and tell me what He wants me to do. And there, He did just that. He told me that He had been, and He would be, taking care of me if I would let Him; that even if now wasn’t the time for me to know why, I could still know that He would be with me as I walked down this road of grief.

People had told me it was time to move on, but I asserted that I already had. My whole life had changed, everything. My husband was gone, I had lost my home, left a job I had loved doing for eight years, moved to another state, taken a new job I had never done before. Everything that I had known was gone or changed. How much more moving on did I have to do? But moving on is more than just moving around, so I decided that it was time for me to face my grief.

I searched for a Christian counselor in the Wichita area and the Lord led me to Susan. I have since counseled with her for almost a year. Turns out I had more grief to confront than just that associated with losing Roger. I had never faced the grief of losing my mother in 2012, and seems that losing things like a job you love, uprooting your life, leaving your friends, come with a kind of grief all of their own.

I want to recommend at this point that it is better to face grief early. I know we don’t want to, but I believe now that when we continually push away these feelings of loss, we are denying the power and love of God to help us through the terrible time. Like, we think if we work hard enough, we’ll be just fine. But could we instead be doubting that God can understand what we are going through, when all the while, there is no one who understands better? Or, maybe, do we think we can do His job better than He can?

Another point I might make is that there is no timetable for grief. We all grieve differently, and it takes different amounts of time for everyone to reach that final stage of acceptance. Don’t go by how a person looks or acts to decide if they have finally overcome grief. For many, grief is a personal thing. It may seem that they no longer grieve, but that doesn’t mean that someone might not still need encouragement and friendship.

I recently heard a quote, amazingly from a totally unsanctified source, but it struck a chord with me: “What is grief, if not love persevering?” I think that grief, to some extent, must stay with us, because who would ever want to lose the love they felt for the one they lost? Grief becomes a part of the life we live though no longer the controlling emotion. We will continue loving the person we lost, though sad that they are gone, but moving forward with the life God has planned for us while longingly waiting for that day when we will be reunited.

Susan wasn’t the only one God sent my way. I had the opportunity to visit with a family member of friends who had lost her husband some years ago. Speaking of her husband, she shared this realization with me, “He was not mine to lose. He belonged to God. He was only lent to me.”

That was a solid hit to the heart. Roger was mine. But the Bible says, “For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beasts of the field are Mine. … For the world is Mine, and all its fullness.” Psalm 50:10–12, last part. He knows the very number of the hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7). Our names are inscribed on the palms of His hands (Isaiah 49:16). He knew us before we were ever born (Jeremiah 1:5). Roger was not mine. I am not even mine. All things in this world, all of us, belong to God, our Creator and Redeemer.

I still miss Roger’s “Hi, my sweetie,” when he would come home at the end of the day. When something exciting or difficult happens, my first thought is still, “I’ll call Roger.” But, my life with Roger, in this world, is over. Whatever I was meant to know or learn during the time we were together I will now have to find out without him. As I have worked at Steps to Life, and as I have worked through my grief with Susan, I have discovered that I still have a work to do for Him. And that work isn’t just for the readers of this magazine.

There are people that He perhaps wants me to reach out to and tell the truth of the gospel to, and to share the experiences of my own life with. And sadly, since the beginning of Covid-19, I have had that opportunity more than once. But most of all, I think, no, I’m certain, that there is work I must have done in my own life—a work that God and I must do together. Perhaps we all need to reflect on that very thing. So many people in this world believe that they are sufficient Christians. But we cannot be true Christians if we have not died to self.

I have no children of my own, but I have grown to love Roger’s son and daughter, their spouses and children. It was with great joy that I received the news last fall that my stepdaughter and her husband were expecting their second child.

But in February, I received the heartbreaking news that the baby was stillborn at six months. My stepdaughter delivered a beautiful baby girl, but instead of celebrating the joyous birth of a granddaughter in May, we were attending her funeral in February. How my heart ached for them. I knew what must be going through their minds, but I no more had the answer for them than I did for myself, except this:

God does not deal in death. Satan is the one who brings death. Yes, God allows it, but He allows death for a time so that all can see the true character of Satan and sin. And as we all face the death of a loved one or a friend at some point in our lives, more often than not, we do not know why. What we do know is “that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28. There is only one kind of death that God has any part in and that is when we die to self, for without His power and grace, we cannot do this alone.

My father-in-law, Roger’s dad, had been in a years-long battle with a number of medical conditions. He was an average man who loved his wife and kids and grandkids. We would tease him that a cat has nine lives, but he had more. So many times it seemed that he would soon leave this life only for him to recuperate. As his health continued to decline, some in the family questioned whether he would make it to his birthday this year, but he did, turning 86 in March. We had a wonderful party for him with a house filled with family, laughter, and love. But a little over a week later, He passed away and sleeps now, as does Roger, waiting for the Lord to come.

Roger’s and my granddaughter’s deaths were sudden and unexpected. Many people, like my father-in-law, die of illnesses that take months, even years, before death finally comes. None of us has a guarantee regarding how long it will be before death comes calling. Whether we are the one who is ill or a family member who provides care, it is so important that no one of us should look upon the days ahead as though we have all the time in the world to prepare to be ready for Jesus’ coming.

I have myself many times claimed this promise found in The Desire of Ages, 224, 225: “God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as coworkers with Him.”

Joni Eareckson Tada was a teenager when, in 1967, she broke her neck in a diving accident. She has lived for the last 55 years a life of continual pain and struggle as a quadriplegic. Yet her life has been devoted to God and to spreading His gospel around the world. But who is to say what her life and influence might have been had she not experienced this tragic accident. Joni has a ministry, part of which includes brief, inspirational talks on the radio. Let me share with you just a bit of one that was a great encouragement to me.

“There’s not a cross so heavy that it outweighs the grace given to carry it.

“In this wheelchair, every day I’ve got this incredible chance to prove it. … Age only makes my disability harder and heavier to bear. And when that happens, first thing in the morning when I sit up in my wheelchair; when I sit there, you know, kind of assessing things—my stiffness; my soreness; my goodness, there’s some new pain in my shoulder—when that happens, I remind myself that Christ did not call me to follow Him; He called me to die for Him. …

“It is daily dying to yourself and living for Jesus.

“Most likely you are not in a wheelchair like me; your cross looks different. But we both can agree, it is so hard and it’s really painful. And at times, it honestly feels utterly impossible. And if that’s you, then do what I do when I wake up, facing another day of quadriplegia, and a monthly anti-cancer shot that only exacerbates my pain … I groan and I say, ‘God, I cannot do this. But for some reason, You think I can. At least, with Your grace, You think I can. So I’m going to believe You. I’m going to believe that You’re not out to hurt me but to help me. I am going to take You at Your word and place my confidence in You and say, “I cannot do this. But I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” ’

“Friend, right there is the way you die to self and live to Christ. [O]ur Saviour has proven His trustworthiness in the worst of your trials. … Don’t you think that proves His loving intentions toward you? … So when it comes to your suffering, Jesus … extends to you His love, His grace, His help, His hope.”

We find this same promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation [test] has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Everything in this life is a test. Depending who we rely on during this testing, we will either build character fit for heaven or be a soul lost to self. We must rely upon God and His promise that if we place our confidence in Him, He will help us. God doesn’t intend that we will live this life without difficulty. Rather, He intends for us to live through our difficulties trusting in Him to deliver us from them, transforming our sinful self into a shining example of His character.

“It is moral worth that God values. Love and purity are the attributes He prizes most.” The Desire of Ages, 219

As I bring my thoughts on the subject of grief—and this is by no means all of them—to a close, let’s return to Daughters of God, 220, 221. To two different friends, both of whom had recently lost their life companions, Mrs. White wrote:

“What can I say to you in this, the greatest sorrow that has come to you in your life? Words fail me at this time. I can only commend you to God and to a compassionate Saviour. In Him is rest and peace. From Him you may receive your consolation. Jesus loves and pities as we have no power to do. Jesus Christ Himself does sustain you … . The disappointments and distress and perplexities, the bereavements we meet, are not to drive us from God but bring us nearer to Him.

“How we pant and are weary and agonized in carrying ourselves and our burden! When we come to Jesus, feeling unable to bear these loads one instant longer, and lay them upon the Burden-bearer, rest and peace will come. … Never let us lose sight of the promise that Jesus loves us. His grace is waiting our demand upon it. …

“Just repose in Jesus. Rest in Him as a tired child rests in the arms of its mother. … A compassionate hand is stretched out to bind up your wounds. He will be more precious to your soul than the choicest friend, and all that can be desired is not comparable to Him. Only believe Him; only trust Him.”

“My sister [my brother], no longer show any distrust of our Lord Jesus Christ. Go forward in faith, believing you will meet your husband [wife] in the kingdom of God. Do your very best to prepare the living to become members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King. This is our work now; this is your work. Do it faithfully, and believe that you will meet your husband [wife] in the City of God. Do what you can to help others to be cheerful. Uplift souls. Lead them to accept Christ. Never torture your soul as you have been doing, but be humble, true, faithful, and you have the word of God that you will meet when the warfare is ended. Be of good cheer.”

“God’s peace is greater than your pain, and His promise is greater than your loss.” Source unknown

And therein lies acceptance.

[Emphasis supplied.]

Judy Rebarchek is a member of the LandMarks team. She may be contacted by email at: judyrebarchek@stepstolife.org

Divine Help – Needed and Promised

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The account of Peter’s denial of Christ is one of the few that is recorded in all four gospels. Each record adds a few details that, taken together, give the full story. Clearly, divinity foresaw that pride and self-reliance, such as were manifested by Peter, would be a problem for mankind in his natural post-fall condition.

Matthew’s record of the incident includes Christ’s quote of the Old Testament prophecy about the apostles’ desertion of their Master as well as a warning to Peter regarding his denial of Christ.

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.” But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.’ Peter answered and said to Him, ‘Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.’ Peter said to Him, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’ And so said all the disciples.” Matthew 26:31–35

Peter’s denial, indeed, his failure to recognize his need of a Saviour, is stated more forcefully in Luke.

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’ But he said to Him, ‘Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.’ Then He said, ‘I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.’ ” Luke 22:31–34

Clearly, the Holy Spirit recognized mankind’s need of divine help, so much so that the inspired pen added additional details to clarify the principle illustrated by the incident.

“The evil that led to Peter’s fall … is proving the ruin of thousands today. There is nothing so offensive to God or so dangerous to the human soul as pride and self-sufficiency. Of all sins it is the most hopeless, the most incurable.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 154

“It was necessary for Peter to learn his own defects of character, and his need of the power and grace of Christ. The Lord could not save him from trial, but He could have saved him from defeat. Had Peter been willing to receive Christ’s warning, he would have been watching unto prayer. He would have walked with fear and trembling lest his feet should stumble. And he would have received divine help so that Satan could not have gained the victory.” Ibid., 155

The promise of divine help may well be one of the most common promises in the Bible. Scripture tells us of the divine help given to God’s people in the past, divine help that is available to us now, and divine help that will be provided in the future, troublous times.

Past

Think of the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings. Divinity constantly came to their aid. The grand overview of that aid is summarized in Exodus 13:21: “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.”

The pillars of cloud and of fire are just one of the many instances when divine help was provided. Think of their crossing of the Red Sea, the continual supply of manna, the miraculous pouring forth of water from the rock, the protection from and the victories over their enemies. If we reflected on just these occurrences when we are in doubt, our faith would be strengthened and, indeed, unshakable.

Scripture notes a second miracle in the record of the crossing of the Red Sea that is often overlooked. It is mentioned four times in Exodus 14 (verses 16, 21, 22, and 29) and is of such significance that it also is noted by both David and Isaiah in Psalm 66:6 and Isaiah 51:10.

Not only did the Lord part the waters to allow His children to escape the pursuit of the Egyptians, but equally miraculously, He dried up the seabed. If you have ever observed the condition of the ground after waters have receded, you know how muddy it is. That the Lord enabled the children to pass over the seabed on dry ground is indeed a miracle of miracles.

However, we don’t need to go back thousands of years in the past to find examples of divine help. Undoubtedly every reader of this magazine can think of at least once in their life when they were recipients of divine help—an answer to prayer, divine intervention at a time of particular need or peril—and likely more than once.

Peter clearly learned his lesson and was well aware of the divine help that has been provided to us when he wrote in the past tense in his second epistle, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:2–4

Present

What about divine help in the present? Psalm 46 makes a familiar promise: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

David notes this present help provided by God and then, in the subsequent verses, he looks to the future: “Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.” Verses 2, 3. These troublous times will indeed come—and sooner than we believe.

The entirety of Psalm 91 also contains promise after promise of this divine help that is available to all who walk by faith and not by sight.

Paul writes one of the most reassuring promises: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

A particularly encouraging promise of present help can be found in Steps to Christ, 100:

“Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. ‘The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.’ James 5:11. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. ‘He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.’ Psalm 147:3. The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.”

There can be no doubt that the divine help necessary to overcome the sinful tendencies of the natural heart is only a prayer away.

Future

At this time in earth’s history, perhaps the most reassuring promises are those that pledge divine help in the future. Inspiration notes one of those promises in Christ’s Object Lessons, 172:

“The Lord says, ‘Call upon Me in the day of trouble.’ Psalm 50:15. He invites us to present to Him our perplexities and necessities, and our need of divine help. He bids us be instant in prayer. As soon as difficulties arise, we are to offer to Him our sincere, earnest petitions. By our importunate prayers we give evidence of our strong confidence in God. The sense of our need leads us to pray earnestly, and our heavenly Father is moved by our supplications.”

Are there conditions to these promises of divine help? Certainly God’s love is unconditional, but His promises almost always are conditional. Even with divine help promised, we must do our part—today and in the future. We have a role to play in becoming fit to accept the free gift of salvation. Not only must we manifest contrition and repentance, we must also be on our guard against the incessant assaults of the enemy, who well knows the tendencies of the natural heart and tempts us with unceasing appeals to those tendencies.

“Every Christian must stand on guard continually, watching every avenue of the soul where Satan might find access. He must pray for divine help and at the same time resolutely resist every inclination to sin. By courage, by faith, by persevering toil, he can conquer. But let him remember that to gain the victory Christ must abide in him and he in Christ.

“Everything that can be done should be done to place ourselves and our children where we shall not see the iniquity that is practiced in the world. We should carefully guard the sight of our eyes and the hearing of our ears so that these awful things shall not enter our minds.

“Do not see how close you can walk upon the brink of a precipice and be safe. Avoid the first approach to danger. … [O]ne act of familiarity, one indiscretion, may jeopardize the soul in opening the door to temptation, and the power of resistance becomes weakened.” The Adventist Home, 404

Even when we are trusting in the promises of divine help and simultaneously doing our part by guarding the avenues of the soul, moments of discouragement will inevitably occur, but for these moments there also is a promise of divine help.

“To all who are reaching out to feel the guiding hand of God, the moment of greatest discouragement is the time when divine help is nearest. They will look back with thankfulness upon the darkest part of their way. ‘The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly.’ 2 Peter 2:9. From every temptation and every trial He will bring them forth with firmer faith and a richer experience.” The Desire of Ages, 528

These temptations and trials, when successfully endured, can provide increased faith only when viewed in the light shed from God’s word and understood as simply chapters in the great controversy.

“It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help we are to form our opinions for ourselves as we are to answer for ourselves before God.” The Great Controversy, 598

And that is what we must ultimately remember: Each of us is to answer for ourselves before God. To be able to stand in that great day before the throne of ultimate power, we must have lived in the shelter of the divine help we are promised, remaining resolutely under the shadow of the wings of our mighty God. With that divine help, we are assured of overcoming the tendencies of the natural heart. Inspiration provides warning after warning about yielding to those tendencies.

“Although there is a natural tendency to pursue a downward course, there is a power that will be brought to combine with man’s earnest effort. His willpower will have a counteracting tendency. If he will combine [earnest effort] with this divine help, he may resist the voice of the tempter. But Satan’s temptations harmonize with his defective, sinful tendencies, and urge him to sin. All he has to do is to follow the leader Jesus Christ who will tell him just what to do. God beckons to you from His throne in heaven, presenting to you a crown of immortal glory, and bids you to fight the good fight of faith and run the race with patience. Trust in God every moment. He is faithful that leadeth forward.” Mind, Character, and Personality, Vol. 1, 105

The natural tendencies of the descendants of Adam to pursue a “downward course” are spoken of repeatedly in the Bible.

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 1 Corinthians 2:14

“But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit.” Jude 17–19

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.” James 3:13–15

It is interesting to note that the words natural in 1 Corinthians 2:14 and sensual in Jude 19 and James 3:15 are from the same Greek word, which should give us a clearer understanding of man’s inherited character.

The obstacles God’s people face—and that were indeed faced by Christ’s first disciples—are addressed in this passage from The Acts of the Apostles 90, 91:

“Only as they were united with Christ could the disciples hope to have the accompanying power of the Holy Spirit and the cooperation of angels of heaven. With the help of these divine agencies they would present before the world a united front and would be victorious in the conflict they were compelled to wage unceasingly against the powers of darkness.”

We have those same powers of darkness to resist, and I would suggest that the challenge is greater for us for several reasons:

We do not have the same in-person nurturing by Christ that the disciples had.

“Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” Revelation 12:12

Satan has tormented mankind for thousands of years, and during that time, he has diligently studied man’s character and knows well how best to cause his downfall.

Heaven rejoices because Satan was cast out from that sinless habitat (Revelation 12:7–9). Woeful is the situation of the inhabitants of the earth because Satan now directs his wrath at them, taking every advantage of man’s natural disposition to affect his downfall. Thankfully, the situation is not hopeless.

“The refining influence of the grace of God changes the natural [carnal] disposition of man. … The propensities that control the natural heart must be subdued by the grace of Christ before fallen man is fitted to enter heaven and enjoy the society of the pure, holy angels.” The Acts of the Apostles, 273

“He [Paul] knew that at every step in the Christian pathway they [Corinthian Christians] would be opposed by the synagogue of Satan and that they would have to engage in conflicts daily. They would have to guard against the stealthy approach of the enemy, forcing back old habits and natural inclinations, and ever watching unto prayer. Paul knew that the higher Christian attainments can be reached only through much prayer and constant watchfulness, and this he tried to instill into their minds. But he knew also that in Christ crucified they were offered power sufficient to convert the soul and divinely adapted to enable them to resist all temptations to evil. With faith in God as their armor, and with His word as their weapon of warfare, they would be supplied with an inner power that would enable them to turn aside the attacks of the enemy.” Ibid., 307

Was this true only of the believers in Corinth? “The garden of the heart must be cultivated. The soil must be broken up by deep repentance for sin. Poisonous, satanic plants must be uprooted. The soil once overgrown by thorns can be reclaimed only by diligent labor. So the evil tendencies of the natural heart can be overcome only by earnest effort in the name and strength of Jesus. The Lord bids us by His prophet, ‘Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.’ ‘Sow to yourselves in righteousness; reap in mercy.’ Jeremiah 4:3; Hosea 10:12. This work He desires to accomplish for us, and He asks us to cooperate with Him.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 56

“The servants of Christ are not to act out the dictates of the natural heart. They need to have close communion with God, lest, under provocation, self rise up, and they pour forth a torrent of words that are unbefitting, that are not as dew or the still showers that refresh the withering plants. This is what Satan wants them to do; for these are his methods. It is the dragon that is wroth; it is the spirit of Satan that is revealed in anger and accusing. But God’s servants are to be representatives of Him. He desires them to deal only in the currency of heaven, the truth that bears His own image and superscription. The power by which they are to overcome evil is the power of Christ. The glory of Christ is their strength. They are to fix their eyes upon His loveliness. Then they can present the gospel with divine tact and gentleness. And the spirit that is kept gentle under provocation will speak more effectively in favor of the truth than will any argument, however forcible.” The Desire of Ages, 353

Paul provides an uplifting bit of hope that every follower of Christ should hold dear:

“As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.” 1 Corinthians 15:48, 49

Through the endless supply of grace heaven provides, we are assured that we shall “bear the image of the heavenly Man”—a promise of divine help that will enable us to overcome the tendencies of the natural heart and perfectly reflect the image of our Saviour.

[Emphasis supplied.]

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 Heavenly Citizen

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Heaven is a real place. Heaven is a good place. The Bible says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man [into your imagination] the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9. Heaven is an indescribable place.

Heaven will be a school. We are going to graduate from the school of Christ down here and then go on to a higher school in which the Lord Himself will be our teacher. The central location of this future school is the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 21 tells us heaven is a place where there is no more death or suffering or pain, no more sorrow or crying. There all tears will be wiped away. There will be no more funerals, and we will never again have to visit a hospital. We are told in Isaiah 60:21 that in heaven everyone will be righteous, and will inherit the land forever. Revelation 21:3 tells us that God Himself will be with us and will live with us. Revelation 22:4 says we will see His face. Revelation 22:1, 2 tell us that there is a river of water in this city called the river of life. On this river there is a tree of life with two trunks—one on each side of the river—coming together at the top as one tree, and it bears fruit every month.

First Corinthians 13 says that we will know as we are known and that we will again see the people we knew who died in Christ. God has a wonderful reunion planned for His children in heaven.

In heaven we will once again live the Eden life, the life in garden and field. “They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.” Isaiah 65:21. Heaven is a place where we will build homes and plant vineyards.

Paul says that in heaven God will do for us exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think, and forever God’s gifts will be given to His children. What we are in character and holy service here and now is a sure foreshadowing of what we shall be in heaven.

Speaking to the Christians of the Philippian church, Paul says, “Our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20. As a baptized member of the body of Christ, your name is written down in the book of life. You are a citizen of heaven and heaven is your future home.

Heaven has a very large population, the great majority of which are angels. Angels all have very important jobs. Most of them, as guardian angels, look after each and every person in the world. It doesn’t matter how much trouble and trial Satan and his host of evil angels may bring into our lives, our guardian angels are always there to protect and help. God will even dispatch an army of angels if that is what is needed to help us at any time. “The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.” Psalm 34:7.

Since the day we were born, our guardian angels have been by our sides and they will remain there even after death. Mrs. White tells us that our guardian angel will mark our resting places and protect them until Jesus comes. What loving care God has for His children! “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:10–12

Angels are not the only citizens of heaven actually in heaven today. Enoch, Elijah, Moses and those who were resurrected when Jesus rose from the grave (Mathew 27:52, 53) are all in heaven right now. And, of course, God is there (Ecclesiastes 5:2) and Jesus, too. Remember what Jesus told His troubled disciples before He left, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions [permanent dwellings]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1–3. That has been the Christian’s hope ever since Jesus left. Jesus is coming back and when He does, He will take all of His children to heaven where they will live with Him.

Paul was talking about this in Hebrews 12:22, 24, first part, when he said, “You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, … to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant.” If you have been baptized, your citizenship is in heaven right now, and if you are saved, then one day you will become a physical inhabitant of heaven.

Let’s look at the characteristics of the heavenly citizen:

  1. As heavenly citizens, we will associate every day with angels, so it is important that we be like them in character. “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.” Psalm 103:20. Angels obey God’s word. They listen to what God says and they do what He says to do. So if we are to be fellow citizens with angels, we will obey God’s word and do whatever He says to do. In heaven, God’s will is always done. Since the expulsion of Satan and his angels, not one angel in heaven ever says, “I don’t think I want to do what the Lord wants me to do today.” So if we are to be citizens of heaven and live with the angels, we, too, must have a character that will always do God’s will.

Many scriptures in the Bible—James 1:22–25, Romans 15:18, Romans 1:5, 1 Peter 1:13–15, Isaiah 1:19 are a few—tell us that we must have this kind of character as we are living here today, if we expect to be ready to live in heaven. People all over the world question what God says. It all started in the Garden of Eden and has continued for 6,000 years. But in heaven, no one questions what God says. The only ones who ever did were cast out.

  1. If we want to be fellow citizens with the angels of God in heaven, we must make a public confession of Jesus Christ and become His disciples in this world. “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32, 33. “For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:38. “Also I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” Luke 12:8, 9. We cannot keep our love for God and obedience to His law a secret. We cannot keep from the world what He has done for us and is waiting to do for them. We accomplish this, in part, by being baptized. Jesus said in Mark 16:16, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”

But there is more. In The Desire of Ages, 357, Ellen White lists 13 ways in which people deny Jesus Christ in their lives. This number is significant because 13 is the number of rebellion in the Bible. Reading this will be like a punch in the stomach because we will realize just how many times we have actually denied Christ without even knowing it. All 13 of these actions must be overcome and removed from our lives. We must confess all 13 and be forgiven if we have any expectation of being in the kingdom of heaven.

“He who would confess Christ must have Christ abiding in him. He cannot communicate that which he has not received. The disciples might speak fluently on doctrines, they might repeat the words of Christ Himself; but unless they possessed Christlike meekness and love, they were not confessing Him. A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ would deny Him, whatever the profession. Men may deny Christ by evilspeaking, by foolish talking, by words that are untruthful or unkind. They may deny Him by shunning life’s burdens, by the pursuit of sinful pleasure. They may deny Him by conforming to the world, by uncourteous behavior, by the love of their own opinions, by justifying self, by cherishing doubt, borrowing trouble, and dwelling in darkness. In all these ways they declare that Christ is not in them. And ‘whosoever shall deny Me before men,’ He says, ‘him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven.’ ”

My dear friends, I’ve never read that paragraph but that I say, “Lord, help me. I want to be transformed in character so that Christ can confess me before the angels of heaven so that I can be taken to be a fellow citizen of the angels.”

  1. We must be holy if we are to be citizens of heaven. “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.” Matthew 25:31. “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’ ” 1Peter 1:13–16. Paul says in Hebrews 12:14, “Pursue … holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” We must become holy for God has chosen us “before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Ephesians 1:4

Holiness involves body, mind, and spirit, your soul, everything. In 2 Corinthians 7:1 Paul says, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit.” “God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” 1 Thessalonians 4:7. Quoting Leviticus, 1 Peter 1:16 says, “Be holy, for I am holy.” But how can anyone as wretched as we human beings are, become holy?

God allows trials and troubles to come to His children and in this way, they become partakers of His holiness. “You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:4–11.

Most people feel that the process of being made holy is too hard. They’d rather just be taken to heaven the way they are and changed when they get there. But God wants us to be in heaven and He knows the only way we can be is if we become partakers of His holiness. Only in this way will we ever be able to understand what holiness really is. Our troubles will differ from person to person, but the Lord is there to provide the help necessary to become overcomers.

A holy person will always be in harmony with and obedient to God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 7:12 that God’s law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. If the law is holy and we are holy people, then we will be in harmony with the law.

  1. If we are going to be a citizen of heaven, we must have the Enoch experience. “No unpleasant words are spoken in heaven. There no unkind thoughts are cherished; envy, evil surmising, hatred, and strife find no place there. Perfect harmony pervades the heavenly courts.

“Well does Satan know what heaven is, and what the influence of the angels is. His work is to bring into every family the cruel elements of self-will, harshness, selfishness. Thus he seeks to destroy the happiness of the family. He knows that the spirit governing in the home will be brought into the church.” The Upward Look, 163. Not one unpleasant word, throughout all eternity, will be spoken in heaven. To be ready to live forever in a place where nothing unpleasant is spoken, do you think we should be preparing how we speak now in our homes, at work, in church? The here and now is our practice ground where we learn either how to go to heaven or how to go to hell. How we act, what we say, how we think when no one is watching will tell the whole universe what our real character is like.

  1. In heaven everyone seeks the happiness of those around them. “In heaven none will think of self, nor seek their own pleasure; but all, from pure, genuine love, will seek the happiness of the heavenly beings around them. If we wish to enjoy heavenly society in the earth made new, we must be governed by heavenly principles here.” Counsels for the Church, 80

“Everything in heaven is noble and elevated. All seek the interest and happiness of others. No one devotes himself to looking out and caring for self. It is the chief joy of all holy beings to witness the joy and happiness of those around them.” Heaven, 143

“Angels are ever engaged in working for the happiness of others. This is their joy. That which selfish hearts would regard as humiliating service, ministering to those who are wretched and in every way inferior in character and rank, is the work of sinless angels. The spirit of Christ’s self-sacrificing love is the spirit that pervades heaven and is the very essence of its bliss. This is the spirit that Christ’s followers will possess.” Steps to Christ, 77

The spirit of self-sacrificing love—the spirit of Jesus—will be the essence of heaven. It was this spirit of self-sacrifice that led Jesus to say, “I cannot stay here. I cannot enjoy myself as the Majesty of heaven, as Ruler of the universe while My children are lost.” So He laid it all down and left it behind to become a man so that He could show us how to live, and then He sacrificed His life so that the penalty for sin was paid and we would have a way to become citizens of heaven.

We must study the life of Christ daily if we are to learn how to obtain this self-sacrificing spirit. And make no mistake, we must learn it and possess it if we are to share the home of the redeemed.

  1. In heaven everyone will keep the Sabbath. “ ‘It shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:23.

Every citizen of heaven will come together on God’s Sabbath day and worship Him who made heaven and earth, and who gave His life for us. As Seventh-day Adventists, every single part of our worship service is derived from Bible study so that we can know what God expects when we gather to worship Him. We sing as part of our worship service because the angels sing praises to God in heaven. If we are seeking to be citizens of heaven we, too, must be singing praises from the heart to our God. We must come with thanksgiving when we worship for all the things He has done for us and given to us—the very roof over our head, the food on the table, our job, our family. When was the last time you really took the time to thank Him for everything He has done?

Here on earth, we ask the Holy Spirit to come and speak to us, to lead and guide us in the way we must go if we are to be citizens of heaven. We say, “Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.” (1 Samuel 3:9), and if our hearts have been made holy, if we have the character of angels, if we have removed from our lives anything, everything, that would keep us from confessing Christ, then the Holy Spirit will speak to us.

But think of it, once we are in heaven, we will be able to hear for ourselves, directly from God Himself, what He has to say to us. We will be able to sit at the feet of Jesus and ask Him to tell us again the story of our redemption. The redeemed will never come to a worship service without being blessed. God loves to bless His people, and He wants to make us fellow citizens with the angels. He is trying to get us ready.

Here in this world when something good happens a man might say, “I’m in heaven.” This is a descriptive response to a delightful or blissful feeling that comes to him, but does not indicate that he has gone to a physical place.

In fact, once Satan, sinners, and sin have all been wiped away in this world and God has established His kingdom once and for all time on the purified new earth, earth will become heaven because heaven is where God is. It is a place where all is new and fresh, with an atmosphere that is glorious and perfect, where all the citizens of heaven, angel and saint alike, will raise their voices in eternal praise and thanksgiving to God. And the best thing we can know is that we can have heaven here, because we can have Jesus in our hearts while we look forward to living forever in this heavenly place with Him.

[Emphasis supplied.]

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 – About Not Giving Up

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Abraham Lincoln failed in romance, business, and politics, but today, he is remembered as one of the greatest men—greatest presidents—of all time. Imagine what would have happened if he had given up.

Thomas Edison’s teachers thought him to be a failure in school and that he would never amount to much. But Edison had a quality of mind his teachers didn’t see—he didn’t give up. He said, “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” In spite of many failures, he succeeded in perfecting and patenting the first electric light and pioneering public electricity in New York City.

We need this same tenacity and persistence in the endeavor to be fit to receive the gift of eternal life and immortality when Jesus comes. “ ‘Strive,’ said Jesus, ‘to enter in at the strait gate’ (Luke 13:24). … All his endeavors will be in vain if he has not virtue of character, a practical knowledge of Christ through obedience to all His requirements. Those who have faith must be careful to show their faith by their works.

“It is common for men and women to speak of themselves as Christians whose whole claim lies in the assuming of the name. They do not reveal that they are partakers of the divine nature. They do not reveal love for Jesus or for religious things. As far as their words and their spirit and their character are concerned, no one would suspect they were Christians. Their assent to the truth has no virtue. This counts for nothing in the sight of God.

“True faith works by love and purifies the soul. Truth is an active, working principle, molding heart and life so that there is a constant upward movement.” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 19, 340, 341