testimony

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.

To Obey God

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Late last winter, Steps to Life received a request for baptism from Ryan Grandone, who lives in Montana and heard about our ministry from a friend. Ryan is new to Adventism, but it was clear from our correspondence with him that he had a sincere desire to know and follow the Lord’s will.

Our initial attempt to send him some study materials was thwarted by the enemy of souls, and the package was returned to us as undeliverable. We know that the devil doesn’t want anyone to know and accept the truth or obey the commandments of God, but God intervened, and Ryan eventually received the materials.

Knowing how the devil tries to interfere with our plans, as Ryan puts it, to “get right” with God, he related this experience:

I had been trying to get the Sabbath off permanently at my place of work for quite some time. Since the plant I work for operates 24/7 and is a production facility, this was a problem for my supervisors. I must have given them half a dozen different options that would have worked as far as scheduling goes. They were uninterested in my request and started to ignore me, hoping I would give up.

I knew that I had to have sundown Friday through sundown Saturday off—PERMANENTLY! I started to worry that I would lose my job and was deeply concerned about my future. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I could fix the problem and come up with a solution.

Then I realized that I couldn’t fix the problem. I couldn’t do anything without trusting in God for help! With this realization, I committed in my heart to do whatever I had to do in order to obey God. I walked into my supervisor’s office and told him that if they didn’t seriously look into my request, I was going to find another job.

A short time later I was informed that the company would be creating a new and special position for me. This new position had better hours with every weekend off and would be far easier on me physically. Not only had God provided for me for putting my trust in Him, He made the situation ideal for me. God went above and beyond!

It was a powerful lesson that I will never forget. Praise God Almighty!

“[T]hat He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:16–21

He Was Not Mine to Lose

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And therein lies acceptance.

[Emphasis supplied.]

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

Testimony – The Lifeline

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Here in Maine, as the winter draws near, almost everyone who knits or crochets takes out their needles to begin projects of hats, mittens, shawls, or sweaters.

Sometimes what appears to be a simple pattern can end up a tangled mess if a lifeline isn’t used. I have been overconfident many times telling myself, “I don’t need that, I’ll find my way.” What a mistake! A lifeline while knitting provides a foolproof way of knowing where I am in the pattern if I become distracted as to what row I am on, losing my way. However, this can all be avoided. Taking the time to run a colored piece of yarn through all the stitches on the knitting needle every few rows can save the frustration of getting lost. I learned, through much trial and error, that using the lifeline is not an option but a necessity. If I get lost, all I have to do is tear back to the stitches held on the lifeline, pick up those stitches, and I will know what row to begin anew. The stitches held on the lifeline cannot move, nor is one stitch lost until those stitches are picked up on the needle, then, and only then, can the lifeline be pulled through, no longer needed until it is again inserted several rows below to once again secure where I am in the pattern.

Our relationship to Jesus can be illustrated in much the same way. If we are overconfident, carelessly going about our day without taking time to read our Bibles and pray, Satan will make certain we lose our way, as we become lost in our own destructive patterns and old habits we thought we had conquered. We can so easily sin and lose our way by compromising and not paying attention. As the hours and days pass, Jesus, our lifeline, can seem faint and almost invisible, as we travel on our own way in self-confidence without Him. As we become more entangled, life becomes more difficult as we try in our own strength to get back to our lifeline. What seems a few short steps away, can take many steps to return. Jesus is our pattern, our light and strength in every time of need. He is our lifeline, and only He knows the path we must travel to get to the kingdom. He will keep us, through prayer and Bible study, from becoming lost. We should not let distractions interfere in our Christian experience, losing time and distance to our heavenly home. Hold on, my fellow Christian, to Jesus. Hold on to the Lifeline, Jesus Christ, making your salvation sure.

Testimony – “I’ve Got It!”

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In The Southern Review, January 23, 1902, Mrs. White recounts an experience while speaking in Launceston, Tasmania.

At the end of the meeting a tall, fine-looking woman came to Mrs. White and threw her arms about her shoulders and wept and wept.  She was unable to speak for a little while. Mrs. White’s son tried to disentangle the woman from his mother, but she would not let go.

She told Mrs. White of her son who was very sick. He had been visited by many ministers and had read many books, but he could not understand them and none of them impressed him or spoke directly to his heart. He had asked her if there was some other book in all their library that he could read. She said there was one book that canvassers had brought to them. She had not read it, but she would get it for him.

He read the book and then re-read it. And then he read it a third time. His joyous response was, “I’ve got it, I know my Saviour and I am His child.” He was happy every moment after, as long as he lived.

But he made a request of his mother before he died: “Now, mother, promise me one thing, if ever Mrs. White shall come into our country and you see her, will you tell her that that book was the means of saving my soul? Will you lend this book to all our neighbors?”

The woman said, “I have done it and it’s about worn out and I will have to replace it. There are several that know now what faith is and what dependence upon God is.”

The book? The Great Controversy.

Never doubt it, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please. And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Testimony – The State of Our World

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I check out the world’s news via the Internet several times a week. Through that medium, it’s easier than ever to keep up with the world’s latest developments. Much like the younger generation today, I don’t have any channels on my television. Instead, I “surf the net.”

One morning I read in many media outlets that Netflix just reported its most successful series in history. It’s a fiction series called Squid Game. Usually, I wouldn’t pay much attention to it, but since it was such prominent news across the media, I looked it up. To say that I was in a state of shock would be an understatement. I do not live in a Christian bubble, so I consider myself quite aware of the evils and injustices of our world. This time, however, I was speechless.

The South Korean show Squid Game is fiction. It portrays 456 people who find themselves at the bottom of society and financially broke. They compete in various games for over 40 million dollars, paid for by wealthy individuals who enjoy watching the losers die. There will be only one winner at the end. The losers must die a cruel death. As the episodes progress, fewer and fewer people are left alive, the rest being executed in various graphic ways.

Why would such a show become a hit? I couldn’t understand it, so I started reading the viewers’ reviews. There I learned that the show excels at exceptional brutality, letting the viewer watch gruesome killings with unsurpassed realism and closeness. This is the very reason why the show became a hit. The creators of the show couldn’t believe its success themselves and never dreamed that the very brutality and horrific images of death would attract millions.

Here are a few of the viewers’ comments:

“I usually never leave reviews on shows/movies I watch either, so me leaving one for this show speaks volumes to just how much I enjoyed Squid Game… EVERYTHING was just absolutely amazing … It has enough blood scenes for suspense/thrill lovers to enjoy. I really cannot explain enough just how much I love this show.”

“I can’t wait till season two and big credits have to go to the creators of this awesome show.”

“Korean content continues to set the standards, this time with a riveting, deliciously dark thriller series on Netflix called Squid Game.”

“I LOVE this show. I personally think that it is one of the most amazing shows I’ve ever watched. It is very intense and interesting it may be disturbing but it is one of those shows where u just CAN’T look away.”

The above are just four reactions out of thousands of Google reviews, all giving kudos to the show. A civilized and sensible person, regardless of religious conviction, must ask How can people possibly be so thirsty for violence and blood, the more gruesome the better? Have people always been so violent? Or is it a phenomenon of our time? Where is any display of humanity, respect for life, reverence for the words of the American Declaration of Independence that state that everyone is entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, not to mention the scriptures that declare the sacredness of human life?

While we possess more knowledge and light than humanity has ever had, it is a paradox that human society has never been so morally corrupt. Not only that, we are talking about an intense desire to kill—or at the least, to witness killing.

I have asked these questions of several acquaintances who watched the show. They looked at me surprised. “It’s fiction” was the most common answer. So your thirst for violence is fiction? Books have been written on the effects of such material on the human psyche. When we consume such content, our brain circuits don’t distinguish whether it’s fiction or real. The damage is the same.

If you have friends who watch dramatic presentations in any form, please consider advising them of the counsel we are given based on 1 Corinthians 3:18:

“Men put God out of their knowledge and worshiped the creatures of their own imagination; and as the result, they became more and more debased. The psalmist describes the effect produced upon the worshiper by the adoration of idols. He says, ‘They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.’ Psalm 115:8. It is a law of the human mind that by beholding we become changed. Man will rise no higher than his conceptions of truth, purity, and holiness. If the mind is never exalted above the level of humanity, if it is not uplifted by faith to contemplate infinite wisdom and love, the man will be constantly sinking lower and lower. The worshipers of false gods clothed their deities with human attributes and passions, and thus their standard of character was degraded to the likeness of sinful humanity. They were defiled in consequence. ‘God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. … The earth also was corrupt before God; and the earth was filled with violence.’ God had given men His commandments as a rule of life, but His law was transgressed, and every conceivable sin was the result. The wickedness of men was open and daring, justice was trampled in the dust, and the cries of the oppressed reached unto heaven.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 91 [Emphasis supplied.]

I’m an optimist. Yet as I look toward the future, I worry about what is coming once the viewers’ dark cravings are unleashed. We find several places in the Bible, such as Luke 21:12, where persecution of God’s people are prophesied: “But before all these things [disasters], they will lay their hands on you and persecute you.” It seems the Bible writers didn’t even have words for the unprecedented brutality human beings are capable of. Never have past generations normalized violence and cruelty as has the present one, whether real or fiction.

Yet, even in the world’s most turbulent storms, the Scriptures assure us of God’s protective hand:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—

He who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, He who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—

The Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm—

He will watch over your life;

The Lord will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

The Value of Something Almost Lost

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“O come, let us sing unto the Lord: let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it: and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.”

Psalm 95:1–6

Sometimes we are not aware of how important something is until it is almost lost or even gone. For example, many do not understand just how wonderful and important good health is until they are sick or no longer strong and healthy.

When I was young, I loved music. It was my desire to learn to play many different instruments, so my parents arranged for me to have music lessons. At first, I learned to play the trumpet and the piano. I took lessons for several years, and then I began to have trouble with my eyesight. For a while, I had to give up playing the piano and engaging in other musical pursuits.

While there was great concern that I would go blind, in the end I did not. But I have often wondered if the reason that my musical pursuits were halted was providential. Could it be that I might have wanted to pursue a different life, one filled with the devil’s music? God had other plans for me, and in His mercy, I believe He put a large and potentially permanent obstacle in my path.

I have always tried to follow His leading and as a result I have been a teacher and a pastor for many, many years. Had I continued my musical pursuits all those years ago, it might be that I would not have fulfilled the plans that He had for my life.

Today, I still love music and continue to play the piano. I am filled with praise and thankfulness that God loved me enough to keep me from the wrong path and to lead me in His way. I want to be able to join the saints and angels one day to fill all the realms of heaven with joyous thanksgiving. I hope you want that, too. The great thing is that it doesn’t matter if you can’t play an instrument or even carry a tune here. When Jesus comes, we will all have a song to sing and a voice to sing it.

Testimony – God’s Test or Satan’s Temptation?

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On January 31, 2020, I had triple bypass surgery. I praise the Lord that the problem was discovered before I had a heart attack and that there was no damage to my heart muscle. That incident, though, made me consider my living situation—particularly with respect to my children and grandchildren. They all live a thousand miles away in Tucson, Arizona, and for several reasons I wanted to be closer to them.

First, if I ever had another serious physical problem, I thought it would be better if I were close to them so that they could provide any help I might need. But secondly, I am concerned for their salvation. I felt—and still feel—that being more involved in their daily lives might have a beneficial effect on their spiritual growth.

After pondering those factors and other considerations, I began a search for a place to buy in Tucson. I engaged the same real estate agent who had helped me with a previous property sale and initiated the search for a two-bedroom condominium.

After a bit of searching, my agent found a great unit in a small complex of 20 units near Saguaro National Park. It had a huge swimming pool, which I thought would be a great magnet for my kids and grandkids. I made an offer, which the buyer accepted; so I took a few days off from work and went to Tucson for the inspection prior to the close of the deal.

While the inspection was in process, I walked around the complex and met a man who it turned out had lived there for a year or so. He loved the place because “everything you need is within walking distance—both a McDonald’s and a Burger King.” That got me to thinking about what I really needed and was reminded of the abundant counsel we are given about leaving the cities.

I am truly blessed to be currently living in a rural environment. Deer and turkey regularly walk through my yard. I often hear coyotes howling at night. How foolish it seemed to go against counsel and move to a city of almost a million people!

So I backed out of the deal.

A few months later I was praying for guidance, still harboring the desire to move closer to family and freely ignoring the counsel that the Lord had already provided through His testimonies to live in the country.

In hindsight, I was doing what many have done who recognize the Sabbath truth for the first time and pray, “Lord, if you want me to keep Saturday as the Sabbath, give me a sign.” He’s not going to do that. He’s made it very plain in His word that He wants His faithful followers to observe and keep holy the seventh-day Sabbath.

Now let me tell you how I continued to rationalize my desire to do what I wanted to do.

Tucson is surrounded by mountains on four sides: the Catalina Mountains, the Rincons, the Santa Ritas and the Tucson Mountains. West of the Tucson Mountains, about a 30-minute drive from the heart of Tucson and a 45-minute drive from my children, is an area called Picture Rocks. It is an area with an eclectic assortment of residences, most on a minimum of an acre of land. So I thought, Why not check there? It might provide what I wanted—being close to family and in a relatively rural location.

So I booted up Zillow.com, typed in the ZIP code for Picture Rocks and there was what seemed to be the perfect place. It was a two-bedroom home with an office addition and a hobby room. There were two good-sized outbuildings, one of which was insulated and air conditioned. It sat on an acre and a quarter of land and had an abundance of irrigated fruit trees. It was a complete fulfillment of what I wanted.

I called up my real estate agent and asked him to check it out for me. He called me and said that it was a real oasis and in excellent condition, but, while he was there looking at it, there were several other interested parties checking it out as well. He said that if I really wanted it, I would have to offer more than the asking price. So I offered almost $3,000 above the listed price. My agent said that the seller was going to review all offers on the following Wednesday afternoon.

While I was waiting for his call, I kept trying to ignore the counsel to leave the cities. I would be close to my family, only 30 minutes from town yet with a mountain range in between. The yearning heart can easily overrule an otherwise rational mind.

Then as I was thinking about being closer to my family, the Holy Spirit kept reminding me of the quote from Adventist Home that I printed out and placed in the edge of the picture frame holding a photo of my three children:

“We must not center our affections on worldly relatives, who have no desire to learn the truth. We may seek in every way, while associated with them, to let our light shine; but our words, our deportment, our customs and practices, should not in any sense be molded by their ideas and customs. We are to show forth the truth in all our intercourse with them. If we cannot do this, the less association we have with them the better it will be for our spirituality.” Op. Cit., 462. (See also Testimonies, vol. 5, 543.)

All this time, I was also thinking of Balaam, the prophet who kept asking the Lord to let him do something that he wanted to do, but that the Lord had initially made clear to him He didn’t want him to do. The story is found in Numbers 22.

Inspiration offers this account of the story:

“Balaam inquired of God if he might curse Israel, because in so doing he had the promise of great reward. And God said, ‘Thou shalt not go;’ but he was urged by the messengers, and greater inducements were presented. Balaam had been shown the will of the Lord in this matter, but he was so eager for the reward that he ventured to ask God the second time. The Lord permitted Balaam to go. Then he had a wonderful experience, but who would wish to be guided by such an experience? There are those who would understand their duty clearly if it were in harmony with their natural inclinations. Circumstances and reason may clearly indicate their duty; but when against their natural inclination, these evidences are frequently set aside. Then these persons will presume to go to God to learn their duty. But God will not be trifled with. He will permit such persons to follow the desires of their own hearts. Psalm 81:11, 12: ‘But My people would not hearken to My voice.’ ‘So I gave them up unto their own hearts’ lust: and they walked in their own counsels.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 3, 73

It dawned on me that I was on the verge of committing the same error that Balaam had done by walking in my own counsel. So I finally said, “Lord, Your will be done. Close the door firmly and decidedly if You would not be honored by my moving to Tucson. You know whether or not I would have a beneficial and lasting effect on my children’s spiritual growth. I will accept whatever happens as Your will.”

Wednesday afternoon, my real estate agent called. “Bad news, John. The seller didn’t accept your offer. In fact, they accepted an offer that was several thousand dollars below yours,” explaining that the offer they accepted was all cash. The seller wanted a quick close, which the cash offer made possible. I could not help but think that the Lord had intervened and structured circumstances to prevent me from making a big mistake.

“Okay,” I thought. “The Lord has spoken.” Once I accepted that, I had a complete change of mindset. The draw of my family and the desire to move back to Tucson and the Sonoran Desert completely left me. I had a wonderful feeling of peace and contentment, knowing that the Lord had intervened and that I was doing His will. By accepting what I felt was the hand of the Lord moving in this situation, I had successfully resisted the temptation to move.

But that’s not the end of the story …

Two days later, my real estate agent called again. “I have some good news, John. The original buyer backed out of the deal. It was an older woman and her kids felt that the location was too remote and too far from medical care if anything should happen. The house is yours.”

An unnumbered jumble of thoughts was coursing through my head, resulting in a long, silent pause. Finally the agent asked, “Has there been a change of plans?”

I tried to explain to him briefly what I had gone through spiritually, but he brushed it aside clearly uninterested in my being guided by a higher purpose and said, “Do you want to buy the place or not?” There wasn’t any irritation in his voice, just “Let me know by tomorrow afternoon.”

The question I was asking myself was “Is this a temptation from Satan or a test from God—or both?” As I pondered that question, the Holy Spirit gave me insight into what my life would have been like if I had moved.

First, I would have no significant spiritual fellowship in my daily life. In fact, the prominent daily influences would be entirely of the world. Second, I would have no meaningful, edifying Sabbath worship. The nearest Seventh-day Adventist church would have been an hour away. The few times I had previously attended worship there, I was truly appalled by the lack of reverence in the sanctuary between Sabbath school and church. Quiet meditation between services had been impossible. Plus, the messages I had heard during the main worship service varied from travelogues to “feel good” sermons. Rarely, if ever, had I heard any encouragement regarding overcoming an inherited sinful nature.

There was absolutely no question in my mind that God had intervened and showed me what He wanted me to do. Was He trying to determine the depth of my conviction by giving me this one last test? Or was Satan trying to lure me away from a situation to which I had been called to be in God’s service?

I called my real estate agent and told him of my decision to pass on the purchase. I thanked him for his efforts on my behalf and hung up, certain that I was doing God’s will.

[All emphasis supplied.]

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

Testimony – The Man in the Hallway

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How many times have you wished you could meet your guardian angel? It’s certainly something to look forward to when Jesus comes. Well, I’ve met mine. I suppose that’s a bit of an exaggeration. It wasn’t like we talked or sat and visited, but I did see him. And he saved my life.

I was 15 years old, a latch-key kid. My parents would leave early in the morning to go to work and I would get up later, get myself ready and head off to school. School was a short three-block walk from our house and I made that walk every day, rain or shine, clear or snowy, but not uphill either way.

There are a lot of details to this story, but I’ll do my best to keep it short.

We had lived in our neighborhood since I was six. I’d been a latch-key kid since I was nine. I had friends in the neighborhood, my next-door neighbor, a couple of older boys down the street, my best friend a block over and the son of our school principal.

I don’t recall what day of the week it was, but I do remember it was December and cold. My parents had already left for work and I was preparing my breakfast when I heard a noise in the utility room off the kitchen. Seemed odd to me, so I went to investigate. When I opened the door, I found the door from the utility room into the garage was open and just glimpsed something go back out into the garage. We had a stray cat in the neighborhood that would often spend the night in our garage and I figured it had gotten stuck in the garage when Mom and Dad left for work. Somehow the door into the utility room had gotten blown open and it had come in to investigate.

But when I went to the door to the garage to close it, I saw that it wasn’t the cat at all. The garage door was up about two feet and standing next to it was a man. I can still him in my mind’s eye standing there all dressed in black, wearing gloves and a ski mask, the kind through which you can only see the eyes and mouth.

We stared at each other for a heartbeat and then the thought came to me that he would try to come back in and I needed to close the door. At the same second, he seemed to realize that if he was going to get in, he would have to hurry because I was going to close the door. I swung the door as hard as I could and he ran as quickly as he could toward me. The door slammed tightly shut right in his face. I leaned all my weight against it and so did he. This door had glass, so this man and I were straining against both sides of the door, staring directly at each other. He had blue eyes. I saw his hand in its glove splayed on the glasses and that’s when I realized that if he got in once, he would get in again, and I would not be strong enough to stop him.

I ran back into the kitchen and out into the living room. To my left was the hallway and the telephone. I took one look at the phone and stepped toward the hallway, then looked up and there in the hallway was a man. I can’t remember his face. I can remember that he was dressed in a business suit and I remember that I wasn’t afraid. He shook his head no and pointed to the front door.

I turned on my heel and ran for the front door. As I started to go out, I remembered something I’d seen on a television program just a couple nights before where a young girl had run out the front door and right into the arms of the person who wanted to do her harm. Probably the only time all the television I watched over my life did me any real good. I opened the front door and paused, watching the kitchen door and then there he was. He had gotten back in the house and I ran out the front door and to the neighbor’s house.

They called my Mom and Dad. The police came. They searched the house and here is a strange thing, they were able to take fingerprints. Remember, I told you he was wearing gloves, but he left a perfect set of fingerprints. In fact, that’s how he was found.

While I was waiting for my parents to get home, I was in the house with a police officer. He asked me if he could use the phone. I said yes. I saw him pick up the receiver (this was an old circular dial phone), press the buttons a couple times to get a dial tone. He put the receiver down and went outside. I learned later, that the man had cut the phone line. Had I tried to use the phone, I would have been trapped in the hallway, but for the man in the business suit.

It turned out that the man who broke into our house was one of the two boys I knew from down the street. The police knew that because of the fingerprints and he had a record. The next day, my dad stayed home with me and we watched this boy, along with another boy walk across our front yard. The police had staked out the house and they arrested him at the end of the block.

They found rope in his pocket, along with the credit card he used to break into the house. He admitted that it had been his intent to break into the house and ultimately kill me, except, for the man in the hallway. My guardian angel.

I am looking forward to seeing him again.

From High School Failure to Successful Career

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Without a doubt, everyone has a story to tell of how the Lord turns failures into success.

I was born in Calcutta, India, to Armenian parents. My earliest memories of home were of my loving mother, aunt, grandparents and my brother, the nucleus of our family. My father, who I only saw on occasion, was a business owner. When I was six years old, my father enrolled me in the Davidian girls’ school, an Armenian primary boarding school. We were allowed home one weekend every three months, and I was terribly homesick. I still recall begging my father not to take me back to school after the weekends I went home, however my pleas came to naught. A few hours later, after the tears were over, all the girls would gather together telling stories of all the fun that was had.

My scholastic achievements were negligible due to the fact that I was sick often and missed days of schooling. I was never given homework to catch up what I had missed, so as a consequence, my grades were pitiful. My father was never informed of my lack of school attendance because of high fevers, stomach complaints and lack of nutrition. He thought that I was not very bright and hired tutors to give me special tutoring.

Years later when I was in my teens, my mother, who had remarried and was living in Sydney, Australia, wrote and asked me to join her. After several discussions with my father, he relented and saw me off to the “land down under.”

My stepfather was the principal of the Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist church school and we lived across from the church. We had morning and evening worship and my mother was very gentle in her ways of encouraging me to read my Bible and pray. The church pastor, who had a daughter my age, often visited with us. The atmosphere of the church was friendly and happy.

I attended Bible studies for several months and when a large group of young people decided to be baptized, I joined them. At that time in my life I was not fully committed, but I did believe in Jesus and I was willing to make a lot of necessary changes. The hardest change for me was my outward appearance. Picking clothes for this “baby Christian” was a great challenge. The other challenge was trying to fit into the school system with a completely different curriculum, so my parents decided to return to India for me to complete years 11 and 12.

We returned to Calcutta, India, where my stepfather opened a primary school. It started with only five children enrolled, but within a few months the school grew and flourished. These little children who came from non-Christian homes learned about Jesus. They sang songs, learned Bible stories and influenced their families who would also enquire about Jesus.

In the meantime, my challenge was attending the same school I had left, the Armenian College, to complete my last two years of high school. I had left the school as an Armenian Orthodox and returned a Seventh-day Adventist. One of the classes was Religious Knowledge and the teacher was the same Armenian priest I had before. He was intrigued that I was not in church on Sundays and when I explained that I went to church on Saturday, he was infuriated and tried in every way to humiliate me in front of 40 teenagers. He said I should feel ashamed that I had abandoned my Armenian heritage. He would make fun of the Adventist faith and the students would laugh. The friends that I once had did not want to associate with me for I was now considered the laughing-stock of the class. The priest took great delight in making me stand through the whole class period every week for several months. I would tell my mother the events that occurred and we would pray together. She always encouraged me and would tell me that Jesus sees and would take care of things.

I praise Jesus, for He gave me the strength and courage to bear the insults, the laughter and remarks instigated by a so-called man of God. Then, something strange started to happen that took me by surprise. My friends were curious and started asking me questions: “What has changed you?” “You are not the same.” One by one a small group who were interested enough to talk and spend time during the breaks would tell me private information because they knew I would not break their trust. Another strange occurrence took place shortly after. While standing in the priest’s class as he made fun of me and laughed, no one laughed with him. The students no longer saw the humor. The priest’s game was over, at least for the time being.

I made a special effort to study hard and by God’s grace my grades improved a great deal. In year twelve, we were ready to take our school final exams which were before we could take the state exam. In order to graduate to take the state tests, we had to pass the second language test. So I prayed and asked the Lord to please help me pass the Armenian language exam. After the tests were completed, the priest gave us our grades. I had passed and was so thankful to the Lord because now I would be able to take the Senior Cambridge exam. But the priest accused me of cheating and motioned for me to stand and stay standing until I confessed. After a while, from the back of the class came a voice saying, “Excuse me sir.” All turned to see the most brilliant student in our class stand and say, “I know Revella, if she says she did not cheat, I believe her.” Again, the priest was silenced.

A few days later it was graduation day. All the students sat at the back of the huge auditorium and the guests sat towards the front. The prizes for various subjects were distributed and I was just so glad that I would not have to face the priest again. The last prize to be distributed was the prize for English Literature. It was given to the student with the highest grade in that subject for years 10, 11 and 12. No one ever knew who the student was until the name was revealed. All of a sudden one of my friends called to me: “Revella, Revella, get up, you won!” I rose to my feet in disbelief and walked to the front. The roar in that auditorium was so loud it was almost deafening, and I felt certain in my heart that angels were present. All glory and honor go to our Lord. As I walked the stairs to the platform, I knew the Lord had a sense of humor when I saw the person chosen to give me my prize. It was none other than the priest.

Finally, the day came to take the Senior Cambridge exam in our English subjects and in the Armenian language. The Armenian language test papers were given to the priest to correct. In this final exam, we were not given our tests back to see why we were given a particular grade. So, whatever the results were, we had to accept them. I did not feel good about not seeing the Armenian paper, but I had done my best and felt I should get a reasonable grade.

In the meantime, my parents and I had moved to London, United Kingdom, and after about four months, a large envelope containing my exam results arrived in the mail. My initial excitement fell to despair and my brain could not compute the large letter I was staring at – F. All my hard work was for nothing. Then it dawned on me that the priest knew I would not have access to my paper, so he had his final revenge. He knew that in India, if you fail your second language, you fail the whole exam. Although I had taken six subjects, a failure on the Armenian language paper caused a failure in all six subjects. My hope for enrolling in Pacific Union College was dashed.

With nothing to show for all of my effort, we prayed in earnest and my parents asked the Lord to lead in whatever direction He wanted. I am ashamed to say that at that moment, filled with self-pity and hopelessness, I had no faith, even though I had seen the leading of the Lord just a few months before. Waiting on the Lord is difficult when your faith is weak and courage is gone.

In the chapter, “God Will Provide” in The Ministry of Healing, 480–482, Ellen White wrote, “Let us be hopeful and courageous. Despondency in God’s service is sinful and unreasonable. He knows our every necessity. To the omnipotence of the King of kings our covenant-keeping God unites the gentleness and care of the tender shepherd. His power is absolute, and it is the pledge of the sure fulfillment of His promises to all who trust in Him. He has means for the removal of every difficulty, that those who serve Him and respect the means He employs may be sustained. His love is as far above all other love as the heavens are above the earth. He watches over His children with a love that is measureless and everlasting.

“In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, have faith in God. He is working out His will, doing all things well in behalf of His people. The strength of those who love and serve Him will be renewed day by day.”

After several months of asking the Lord to direct us, my parents decided to relocate to Perth, Western Australia. My aunt had married an Australian and was living there and my brother was still living in Sydney. In 1975 we arrived in Perth and found an apartment overlooking the Swan River. My parents encouraged me to visit the nurses board to make inquiries as to the programs available at that time, so I made an appointment with the secretary to see the director.

A week later I met with the director of nursing, taking with me my high school final exam papers of which I was not proud. Mrs. Chamberlain had a kind, gentle face, and was very professional. After explaining the reason for no diploma and adding my grades, she informed me that with a couple of subjects added I could get a grade that would be accepted before applying for the nursing program. My fears of rejection turned to hope as she instructed me on what two subjects I needed. I could take evening classes as an external student at the University of Perth. It seemed as though she had taken on the responsibility to get me where I wanted to be and I knew the Lord was opening a door. At the university, I was encouraged along the way by my instructor who wrote kind notes along with the lessons he sent.

Six months later I again saw Mrs. Chamberlain, and she was just as excited as I was to be in a position to apply for nursing school and recommended what she believed to be the best school. The application process for nursing was in several stages with questions, interviews, paperwork to fill out and psychological tests. After the principal’s interview I was told, “We will contact you.” Months passed with no word, but strangely I did not lose hope this time thinking of Mrs. Chamberlain and how excited she was to launch me into my career.

Finally, a letter arrived, and I was overjoyed to be accepted into the second intake for the year of 1976. I praise God for leading, directing and placing in my pathway the people who helped me on my journey.

After three years of study and working in the various units in the Royal Perth Hospital, we were ready to take the final nursing school exam. We were informed that the hospital exam would be more difficult than the state exam, because the school had a reputation of very few failures. The school exams were on two days, each took four hours. I thanked God that He had led me thus far and I did not want to fail Him. Out of my class of 75, I stood with the 69 students who graduated that day and proudly repeated the Florence Nightingale Pledge:

“I solemnly pledge myself before God and in the presence of this assembly, to pass my life in purity and to practice my profession faithfully. I will abstain from whatever is deleterious and mischievous and will not take or knowingly administer any harmful drug. I will do all in my power to maintain and elevate the standard of my profession and will hold in confidence all personal matters committed to my keeping and all family affairs coming to my knowledge in the practice of my calling. With loyalty will I endeavor to aid the physician in his work and devote myself to the welfare of those committed to my care.”

One by one our names were called. I was so excited and even more so when I noticed that it was Mrs. Chamberlain who was handing out the certificates. She was so happy that I had finally become a nurse.

Forty-one years have passed since graduation and I can say with confidence that only God can turn a high school failure into a successful career. We do serve an AMAZING GOD. He can take our nothingness, which we are, and turn it into something, which we are not, for His glory. Therefore, there is no room in our lives for pride, envy, jealousy and strife. It does not matter your culture, your background, your past, your heritage or any other human experience, Jesus has the final say and He will win in the end. Let us cling to Jesus and to one another and live to praise God and bless others.

God has a plan for our lives, and we will be happiest when we choose the path where He leads us. He can open and close doors for us and when at times we feel abandoned, know that He is already working on a better path of which we know nothing. Looking back, I can truly say that His way is the safest and best. He led my life in a direction I never thought possible, and I am so grateful to Him.

“Each morning consecrate yourself to God for that day. Surrender all your plans to Him, to be carried out or given up as His Providence shall indicate. Thus day by day you may be giving your life into the hands of God, and thus your life will be molded more and more after the life of Christ.” Steps to Christ, 70.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20, 21 NKJV).

Revella Knight continues to serve others working as a nurse and writes from her home in North West Arkansas.