“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.” Ephesians 6:12
I have recently had the opportunity to work my church booth at the East Texas State Fair; in Tyler. Apart from repeatedly being told how quiet Seventh Day Adventists are in the community, the thing that really caught my attention was the amount of people that had never heard about the Sabbath. In a town so small, I asked myself “why is it?” “What are we not doing, or what do we need to do more of?”
We are commissioned to: “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, for a witness; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14 & 28:19,20. Is God’s kingdom our priority, do we even realize that is should be our primary purpose in life? We were created for His glory – to bring honor and glory and recognition to Him only. We each have an individual work to do for the advancement of God’s kingdom, first in the home, and then, society. What is the gift that God has given you in trust for service to Him; is it being misappropriated? God will only bless the right use of His gifts.
We bear the name Seventh Day Adventist Christians, waiting for the second appearing of our Lord in the clouds of heaven. What are we doing with our time, our understanding, possessions, which are not ours, but are entrusted to us to test our honesty? Have we taken the text out of context; “Occupy till I come?” While angels drew near to Sodom on their mission of destruction, men were dreaming of prosperity and pleasure seeking. The day Sodom was destroyed was no different than any other that had come or gone. It was business as usual, men intent on business or pleasure for the day. Today is no different than then, we have each turned to our own way. We occupy for this life, voluntarily placing ourselves in an atmosphere of worldliness and compromise. We are to be knocking on doors, taking advantage of cyber space, the mail, and telecommunications, to preach the gospel. Are we visiting the sick and shut-ins, feeding the hungry, spreading the love of Jesus by what ever means we have; what ever our station is in life, we should find ways to intertwine the gospel, thus occupying until He comes.
I was told recently that Seventh Day Adventists have the best kept secret. How disturbing...; if we have the truth, if we believe that we have the special “Three Angels Message”, we know that we have a unique health message, why then, are we not sharing?
The harvest is now fully ripe, what is in our life that is stopping us from being laborers for souls. Why do we trifling with Heaven-sent light and the privilege that we have in knowing the future as it relates to Bible prophecy? Why are we not sharing the light we’ve been given with a lost and hurting world? We have taken the text “occupy till I come” out of context, and have busied ourselves building and tearing down, buying and selling, earning one degree after the other. If we heed not to the call to go forth preaching and teaching, we are guiltier before God than the citizens of Sodom.
Have we become like the people of the Noachian world whom God had enriched and prospered sinful as they were, but still they continued in corruption before Him? The treasures that should have led them to glorify the bountiful Giver, they worshiped, while God had been dishonored and despised. So like today, we marvel at our fabulous homes, we take pride in owing the latest model, top of the line vehicles, our apparel must be the finest; none of which within moderation is bad. In comparison, how much of our finances or time do we place in soul winning? It is not the value of the house that matters to God, but the hearts of those that dwell therein. It’s not the cost or make of the vehicle we drive, but for whose glory was it purchased? It is not the outer garment that we wear, but have we put on Christ robe of righteousness? Have we been crucified with Christ? Galatians 2:20 When Christ walked among men here on earth He was all about His Fathers business. Are we? As Christians He is our example.
The reckoning day is upon us; will we receive the mark of man, or remain loyal to God, and His Sabbath? If we are not faithful now, or if we are not sacrificing ourselves and our time totally in service to God now, if we defile His Holy Sabbath repeatedly doing our own pleasure, socializing, engaging in unholy conduct, and unholy conversations/thoughts, what will be our fate? Are we professing Jesus in our behavior, our dress, can others see Jesus in us? It is a great sin for us to profess to know God and keep His commandments, yet deny Christ in our character, and our daily lives. “If you deny me before men, I will deny you before my Father.” Matthew 10:33
Our world today is over-flowing with rage, disappointment, and uncertainty. Signs now tell that Jesus’ return is very close. Church and State are coming together in attempts to restore peace/order. As we watch the news it all testifies to the fulfillment of His word. The Creator of this earth is about to destroy this world with consuming fire, the world is now ripe for destruction. The judgments of God are to be poured out, and sin and sinners will be eradicated for the final time. While we are engaged in selfish gain, fulfilling fleshly desires, and earthly achievements, “Our Lord will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” Romans 9:28 While as Christians we wait in limbo, pleasure seeking in our comfort zone, hoping (like those of the world), that the governments will fix the global decline of the economy, Jesus the soon returning King will come in all of His splendor. “He will reward to every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12 He is now using what ever method necessary so that every man, woman, boy and girl may have an opportunity to come to know him, and His law.
Our prayer should be, change my heart oh God, make it ever new, change my heart oh God then I will be like you. He wants to take our heart of stone and give us a heart of flesh. “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 Once our hearts are changed, we will then find ourselves asking God to give us a burden of souls. Yes, within His power He will rescue the perishing care for the dying. Why? The song says; we are to snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.
The Webster’s dictionary defines the word ‘snatch’ as to grab or seize something suddenly. In Luke 14:323 the Bible says; “That as God’s servants we are to go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that God’s house may be filled.”
If your home was on fire, and after escaping death you discovered that your spouse or child was still inside, you would either attempt to re-enter, and grab quickly your loved one, or alternatively, you perhaps force a fire fighter inside in pursuit to rescue that loved one, in the process both of your lives would be spared. Your concern at this time is not the contents of the home, the fine china, the Persian rug, the Victorian furniture, or the state of the art entertainment center, but your concern is for a precious soul. Mrs. Lot cast one lingering look upon her possessions and children, she tarried with regret, and thus she perished with Sodom. What is it that our hearts cling too?
The reality is, soon this world will be on fire. Again I ask, are we working anxiously to help save precious souls; our loved ones, friends and neighbors? God is calling to you today, He says softly and tenderly amid the noise and the bustle, “come and exalt my word, drawing men unto Him.” He says; “return unto to me, and I will return unto to you.” Malachi 3:7
Through our selfish desires we have fallen short of God’s love. “The invitation of mercy still calls for all; and because our friends, our children, our family reject the Saviour’s pleading love, shall we also turn away? No! The very fact that others are ignoring His just claims should arouse us to greater diligence that we may honor God ourselves, and thus lead all whom we can influence, to accept His love.” Patriarchs & Prophets pg. 114 (161-165)
In closing, be strong in the Lord, for God did not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of love and a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7 You may say I am an alarmist, some may say that I’m trying to excite fear, this is not the intention. Revelations 12:12 & 17 says; “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, and sea, for the devil has come down with great wrath because he knows that his time is short. The devil is angry with the church, and he is making war with the remnant of her seed, because they keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” I write as a reminder to the remnant to put on the whole amour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil in these evil days which are now upon us. Ephesians 6:10-18
Proverbs 3:1, 2.
With God’s love and mine,
Keffie A. Battles
Telephone
242-322-6273
Postal address
PAUL MILLER
P.O.BOX N8993
NASSAU, BAHAMAS.