The end of another year is approaching, and as you look over the past year and see what has been accomplished you may ask yourself, has my faith in the God of heaven strengthened? Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17).That faith is then tested and tried and is strengthened by being exercised with trials.
Have you “fought the good fight of faith” (II Timothy 4:7) through each trial and gained the victory over those corrupt and sinful habits that we all struggle with? “Every man has corrupt and sinful habits that must be overcome by vigorous warfare. Every soul is required to fight the fight of faith.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1111.
When you are tested and tried, your own heart’s desires come forth and you are drawn either heavenward or earthward. I trust that the trials of this past year have drawn you nearer to heaven and not nearer to this world and that temper or impatient spirit has become subdued and you have experienced victory through Jesus Christ. Consider the perseverance of an eagle and remember what Isaiah 40:31 says: “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” As we “wait” upon the Lord, we expect or anticipate something from Him and we are given strength like the wings of an eagle. Read the following and praise the Lord!
“The eagle of the Alps is sometimes beaten down by the tempest into the narrow defiles of the mountains. Storm clouds shut in this mighty bird of the forest, their dark masses separating her from the sunny heights where she has made her home. Her efforts to escape seem fruitless. She dashes to and fro, beating the air with her strong wings, and waking the mountain echoes with her cries. At length, with a note of triumph, she darts upward, and, piercing the clouds, is once more in the clear sunlight, with the darkness and tempest far beneath. So we may be surrounded with difficulties, discouragement, and darkness. Falsehood, calamity, injustice, shut us in. There are clouds that we cannot dispel. We battle with circumstances in vain. There is one, and but one, way of escape. The mists and fogs cling to the earth; beyond the clouds God’s light is shining. Into the sunlight of His presence we may rise on the wings of faith.” Education, 118, 119.
Reflect on whether God’s purpose was accomplished in your life this past year. “It is God’s purpose to manifest through His people the principles of His kingdom. That in life and character they may reveal these principles, He desires to separate them from the customs, habits, and practices of the world. He seeks to bring them near to Himself, that He may make known to them His will.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 9.
Have you separated yourself from the customs, habits and practices of the world so God could make known to you His will? And did you find out that His will for you and me is to restore in us His image?
Knowing that God has begotten us again unto a hope that is living should give us the love and thankfulness in our hearts that we cannot but praise Him in our daily lives. In Ezekiel 37:1–10, it says that God will bring life again into dead bones. While you are walking in the midst of the ways and practices of this world, then you are in the middle of a bunch of dry bones. Only the God of heaven can give you life. You can find life only in heavenly places. There is no life when you walk in the footsteps of the god of this world, doing what you want, thinking what you want to think because heavenly thoughts have been blocked from entering your mind. The god of this world does not want you to take time to think on things of God: “Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8. These are the thoughts that keep our hearts in the heavenly places where God dwells. Is that where you want to be?
Those who walk in the ways of this world, deviating from the straight, appointed road, are dead in trespasses and sins and have fallen short of the glory of God, His character.
The way of the world is a very dangerous path to walk on. It is without Christ and without hope. Satan, the leader on this path, has lost the companionship of God and the heavenly angels and wants you to also lose that companionship.
Have you remembered to pray, Lord, “hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not”? Psalm 17:5. Your footsteps will not slip if you are sincere in this prayer.
How often have you said, “I can do all things,” but forgot where that strength comes from?
In Ephesians 4:1, we are asked to walk worthy, to live or conduct ourselves worthily, of the vocation wherewith we are called. That vocation or calling is to be a Christian, Christ-like, and to reveal the principles of the heavenly kingdom where our citizenship is. How has your conduct been? Did you conduct yourself in a Christ-like manner during the trials or the testing and proving of your faith, and what kinds of fruits did you see come forth from yourself? Did you allow a few sour responses of impatience or anger, etc., arise or did you allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruit of holiness?
The first fruit of the Holy Spirit is love. It would be beneficial to review the meaning of that love spoken of in I Corinthians 13:4-8, and compare it with your own life. We are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12, last part). Jeremiah 17:9 speaks about the heart being “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”
Often we cannot see our own shortcomings, so as David did, it is good always to pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23, 24. Pray this prayer and the Lord will allow an experience in your life that will show you what is really in your heart, whether it is heavenly or earthy. So watch and pray, and our gentle Savior will give you grace to see yourself and then give you power to overcome.
“The influence of the Holy Spirit is the life of Christ in the soul. We do not see Christ and speak to Him, but His Holy Spirit is just as near us in one place as in another. It works in and through every one who receives Christ. Those who know the indwelling of the Spirit reveal the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1112.
This year is just about over and we have much to be thankful for. Our most wonderful God is rich in mercy and He loves us so much. He has brought us through another year—even though we have left Him out of our hearts and lives at times! Oh, behold what manner of love and mercy!
Our Heavenly Father deserves a song of praise and thanksgiving from our hearts. We will never realize how much He has protected us. “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3. “Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15.
Praise God for Jesus Christ who is our peace, our mediator who is in the Most Holy Place in heaven right now, waiting to hear from us. He is waiting to grant us freedom from this world and its trespasses and sins. Kneel before him now and ask forgiveness for your trespasses and sins. The Holy Spirit is putting that prayer into your heart right now. Accept it and go to Jesus right now while He is still there. One day soon He will stand up and say, “It is finished!”Then it will be too late; we will no longer be able to have our sins forgiven because we waited too long.
This year is ending. Let us re-commit our hearts to Him. Let us claim the promise that, “If we will trust Him, and commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps in the very path that will result in our obtaining the victory over every evil passion, and every trait of character that is unlike the character of our divine Pattern.” Our High Calling, 316. For what more can we ask?
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” Romans 13:12.
Let each one of us find ourselves at the end of this year sitting in heavenly places with Him, our Savior, our friend and our brother. Let us also begin a new year in that same place with God’s blessings.
Judy A. Hallingstad is part of our LandMarks team. She can be contacted by email at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.