Issue: 2003 May

Mother-Love, God-Love

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We equate mothers with active, giving love. We use the word mother as a verb, as in, “Look at that cat mothering her kittens.” Mothers who cease exhibiting active and giving love are unofficially stripped of that title by on-lookers, as in, “She’s not fit to be called a mother.” Fair or not, realistic or not, our expectations of mother-love are high and border on God-like quality.

Now, no human being can be God. Even the most loving mother will have her faults, but mothers have historically performed some act or made some sacrifice as to be an earthly example of divine love. Mother-love, in its ideal, can help us understand God-love.

A Personal Love

Mother-love is personal. There is an immediate bond between mother and child. There are stories from large hospitals with large nurseries that there may be eight or ten newborn babies crying and yet many a mother can recognize if her baby is one of them! Is that not like God-love? We are told that He will hear our cries. (Exodus 22:23.)

It has been reported that mothers could recognize their babies just by touching the back of their hands. A study was done with mothers who had been caring for their newborn babies for only one week. Blindfolded, they were asked to feel the backs of the hands of three infants. With 70 percent accuracy they were able to pick out their own baby!

There is no touch like a mother’s! In the family it is the mother who kisses a hurt to make it go away. It is her cool hand that soothes a fevered brow.

God-love is a very personal love also. With God we are more than a number, more than just another face in the crowd. Jesus told us, in Matthew 10:30, that He even knows the number of hairs on our head! Jesus’ touch healed the sick and the lame. His touch brought sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf. When God-love touches you, it will affect eternally your life. “It is as the Spirit of God touches the soul that the powers of the soul are quickened and man becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 3, 1074.

Does Not Quit

Mother-love is a love that does not quit. A mother took her six-year-old boy into a doctor’s crowded waiting room. As they waited their turn, he began to ask her all kinds of questions. In half an hour he managed to cover almost every subject known to humanity. To the wonder of all the others sitting in the room, his mother answered each question carefully and patiently. Inevitably, he got around to God. As the other people listened to his relentless “hows” and “whys,” it was plain to see by the expressions on their faces that they wondered: “How does she stand it?” But when she answered her son’s next question, she answered theirs too. “Why,” he asked, “doesn’t God ever get tired and just stop?”

“Because,” she replied after a moment’s thought, “God is love; and love never gets tired.”

Witness the patient, tireless love of mother-love and you witness God-love. God-love never gets tired. God-love never quits.

Protector

“How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings . . . .” Matthew 23:37. The story is told of a man who was looking over the charred remains of his farm after a terrible fire. He noticed a lump of something in the barnyard that was still moving. He kicked it and from underneath came a little chick. That mother hen had faced the fire and had given her life to protect the chick. That is how God described Himself, “How often would I have gathered thy children . . . .”

One of the best-known examples of a mother’s desire to protect her child is given in Exodus 2:1–10. What mother-love was exhibited by the mother of Moses, that she would hide him away for three months to preserve his life then place him in an “ark of bulrushes,” trusting God to watch over him!

God-love is evidenced in His desire to protect us. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, [He is] my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, [and] from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.” Psalm 91:1–4.

Mom’s Law

In their mother-love, mothers seem to take on an extra-ordinary wisdom about many subjects. Surely many of us remember things we were told, such as:

  • Medicine: If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they’re going to stay that way!
  • Humor: When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.
  • Our Roots: Do you think you were born in a barn?
  • Anticipation: Just wait till your father gets home!
  • Receiving: You are going to get it when we get home.
  • Nutrition: If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.
  • Maturing: When you get my age, you’ll understand.

But more importantly, may we remember the godly admonitions given in mother-love. We are told, in Proverbs 6:20 to “forsake not the law of thy mother.”

Recently an essay called “The Meanest Mother in the World” caught my eye. In part, it read: “I had the meanest mother in the world. While other kids had candy for breakfast, I had to eat my cereal and toast. While other kids had cakes and candy for lunch, I had a sandwich. As you can guess, my supper was different than other kids’ supper too. My mother was so mean that she insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You’d think we were in a prison or something. She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing. I am ashamed to admit this, but my mother actually had the nerve to break the child labor laws. She made us work. We had to wash dishes, make the beds, and learn how to cook and clean. I think my mother must have stayed awake at night thinking of things for us to do. And she insisted that we tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. She never let me get away with anything. By the time we were teenagers, my mother was even wiser, and our lives became even more unbearable. She would embarrass us by insisting that our friends come to the door instead of honking the car horn for us to come running. And she always insisted that we be home early on school nights and never let us stay out late on weekends like all our friends. Mother was so mean that she would not let us date at the mature age of 13 or 14, like so many of our friends. She kept telling us that there was a lot of time, and that we needed to grow up a bit first. Mother really raised a bunch of squares. None of us was arrested for shoplifting or busted for dope. And who do we have to thank for this? You’re right, our mean, old mother.”

Oh, for more such “mean” mothers! To obey our mother’s godly teaching is to honor her as commanded in Exodus 20:12.

Just as the writer of the above essay benefited from following his mother’s instruction and laws, we will benefit from God-love as we daily obey His Law. “The principles of God’s law will dwell in the heart, and control the actions. It will then be as natural for us to seek purity and holiness, to shun the spirit and example of the world, and to seek to benefit all around us, as it is for the angels of glory to execute the mission of love assigned them.” Sons and Daughters of God, 51.

Sacrificial Love

“You have probably heard of the sad story of the mother who, with her husband and child, attempted to cross the Green Mountains in midwinter. Their progress was arrested by night and a storm. The husband went for help and lost his way in the darkness and the drifted snow, and was long in returning. The mother felt the chill of death coming upon her, and she bared her bosom to the freezing blast and the falling snow, that she might give all that remained of her own life to save that of her child. When the morning came, the living babe was found wrapped in the mother’s shawl, vainly striving with smiles and with a babe’s pretty art to arrest the attention of the mother’s fixed and frozen eye, and wondering why she did not awaken from her sleep.

“Here is seen love stronger than death, that binds the mother’s heart to her child.” This Day With God, 230.

Such mother-love is surpassed only by the God-love that sent His only Son that we may have life eternal. “We are not to entertain the idea that God loves us because Christ has died for us, but that He so loved us that He gave His only-begotten Son to die for us.” The Signs of the Times, May 30, 1895.

Welcome Home

The story is told of a godly mother in London whose daughter had run off into a life of sin. This mother went to her pastor with a burdened heart, not knowing what to do. Her pastor asked her to go home and get as many photographs of herself that she could find and bring them to him. When she returned with the photos, he wrote at the bottom of each one this simple message: “Come Home.” He then placed them all around the city in the places of sin where he thought the girl might go.

One night the wayward girl entered a bar only to find a picture of her mother and the message, “Come Home.” When she read the message, she knew her mother meant it. She knew her mother loved her and would forgive her.

She made her way back home, and as she opened the door, her mother greeted her with her arms outstretched. The girl’s mother cried out, “The door has never been locked. I have been looking for you, watching for you, and praying for you.” What unconditional mother-love!

God also desires us to “Come Home.” Ellen White wrote: “The great God, whose glory shines from the heavens, and whose divine hand upholds millions of worlds, is our Father. We have only to love Him, trust in Him, as little children in faith and confidence, and He will accept us as His sons and daughters, and we shall be heirs to all the inexpressible glory of the eternal world. All the meek will He guide in judgment, the meek will He teach His way. If we will walk in obedience to His will, learn cheerfully and diligently the lessons of His providence, by and by He will say: Child, come home to the heavenly mansions I have prepared for you.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 653. What marvelous God-love!

Essential

Mothers come in all different shapes and sizes, but they all come with mother-love! It is essential for us to recognize that this mother-love can give us a glimpse of God-love—love that is personal; love that never quits; love that is patient; love that protects; love that welcomes us home.

Anna Schultz writes from her home near Sedalia, Colorado. She may be contacted by e-mail at JSchu67410@aol.com.

Seven Habits of an Effective Immune System, Part I

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Was the plan of salvation an afterthought, or was it already planned in eternity past? As soon as there was sin, there was the plan of salvation. Before God created any thing, there was already a plan intact, in case the delicate balance of heaven would be disturbed. God had a plan. God is always working things out in the future, and as I study the spiritual principles of health, it is the same in the physical world. There is an intimate relationship between the spiritual and the physical.

I study physiology primarily from the Bible. I have been to school, and I have studied physiology and anatomy, but I became very bored. When I began to study from the Word of God and saw the plan of redemption, it made more sense to me.

Endangered Species

I want to share with you the seven habits of an effective immune system. We live in a world that is overwhelmed with toxins—emotional toxins, environmental toxins, and food toxins. Ellen White wrote that if Adam had not been created with twenty times the vital force than we have now, you and I, with our present day living, would have been extinct long ago. (See Conflict and Courage, 21.) We can think about the manatee, the spotted owl, and other endangered species, but human beings are the most endangered species on the face of the earth. Our environment, everything we do, is all stressed. God in His infinite wisdom provided one of the most amazing internal defense systems to preserve us from the onslaught of external pressures.
He is not going to let man destroy himself; He is going to have an upright people in the midst of all of this confusion. So let us explore the seven habits of the effective immune system.

Owner’s Manual

Our foundation text is, “Know ye that the Lord he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3. There are many people who do not know that God is our Creator. They could be agnostic or atheist, but I want to leave the imprint on their minds that there is a Creator. He has given us an owner’s manual, the Bible, designed to help us know how to operate the product. There are also eight doctors on God’s staff, and those doctors are financially accessible to everybody. They are: Dr. Trust, Dr. Air, Dr. Exercise, Dr. Sunshine, Dr. Rest, Dr. Water, Dr. Nutrition, and Dr. Temperance.

In Psalm 119:73 we are told that God does not want us to just have mere theory, but He wants us to have understanding—that includes understanding this system that God has given us. “A prudent [man] foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.” Proverbs 22:3. The word prudent means wise, so our text is telling us that a wise man foreseeth evil and hides himself. What does that mean to us? It means that a wise man will avoid danger. You have probably heard of court cases dealing with the tobacco companies. They are in serious trouble, because people who have lost loved ones to cancer and other tobacco-related diseases are suing the tobacco companies for being responsible for those deaths. We know tobacco is an insidious weed—it is poison, but I have to go another step further. I tell people that we are the only smoking animals in the world. Dogs do not smoke; cats do not smoke; rabbits do not smoke. We know that tobacco is dangerous, but the tobacco companies did not take a gun and put it to the head of an individual and say, You better smoke. The person who chose to smoke is responsible, so why sue the tobacco company? Their time is going to come anyway. The Scripture says a wise man avoids danger. Then it continues, “but the simple pass on and they are punished.”

The word simple does not mean that they are stupid; it means that they are ignorant, they need to be educated. The Bible tells us that God will make the simple wise. Prevention is better than cure. David wrote, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made: marvellous [are] thy works; and [that] my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, [and] curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them.” Psalm 139:14–16. The Bible says that God saw the substance, which means matter or materials, of which we are made. That matter or substance came from the dust. He put that matter into the dust: the molecules and the atoms, the potassium, the magnesium, the zinc, and the copper. All of that is what God took to make us. David says, He saw all of that substance when it was not even perfect.

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee . . . .” Jeremiah 1:5. I am the eighth child of eight children. I was not supposed to be here because my sister, who is twelve years older than me, was supposed to be the baby. My mother was getting ready to go into menopause. But God said, I open the womb and I close the womb and the fruit of the womb is Mine. So when my mother was ready to take a pause, God said, one more time. You see, it takes something like 300 male sperm in order to produce the one that will win the prize, and out of those 300 male sperm, the one that endured to the end, had my name on it, because God said I was on His mind before Mom and Dad considered conceiving me. We are not here by accident; we are here by Providence, ordained in eternity.

We often get in the way of God working out His plan, but He is still on course, and He orchestrates circumstances according to His will. He allowed me to have arthritis for ten years to get me back on course. That is good news! I did not glory in the pain, but I thank God for arthritis.

Substance of Life

Since God knew us before our birth, and since He made us, as we look at the substance of which we are made, we notice that we are made up of cells—single cells. We are nothing but the assemblage of cells. The Bible tells us, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much.” Luke 16:10. We know what that means spiritually, but let us put it on a physiological level. The cell is the smallest unit of the human body—it is microscopic. This verse is telling me that if I learn how to take care of that single cell, my whole body will be healthy. We are as healthy as our cells.

If we are going to deal with behavior problems, we do not attack the behavior; we get to the root of the problem, which is a heart problem. If the heart is transformed, the behavior is going to be all right. So when we are dealing with health—with cancer or with diabetes—our focus is not on diabetes or cancer, it is dealing with the cells.

Foundation Destroyed

Notice this scenario. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3. We know what that means spiritually, but let us apply it to a physiological concept. The foundation of the human body is the cell. Cells make tissue; tissue makes organs; organs make up the systems, and the body is comprised of systems. Therefore, if I have cancer in the body (there are over 250 different types of cancer), wherever the cancer may be, I track it back to the system. It could be the digestive system; track it back to the organ and from there to the tissues, to the very cell membranes, and back to the cells. It is so simple. Remember, if it is complicated, it is not of God. That is why the plan of salvation is not complicated. The devil shrouds these simple things in mystery, so keep this in mind: cell, tissue, organs, system, and the body.

The cells are the foundation of the body. Healthy cells—healthy body. The health of the body is determined by the health of the cells. Sin affects us at a cellular level—at the heart level. We need a heart transplant, a heart renewal.

I am a brand plucked out of the fire from off the streets of Chicago, with brain cells destroyed as a result of drugs. It is amazing that God can take those brain cells and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, create new pathways across the synopsis so I can have my memory back. Being born again is the greatest miracle—not being free from cancer, but being born again and having a mind that has an affinity towards the throne of God. That is why I am in debt, and the only way I can pay my debt is to win souls for Jesus.

Body Systems in Bible

The Bible is the great medical book; it gives practical instruction on how to preserve the integrity of our bodies. The tribes of Jacob could be illustrative of the body systems. For example, the tribe of Judah, from which Jesus was a descendant, could represent the nervous system. The ladder with the angels ascending and descending represents communication with heaven—the central nervous system of the whole body. (Genesis 28:12.) Issachar, double burden bearer, could represent the support, the skeletal system. (Genesis 49:14.) If we look at the characteristics of the sons of Jacob, we can see physiological truths that impact the human body.

Gad could represent the immune system—the army. (Genesis 49:19.) The immune system is an amazingly intricate collection of specialized and not-so-specialized cells. The mission of the immune system is to identify and destroy foreign invaders before harm is done to the body. Disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites are detected upon entry, tagged for termination, and devoured by hungry immune system cells. They are marked—do you get the significance of that? When you study the Word of God, you will find that physiology runs all the way through it. The mission of the immune system is to identify and destroy.

“And of the Gadites there separated themselves unto David into the hold to the wilderness men of might, [and] men of war [fit] for the battle . . . .” 1 Chronicles 12:8. Gad was a troop, an army, men of might, men of war, fit for battle. Is the immune system an army? Yes it is.

Small but Mighty

We are also given the story where Elijah was called by God to destroy all of the prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 18.) So the immune system is designed to destroy every enemy that comes into the body. “One thousand [shall flee] at the rebuke of one.” Isaiah 30:17. The immune system only represents one percent of our entire system—small but mighty, keeping us alive.

Every moment cancer cells are developing in our systems. We all have cancer cells, because they are free radicals, present in the very air that we breathe. If it were not for the immune system, we would not be around. Adam had the immune system at creation, but he did not need it until sin entered. As soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour, and as soon as there was disease, the immune system went into operation.

The immune system is an army within. It has mobile soldiers that are constantly vigilant—not stagnant, not sitting still, not dozing off—but always alert. They are watchmen on the wall! They definitely know how to blow the trumpet. We have one trillion white blood cells throughout the whole system. The phagocytes, part of the vast immune system, are called the foot soldiers. They are moving through the blood system, monitoring, scouting, protecting, identifying, and if anything seems to be out of the norm, they themselves declare war.

The lymphocytes are part of what we call the T-cells. We know that all of the white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, but the T-cells are what we call the special troopers. They have a higher education in the thymus. They are the elite forces, specializing in attacking cancer and Aids. They are the Commander-in-Chief of the immune system. If we were going to take over a city, we would knock out its communication system. When Aids invades the body, it attacks the T-cells to knock out the communication system. When attacking a city, if we can get the watchmen off the wall, remove them from standing in the gap, then we can move in and take over. As in the church, when truth is not upheld and kept alive, Satan insinuates himself within. The lymphocytes destroy virus-infected cells, target cancer cells, and produce antibodies.

The immune system is involved with allergies and the auto-immune diseases, trying to preserve your life. If dust, wheat, and pollen caused allergies, we would all have allergies. Those items do not cause allergies. The problem with a person who has allergies is the immune system, and when the immune system is healthy, allergies will not be present. If you want to get rid of allergies, strengthen the immune system.

The body will produce its own antihistamines. You do not have to go to the drug store and buy antihistamines. Histamines occur when the body goes through a reaction, so we take a drug called antihistamine. The adrenal glands and the liver work together to produce antihistamines. If we take care of the immune system, God will bless us and preserve us, because He will have a people who will go through the seven last plagues.

Rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes are involved with the immune system. Aids is also involved with the immune system. I have been spending a lot of time focusing on cancer and Aids. There is hope for those who have Aids. A principle is involved here. God promises to write His Law into our inward parts and put it in our hearts. (Jeremiah 31:33.) Inward parts—every cell, every tissue, every organ—has God’s Law written on them with His own finger. Ellen White says, “His law is written with His own finger upon every nerve, every muscle, every faculty, which has been entrusted to man.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 17.

Like a Kingdom

The immune system is like a kingdom. When Nathan went to David to tell him the story of the man who had much but took from one who had little, what was David’s response? Kill him! Then Nathan said, “Thou art the man.” (11 Samuel 12:1–7.) If you knew of a king who had a large domain and every day he would order his soldiers to kill 10,000 of his subjects, what would you think about that king? You would think he was sick! I must tell you that today you are this king. Every day you kill thousands of your subjects in the immune system. Some of you may be doing it in ignorance, but there are others who do it willfully, knowingly.

God has given us this vast kingdom called the immune system. “How can one enter into a strong man’s house, . . . except he first bind the strong man?” Matthew 12:29. The immune system may be likened to the strong man. It is your defense, your strong man. The only way that cancer, a virus, Aids, or any other disease can get in is if the strong man is bound.

Four Enemy Parallels

There are four enemies to the immune system:

  1. Bacteria
  2. Virus
  3. Fungi
  4. Parasites

Bacterium, from a spiritual aspect, is blatant error. You cannot see it; you cannot smell it; it can grow on your spiritual food, and it can come into the church and proliferate. Allowing it to grow will bring spiritual darkness. “Where the message of divine truth is spurned or slighted, there the church will be enshrouded in darkness; faith and love grow cold, and estrangement and dissension enter.” The Great Controversy, 378, 379. In the physical world, bacteria can be on your food, in the water you drink, and in the air you breathe. One of the most deadly places to be is on an airplane—not because it may crash but because of the unhealthy environment.

A virus is the smallest living organism. They have to attach themselves to something; they need a host in which to thrive. That is like error and truth! A virus does not have a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic program “written” in a chemical substance). It has an RNA (ribonucleic acid). RNA occurs throughout the cell, while DNA is found mainly in the cell’s nucleus. It is hard to distinguish the virus from the regular cell. Just like the wheat and tares growing together—it may be difficult to distinguish the difference as they grow. We are told that they “shall grow together till the harvest, which is the end of the world. Then the tares are to be gathered out of the field; but they are not to be transformed by a mighty miracle into wheat. They are to remain tares, and are to be cast into the fire and utterly destroyed.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, 250. In Tennessee we have a grass called Johnson grass. When you plant corn, the corn and Johnson grass look just alike until they grow up. That is the way a virus is; it disguises itself as something good, but it will only result in destruction.

A fungus likes sweet stuff. Spiritually, it likes to hear sweet things, things that are pleasing. You cannot get rid of a fungus, if you continue to use sweet stuff. Diseases like Candida continue to grow, if you keep feeding it with sugar. The only way you can rid yourself of fungus is to give it something bitter. Truth can be bitter sometimes, but it is saving. It can deliver us. “He [God] gave His people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining. But those who receive it thus must have another draught, for the first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not effect the work, then they must have another, and another, until it does have its designed effect, or they will be left filthy, impure in heart. I saw that this bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will be honored and glorified.” Early Writings, 47.

Parasites live off of another organism. There are parasites in the church, of which Ellen White said: “Satan has wrought with deceiving power, bringing in a multiplicity of errors that obscure truth. Error could not stand alone, and would soon become extinct, if it did not fasten itself like a parasite upon the tree of truth. Error draws its life from the truth of God. The traditions of men, like floating germs, attach themselves to the truth of God, and men regard them as a part of the truth. Through false doctrines Satan gains a foothold, and captivates the minds of men, causing them to hold theories that have no foundation in truth. Men boldly teach for doctrines the commandments of men, and as traditions pass on from age to age, they acquire a power over the human mind. But age does not make error truth, neither does its burdensome weight cause the plant of truth to become a parasite. The tree of truth bears its own genuine fruit, showing its true origin and nature. The parasite of error also bears its own fruit, and makes manifest that its character is diverse from the plant of heavenly origin (Letter 43, 1895).” “Ellen G. White Comments,” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1094, 1095.

These are the enemies to the kingdom. “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12.

To be concluded . . .

Thomas Jackson is a Health Evangelist and Director of Missionary Education and Evangelistic Training (M.E.E.T.) Ministry in Huntingdon, Tennessee. He may be contacted by e-mail at godsplan@meetministry.org or by telephone at 731-986-3518.

He That Hath an Ear, Part I

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As the story goes, an elderly Christian man, who attended prayer meeting faithfully, consistently confessed the same things during prayer and testimony time. His prayer always went something like this: “O Lord, since last we gathered, the cobwebs have come between me and Thee. Clear away the cobwebs, that I may again see Thy face.”

One night, after the old man had prayed this prayer for the umpteenth time, another church member whispered to the person sitting next to him, “Why doesn’t he just ask the Lord to kill the spider?”

Good question! Several thoughts came to mind the first time I heard this story. First of all, is it not true that we allow too many things, usually trivial things, to come between our Saviour and ourselves? And secondly, have you ever noticed yourself getting into a habit of saying things that you do not even realize you are saying?

Words. What a powerful medium of communication! We can hardly drive down the street without being bombarded by words on signs. Turn on the radio and television and you are certain to hear lots of words. TV and radio marketers sell airtime, so advertisers can sell products to people who watch and listen. It is big business. It makes a lot of money and sells a lot of products. Time is money, and money is time. Squeeze as many words into as few seconds as possible. Do you realize that the rate of words coming at you from the radio and/or TV can be double or even higher than that of a normal conversation? Advertisers seem to count on an overload of auditory stimulation. Too much, too fast. The ears cannot hold on to it long enough to make sense of it, but it goes into the brain and is processed just the same. Scary thought, is it not? Powerful, nonetheless.

Strangers in Paradise

Despite what the evolutionists say, our ancestors did not slither out of oceanic slime. Neither were their earliest communications guttural grunts. I am so thankful that our Creator, the true God, has a wonderful plan for us. From the beginning, Adam and Eve held direct communion with God. They walked and talked with Him in the Garden. They spoke with Him face to face. How glorious that must have been, and how wonderful it will be for the redeemed in the earth made new to once again hold communion with Him, to walk and talk with God. Awesome!

Thankfully, there is yet time, though not much time, for us to consider these things. For the most part, we are still too much of this world. By our thoughts, by our actions, and especially by our words, we reveal to the universe what is in our hearts. It is from the abundance of our hearts that our mouths speak. (Luke 6:45; Matthew 12:34.)

Inspired Words

“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” 1 Peter 1:15.

Here are some words, written by the Pen of Inspiration for God’s people living in the last days of this earth’s history: “If ever a people needed to walk before God as did Enoch, Seventh-day Adventists need to do so now, showing their sincerity by pure words, clean words, words full of sympathy, tenderness, and love.” Testimonies, vol. 7, 155.

“Those who are occupied with earthly things, enjoy a low, cheap level, and their souls could not bear the purity of the saints in light. The conversation of heaven would be a language which they could not understand, and they could not endure the purity of infinite holiness.” The Signs of the Times, October 3, 1895.

“You do not know the sentiments and principles of heaven; its language is almost a strange language to you . . . .” Testimonies, vol. 5, 437.

” ‘Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom’ [James 3:13]. My brethren and sisters, how are you employing the gift of speech? Have you learned so to control the tongue that it shall ever obey the dictates of an enlightened conscience and holy affections? Is your conversation free from levity, pride and malice, deceit and impurity? Are you without guile before God? Words exert a telling power. Satan will, if possible, keep the tongue active in his service. Of ourselves we cannot control the unruly member. Divine grace is our only hope. Those who are eagerly studying how they may secure the pre-eminence, should study rather how they may gain that wisdom which is ‘first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy’ [verse 17]. He who has Christ formed within, the hope of glory, will ‘show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.’ ” The Signs of the Times, February 8, 1883.

“The light given me by the Word of God is that the speech needs to be converted and sanctified. The Lord requires that education should be given in the science of conversation. This faculty has been much abused and perverted. It has not been held as a precious gift from God, to be used to glorify His name. The words are a power for good or evil, a savor of life unto life, or of death unto death. Choice words must be spoken by those who would do service for Christ. Haphazard words, hasty, common words, talking for the sake of talking, when silence would be better, is a sin. . . . Manuscript 74, 1897.” The Voice in Speech and Song, 30, 31.

“I have heard loose language, careless, vulgar words, and slang phrases from the lips of parents. I have heard these words taken up and repeated by their children; and my heart has been pained; for I knew that these parents had sown the seed which Satan delights to cultivate. I knew that they had sown seeds that would produce a harvest of corruption. And oh, how Jesus is pained by the cruel work of these parents!” The Health Reformer, July 1, 1889.

Slanguage

“A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.” Proverbs 18:7.

In researching this topic, I spent some time at the library looking through the reference section. Surprisingly, they had several slang dictionaries. From these volumes, the following is a list of some slang words with their definitions. Many of them, such as darn, fooey, fudge, and screw, I choose not to print here.

slang: a cant clipped form of language; originally, the specialized vocabulary and idioms of those in the same type of work, way of life, etc.; now usually called “shop talk,” jargon, lingo. Colloquial language that is outside of conventional or standard usage and consists of both coined words (blurb, whoopee), and those with new or extended meanings (rubber-neck, sap, screw); slang develops from the attempt to find fresh and vigorous, colorful, pungent or humorous expression.

gee: corruption of Jesus; spoken as an oath or exclamation

gee whiz: euphemism for Jesus Christ

golly: corruption of God

gosh: corruption of God

guy: euphemism of God

heck: corruption of hell

jiminy cricket: euphemism of Jesus Christ

my goodness: vain corruption of “my God;” spoken as an oath or exclamation

shoot: euphemism for [expletive]

shucks: [expletive]

son-of-a-gun: euphemism for [expletive]

The servant of the Lord has much to say about the use of slang.

“The good man, from the good treasure of the heart, bringeth forth good things. [Matthew 12:35.] Why? Because Christ is an abiding presence in the soul. The sanctifying truth is a treasure-house of wisdom to all who practice the truth. As a living spring it is springing up unto everlasting life. The one who has not Christ abiding in his heart will indulge in cheap talk, exaggerated statements, that make mischief. The tongue that utters perverse things, common things, slang phrases, that tongue needs to be treated with the hot coals of juniper. Manuscript 17, 1895.” Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 2, 577.

“Let it be seen that your life is hid with Christ in God. Let there be no hasty speech, no cheap words, no slang phrases. Let it be demonstrated that you are conscious of a Companion whom you honor, and that you will not make Him ashamed of you. Only think, we are representatives of Jesus Christ! Then represent His character in words, in deportment. . . .” That I May Know Him, 198.

Offerings to Satan?

“An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” Proverbs 16:27.

“Unless we control our words and temper, we are slaves to Satan. We are in subjection to him. He leads us captive. All jangling and unpleasant, impatient, fretful words are an offering presented to his satanic majesty. And it is a costly offering, more costly than any sacrifice we can make for God; for it destroys the peace and happiness of whole families, destroys health, and is eventually the cause of forfeiting an eternal life of happiness.” The Adventist Home, 437.

“Among the members of many families there is practiced the habit of saying loose, careless things; and the habit of tantalizing, of speaking harsh words, becomes stronger and stronger as it is indulged, and thus many objectionable words are spoken that are after Satan’s order and not after the order of God. . . . Burning words of passion should never be spoken, for in the sight of God and holy angels they are as a species of swearing.” Ibid., 439.

“Of the unsanctified tongue the apostle James writes: ‘The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.’ Satan puts into the minds thoughts which the Christian should never utter. The scornful retort, the bitter, passionate utterance, the cruel, suspicious charge, are from him. How many words are spoken that do only harm to those who utter them and to those who hear! Hard words beat upon the heart awaking to life its worst passions. Those who do evil with their tongues, who sow discord by selfish, jealous words, grieve the Holy Spirit; for they are working at cross-purposes with God.” Review and Herald, May 12, 1910.

Happy The Home

There is no other place on earth where our true characters are more fully exposed than in our very own homes. In the book, The Adventist Home, Chapter 71 is devoted entirely to “Speech,” and it would do us well to spend time in serious contemplation of the counsel found therein.

“Unhappiness is often caused by an unwise use of the talent of speech. The word of God does not authorize anyone to speak harshly, thereby creating disagreeable feelings and unhappiness in the family. The other members of the family lose their respect for the one who speaks thus, when if he would restrain his feelings, he might win the confidence and affection of all.” The Adventist Home, 437.

“Hard words beat upon the heart through the ear, awakening to life the worst passions of the soul and tempting men and women to break God’s commandments. . . . Words are as seeds which are planted.” Ibid., 439.

“The husband or the wife may utter words that are liable to provoke a hasty reply, but let the one who is spoken to keep silence. In silence there is safety. Often silence is the severest rebuke that could be given to the one who has sinned with his lips . . . .” Ibid., 442.

“Words that intimidate, creating fear and expelling love from the soul, are to be restrained . . . .” Ibid., 308.

“A lack of courtesy, a moment of petulance, a single rough, thoughtless word, will mar your reputation, and may close the door to hearts so that you can never reach them.” Ibid., 38

“Passionate words sow seeds that produce a bad crop which no one will care to garner. Our own words have an effect upon our character, but they act still more powerfully upon the characters of others. The infinite God alone can measure the mischief that is done by careless words. These words fall from our lips, and we do not perhaps mean any harm; yet they are the index of our inward thoughts, and work on the side of evil. What unhappiness has been produced by the speaking of thoughtless, unkind words in the family circle! Harsh words rankle in the mind, it may be for years, and never lose their sting. As professed Christians, we should consider the influence our words have upon those with whom we come into association, whether they are believers or unbelievers. Our words are watched, and mischief is done by thoughtless utterances. No after association with believers or unbelievers will wholly counteract the unfavorable influence of thoughtless, foolish words. Our words evidence the manner of food upon which the soul feeds.” The Youth’s Instructor, June 27, 1895.

I Want to Be Like Jesus

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight . . . .” Psalm 19:14.

Before we leave the subject of the incorrect use of the tongue, it is important for us to take a look at our Example. So often I hear people say “I just want to be like Jesus.” And this is good. Unfortunately, we seldom have the proper understanding of Jesus. Most people want us to believe that Jesus never raised His voice, that He never rebuked anyone. Inspiration says differently.

Speaking of John, the Son of Thunder, “Jesus rebuked this self-seeking, disappointed his ambitions, tested his faith.” The Acts of the Apostles, 539.

“Jesus rebuked the disciples and commanded the crowd to make way for these faithful mothers with their little children . . . .” The Adventist Home, 273.

“Jesus rebuked his disciples, saying ‘Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of . . . .’ ” Review and Herald, February 15, 1881.

Of course, there are also many accounts where Jesus rebuked the religious leaders of His day, the scribes, Pharisees, priests, etc.

“The scribes and Pharisees claimed to be invested with divine authority similar to that of Moses. They assumed to take his place as expounders of the law and judges of the people. As such they claimed from the people the utmost deference and obedience. Jesus bade His hearers do that which the rabbis taught according to the law, but not to follow their example. They themselves did not practice their own teaching.

“And they taught much that was contrary to the Scriptures. Jesus said, ‘They bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.’ [Matthew 23:4.] The Pharisees enjoined a multitude of regulations, having their foundation in tradition, and unreasonably restricting personal liberty. And certain portions of the law they so explained as to impose upon the people observances which they themselves secretly ignored, and from which, when it served their purpose, they actually claimed exemption.” The Desire of Ages, 612.

“The Lord Jesus rebuked the Pharisees, likening them to sepulchers that do not appear, hidden from sight, but full of corruption. The Lord hates all deception, secrecy, and guile. This is Satan’s work; the work of God is open and frank.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 274.

“Many who listened to the teachings of Christ said, ‘Never man spake like this man.’ [John 7:46.] But his words, that comforted, strengthened, and blessed the needy, that were as bread to the hungering soul, were as bitterness to the scribes and Pharisees. . . .

“Jesus spoke as one having knowledge and authority. The denunciation he uttered against the Jews condemned their formalism and hypocrisy. His scathing rebukes and denunciation of formalism have the same force today as they had in the days of the scribes and Pharisees, and apply to those who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.” Sabbath School Worker, December 1, 1894.

Some of the most memorable incidents were when Jesus pronounced woes upon the scribes and Pharisees, and when He cleared the temple—twice. I have actually had people try to convince me that Jesus did not raise His voice nor demonstrate any passion while doing this. However, to the contrary, in many places Inspiration recounts the scenes of Jesus’ words and actions in vivid detail:

“Dishonest dealing was practiced by the men who brought cattle to sell in the temple courts; but the word of command was given; divinity flashed through humanity, and not trafficker or priest in his gorgeous dress looking on that countenance dared to remain. In haste all fled from the temple courts. Now under the symbol of the blighted tree Christ presents before His disciples the righteous anger of God in the destruction of Jerusalem.” The Signs of the Times, February 15, 1899.

“Divinity flashed through humanity, and the evil one could not resist the authority of the divine voice, as Jesus said, ‘Get thee behind me, Satan; for it is written . . . .’ ” Review and Herald, October 29, 1895.

“In His weakness, Christ laid hold of God. Divinity flashed through humanity. Christ stood revealed as the commander of heaven, and His words were the words of One who has all power . . . .” The Signs of the Times, December 10, 1902.

“His divinity flashed out before them with unmistakable power . . . .” Prophets and Kings, 712.

“Divinity flashed through humanity, and the soldiers were powerless before him . . . .” Review and Herald, July 12, 1892.

“There was a restraint upon these rulers [Pharisees]. They did not dare to do the things they longed to do; for divinity flashed through humanity as he spoke to the people . . . .” The Youth’s Instructor, September 30, 1897.

“As Jesus looked upon the people, it seemed to them that He read their very souls. Divinity flashed through humanity. There was indignation and anger in His look because of their hypocrisy and the hardness of their hearts. He hated their duplicity, their ingenious methods for resisting truth and righteousness. . . .” Review and Herald, August 10, 1897.

“As the eye of Jesus swept over the scene of busy traffic, divinity flashed through His humanity. He ‘cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.’ [Matthew 21:12, 13.] The traffic suddenly stopped, and the throng of buyers and sellers fled as though a company of armed men were pursuing them.” The Signs of the Times, August 6, 1885.

“Divinity flashed through the garb of humanity. When Christ had made a scourge of small cords, ‘he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.’ [John 2:15.] He drove out the sacrilegious robbers, saying, ‘It is written.’ [Luke 19:46.]” Ibid., September 16, 1897.

Speaking of the second cleansing of the temple, Ellen White wrote: “the priests and rulers fled as if pursued by an armed band of soldiers, or by the presence of an offended God.” Ibid., February 10, 1898.

“Christ came suddenly into the temple courts; divinity flashed through humanity, and, raising a whip of small cords in his hands, with a voice that they will hear again in the execution of the judgment, he said, ‘Take these things hence.’ [John 2:16.] . . . These priests and rulers saw as it were an avenging angel with a flaming sword, such as guarded the way to the tree of life.” Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers, No. 7, 54.

“Twice Christ’s displeasure was evidenced against them. Divinity flashed through humanity, and he drove out the buyers and sellers from the temple courts. . . . It was here divinity flashed through humanity, and the priests and rulers fled from before Him; for there was as the appearance of a flashing sword, turning every way like the sword to guard the tree of life.” Pamphlet 146, 28, 17.

[All emphasis supplied.]

To be concluded . . .

Are You a Stable Christian?

by

Let him [who lacks wisdom] ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man [is] unstable in all his ways.” James 1:6– 8.

It is important that we become stable Christians. Our experience really is not a Christian experience, if we are being tossed to and fro, being controlled by the circumstances around us, or conforming ourselves to fit whatever situation in which we are found. A person who seeks to follow his own will, while professing to follow the will of God, is a double-minded man. A double-minded person knows the claims and the promises of God, yet fails to do them. He knows what God says, but he refuses to do it. James says such a person is unstable in all of his ways, and he is not going to receive anything from the Lord. James says, “let him ask in faith.” Faith is the necessary element we need to keep ourselves stable. In this article, we will look at a couple of other things that will also help us keep stable.

“For ye have need of patience [endurance], that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” Hebrews 10:36. Are you going to receive the promise if you refuse to do the will of God? No! “The just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” Verse 38. We need to be stable. We must become stable Christians, so no matter what situation we are in, we will act like a Christian. As I was thinking about this, I realized an example in my daily life. I battle with allergies. Like Paul’s thorn in the flesh (11 Corinthians 12:7), I feel like allergies are a thorn in my flesh. Sometimes they get so bad that I have to lie down with a cool washcloth on my face. But that is no excuse for me to not have a smile on my face. Nothing should keep us from having a smile on our face; we should not be gloomy Christians at any time. There are some times to be solemn, but not when we are under the infirmities of our bodies.

Conforming

If I were to take a pitcher of water and pour some of it into a round glass and pour the remaining into a square container, what would happen to that water? It would be conformed to the shape of the container. Remember what James said. A man who is unstable in all of his ways is like a wave of the sea— tossed to and fro. In its liquid form, water is unstable. Jacob told his son, Reuben, “Thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel.” Genesis 49:3, 4.

Do you ever find yourself being conformed to the circumstances in which you find yourself? If someone gets angry with you, do you immediately want to lash out at them? If some of your friends are telling jokes around you, will you soon be doing the same thing? We become unstable as water, conforming, just like water, to the shape that is around us. We become like the people with whom we associate. God does not want us to remain in that condition. He wants us to be stable in every circumstance. In every way He wants us to show forth that we are Christians, not in profession only, but in living faith in Christ.

God tells us what His ideal is for each one of us: that “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” Ephesians 4:13, 14. God’s will for us is to be the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. When we obtain that goal, we will be like Christ in character. Jesus never once compromised in difficult situations while He was here on this earth. Even when He knew that the people were going to try to kill Him, to stone Him, He did not compromise His principles. ( John 10:31–39.) Never once! He never conformed to the situation around Him; He was stable; He was solid as a rock in every situation, and friends, that is the way you and I have to be. That is what the Lord wants to make of us, if we are willing to be made willing. Never once did Jesus compromise one principle in a given situation, even though it cost Him His life.

Broaden the Path

Notice what the Lord is going to provide for us, so we can be stable: “Thou hast broadened my path beneath me; so that my feet do not slip.” 11 Samuel 22:37 (Hebrew text). If I were to walk on top of the back of a church pew, how stable would I be? How about if I step down and walk on the pew seat, which is going to be more stable? God said He was going to broaden the path beneath our feet that our feet do not slip. We want to find out how the Lord is going to do that.

When hiking in the Grand Canyon in Arizona, I discovered that you sometimes must walk along sheer cliffs, and sometimes the path gets very narrow. At those times, you find yourself being more careful about where you put your feet. You slow your pace down. As the path broadens, you pick up your pace again. This is what the Lord wants to do for us.

God wants us to have stability; He wants us to be stable Christians. He wants to enlarge the path beneath us, so we are on solid ground—not on shaky ground, not on narrow ground, but on solid ground. “Hold up my goings in thy paths, [that] my footsteps slip not.” Psalm 17:5. Do you want to have an experience where you never slip in your personal experience? That is what God has promised us in Jude 24. He is able to keep us faultless and present us blameless before the throne of God. That is what He is able to do for us, if we are willing to be made willing. He will broaden our path beneath us, so we are on solid ground, not wavering, not tossed to and fro, not conformed into whatever situation we are in, and not compromising, and no matter what our situation, we will be faithful Christians just as Jesus was.

“It is a perilous thing to allow an unchristian trait to live in the heart. One cherished sin will, little by little, debase the character, bringing all its nobler powers into subjection to the evil desire.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 452. That is powerful. Just one sin cherished will debase the entire character. Friends, we have to be searching our hearts. Is there one sin that we are refusing to give up, one defect of character that we refuse to change? If we continue to refuse to surrender these things to the Lord, we will become unstable and our whole character will be debased. “The removal of one safeguard from the conscience, the indulgence of one evil habit, one neglect of the high claims of duty, breaks down the defenses of the soul and opens the way for Satan to come in and lead us astray.” Ibid. All of a sudden we are going to find ourselves on shaky ground, on a narrow path, becoming as unstable as water. There is a safeguard, a way for the Lord to enlarge our path: “The only safe course is to let our prayers go forth daily from a sincere heart, as did David.” Ibid. Prayer is going to broaden the path beneath us; it is going to give us stability, and it is going to give us solid ground upon which to walk.

Power of Prayer

How many of us have learned how to pray? The disciples had been with Jesus for almost three years when they came to Him and asked Him to teach them to pray. How many of us spend time in prayer—not just in formal, five minute prayers, but down on our knees agonizing with God? The Bible tells us we are supposed to pray without ceasing. (See Luke 18.) If our heart is not lifted up in an attitude of prayer all day long, the devil is going to find an entrance into our heart. Friends, how many of us have learned, in our closets, in that secret place where we go to meet with the Lord every morning, how to overcome sin?

Jesus gave us an example of prayer. After the disciples asked Him to teach them to pray (see Luke 11) He gave an example of a man who kept coming to his neighbor’s door asking for food for some people he needed to feed. Did that man go away after the first time? No, it says that he kept coming back again and again. He was persistent. How many of us pray and agonize for the Holy Spirit every day? Without the Holy Spirit, we are not going to be saved. How many of us do not get off our knees until we have the strength that we desire of the Lord? As Christians, I think that we get off our knees too soon. We go through our normal routine, praying for people and situations, which is good, but how many of us stop and ask ourselves, Am I strengthened by this prayer? Do I have His Spirit living within my heart? Do you stay on your knees until that happens? Most of us do not, and we are not strengthened by the Lord; we do not have the blessing that we desire. Jacob did not give up. He said, I will not give up until I receive your blessing. (See Genesis 32.) We need to keep agonizing and agonizing until the break of day, until that light shines into our hearts just as it did for Jacob.

Sin is not to have dominion over us, friends. The only way that we are going to keep from sin is to have our minds lifted up to the Lord in prayer. That will broaden our path and give us stability, because God will continually guide us.

In the Bible, we are given the example of Christ spending all night in prayer. (See Luke 6:12.) The reason He was braced for conflict and did not become unstable or compromise His principles is because He often spent whole nights in prayer. He was not going to get off His knees until He had the desired strength to meet the conflicts for the next day. That was Christ’s strength, and since He is our example in all things, we should pray more than we do. I am not suggesting that we spend every night in prayer, for I know that we have to sleep, but if there is a crisis in our lives or some sin in our lives “The only safe course is to let our prayers go forth daily from a sincere heart . . .” that we need to get rid of in order to be ready for heaven, it might be a needful thing to do. “The strength of Christ was in prayer. . . . As Christ is our example in all things, if we imitate His example in earnest, importunate prayer to God that we may have strength in His name who never yielded to the temptations of Satan to resist the devices of the wily foe, we shall not be overcome by him.” Sons and Daughters of God, 136. How is it going to be? We need to learn to spend time in importunate prayer, agonizing with the Lord, pleading, Lord give me Your blessings; give me the strength that I need so I can meet the temptations of the day. When the disciples came to Jesus asking Him to teach them to pray, they had been watching the Pharisees pray for years and years. What was the difference between Jesus’ prayer and the Pharisees’ prayers? When Jesus prayed, things happened! They saw how He reacted in certain situations, and it was His prayer life that made Him stable and kept Him from being tossed to and fro. God’s Word What else does the Lord give us to keep us stable? “Order [or direct] my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133. How does it say that we are to be directed?

By God’s Word

David said, Lord, direct me by Your Word so that sin will not have dominion over me. How many of us are spending time in study? Someone once told me that they spent an hour a day in study, not counting their prayer time, so I decided that I was going to do that. My resolve was strengthened by the following statement: “Your success as a minister depends upon your keeping your own heart. You will receive more strength by spending one hour each day in meditation, and in mourning over your failings and heart corruptions and pleading for God’s pardoning love and the assurance of sins forgiven, than you would by spending many hours and days in studying the most able authors, and making yourself acquainted with every objection to our faith, and with the most powerful evidences in its favor.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 433, 434.

We do not know for ourselves what the Bible says. As a result, our minister can tell us anything he wants; he can lead us in the path of destruction, and we will never know it. Why? Because we are not spending time in Bible study. I always tell my congregations, Do not take my word for anything. You go home and check it out for yourself. I do not want anyone taking my word, because I am fallible, just like everyone else. But I could hoodwink every one of you, if you are not spending time in study. The devil is a wily foe, cunning, crafty. He knows just the deception for each one of us, but God’s Word exposes the deception. The reason that we are deceived and tricked into sin is because we are not studying God’s Word as we should.

Make a commitment today to spend at least one hour each day studying God’s Word. It would be well worth it, and I guarantee you will receive a blessing. David says, Direct my steps by Thy Word— not by the minister, not by the deacon, or the Sabbath School teacher—but by Your Word! We need to know what God’s Word says. Before we read anyone else’s material we better be spending time in God’s Word first. We can read the different ministries’ magazines, and we can say, Praise God, that was an inspiring article, but by spending time in God’s Word, the light of God’s truth will continually get broader and broader. It will never cease. Do not ever think that you have everything figured out in God’s Word. You may have the 27 fundamental doctrines all stored up in your mind, but friends, we have not even scratched the surface. We should be digging through God’s Word as for treasure hidden in a mine, comparing Scripture with Scripture, studying out things. We cannot allow study and prayer to be neglected. It is not something to do occasionally when we have a spare moment. This is something that we must plan for every day, something that we schedule into our day. We may have to bump some other activity off the schedule, but we better not be neglecting God’s Word, and we better not be neglecting prayer. It is better to deny ourselves of the other responsibilities, while we spend time in God’s Word. We are weak because we have not spent this time, and we have allowed our ministers to do our studying for us.

“The Bible is our guide in the safe paths that lead to eternal life. . . . The minds of all who make the Word of God their study will enlarge.” Mind, Character and Personality, vol. 1, 98. God promises He will enlarge our paths beneath us; He is going to give us stability of mind so we will not be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine. There are so many winds of doctrine, but Ellen White tells us, “Those who are close students of the Word, following Christ in humility of soul, will not go to extremes.” Gospel Workers, 317. Never! Whether it is in diet, dress, or theological issues, never will we go to extremes if we are close students of God’s Word. We must follow Jesus in humility of soul.

Memorize Scripture

When I open up God’s Word, I am stepping into the audience chamber of God. His Word should be opened prayerfully. We should not just flip it open and begin reading. We need to have a plan when we study God’s Word. What are we going to study? If we are trying to overcome a habit or some defect in our character, we should stop and pray for victory over that defect and then continue studying God’s Word until we have the victory. If we are continuing to cherish some sin in our life, Psalm 66:18 tells us, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear [me].” We need to battle with the Lord. We need to ask Him for all the strength that we need so that we can overcome.

“Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. As we approach the Second Coming of Jesus, that light will become brighter and brighter. Think with me for a second. If you are up in the woods and it is completely dark and you are trying to follow a trail with the help of a little candle, how good of a job will you be able to do? But what if that candle is a flashlight? How about a spotlight? You would then be able to see everything around you, and that is what God’s Word is going to do. If we are continuing to follow Jesus in humility of soul, continuing to follow His Word, accepting the light as it comes to us, conforming our lives to the Word, our path will get broader and broader and broader, and we will have a safe path on which to walk.

“When thou goest [or when you walk] thy steps [or your Christian experience] shall not be straitened [hindered]; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.” Proverbs 4:12. Why? Because you have a broad path beneath your feet and a bright light will help you see the pitfalls of Satan; you will see his temptations coming, and you will know how to resist him.

How did Jesus resist temptation? By the Word of God. Remember when the devil came to Jesus in the wilderness after He had fasted for 40 days? Put yourself in Jesus’ place—you have fasted; you have had nothing to eat for six weeks. How do you think you would feel? How do you think your mind would be? You would not be in good shape. But Jesus had ingrained God’s Words in His mind. The Bible says, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11. Jesus hid those words so deep in His heart that no matter what the situation, He had a “Thus saith the Lord” to say to the devil. We must be spending time in prayer, Bible study, and memorizing Scripture. We must do this, if we are going to be stable Christians.

Light of the World

Jesus says, “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:13–16. Christ has not bid His followers, strive to shine. Does any one of us have anything within us that can shine out? No, we have nothing. All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags, or as a leaf that fades away. (Isaiah 64:6.) He says, Let your light shine. If we have received the grace of God, the light is in us. God’s grace transforms our character; it transforms our thoughts, our affections, our pursuits, and our aims. It transforms the entire being, and when that is operating in our lives, the only thing we can do is to let the light shine.

Here are a few ways that we can let our light shine:

“Let your light shine forth in pleasant words, in soothing tones of voice.” Child Guidance, 240.

Are you letting your light shine, or are  you hiding it under a bushel?

“In no better way can you let your light shine to others than in your simplicity of dress and deportment.” Ibid., 417.

“Wherever you are, let your light shine forth. Hand out papers and pamphlets to those with whom you associate.” Counsels on Health, 435.

We know that without the grace of God there is nothing within us to shine, but we need to ask for the grace of God to operate in our lives so that we are able to shine. It becomes something that we want to do, rather than something that we have to do.

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24. Do you want to have that experience? Do you want the Lord to present you faultless before His throne? God wants to give us a path to walk upon so that we are not just wobbling around in our Christian experience, so that we are not compromising, even in difficult situations. When we are being pressed, He wants us to be stable. God has given us prayer; He has given us Bible study; we can memorize His Word, and as that light shines brighter and brighter, our path is going to grow wider and wider. If we daily participate in these activities, we soon will have that experience where Jesus presents us faultless, without one defect, without one spot or wrinkle. How exceedingly joyful we will be then.

Mike Bauler pastors the Historic Message Church in Portland, Oregon. He may be contacted by e-mail at mbauler@molalla.net.

The Ups and Downs of the Christian Experience

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There are many examples in the Bible of the ups and downs of the Christian experience. No disciple had more ups and downs than Peter. In Matthew 16:18, Jesus told Peter, “You are Petros [Peter], and upon this petra [large rock] I will build My church.” Then He said, “I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Verse 19.

Follow Me

In these verses, we see Peter on a mountaintop experience with the Lord. The Lord is giving him wonderful promises, promises that the gates of Hades will not prevail against this church. A few verses later, Jesus turns to Peter and says, “Get behind me, Satan.” Verse 23. Jesus called Peter Satan himself, because the devil was using him at that point in time. Peter is the only apostle to whom Jesus referred directly in this manner.

Another experience with Peter is given in John 21. In this chapter, several of the disciples were out in the sea fishing overnight but had no success catching fish. As it grew daylight, a person on the shore called to them, asking if they had any fish. When they responded that they did not, the man told them to cast their net on the other side of the boat. When they did this, the net was so full of fish and so heavy that they could not pull it into the boat. The disciple John then told Peter that it was the Lord standing on the beach, about 300 feet away. Peter became so excited that he put his outer garment on, jumped into the sea, and swam to see the Lord. He could not wait for the boat to get there with the fish. After they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
” ‘Simon of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He saith to Him, ‘Yes, Lord: You know that I love You.’ He said, ‘Feed My sheep.’ ” Verse 15. That single question test is repeated three times.

Then Jesus added, ” ‘Most assuredly I say to you, that when you were younger you girded yourself and walked where you wished, but when you shall be old, you shall stretch forth your hands [Jesus is talking about Peter being crucified—he would stretch forth his hands and be crucified just as Christ was crucified], and another will gird you [when you are nailed to a cross you cannot do anything for yourself] and lead you where you do not wish.’ And this He said, giving a sign by what death he [Peter] would glorify God. And this saying, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ ” Verses 18, 19.

Ellen White, commenting on this experience with Peter, says, “Jesus walked alone with Peter, for there was something which He wished to communicate to him only. Before His death, Jesus had said to him, ‘Whither I go, thou canst not follow Me now; but thou shalt follow Me afterwards.’ To this Peter had replied, ‘Lord, why cannot I follow Thee now? I will lay down my life for Thy sake.’ John 13:36, 37.” The Desire of Ages, 815. What did Jesus mean, you cannot follow Me now? Peter did not then have the courage to go to the cross with Christ. What did he do that night? He denied Christ three times. (See Mark 14:66–72.) But he did follow Christ to the cross later.

Ellen White continues, “When he said this, he little knew to what heights and depths Christ’s feet would lead the way. Peter had failed when the test came, but again he was to have opportunity to prove his love for Christ. That he might be strengthened for the final test of his faith, the Saviour opened to him his future.” Ibid.

Not Singing Now

Peter did not have any idea of the heights and depths he would encounter as he followed Christ. Just as Peter had that experience, the early church had that experience; the children of Israel had that experience; the remnant church has that experience. God’s people, over and over again, have gone over heights that were so high they did not imagine they could be so wonderful. But then they have gone to depths that they could not imagine could be so awful. One of the things I want to concentrate on in this study is why God allows these kinds of things to happen. There are some people who wish that we could just smooth off the high places and fill in the low places and have everything level, but that is not the way the experience of God’s people will be. It goes high, and it goes low.

For example, when the armies of Pharaoh all drowned in the Red Sea, “Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Jehovah, and they spoke saying, ‘I will sing to Jehovah.’ ” Exodus 15:1. That is the time that Miriam took the timbrel (see verse 20), and they had a wonderful, exciting experience. They were so happy they could express it only by song, and they composed a song right on the spot. Miriam was the musician, and they sang the song recorded in this chapter. If we are faithful, we are going to sing the song of Moses some day.

But notice what happens just a few days later. They are not singing now! They are out in the desert. There is not enough water to drink, and the children of Israel come to Moses and Aaron to ask if they had brought the whole congregation out there to the desert to let them die of thirst. (See verses 22–24.) They said it would have been better if Jehovah had just killed them back in Egypt. They were not on a high experience now; they were in the depths of discouragement, depression, trouble, and worry. They got so upset that they lost all their faith in God.

Friends, when things happen that you thought could not happen, do you still trust in the Lord, or do you lose your trust? They lost their trust.

Keep Trusting

We see this same experience repeated in the lives of Daniel and his three companions, when they were taken captive to Babylon. They went up and down, up and down. They were afraid that they might lose their lives if they insisted on a different diet than the king provided. They chose to request it anyway, and the Lord blessed them. Not only did they have better health and appearance, but they excelled in school so that they were smarter than all the others, and the king decided to make them part of his special advisors. (See Daniel 1:11–20.) Life seemed wonderful!

A little while later, though, they were threatened with being put to death. The king had a dream; nobody could explain it, so the “wise” men were all to be killed. Daniel pleaded for 24 hours leniency. He and his three friends had a prayer meeting, asking the Lord for help. The Lord gave them the answer! He showed Daniel what Nebuchadnezzar had dreamed. When this information was relayed to the king, Daniel and his three friends were immediately exalted to places of honor. (See Daniel 2:1–19, 48, 49.) All the wise men in the whole kingdom thought well of them, because they had saved their lives.

But a little while later, as the four worthies became more exalted, the other wise men became jealous. Soon they gathered in the Plain of Dura, and the king became furious when these Jewish captives would not bow down to the golden image he had made. Now they were down in discouraging circumstances again. They were thrown into the fiery furnace for not bowing to the image. The Lord delivered them from the fire, and then they were exalted again. (See Daniel 3.)

Read the first six chapters of the book of Daniel, and see how many times they go up and down. The exciting thing about this story is that these young men had faith, and when they hit the bottom, they did not lose their faith and trust in God; they kept praying. They did not do like the children of Israel and say, “It would have been better for us if we had just died rather than be taken captive and go through this.”

The True Church

Their experience, from a human point of view, was totally unexplainable. People said to them, “Oh, you belong to the true church, do you? Well, where is your church? Where is your temple? We burned it down! Our gods are better than your God. Oh, you have the true religious service? You do not have a religious service anymore; there are no priests functioning. We do not observe any of the ceremonial law, it is all over.”

I asked some students one time, When Daniel and his three companions were in Egypt, where was the true church? Some people got angry that I even asked that question. Where was it? It seemed like it had ceased to exist, and we little comprehend how their faith was tested. There was nobody to explain how and why all these things were. If God really does have a people in the world, why are we in this mess? Daniel had to study this out, and his prayer in Daniel 9 shows that he figured out how and why all of this had happened. But he did not lose faith and trust in God even then. In fact, Daniel 9 is a chapter where Daniel is interceding to the Lord for His people—a people that it appeared did not exist anymore, but Daniel knew God had a people.

History Repeated

Those kinds of things are going to happen again. God’s people are not always going to be up on a high; they are sometimes going to be down low, when it looks like everything is going to ruin. Ellen White wrote: “Times that will try men’s souls are just before us, and those who are weak in the faith will not stand the test of those days of peril.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 273. Are you weak in faith, or are you strong in faith? To get through the low times, you will have to have a faith that will not quit when everything is unexplainable.

Ellen White says that the people are going to mock us in the last days. They will say, “Oh, you think that you are the true church? You think that you are God’s special people and that this handful of motley people are the only people in the world who have the truth?” She says, “The time that will try men’s souls are just before us. We shall then have no advocate to rebuke the devil and plead in our behalf.” Review and Herald, September 22, 1896. Are you ready for that? Are you ready for the time when you have no attorney, no advocate to make a plea in your behalf?

Are You a Deserter?

Not just Peter, but all of the disciples had these same types of experiences. In the first 13 verses of John 6, we read about the feeding of the 5,000. It is such an important story that it is found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. You can be sure that any story found in all four of the gospels has special significance and needs careful study. Notice what happens, and how exciting it gets. “Therefore, the men seeing this miracle which Jesus did, said, ‘Truly this is the prophet. The one coming into the world.’ Therefore, Jesus, knowing that they were about to come and seize Him in order that they might make Him king, separated again into a mountain alone.” John 6:14, 15.

Were they excited? Jesus had just taken five barley loaves and two fish and fed 5,000 men besides women and children. They were so excited; they said, “If we have this man, when we go to fight and take over the Romans, there will be no problem. He can feed the whole army, and if anybody gets injured, He will be able to heal them. Victory will be assured. We will be the masters of the world.” That was their fondest hope—to conquer the Roman Empire and rule the world, and now they knew how to do it. The disciples had this same hope.

After wanting to make Him king, when Jesus tried to explain the true meaning of the loaves the next day, the Bible says, “Many of His disciples said, ‘This is a hard saying, who is able to hear it?’ And Jesus knowing in Himself that they grumbled concerning this said to them, ‘Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of man going up where He was before? . . . But there are some of you which do not believe.’ For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones they were which should not believe and who it was that should betray Him. And He said, ‘On account of this, I have said to you that no one is able to come to Me except it be given him from My Father.’ After this, many of His disciples went away, and did not follow Him or walk with Him anymore. Therefore, Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Are you also going to go away?’ ” John 6:60–62, 64–67.

Many followers forsook Jesus. Ellen White says, “Praise and flattery would be pleasing to their ears; but the truth is unwelcome; they cannot hear it. When the crowds follow, and the multitudes are fed [that was the previous day when they were way up high, but today they hear something that brings them way down low], and the shouts of triumph are heard, their voices are loud in praise; but when the searching of God’s Spirit reveals their sin, and bids them leave it, they turn their backs upon the truth, and walk no more with Jesus.” The Desire of Ages, 392.

A Different Spirit

“As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them.” Ibid. Have you ever seen that happen in Adventism? Have you seen people who are fired up, and the Holy Spirit is working on their hearts? They are convicted, and they say they want to be with the revival and reformation movement within Adventism; they want to be ready for the Latter Rain; they want to be ready for Jesus to come; they want to be with the people who are going to go through to the end. Crowds follow, and the multitudes are fed with spiritual food, and it is exciting. But as time goes on, the Holy Spirit puts His finger on their problems. If we are really going to follow Christ all the way, we need to give up the sin in our lives; we need to change our lives.

With different people it is different things. There are many who come so far in their Christian experience, but they reach a point of decision, perhaps on a seemingly small issue, and they cannot go beyond it. Ellen White writes about this: “At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the angel: ‘God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people.’ Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness. If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge: ‘They are joined to their idols, let them alone,’ and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 187.

So, you see, someone who has gone a certain distance in the revival and reformation movement, saying they want their life to come into perfect harmony with the Bible and with the Spirit of Prophecy, may come up to a certain point where finally the Holy Spirit puts a finger right on some cherished sin, and they cannot give it up.

The Bible says that, as the disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them. Have you ever seen that happen? A person, or a whole group of people, goes a certain distance, but they finally reach a point where they say, No, I can’t go any further. I can’t go along with that; that is too much. And they turn, and they do not even know what has happened, but those watching can see that a different spirit has taken hold of them. I have seen it happen so many times, and usually the person to whom it is happening does not realize what is occurring. An observer, from the outside, can clearly see what is happening, and they can see that the person is not even the same person that they were two months before. In the Scriptures it happened in one day—a different spirit took control.

What happened when this different spirit took control? “As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them. They could see nothing attractive in Him whom they had once found so interesting.” The Desire of Ages, 392.

Someone may say, “I used to belong to such and such a home church, but I don’t even want to belong to a home church anymore. I’m going to go somewhere else to worship.” In fact, they often fight what they once supported and promoted. This is not a game, where you just go here or don’t go there. When you are not supporting the revival and reformation movement, eventually you are fighting it.

To be concluded . . .

Pastor Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life Ministry and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas.

Editorial – When the Door Shuts, Part II

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“There was a shut door in Noah’s time. There was a shut door to the unbelievers in the destruction of Sodom, but an open door to Lot. There was a shut door to the inhabitants of Tyrus, a shut door to the inhabitants of Jerusalem . . . who disbelieved, but an open door to the humble, the believing, those who obeyed God. Thus it will be at the end of time.—Manuscript 17, August 14, 1885, ‘Shipboard Meditations.’ ” This Day With God, 235.

“Oh, my brother and sister, I wish all of God’s people could get a sight of it [the shut door] as God has shown it me. The work of the Lord is going on. Souls are coming in to the truth, and soon the work will be all done. Keep up good courage, hope in God, let nothing weigh thee down. We have the truth. We know it. Praise the Lord. I saw yesterday our work was not to the shepherds who have rejected the former messages, but to the honest deceived who are led astray. I saw the false shepherds would soon be fed with judgment. Let the truth come out everywhere we go, the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Cheer up. There are better days coming.—Letter 18, 1850, p. 1. (To Brother and Sister Hastings, January 11, 1850.)” Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, 91.

“I was shown the interest which all heaven had taken in the work going on upon the earth. Jesus commissioned a mighty angel to descend and warn the inhabitants of the earth to prepare for His second appearing. As the angel left the presence of Jesus in heaven, an exceedingly bright and glorious light went before him. I was told that his mission was to lighten the earth with his glory and warn man of the coming wrath of God. Multitudes received the light. Some of these seemed to be very solemn, while others were joyful and enraptured. All who received the light turned their faces toward heaven and glorified God. Though it was shed upon all, some merely came under its influence, but did not heartily receive it. Many were filled with great wrath. Ministers and people united with the vile and stoutly resisted the light shed by the mighty angel. But all who received it withdrew from the world and were closely united with one another.

“Satan and his angels were busily engaged in seeking to attract the minds of as many as possible from the light. The company who rejected it were left in darkness. I saw the angel of God watching with the deepest interest His professed people, to record the character which they developed as the message of heavenly origin was presented to them. And as very many who professed love for Jesus turned from the heavenly message with scorn, derision, and hatred, an angel with a parchment in his hand made the shameful record. All heaven was filled with indignation that Jesus should be thus slighted by His professed followers.” Early Writings, 245, 246.

“Those who rejected and opposed the light of the first angel’s message, lost the light of the second, and could not be benefited by the power and glory which attended the message, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.’ Jesus turned from them with a frown; for they had slighted and rejected Him.” Ibid., 249.

“I was shown what did take place in heaven at the close of the prophetic periods in 1844. As Jesus ended His ministration in the holy place and closed the door of that apartment, a great darkness settled upon those who had heard and rejected the message of His coming, and they lost sight of Him.” Ibid., 251.