Issue: 2022 October

Keys to the Storehouse – Why Should He Love Me So

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My mother sang all of her life. When I was very young, she would be up front at church leading songs or singing in the choir or performing alone. As a young woman, she was part of an evangelistic team in the northeastern United States. In those days, evangelistic meetings might involve a big tent or auditorium and staying in the community for many months after the meetings themselves were done to follow up with those who wanted Bible studies. Mother sang duets with another lady named Cassie during the meetings and also on the radio. I always thought that if I could sing half as good as she did, that would be good enough.

I remember many Sabbaths when I sat on the front row pew of the church while she performed her responsibilities up front. Still today, many of the songs that she sang are my personal favorites: In the Garden, The Old Rugged Cross and one I heard the other day on the radio, Why Should He Love Me So?

This is a beautiful song from a musical perspective, but even more so when you understand the words.

 

Love sent my Saviour to die in my stead,

Meekly to Calvary’s cross He was led.

 

Nails pierced His hands and His feet for my sin,

He suffered sore my salvation to win.

 

O how He agonized there in my place,

Nothing withholding my sin to efface.

 

Why should He love me so?

Why should my Saviour to Calvary go?

Why should He love me so?

 

It reminds me of Hebrews 12:2, “looking unto Jesus … who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.”

“That joy was to see souls saved by His humiliation, His agony, and the shedding of His blood.” The Sanctified Life, 57

“Love for lost souls brought Christ to Calvary’s cross. … The joy of seeing souls eternally saved will be the reward of all who follow in the steps of the Redeemer. …

“It was a costly sacrifice that the Lord of heaven made. Divine benevolence was stirred to its unfathomable depths; it was impossible for God to give more.” Testimonies, Vol. 9, 59, 60

Lord, we know that You will never leave us, physically and spiritually sick as we are. We cannot fathom the love that it took to go to Calvary, giving Your life so that we would not perish. But we must commit our lives to following and obeying You. You, who are the Author and Finisher of our faith and the only One who can heal us from this sin sickness and restore us to Your image. Please do that today, Lord.

Story – The New Backpack

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“You are going to be walking a long way,” my mother had said. “I’d like my son to have a good backpack.”

It was going to be my first trip to Mexico to visit the Mixtec Indians. Many of them live in far-off villages scattered through the hills of Oaxaca, Mexico. My mother was right. Just to get to the village where the Bible conference was to be held, we would have to walk for many hours over the hills.

Mother kindly bought me the best backpack she could find. It was so light that you could lift it with one finger, and it had foam padding on the straps to keep the straps from cutting into my shoulders. When it was packed with extra clothes and a few other things that I might need, I tried the new backpack on. It felt light and comfortable. I could carry that load easily enough!

A few weeks later we arrived in Mexico at the point where we would begin the hike.

“Could I carry your pack for you?” asked one of the Christian Indians.

“No thanks, I’m fine,” I told him.

So we started off on the long walk. The backpack worked nicely, but the longer we walked the heavier it got. Surely those things I had packed weren’t so heavy when I had tried it on at home! On we walked with the hot sun beating on our heads, up one hill and down another. Everyone had loads to carry now, so there was no one to offer to help with my backpack.

I began to be afraid that I would never make it, but after two hours someone came to meet us over the hills with a horse. This time when they offered I gladly gave up the pack, and it was tied to the horse. I was so tired that it did not matter to me that the padded straps of my new backpack were not being used the way they were meant to be, but were dangling from the horse’s saddle.

Boys and girls, the load of sin is like the load in my backpack. The longer you carry it, the heavier it gets. This world tries to make sin look attractive, but it is still a heavy load. No matter how “light” your load of sin may feel when you are young, it will get heavier as you grow older. After a while the “foam padding” of pleasure no longer eases the weight of sins.

The Lord Jesus came into the world to free you from this load of sin. He Himself carried the load of sin when He was on the cross so that you might be free of your burden forever. “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:28

Oh, that you might today feel the weight of your sins and turn to Christ for salvation. “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

My backpack was the best that money could buy, but it could not keep my load from being heavy when I carried it for a long time. May you accept Christ as your Saviour now while you are young, before the load of sin becomes too heavy for you to carry. “Sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15

“Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1

Source: WholesomeWords.org from Messages of God’s Love published by Bible Truth Publishers.

Inspiration – Brotherly Love

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“By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” The more closely we resemble our Saviour in character, the greater will be our love toward those for whom He died. Christians who manifest a spirit of unselfish love for one another are bearing a testimony for Christ which unbelievers can neither gainsay nor resist. It is impossible to estimate the power of such an example. Nothing will so successfully defeat the devices of Satan and his emissaries, nothing will so build up the Redeemer’s kingdom, as will the love of Christ manifested by the members of the church. Peace and prosperity can be enjoyed only as meekness and love are in active exercise.

In his First Epistle to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul sets forth the importance of that love which should be cherished by the followers of Christ: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”

No matter how high his profession, he whose heart is not imbued with love for God and for his fellow men is not a disciple of Christ. Though he should possess great faith, and even have power to work miracles, yet without love his faith would be worthless. He might display great liberality, but should he from some other motive than genuine love bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the act would not commend him to the favor of God. In his zeal he might even meet a martyr’s death, yet if destitute of the gold of love he would be regarded by God as a deluded enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite.

The apostle proceeds to specify the fruits of love: “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not.” The divine love ruling in the heart exterminates pride and selfishness. “Charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.” The purest joy springs from the deepest humiliation. The strongest and noblest characters rest upon the foundation of patience and love, and trusting submission to the will of God.

Charity “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” The heart in which love rules will not be filled with passion or revenge, by injuries which pride and self-love would deem unbearable. Love is unsuspecting, ever placing the most favorable construction upon the motives and acts of others. Love will never needlessly expose the faults of others. It does not listen eagerly to unfavorable reports, but rather seeks to bring to mind some good qualities of the one defamed.

Love “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” He whose heart is imbued with love is filled with sorrow at the errors and weaknesses of others; but when truth triumphs, when the cloud that darkened the fair fame of another is removed, or when sins are confessed and wrongs corrected, he rejoices.

“Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Love not only bears with others’ faults, but cheerfully submits to whatever suffering or inconvenience such forbearance makes necessary. This love “never faileth.” It can never lose its value; it is the attribute of heaven. As a precious treasure it will be carried by its possessor through the portals of the city of God.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, and peace. Discord and strife are the work of Satan and the fruit of sin. If we would as a people enjoy peace and love, we must put away our sins; we must come into harmony with God, and we shall be in harmony with one another. Let each ask himself: Do I possess the grace of love? Have I learned to suffer long and to be kind? Talents, learning, and eloquence, without this heavenly attribute, will be as meaningless as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Alas that this precious treasure is so lightly valued and so little sought by many who profess the faith!

Paul writes to the Colossians: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”

The fact that we are under so great obligation to Christ places us under the most sacred obligation to those whom He died to redeem. We are to manifest toward them the same sympathy, the same tender compassion and unselfish love, which Christ has manifested toward us. Selfish ambition, desire for supremacy, will die when Christ takes possession of the affections. …

God requires more of His followers than many realize. If we would not build our hopes of heaven upon a false foundation we must accept the Bible as it reads and believe that the Lord means what He says. He requires nothing of us that He will not give us grace to perform. We shall have no excuse to offer in the day of God if we fail to reach the standard set before us in His word.

We are admonished by the apostle: “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.” Paul would have us distinguish between the pure, unselfish love which is prompted by the spirit of Christ, and the unmeaning, deceitful pretense with which the world abounds. This base counterfeit has misled many souls. It would blot out the distinction between right and wrong, by agreeing with the transgressor instead of faithfully showing him his errors. Such a course never springs from real friendship. The spirit by which it is prompted dwells only in the carnal heart. While the Christian will be ever kind, compassionate, and forgiving, he can feel no harmony with sin. He will abhor evil and cling to that which is good, at the sacrifice of association or friendship with the ungodly. The spirit of Christ will lead us to hate sin, while we are willing to make any sacrifice to save the sinner. …

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.” …

If we are following Christ, His merits, imputed to us, come up before the Father as sweet odor. And the graces of our Saviour’s character, implanted in our hearts, will shed around us a precious fragrance. The spirit of love, meekness, and forbearance pervading our life will have power to soften and subdue hard hearts and win to Christ bitter opposers of the faith. …

Testimonies, Vol. 5, 167–174

Testimony – Only What is Done for Christ

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When I was a teenager, one of my friends would say so dramatically, “We are so desperate, and there’s so little time.” And then, she would laugh as if it was the biggest joke.

Friends, it is no joke anymore. We are so desperate for Jesus to come, and our time to prepare to meet Him is passing quickly away. Maybe we will live to see Him come, but we also could die before then. We must remain faithful if we are to reach our heavenly home. Every moment counts, complacency is not an option. We must get ready and stay ready every day.

When I was about ten years old, I remember one Sabbath after church, I looked at some of the oldest members, one man in particular who seemed older to me, and as I looked at him I wondered, “Will Jesus come before he dies?” Now I think to myself, will He come before I die? Our world is in constant upheaval and chaos—not the kind of chaos that has come and gone as in previous decades—but the kind of chaos that is now snowballing at an ever-accelerating pace. And as the Bible tells us, it will not get better as we draw closer to His return. The unmistakable signs of Jesus, soon coming, are everywhere. I have spoken to strangers about the world situation, and so many have come right out and said, “It’s because Jesus is coming.”

It is not important if we go to our graves before He comes and are resurrected later. To be ready is of the utmost importance.

“It is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. What we make of ourselves in [this] probationary time, that we must remain to all eternity. Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our characters; it only fixes them forever beyond all change.” Testimonies, Vol. 5, 466

I recently passed an old gravesite. The verse on the headstone really spoke to me.

“Behold my friends, as you pass by. As you are now, so once was I.

As I am now, you soon may be. Prepare for death and follow me.”

What a powerful witness. This person reminds us that death may be inevitable, but if we follow Jesus, our heavenly home, where death cannot enter, awaits.

How beautiful, I thought. The headstone only had a name, as if to the writer it didn’t matter when they were born, how long they stayed, or when they died. Rather what mattered was only how they had lived; and soon they would awake in Jesus. This dear soul left to all who passed by what mattered most. How much more important to us, as we yet live, to tell everyone we meet that Jesus is coming soon. Get ready.

In these times of fear and rapidly changing world events, it is now, as never before, that people are most receptive to the gospel of Christ. Never be discouraged by those who are not interested, because for every one of those, there are thousands who long to know. Who can know how many people have passed this gravesite and been encouraged to think about their own destiny. This person died, but their testimony lives on. On that glorious morning, as they are awakened by the voice of their King, it will be as if no time has passed. Centuries may have come and gone, but it will be like a moment in time. How wonderful! Knowing this truth—if I am ready, I cannot fear death.

I remember as a child we had a little plaque on the wall that read:

Only one life will soon be past.

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

It doesn’t matter who you may meet in daily life, tell them about the love of God and how they can be saved. Initiate a chat with someone in the grocery store, or the parking lot, or just anywhere God lays on your heart to speak to the person before you. Be bold and trust God to give you the words to speak. We may never know what can become of that experience. Plant the seed in simple words, and let God do the rest in that person’s life.

“The good seed may for a time lie unnoticed in a cold, selfish worldly heart, giving no evidence that it has taken root; but afterward, as the Spirit of God breathes on the soul, the hidden seed springs up … In our life work we know not which shall prosper, this or that. This is not a question for us to settle. We are to do our work, and leave the results with God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 65

I long to see every person I have witnessed to in heaven on that great day. Oh, what a day that will be—not for a moment in time, but for all eternity.

Invitation Rejected

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“But when Felix heard these things, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, he adjourned the proceedings and said, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.’ … And after some days … [Felix] sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, ‘Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you.’ ”

Acts 24:22–25

 “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe. Then Agrippa said to Paul, ‘You almost persuade me to become a Christian.’ ”

Acts 26:27, 28

Go away, until I am ready. You almost convinced me. Truth is, repentance does not happen according to our time table or our convenience or whim. Repentance is a response to an invitation extended by the Holy Spirit. It is an offer of His power to unite with our desire to change. If the invitation is accepted, the Holy Spirit performs a miraculous work in the life, changing the desires, inclinations, thoughts and actions.

But an invitation rejected leaves a person in darkness, “tossed to and fro and carried by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.” Ephesians 4:14. Felix and Agrippa were given the invitation of the Holy Spirit, and both turned away and were forever lost.

“God now calls upon you to repent, to be zealous in the work. Your eternal happiness will be determined by the course you now pursue. Can you reject the invitations of mercy now offered? Can you choose your own way? Will you cherish pride and vanity, and lose your soul at last? The word of God plainly tells us that few will be saved, and that the greater number of those, even, who are called will prove themselves unworthy of everlasting life. They will have no part in heaven, but will have their portion with Satan, and experience the second death.” Testimonies, Vol. 2, 293, 294

“… ‘A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, “Come, for all things are now ready.” But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, “I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.” And another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.” Still another said, “I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.”  ’ ” Luke 14:16–20

His friends, those of position and wealth, were not interested in accepting the gracious invitation of the master to participate in the “great supper” he had prepared for them. They chose instead to tend to their own business first. Excuse after excuse is given, until in anger, the master instructs his servant, “ ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind. … Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.’ ” Verses 21, 23

And then he makes this terrible declaration, “ ‘For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ” Verse 24

“They had rejected the invitation, and none of them were to be invited again. In rejecting Christ, the Jews were hardening their hearts, and giving themselves into the power of Satan so that it would be impossible for them to accept His grace. So it is now. If the love of God is not appreciated and does not become an abiding principle to soften and subdue the soul, we are utterly lost. The Lord can give no greater manifestation of His love than He has given. If the love of Jesus does not subdue the heart, there are no means by which we can be reached.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 236, 237

We see the same illustration in Matthew 22:1–14 in the parable of the marriage of the king’s son. The marriage was arranged, the wedding feast prepared, the servants sent out with the invitation, but the Bible says that they were not willing to come. He extended the invitation again, but this, too, was rejected and even more, the king’s servants were beaten and killed. In his anger, he sent an army and destroyed those who had rejected this gracious invitation.

He then said, “ ‘Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

‘But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, “Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” For many are called, but few are chosen.’ ” Verses 9–14

This parable shows us that the invitation was given, but rejected by those who did not feel the need to accept it. These are the characteristics of the Laodicean church as found in Revelation 3:17, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked … .”

Consequently, the invitation is given to those who recognized the need to accept. However, this parable also shows that there is necessary preparation that must be done in order to be able to attend the wedding feast. The wedding garment represents Christ’s robe of righteousness (Matthew 22:12). We must choose daily to become more and more like Christ, and in giving up our “filthy rags,” we are to accept His pure, white robe.

“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. Then as the Lord looks upon us He sees, not the fig-leaf garment, not the nakedness and deformity of sin, but His own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah.

“The guests at the marriage feast were inspected by the king. Only those were accepted who had obeyed his requirements and put on the wedding garment. So it is with the guests at the gospel feast. All must pass the scrutiny of the great King, and only those are received who have put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

“Righteousness is right doing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do. The works show whether the faith is genuine.

“It is not enough for us to believe that Jesus is not an impostor, and that the religion of the Bible is no cunningly devised fable. We may believe that the name of Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby man may be saved, and yet we may not through faith make Him our personal Saviour. It is not enough to believe the theory of truth. It is not enough to make a profession of faith in Christ and have our names registered on the church roll. ‘He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.’ ‘Hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandments.’ 1 John 3:24; 2:3. This is the genuine evidence of conversion. Whatever our profession, it amounts to nothing unless Christ is revealed in works of righteousness. …

“He who becomes a partaker of the divine nature will be in harmony with God’s great standard of righteousness, His holy law. This is the rule by which God measures the actions of men. This will be the test of character in the judgment.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 312–314

Friend, have you received the invitation of the Holy Spirit? What has been your response?

“I’m busy today, come again later.”

“I have other plans, let me get back to You.”

“It’s just not a good time for me. There are so many things I want to do or try. I’ll be ready later.”

Perhaps the saddest and one of the most well-known rejections is the story of Judas. He was a selfish, willful, young man with the greatest opportunity. In the physical presence of the Messiah, Judas was ministered to as any other disciple. Jesus’ heart of love yearned for Judas to accept the invitation to repent, but we know that this was not the outcome in Judas’ life.

“The disciples knew nothing of the purpose of Judas. Jesus alone could read his secret. Yet He did not expose him. Jesus hungered for his soul. … His heart was crying, How can I give thee up? The constraining power of that love was felt by Judas. When the Saviour’s hands were bathing those soiled feet, and wiping them with the towel, the heart of Judas thrilled through and through with the impulse then and there to confess his sin. But he would not humble himself. He hardened his heart against repentance; and the old impulses, for the moment put aside, again controlled him [Almost he accepted the invitation]. Judas was now offended at Christ’s act in washing the feet of His disciples. If Jesus could so humble Himself, he thought, He could not be Israel’s king. All hope of worldly honor in a temporal kingdom was destroyed. Judas was satisfied that there was nothing to be gained by following Christ. … He was possessed by a demon, and he resolved to complete the work he had agreed to do in betraying his Lord.

“Judas the betrayer was present at the sacramental service. He received from Jesus the emblems of His broken body and His spilled blood. He heard the words, ‘This do in remembrance of Me.’ And sitting there in the very presence of the Lamb of God, the betrayer brooded upon his own dark purposes, and cherished his sullen, revengeful thoughts.

“At the Passover supper Jesus proved His divinity by revealing the traitor’s purpose. He tenderly included Judas in the ministry to the disciples. But the last appeal of love was unheeded. Then the case of Judas was decided, and the feet that Jesus had washed went forth to the betrayer’s work.

“Until this step was taken, Judas had not passed beyond the possibility of repentance. But when he left the presence of his Lord and his fellow disciples, the final decision had been made. He had passed the boundary line.

“How many today are, like Judas, betraying their Lord?” Conflict and Courage, 319

The invitation given to Judas was rejected.

The invitations illustrated in both the parable of the wedding garment and great supper were offered first to the Jewish nation, but after repeated rejection, they were finally given to the Gentiles. These invitations are treated the same, the same excuses given to refuse the invitation in every age. I cannot follow Christ because it would interfere with my business interests or social relations. Following the commandments of God would put me out of harmony with my neighbors, friends, and relatives.

“They make light of the message, but the Master of the feast regards their flimsy excuses as contempt of His invitation of mercy. These apologies which men offer for refusing the invitation to the heavenly supper will appear again in their true character in the day of God. The rich feast of God’s grace has been provided at infinite cost, and an invitation to that feast confers special honor upon the human race. Those who accept the invitation are authorized and commissioned of God to extend it to every creature. … Shall we not accept the invitation to the gospel feast, feed upon Christ, and thus have everlasting life?” The Review and Herald, March 3, 1896

Sadly, it is possible, as Christians, to believe that we have accepted God’s invitation of grace, that we are doing all the right things, that we are His children, that only Jesus saves; but too often, while believing, we have failed to have the personal relationship with Him that will make us like Him in character, replacing our filthy rags with His robe of righteous eternal life.

What is your answer? Invitation accepted? [Emphasis supplied.]

Look Up, Your Redemption is Nigh!

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“That no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

Revelation 13:17

How this scripture will be fulfilled has been debated for many years. There are even some who question if it is possible at all, but Bible prophecy assures us that it will happen. It was unimaginable that these things could occur in the United States, let alone throughout the world. But recent events have shone a whole new light on how this scripture will be fulfilled.

Over recent decades, we have watched as our monetary system has gone from cash to credit. Life has become conveniently easy by the introduction of the credit and debit cards. You now can withdraw money from your account almost anywhere in the United States and in most other countries in the world. There is no need to carry cash if you have one of these cards guaranteed by Visa or Mastercard. I admit that I enjoy this convenience myself.

The problem is not having and using the cards per se, rather it is what we do not see behind the scenes. It allows the control and transfers of monies on a digital level by the Treasury Department and banking industries. This is convenient, providing ready cash when you need it. But what happens when a bank or country takes away a person’s access to their own money? We now see clearly that the overreach of this system can seize and control an individual’s rightful wealth.

Recently, the United States and other countries have waged a financial war on Russia because of their aggression against Ukraine. Russia has committed horrible atrocities against a fellow nation which sparked outrage throughout a large part of the world. In retaliation for this aggression, many nations have placed sanctions on Russia to keep them from being able to “buy or sell” products and using the banking system to support their war effort. Although, many wealthy oligarchs and their families have had their bank accounts seized, these sanctions are hurting the Russian people more than the Russian government that started this war.

When we read about the second beast power (Protestant America) in Revelation 13 wielding the power of the first beast power (papacy—Roman Catholic church) to enact laws and decrees and set up an image of the first beast, it is worth noting that it goes far beyond just the spiritual aspect of the “mark of the beast.” The Roman church has been involved in monetary businesses and other commerce, as well as spiritual doctrine and decrees, for millennia. We read in Revelation 18 that at her end, the merchants of the world will mourn her destruction because of this commercial sector connection they have with her.

“And the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her, for no one buys their merchandise anymore: merchandise of gold and silver, precious stones and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, every kind of citron wood, every kind of object of ivory, every kind of object of most precious wood, bronze, iron, and marble; and cinnamon and incense, fragrant oil and frankincense, wine and oil, fine flour and wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of men.” Revelation 18:11–13

As sanctions are laid upon Russia, it shows the power of countries or entities to subvert the livelihood of nations and peoples, to bend them to their will, and to coerce them to abide by worldwide edicts. For example, there are several nations that are still doing business with Russia. The United States has been actively “coercing” them to stop on threat of being hit with sanctions themselves. Since the banking industry is now mainly digital, whole bank accounts can be suspended or even seized and utilized for other purposes. Using these same methods, you can see how the beast powers can leverage this power to seize our accounts in the future if we do not adhere to their doctrines.

As we see prophecies of the last days unfold, the two beast powers will work hand in hand to create policies that will not allow people to buy or sell unless they adhere to these policies or doctrines. These same doctrines are moving the world closer and closer to more authoritarian forms of government. Even in the United States, we see more authoritarianism being used through executive orders and proxy wars. The president can start a military action these days even without the authorization from Congress, which used to be illegal, but in the last 50 years it has become more of a norm than an outlier. The most interesting part is that most Americans have no idea what all this is leading to and do not comprehend the end result of all these actions! Even the truth is subject to one’s own interpretation.

The truth of God’s commandments has become subordinate to the events of the day. We have become wrapped up in wars, disasters, famines, and politics. Everything Satan can think of to captivate our minds, he has pushed out into the news on radio, TV, social media, and newspapers. He has captured the spare time of the average person through movies, sports, and television shows. From the air waves and print, our minds and time are filled with commentaries about the policies of government and the atrocities of war, the latest movie, or the sport of the season, but Jesus is scarcely on our lips. Not to say that things happening around us should be ignored, yet applying these things to our spiritual life would be more important. As we see these events happening, it should drive us to a deep sense of urgency for those around us and those in the world who do not know the truth of the results of the policies of the two beasts.

“The people of the world are so engrossed in temporal affairs that eternal realities seem of subordinate importance to them. They cannot distinguish truth from error. In spirit and in practice they are repeating the history of the Jews, and in these last days the chosen of God who keep His commandments will be objects of contempt, both to those in high position and those in the common walks of life. ‘For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.’ ” The Signs of the Times, June 11, 1894

Eventually, we will see these policies culminate into massive persecution. “And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.” Revelation 13:14, 15. Many people will be persecuted and killed because they will not adhere to one of the following: the mark of the beast, which is Sunday worship; the name of the beast, which is not only the Roman Catholic church, but all of secularism; or the number of his name, which not only identifies the pope of the Catholic church as the leader of the beast power, but is the number of mankind in its carnal and secular condition.

We know the mark of the beast is the great conflict between obedience to the law of God, specifically the Sabbath commandment, or disobedience, following the doctrines of Satan which state that everyone can rule his or her own life and passions. The first beast of Revelation 13 received its power from the dragon. “So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?’ ” Revelation 13:4. Those who will follow the beast and its image [likeness] will be worshiping the dragon, who is Satan (Revelation 12:9). These deceived people will believe they are following God! It is our duty to reach out and warn them of this impending danger that will be so deceptive even the people of God could be deceived if they are not watching and praying for deliverance. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Matthew 24:24

Addressing the idea of being saved by grace and not under the law, Paul clearly states, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” Romans 6:15, 16. And again, he reminds us that we must become slaves to God, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Verse 22. We are slaves or servants to whom we obey. It is through obedience we show our allegiance, whether to righteousness which leads to eternal life, or to unrighteousness which leads to eternal damnation.

The religious arm of the beast power will push Sunday sacredness and the idea that salvation is available to all simply by believing in Jesus. They will state that there is no way that a man can overcome sin, so they claim that just resting on the merits of Jesus is enough for salvation, and there is no need to strive for holiness. Speaking of faith and salvation, James reminds us, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:19, 20. As we read in Revelation 18:13, the beast and its image are involved in the “souls of men.” Revelation 17:5 states, “Babylon the great, [is] the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth.” Since the majority of the Protestant world has taken Rome’s doctrine of Sunday as a new sabbath and are deceived into believing that the dead are all either in heaven or in eternal burning hellfire, and that our dead loved ones can visit them and are watching them, they have joined with the false doctrines of Rome. They have “fornicated” with her and “drank her wine.” (See also Revelation 17:2; 18:3.)

They have been convinced of her “righteousness” through their desire to become rich with her trade goods and global economy. On the individual level, Babylon (the first beast of Revelation 13, who is the papacy) has seduced the world with her rituals and grandeur. She puts on a spectacle that bedazzles and bewitches the mind and drives the heart to believe in her lies and deception. Because the people of the world desire to have freedom from all responsibility to God, they now can live life in error and still have confidence in their false god, the church of Rome, to save them from hellfire. What a delusion! It is true when Paul wrote, “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12

While the religious arm of the beast power is working on men’s souls, the secular arm will be working on men’s pocketbooks. It will lay down economic policies that will entice the world to follow the beasts and their agenda. They will blend religious and secular decrees to keep men from “buying or selling” unless they adhere to the policies they lay out. This is already happening to a degree today. Recently I saw an interview with Daleep Singh, national security advisor for the Biden white house and the designer of the new sanctions that were laid out on Russia. He stated that they could virtually cripple any economy using the new digital world of banking and commerce.  He said he turned to the “currency trade” where “the dollar is still the operating system.” The Biden Official Who Pierced Putin’s “Sanction-Proof” Economy — The New Yorker, March 25, 2022. It was quite a striking interview.

As we see the events of earth’s history come to a close, Jesus is still commanding His four angels to hold back the strife of total destruction. He is urging upon the hearts of men, women, and children to look at His goodness and what He has to offer—peace, love, satisfaction of life, happiness, and eventually eternal life. This is in stark contrast to the life that the adversary offers—greed, selfishness, strife, and unhappiness, eventually leading to death. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Even though there will be strife in the world, Jesus offers us a lighter “yoke” or burden to carry. He promises that if we will give our lives to Him, obey His commandments through the power of the Holy Spirit, love one another as He loves us, that He will work a miracle in our hearts and purge all sinfulness that may abide in it. He will replace it with His laws and secure it with His Spirit that we might be ready to meet Him in the clouds on His return. His way is narrow and straight, but much easier to navigate than the ways of sin. His way brings a calmness in the midst of the storm of life. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6, 7

Michael C. Wells is the director of Anointing Oil Ministries.

What God Has Joined Together

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“So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no man separate.”

Matthew 19:6

What God puts together, man is not to divide. There are some things that belong together because God has put them together.

We are in a world and generation where everything that God has put together the devil is trying to tear apart. He aims at the home, the church, anything that God has joined together. He says separate, and he has a million imps at work to segregate, fragment, decimate, and cause disunion and anarchy—that is his program. “What God has joined together, let not man separate.”

Let’s look at some things that God has put together. “Lord, You have been favorable to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob. You have forgiven the iniquity of Your people; You have covered all their sin. You have taken away all Your wrath; You have turned from the fierceness of Your anger.

“Restore us, O God of our salvation, and cause Your anger toward us to cease. Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us Your mercy, Lord, and grant us Your salvation.

“I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly. Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.

“Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yes, the Lord will give what is good; and our land will yield its increase. Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our pathway.” Psalm 85:1–13

Notice the two great traits or attributes that are said to meet together. In a beautiful repetition of Hebrew poetry the thought is emphasized. Mercy and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Another of the translations puts it this way: “Loving kindness and truth have met together.” Love and truth, in other words, are joined together in God’s program. The New English Bible translates it: “Love and fidelity have come together. Justice and peace join hands.” Another translation: “Love and loyalty now meet. Righteousness and peace now embrace.”

But why the emphasis on the meeting of these two great attributes? Because the devil has been trying for 6,000 years to separate them. We may call them justice and mercy. We may call them truth and love. One emphasizes a strict hew to the character of God; the other emphasizes His mercy and forgiving kindness. The devil is trying to separate them, but what God has joined together, let not man separate.

No one truly understands one side of the character of God on this matter unless he understands the other side. The two are not disassociated, they are not antagonistic. Each one is a reflection of the other. Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed and embraced each other. This was wonderfully and gloriously demonstrated at the cross. At the cross justice and mercy, love and truth met and embraced, the complete manifestation of the character of God.

A most vivid and sublime presentation of this meeting is found in Selected Messages, Book 1, 349: “The grace of Christ and the law of God are inseparable.” Inseparable means you cannot separate them. The devil says, “I’ll try, just watch me.” But God says, “You cannot do it.” There are many things passing for the gospel today that separate these two attributes and when you separate them, you really have neither one when you get through. “In Jesus mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other. In His life and character He not only reveals the character of God, but the possibility of man. He was the representative of God and the exemplar of humanity. He presented to the world what humanity might become when united by faith with divinity.” Ibid.

Jesus was not only a substitute, He was a demonstration of what, by the grace of God, can be wrought out in the life of man.

“The only-begotten Son of God took upon Him the nature of man, and established His cross between earth and heaven. Through the cross, man was drawn to God, and God to man.” Ibid.

Here we see the sublime representation of what happened at the cross. Man was drawn to God, and God to man through the cross. Are you drawn to God through the cross? Did God love man more because of the cross? No. At the cross God saw a way, He demonstrated and revealed a way. God, representing justice upon the throne of the universe, saw a way that man could be pardoned without, in any way, weakening the structure and justice of the universe. He saw how man could be forgiven without setting the law aside. He saw how He could bend toward the repenting sinner without accepting or condoning the sin.

“Through the cross, man was drawn to God, and God to man. Justice moved from its high and awful position, and the heavenly hosts, the armies of holiness, drew near to the cross, bowing with reverence; for at the cross justice was satisfied.” Ibid.

Christ on the cross bore everything that justice required and tasted death for every man. He paid the debt. O I am so thankful for that love!

In The Desire of Ages, 762, these wonderful thoughts again are beautifully expressed: “God’s love has been expressed in His justice no less than in His mercy.” We think of the mercy of God as revealing His love. That mercy is infinite mercy. “Grace,” as we sing the song, “that is greater than all our sin.” An infinite love revealed in an infinite mercy. But this says that God’s love has been expressed in His justice no less than in His mercy. Justice is just as much an expression of God’s love as is His mercy. If we don’t agree with that, we either need a different view of justice or we need a different view of mercy. If we correctly understand God, we will see His love in His justice as well as in His mercy, and justice is the foundation of His throne and the fruit of His love.

The world is suffering today because of a permissive attitude toward lawbreaking. Criminals are roaming throughout the world, making life unsafe in both country and city. Why? There is a small chance that a criminal will be caught, a small chance that he will ever be convicted, and an equally small chance that if he is convicted that he will suffer the penalty to the nth degree. The law of averages is all on the side of the criminal and lawbreaking. Man has become so soft, so permissive, that the criminal, high-handed rebel that he is defies the law. The justice of God recognizes that the law must be enforced, wrapping up the peace and order of the entire universe.

What shall we say then of a so-called gospel, that would present the obedience of Christ as something which is a substitute for man’s obedience? It suggests that Christ died for man’s sin, and then man goes free to continue in transgression, yet he is saved because of the sacrifice of Christ. My friend, that is not the gospel.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation from sin, to everyone who believes. In the gospel of Jesus Christ, God’s love is revealed “in His justice no less than in His mercy. Justice is the foundation of His throne, and the fruit of His love. It had been Satan’s purpose to divorce mercy from truth and justice. He sought to prove that the righteousness of God’s law is an enemy to peace. But Christ shows that in God’s plan they are indissolubly joined together; the one cannot exist without the other.” Ibid. There would be no real, lasting, worthwhile, effective mercy in this universe if God’s justice could be set aside and destroyed. Equally so there would be no real justice if God’s mercy could be destroyed. Mercy and justice cannot exist without one another.

When the bride and groom are joined in the wedding service, sometimes they not only join hands but they embrace. There’s a kiss of love and this is the picture here. There is no war between justice, mercy, and the character of God. They are joined, indissolubly joined together. And what God has joined together, let not man separate.

This must be true in our experience:

Truth is knowing God’s will.

Righteousness is doing God’s will.

Faith is man’s response, believing the truth and doing the righteousness; both are made possible through the gift of Christ. He is the truth (John 14:6). He has given man the gift of faith. Faith is one of the gifts of the Spirit. He has given man the gift of righteousness, righteousness that covers every transgression that’s passed to the penitent, righteousness which not only covers him but enters his very mind and soul that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us.

“Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1 KJV. This righteousness, truth, justice, and revelation of the will of God, knowing and doing it does not replace love. Love is not a substitute for righteousness, neither is faith a substitute for righteousness. Faith is man’s response to God’s truth and love is an expression of man’s response to God’s love manifested in obedience.

Galatians 5:5, 6 tell us: “For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.” What avails? Faith which works through love. Faith is meant to work.

Do you know what people usually do when they purchase something, only to find that it doesn’t work? Send it back. James makes a very strong stand. He says that if your works aren’t the product of faith, then they are dead. Paul is right in harmony.

Working without either faith or love is legalism. The people of the world see those who strive to keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus and call them legalists. But they don’t really understand what legalism is. Legalism is attempting to do right without God, trying to be righteous without the forgiving and sanctifying grace of Jesus Christ. It is trying to keep the law without the indwelling Spirit and the sprinkling of the blood. Trying to obey God alone, is impossible to do, but with God, nothing is impossible. Anything God says to do can be done.

Where the word of the King is there is power. As many as received them gave He power. Peter, writing in his first epistle to the people of God scattered throughout various parts of the world, said, “[E]lect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:2. This was meant to include us, written for our admonition as well. This precious grace is unto obedience; that’s the purpose of it. Paul, in Romans 1:5, reading the margin calls it “the obedience of faith.” Does faith obey? Yes. If it doesn’t obey, it is not faith; it is presumption. Jesus says, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” John 17:17

As I was meditating on these texts, I was thinking about the beautiful rainbow. What color is the rainbow? It’s all colors. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, indigo, merging and blending. All those colors are in every ray of light. In the morning sunlight as those rays of glory stream down, every one of them has all the colors in it. You can’t see it, but it is there. You get a rain shower in the right position with reference to your eye and the sun, and those millions of raindrops act like little prisms breaking up or refracting the light into its various colors. The drops of water don’t add any color; they merely show you what is already there.

At the cross, as the storm and tempest of wrath against sin broke upon the head and heart of Jesus Christ, divine justice and mercy were seen as an expression of the infinite love of God. And now, around the throne forever is that rainbow, representing the union of justice and mercy in the plan of salvation. What God has joined together, let not man separate.

I am afraid of any message attempting to emphasize one at the expense of the other, or any message which seeks to pit one against the other, any message which would hurl epithets against those who would join them together. We need both. White light includes red, blue, yellow, and all the various blends and combinations of all colors. So it is with the character of God, summed up in that one word love, for God is love.

As we view that character and bring it to the prism of Calvary, we see justice and mercy, life and death, glory and shame, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, and righteousness imputed and imparted. As we see all these colors, as it were, of the white light of God’s character, let us not seek to run off with one of those colors and say, “This is it, I’ve got the whole thing.” No, because you don’t have the whole thing. We need every color of the rainbow to make the white light of God’s perfect character.

“Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed.” Psalm 85:10.

What God has joined together, let not man separate.

Pastor W. D. Frazee studied the Medical Missionary Course at the College of Medical Evangelists in Loma Linda, California. He was called to Utah as a gospel medical evangelist. During the Great Depression, when the church could not afford to hire any assistants, Pastor Frazee began inviting professionals to join him as volunteers. Thus began a faith ministry that would become the foundation for the establishment of the Wildwood Medical Missionary Institute in 1942. He believed that each person is unique, specially designed by the Lord, of infinite value, and has a special place and mission in this world which only he or she can fill. His life followed this principle and encouraged others to do the same.

Editorial – The Final Invitation to be Saved

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When Christ entered the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary to perform His final work as a mediator and High Priest, to perform the closing work of the atonement, He committed to His servants the last message of mercy found in Revelation 14:6–12 to give to the world.

This message exalts Christ as the sinner’s refuge (Revelation 14:6), and involves the preaching and understanding of repentance and faith (Acts 20:21). But the gospel must be presented with the law of God and the fact that we are living in the day of judgment: “Our duty to obey this law is to be the burden of this last message of mercy to the world. God’s law is not a new thing. It is not holiness created, but holiness made known. It is a code of principles expressing mercy, goodness, and love. It presents to fallen humanity the character of God, and states plainly the whole duty of man.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, 1104, 1105

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in this world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last message of mercy for a perishing world.” The Review and Herald, November 23, 1905

“The Lord calls upon you, O church that has been blessed with the truth! to give a knowledge of this truth to those who know it not. From one end of the world to the other must the message of Christ’s soon coming be proclaimed.” Ibid., November 17, 1910

“Those who think that they can please God by obeying some other law than His, and by performing works other than those which the gospel has enjoined, are mocking God. They are insulting the Holy One of Israel. Warning after warning is given … . The worst of sinners are to hear the call. All are to be given a final test. …”

“When the Saviour saw in the Jewish people a nation divorced from God, He saw also a professed Christian Church united to the world and the papacy. And as He stood upon Olivet, weeping over Jerusalem till the sun sank behind the western hills, so He is weeping over and pleading with sinners in these last moments of time.” Ibid., October 8, 1901