Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isa 1:18)
Isa 1:18
Isaiah 1:18 reveals one of the most amazing invitations in Scripture. After exposing the reality of sin and rebellion, God does not immediately pronounce judgment; instead, He says, “Come now, and let us reason together.” The Creator of the universe invites guilty sinners into a conversation of grace. Our sins may be as scarlet. Deeply stained, obvious, and impossible for us to remove.
God promises complete cleansing through His mercy. The contrast between scarlet and snow, crimson and wool, emphasizes not merely forgiveness but transformation. This verse reminds us that God does not ask us to pretend our sin does not exist; He asks us to bring it honestly before Him.
The same God who reveals our condition is the God who provides the remedy. In Christ, the stains of the past need not define the future, for His grace is greater than our guilt, and His power is able to make the sinner clean.
“We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun.”
“Keep your wants, your joys, your sorrows, your cares, and your fears before God. You cannot burden Him; you cannot weary Him. He who numbers the hairs of your head is not indifferent to the wants of His children. “The Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” James 5:11. His heart of love is touched by our sorrows and even by our utterances of them. Take to Him everything that perplexes the mind. Nothing is too great for Him to bear, for He holds up worlds, He rules over all the affairs of the universe. Nothing that in any way concerns our peace is too small for Him to notice. There is no chapter in our experience too dark for Him to read; there is no perplexity too difficult for Him to unravel. No calamity can befall the least of His children, no anxiety harass the soul, no joy cheer, no sincere prayer escape the lips, of which our heavenly Father is unobservant, or in which He takes no immediate interest. “He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” Psalm 147:3. The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.” {by EGW, SC 99.4, 100.1}
LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to the words I cry to you. Look at my tears. I am only a traveler passing through this life with you. Like all my ancestors, I will live here only a short time. (Psalms 39:2)
Psalms 39:2
What a wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord. What a beautiful and cherished name. What hope and inspiration it brings to the soul. Jesus never hid or watered down the truth, yet He always spoke it with love. In every interaction, He showed remarkable wisdom, kindness, and consideration for others. He was never rude, never harsh without cause, and never inflicted unnecessary pain on a sensitive heart. He did not condemn people simply for their weaknesses. He always spoke the truth, but He spoke it lovingly.
When Jesus confronted hypocrisy, unbelief, and sin, He did not do so with cold anger or a spirit of condemnation. Even His strongest rebukes were filled with sorrow and compassion. Tears seemed to accompany His words. He wept over Jerusalem. The city He loved. Because its people refused to accept Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Though they rejected Him as their Savior, He still looked upon them with tender pity and deep grief, a sorrow so profound that it broke His heart.
His life was marked by self-sacrifice and constant concern for others. He never used truth as a weapon to wound people but combined it with extraordinary tenderness and compassion. Every person was precious to Him. While He carried Himself with divine dignity, He also treated every member of God’s family with the utmost kindness and care. He saw in every person a fallen soul whom He had come to save.
The psalmist once said
“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. Are they not recorded in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8).
This picture reminds us that no grief escapes God’s notice and no tear is shed without His knowledge. Every disappointment, every heartache, every silent cry offered in loneliness is precious to Him. The God of heaven does not view human suffering with indifference. He remembers it, records it, and treasures the struggles of His children as something of great value. The tears that others may overlook are carefully preserved by Him. This was perfectly demonstrated in the life of Jesus. He wept with those who wept, grieved over the lost, and carried the burdens of humanity upon His own heart. His compassion was not distant or theoretical. Tears are deeply personal. Jesus knows every sorrow we endure because He has entered into our suffering and Jesus bears it with us.
Tears. The silent language of a heart carrying burdens too deep for words, a witness to grief, longing, repentance, love, and hope. Today, we too may find comfort in the astonishing truth that God not only sees our tears but treasures them, gathering them into His bottle and recording them in His book. Every tear shed in loneliness, every tear cried in prayer, every tear born from sorrow, grief, pain, is precious to Him.
The world may not even know about our pain, but heaven does. A tear becomes a sacred testimony that we have loved, struggled, endured, and trusted God through the darkness. When a tear falls, it does not disappear into the dust and become forgotten; it falls into the hands of a compassionate Father who remembers every wound and promises that one day He will wipe away every tear forever. Jesus. THE God of all comfort.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, (Gal 1:3-4, ESV)
Gal 1:3-4
“Nature and revelation alike testify of God’s love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator’s love.” (by EGW, SC 9.1)
The beautiful testimony of nature is wonderfully magnified by the gift of revelation. Just as the rain falls to nourish the soil, God’s written Word, Creator’s written promises are designed to revive the human soul, giving a clearer voice to the abundant beauty around us. Scripture and nature harmonize perfectly, revealing that the same hand which carved the majestic mountains has also traced a path for our personal peace. For our eternal life. As the psalmist notes
“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1).
Every sunset is a promise of a new day at sunrise. The chance for a new start. Every sunrise becomes a visual reminder of His enduring mercy. Perfectly echoing the truths found within the pages of His Word.
This living testimony isn’t just a static backdrop for us; it is an active, speaking guide if we would pause to listen. Every rustling leaf, rushing stream, and changing season carries a rhythmic wisdom meant to ground our often-chaotic modern lives. When we are overwhelmed by the digital noise and anxieties of today, creation speaks a language of patience, steady growth, and resilience. Of “something new.” (Isa 43:19) Here, Isaiah pictures a new Exodus for a people once again oppressed, as the Israelites had been as slaves in Egypt before the Exodus. They would cry to God, and again he would hear and deliver them. A new Exodus would take place through a new wilderness. But the past miracles were nothing compared to what God wants to do for his people in the future.
Praise God! In the wilderness, where we can enjoy nature, we are reminded that seasons of darkness and winter are necessary prerequisites for a fruitful, beautiful spring. As the book of Job indicates, “But now ask the beasts, and they will teach you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you” (Job 12:7-8).
Job expands on this profound truth in nature by challenging those who misunderstand life’s storms, essentially saying:
“Why do you insist that the Almighty brought this disaster to punish me? Every single creature on land, in the air, and in the sea. Along with everything that happens to them is the work of His hands, and all of creation recognizes Him as the ultimate Creator and Ruler.
This is a basic truth that nature teaches everyone. But using this fact to judge me, claiming that I am suffering because I am a hypocrite, is completely out of line. God directs everything with perfect wisdom and power; but as for why things happen the way they do, and why good and bad circumstances are scattered so randomly throughout nature and human life, you are just as clueless as I am.”
By tuning our hearts to the nature’s commentary that surrounds us, we find practical direction for our daily lives. Learning when to let go, how to weather the storms of life, and how to quietly align ourselves with a deeper, divine pace.
When we look closely at these natural teachers, their individual messages become stunningly clear. The delicate wildflowers blooming quietly on a hillside whisper of God’s intricate artistry, reminding us that our lives are beautiful and deeply seen by Him even when we feel unnoticed by the world.
The shifting clouds above remind us that no matter how dark or heavy a trial may seem, there is always light woven directly into it. The sun never ceases to shine on the other side of the shadow, promising that the overcast seasons of our life are only temporary.
The ancient, deeply rooted trees standing firm against fierce winds call us to anchor our souls in truth, teaching us the quiet power of resilience and steady endurance in Christ.
To experience the natural world this way gives a profound, modern meaning to the prophetic promise that “the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:12). Today, when the mountains “sing” or the trees “clap,” it means that when we walk in alignment with God’s peace, our perception of the world is completely transformed.
A landscape that once felt lonely, harsh, or indifferent suddenly becomes a sanctuary of praise. The roaring wind through a forest begins to sound like applause, cheering us onward, and the majestic silence of a mountain peak feels like a grand, reverent hymn. God’s beautiful creation show us how His joy is so expansive that it overflows into the very fabric of creation, and of humanity, inviting us to stop viewing ourselves as isolated travelers and instead see that in this life we may walk through a living house of worship that is actively supporting us.
I learned the depth of this firsthand during a very difficult, frightening chapter in my life. When my late wife was dying, escaping into the quiet sanctuary of nature became my literal therapy. Even in the dead of winter, when the world felt frozen, cold, and hopeless, I found an undeniable comfort in grounding myself against the earth. I would seek out a strong, steady tree with thick green moss cushioned beneath it. Even though there was snow in the rest of the forest. I would simply lie down there to sleep or pray for a while. I wonder, was this little sanctuary made just for me?
In those quiet moments, I made a conscious choice to notice every detail, photographing anything beautiful I could find as a way to anchor my soul. It was there, resting on that vibrant living carpet in the dead of winter, that I felt the close embrace of the Creator, fulfilling the promise of Psalm 23:2-3:
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures.” The Lord met me in my deepest grief and provided a refuge where my heavy heart could finally breathe.
When spring and summer arrived, that therapy shifted into a vibrant explosion of flowers and greenery. Walking among those blooms and capturing their colors through my camera lens was so profoundly uplifting that I literally felt like I had taken a happy pill. I became fascinated by their design. How some of these delicate flowers manage to grow even in the dark, shaded places where nothing else would grow, and how others instinctively close their petals at night to protect themselves from the biting cold, only to unfurl and look into our eyes again the very moment the morning sun breaks through.
Watching this daily rhythm made me feel deeply renewed, proving that the restoration God promises isn’t just a distant hope, but a present reality. It perfectly illustrated the truth of Lamentations 3:22-23: “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Just as He engineered the flowers to survive the dark night and open to the morning light, He faithfully renews our spirits with every new dawn.
The boundless declarations of nature and revelation alike is not just painted in grand, sweeping landscapes; it is intimately woven into the tiniest details of everyday life. The precise balance of our world, where every creature finds its exact needs for shelter, food, and purpose, reflects a Father who cares deeply for the happiness of all He has made. When we observe this intentional design, this intelligent design, our own anxieties begin to fade. Jesus lovingly directed our attention to this truth, by saying
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26).
Since the Creator details the lives of the birds of the air with such loving precision, we can live with the quiet confidence that He is infinitely more attentive to the joys and heartaches of His children. The Bible even says that “God is love,” (1 John 4:8) and that “love never fails.” (1 Cor 13:8)
When we translate the natural rhythms of nature and revelation into our human experience, the parallel gives us hope, and is very comforting. For us, “closing up for protection” like a flower doesn’t mean a lack of faith or a permanent shutdown; rather, it looks like a healthy, God-given retreat inward when the emotional winter becomes too biting to bear. Jesus did say
“Come ye apart and rest awhile.” (John 6:37).
It is this kind of unforced rhythm of grace, that provides us the season of boundaries, of silent processing, and prayerful solitude, where we protect our fragile hearts from being completely overwhelmed by grief or fatigue until the light returns. When Creator “does a new thing.” (Isa 43:19)
When we are like the trees, we aren’t immune to the howling winds of hardship. We possess a hidden, deep-rooted stability. Outwardly, the storms of life may shake our branches and strip away what felt familiar, but inwardly, our souls are anchored deep into the unchanging truth of God’s love, allowing us to stand tall when everything else is falling apart all around us.
If I were to capture a photograph of a person who is seeing the light within the clouds, and tasting of the peace after a storm, that picture wouldn’t look like a life that has never known pain. When we see the light in our clouds, and paint a picture of that, our life does not suddenly become sanitized. Instead, the picture would show an amazing contrast: a face still marked by tear-stained cheeks, in scars of trauma and grief, yet illuminated by a soft, genuine smile. One might wonder where the smile even came from once they see all these other things in the picture.
But we should also see in such a picture, a posture of absolute rest and stillness renewing our body that was once tense with exhaustion. Eyes looking upward. Catching the unmistakable transformation of hope breaking through a heavy brow. Piercing the dark clouds with the light of Christ and His promises. Such a picture would be the portrait of a soul that has survived the downpour, standing in the refreshing calm of the aftermath, knowing with absolute certainty that the sun never truly stopped shining.
“God is love” is written upon every opening bud, upon every spire of springing grass. The lovely birds making the air vocal with their happy songs, the delicately tinted flowers in their perfection perfuming the air, the lofty trees of the forest with their rich foliage of living green, all testify to the tender, fatherly care of our God and to His desire to make His children happy. {by EGW, SC 10.1}
In the grand fabric of faith, this much needed, earthly renewal is the physical reflection of a much higher spiritual reality. The beckoning comfort found beneath the mossy trees, the resilience of a winter landscape, and the joy of a spring blossom, are all tangible whispers of the inclusive promise written in the New Testament that reads:
“Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:3-4).
The deep sense of peace that meets us in the quiet sanctuaries of nature is not an illusion; it is a direct deposit of the divine grace flowing straight from the Creator’s heart. Because God’s love is the source that animates the sunshine and the rain, it finds its saving climax in the sacrifice of Christ, who gave Himself completely to anchor our souls in a peace that no earthly storm can tear away.
This beautiful connection of “nature and revelation alike” gives us the ultimate answer to the brokenness of our world. The “present evil age” that Paul writes about encompasses all of the heavy mysteries Job questioned. The random scatterings of heartache, the freezing winters of grief, and the agonizing pain of watching a loved one slip away. This is right where Creator can and will do a new thing, just as He does in the forest every year. As the delicate flowers are specially designed to close for protection and open victoriously to the morning sun, God has a special plan for our final rescue. Christ’s sacrifice was designed to pull us out of the despair of this broken world and deliver us into eternal restoration. When we step out into nature, or read our Bibles, we feel our spirits lifted, we are experiencing that beautiful, living prophecy, (Gal 1:3-4), of our ultimate deliverance.
Nature and revelation alike ultimately harmonize to tell us collectively, one singular story: the very same Father who meticulously cares for the birds, shapes the clouds, and cushions the forest floor is the God who has already given everything to secure your everlasting comfort, renewal, and peace.
When we read our opening text, (Gal 1:3-4), we see a powerful convergence between the general grace found in nature and the profound reality of salvation. While the quote from Steps to Christ invites us to look at the sunshine, the rain, and the hills as a daily broadcast of our Father’s love and care for our happiness. Galatians 1:3-4 focuses that same divine heart into a definitive, gift of something new that provides for our future. It reminds us that the Creator who masterfully designs the earth to gladden our physical lives is the exact same Father who orchestrated a sacrifice to bring salvation to our souls. Ultimately, while nature showcases God’s love through the beauty around us, revelation anchors that love for us in the ultimate gift of redemption. In the promise of eternal life. (John 3:16-19)
Grounding ourselves in this dual witness of love found in nature and revelation alike, can fundamentally shape our individual purpose, and the collective mission of the church. When our calling is rooted in both nature and revelation, our ministry mirrors the fuller spectrum of God’s character. We learn that the church’s mission isn’t just to share the message of eternal salvation, such as many do when merely reciting doctrines and “correcting” people, but we must also reflect the Father’s tender, daily care by tending to the practical needs, comfort, and well-being of those around us.
By embodying a love that is nurturing and sacrificially redemptive, we become a living sanctuary where people can experience both the refreshing gladness of God’s creation and the healing power of His grace.
“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, “Follow Me.” (Ministry of Healing,143)
This is why the Apostle prayed
“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” (Gal 1:3-4)
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3)
Mat 11:28-30
“Jesus never promised that obeying him would be easy. But the hard work and self-discipline of serving Christ is no burden to those who love him. If our load starts to feel heavy, we can always trust Christ to help us bear it” (Life Application Notes, 1 John 5:3)
Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30 ESV)
“As your soul yearns after God, you will find more and still more of the unsearchable riches of His grace. As you contemplate these riches you will come into possession of them and will reveal the merits of the Savior’s sacrifice, the protection of His righteousness, the fullness of His wisdom, and His power to present you before the Father “without spot, and blameless.” (2Pet 3:14). {by EGW, AA 567.1}
“You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” (2 Pet 3:17-18, ESV)
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. “(Mat 24:14)
Mat 24:14
Prophecy and world events tell us these days that we are at a shameful place in our history and in our Church mission. So many of us are so preoccupied with news, events, persecutions, predictions, and various aspects of spiritualism, that we do not recognize what is happening to us. One quick example of how to know what is going on is to just ask someone in Church, “So what did Jesus do for you today?” A few people will give a trite answer, but most will just say some dry theory that has nothing about their personal testimony in it. Preaching the gospel, and preaching the gospel AS A WITNESS, are two completely different things. Many people don’t even have a personal testimony. No personal experience with Jesus!
Matthew 24:14 is one of the central prophetic verses for understanding how God’s people are to prepare for the closing events of earth’s history. The Bible presents the preaching of the gospel not merely as a religious activity, but as the final global work that directly precedes the end. Christ does not say that the end comes after political collapse, natural disasters, or even persecution. Those things are signs. But He specifically connects the coming of the end with the completion of a worldwide “witness.” This makes the mission of the church inseparable from end-time preparation.
This verse is deeply connected to the Three Angels’ Messages of Revelation 14. The Great Controversy explains that the final warning message is to go to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, “AS A WITNESS” before probation closes. The gospel of the kingdom is not simply the message that Jesus saves individuals from sin. It is the announcement that Christ is about to establish His kingdom, that judgment is now in session, and that humanity must now choose between allegiance to Christ or allegiance to Babylon and the beast powers. In this sense, the gospel becomes an opportunity in a crisis message. It calls people not only to conversion, but to loyalty, and personal experience with Jesus during the final conflict.
There is an important difference between preaching the gospel and preaching the gospel as a witness. Preaching the gospel can simply mean sharing truth, teaching doctrine, or inviting people to salvation. It may produce acceptance, rejection, “decisions,” or indifference. But preaching the gospel as a witness carries judicial and prophetic significance. The preaching of the gospel functions during end times, in Scripture like a testimony given in a court before a verdict is executed. The language of “witness” in Matthew 24:14 carries legal overtones. In the Bible, God is frequently portrayed as Judge, humanity is on trial, truth is presented as evidence, and witnesses testify before judgment is carried out.
When Jesus says the gospel will be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, He is saying more than merely information will spread globally. Much more than just a list of correct doctrines. He is saying the world will receive testimony from God before the final judgment and destruction occur. Humanity will not be able to say it was left without warning, light, or opportunity.
This pattern appears repeatedly throughout Scripture. Before the flood, Noah was called a preacher of righteousness. His preaching was not merely an invitation; it was testimony against the unbelief of his generation. Before Sodom’s destruction, Abraham interceded and Lot gave warning. Before Jerusalem fell, prophets repeatedly testified to the nation. In each case, God sent witnesses before executing judgment. The same framework appears in the Three Angels’ Messages in Revelation 14:6-12. The first angel announces that the hour of God’s judgment is come. That means the message goes out during a judicial phase of history. Under the first angel, the gospel is proclaimed while heaven’s judgment is in session. This is what connects directly with the investigative judgment. The world is not merely hearing a religious message; it is hearing heaven’s final testimony before probation closes.
Among other things, a witness gives personal testimony, personal experience, that establishes accountability. Look at what John says in 1 John 1:1-3, “what we have seen and heard and handled of the word of life, that’s what we are telling you now.” In Scripture, a witness confirms that people have been given opportunity, light, and evidence before judgment falls. Thus Matthew 24:14 teaches that the world must first receive a clear testimony concerning God’s kingdom before the end comes. The issue is not merely how many people hear sermons, but whether humanity has received a final witness concerning truth and error. This is the final witness that will move the world:
“Our confession of His faithfulness is Heaven’s chosen agency for revealing Christ to the world. We are to acknowledge His grace as made known through the holy men of old; but that which will be most effectual is the testimony of our own experience. We are witnesses for God as we reveal in ourselves the working of a power that is divine. Every individual has a life distinct from all others, and an experience differing essentially from theirs. God desires that our praise shall ascend to Him, marked by our own individuality. These precious acknowledgments to the praise of the glory of His grace, when supported by a Christ-like life, have an irresistible power that works for the salvation of souls.” (DA 347)
This concept appears throughout Scripture. Noah preached before the flood as a witness to his generation. Jonah’s warning stood as a witness to Nineveh. The apostles testified before rulers and nations. Likewise, the remnant church is called to give a final witness to the entire world. This is why Adventists have historically emphasized worldwide evangelism, publishing, medical missionary work, education, and media ministries. The objective should not simply be church growth. It is the completion of God’s testimony to humanity. So, think about it. Why do most of our churches now baptize people, if they even do that anymore, only to see most of them leave the church in a few months?
Ellen White wrote that the final proclamation would lighten the earth with God’s glory and that every person will have sufficient light to decide. She describes a time when the loud cry of the third angel will swell into a worldwide witness empowered by the Holy Spirit. This latter rain experience is THE essential preparation for end-time events because only a Spirit-filled church can give a Spirit-filled witness. The preparation, therefore, is not primarily an obsessive, survivalist type preparation or even a correct doctrinal preparation alone. It is spiritual/Biblical preparation through surrender to Christ, reception of the Holy Spirit, and participation in God’s final mission AS A WITNESS.
Matthew 24:14 also reveals that believers prepare for the end by becoming involved in the work of God rather than retreating from the world in fear, as they see end time events unfolding. The delusion of somehow escaping the worst of it by “country living” is festering in our ranks to the point where there are no resources left with many such to carry out the work in the capacity that Creator calls us to. Hiding, or “protecting” our correct behaviors in the country, or even in the church, and damning anyone who does not conform, or saying that our special truth is for Adventists only is the spirit of antichrist. All the gospel is for everyone all the time.
The church must stop waiting passively for prophecy to happen. Stop focusing so much on “the Beast,” to the point where Christ and Him crucified are lost sight of! God’s people must be actively participating in the fulfillment of prophecy. Every act of witnessing, every Bible study, every translated tract, every sermon, and every Christlike interaction become part of the final testimony to the nations. People then get to see what a child of God is really like. All the trenchant preachers we so adore for their self-important pronouncing will soon be dust in the wind. In Jer 3:15, God promises us “Pastors after mine own heart.”
Mat 24:14, therefore transforms end-time preparation from speculation about events into participation in mission. The people most prepared for Christ’s return are those cooperating with Him in giving the true last warning message to the world. Rev 14:4 tells us clearly that the ones who make it to Heaven “are they that followed The Lamb wherever he went.”
The Three Angel’s Message (Rev 14:6-12) should place utmost importance on the Biblical clarity of the final message. The issue is not simply numerical evangelism as in how many “decisions” were made for Christ, (meaning in many cases number of baptisms). Evangelism is far more than the spreading of a vague, denominated, self-justifying Christianity. The true witness of the worldwide three angel’s messages must clearly reveal:
1/ the character of God: “but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Pet 1:15-16)
2/ the everlasting gospel (Rev 14:6)
3/ Christ’s priestly ministry (Heb 7:25, Heb 2:17, Heb 4:14)
4/ the call out of Babylon (Rev 18:4)
5/ the commandments of God (Rev 14:12, Rev 22:14)
6/ the faith of Jesus (Rev 14:12)
7/ the warning against worshiping the beast (Rev 14:9)
Look and Live Is the Message for these times!
The true “warning message” for these end times is “Christ on the cross!
“Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. Now we have a message, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.” Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Saviour, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered? This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer. If we can awaken an interest in [people’s] minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. They thus receive their lesson. Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. He whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. [They] will die to selfishness. [They] will believe in all the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ”. {6BC 1113.1}
“As the sinner sees Jesus as He is, an all-compassionate Savior, hope and assurance take possession of [their] soul. The helpless soul is cast without any reservation upon Jesus. None can bear away from the vision of Christ Jesus crucified a lingering doubt. Unbelief is gone.” {6BC 1113.2}
Only when people look and live will the world truly receive a witness. The Witness that Jesus spoke about in Mat 24:14. It is in this sense that the preaching of the gospel in the last days resembles personal testimony (1 John 1:1-3) that is entered into the record before the Judge renders the final sentence for each person.
“And they overcame him [meaning the devil] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev 12:11)
“All who will can be over comers. Let us strive earnestly to reach the standard set before us. Christ knows our weakness, and to Him we can go daily for help. It is not necessary for us to gain strength a month ahead. We are to conquer from day to day.” {7BC 974.3}
“The time of God’s destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched; His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time.” {7BC 979.3}
“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5)
John 14:16-17
In the early Church, the atmosphere of ministry was much different from what we often witness today. The believers shared a profound, singular value: They were totally committed to telling others about Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. They did not labor in isolation; they worked together toward a common goal.
Today, Christian efforts can often feel fragmented, divided by theological distinctives or institutional walls. Yet, the Holy Spirit is still moving. Building bridges out of differences. Across the globe, there is a growing, passionate remnant of believers who are eager to pool their resources, tear down barriers, and cooperate to fulfill the Great Commission of making disciples.
Cultural Parallels of Oneness
Interestingly, we can find beautiful reflections of this desired unity even among unreached people groups. Many cultures possess deeply ingrained traditions that unite the community for the common good. I witnessed a striking example of this recently while attending a Métis Round Dance.
The dance was designed so that absolutely everyone, man, woman, and child, regardless of their level of ability, could participate. Watching the community move in perfect unison, sharing a single mindset to celebrate their shared heritage, was incredibly inspiring. In that circle, every single person was valued as part of the story, and everyone was invited and welcome to contribute according to their ability.
One Interest, One Kingdom
This communal harmony is exactly how the work of the gospel is intended to function. When believers have a genuine, personal experience with Jesus Christ, individual ambitions fade, replaced by one overriding interest. As one Christian author notes in The Acts of the Apostles:
“Every Christian saw in [their brother or sister] a revelation of divine love and benevolence. One interest prevailed; one subject of emulation swallowed up all others. The ambition of the believers was to reveal the likeness of Christ’s character and to labor for the enlargement of His kingdom.” (AA 48.1)
When a church reaches this level of unity, the spiritual results are explosive. Luke records in the book of Acts that
“with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33).
Under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, new believers did not remain passive spectators; they consecrated their lives, and all that they possessed to pass on the same hope, peace, and joy they had personally received themselves. (1 John 1:1-3)
The Source of Unstoppable Power
This early Christian movement could not be restrained by fear or intimidated by threats. Because they were unified, the Lord could speak clearly through them. As they traveled, the poor heard the good news, and miracles of divine grace followed them. This is the inevitable result “so mightily can God work when [people] give themselves up to the control of His Spirit” (AA 49.1).
This incredible power is not a relic of history; it is a permanent promise available to us today. Jesus made this clear to His disciples on the night before His crucifixion, promising a source of internal strength that the world could never understand or take away:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
Just like the people in the Round Dance, every believer has a vital place in the circle of God’s mission. When we yield our individual agendas to the Holy Spirit, the fragmented efforts of today can once again become the unstoppable, unified “one mind” church of today.
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Rom 15:5-6, ESV)
Do not be afraid, Daniel. From the very first day you decided to seek understanding and humble yourself before your God, your prayer was heard, and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me for twenty-one days. ( Daniel 10:12–13)
Dan 10:12-13
There is an important lesson here about prayer. This passage shows that Satan and his evil hosts can directly oppose and delay answers to prayer. But Creator does set the limits beyond which no evil power can go.
Daniel fasted and prayed for twenty-one days and went through deep struggle in prayer. Nothing in the story suggests this happened because Daniel was unrighteous or because he prayed the wrong way. Rather, it was because Satan specifically opposed him.
God sent a messenger to tell Daniel that his prayer had been answered from the moment he first prayed. But an evil spiritual being confronted the heavenly messenger and fought against him, delaying him. A spiritual battle was taking place in heaven, while Daniel on earth experienced deep anguish that reflected the conflict happening above.
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against rulers, authorities, and wicked spiritual forces in heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)
Satan only delayed the answer for three weeks. Daniel did become extremely weak, and Satan would gladly have destroyed him if possible. Yet God did not allow Daniel to face more than he could withstand. Today as well, Creator does not allow us to face more than we are able to endure.
Many Christians experience spiritual opposition in prayer, but there is no need to lose heart. When prayers and faith continue to build up, they eventually break through like a flood. Not only does the answer come, but often additional blessings that are not expected come with it.
Hell attacks God’s people with all its power. The strongest and most faithful believers are often tested through the most intense trials and pressure, but Heaven will never abandon them. (adapted from W. L. Watkinson)
“Prayer and faith will do what no power on earth can accomplish. We are seldom in all respects placed in the same position twice. We continually have new scenes and new trials to pass through, where past experience cannot be a sufficient guide. We must have the continual light that comes from God. Christ is ever sending messages to those who listen for His voice. On the night of Jacob’s wrestling with the angel, the mighty wrestler had a revelation of the Infinite One. As a sinful, erring mortal, he trembled before the promise of God, while Heaven’s heart of love was yearning over the sinner. So also will those who seek for light and wisdom from God amid perplexities and discouragements be taught from Heaven.” (The Ministry of Healing,509)
“Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His experience testifies to the power of importunate prayer. It is now that we are to learn this lesson of prevailing prayer, of unyielding faith. The greatest victories to the church of Christ or to the individual Christian are not those that are gained by talent or education, by wealth or the favor of men. They are those victories that are gained in the audience chamber with God, when earnest, agonizing faith lays hold upon the mighty arm of power.” (Patriarchs and Prophets,203)
“There is need of prayer — most earnest, fervent, agonizing prayer — such prayer as David offered when he exclaimed: As the hart pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after thee, O God. I have longed after thy precepts: I have longed for thy salvation. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. These are the expressions of wrestling prayer.” (Testimonies for the Church,vol 4,534)
“The earnest prayers offered in faith will be heard in heaven. It may not be in accordance with our expectations, but the answer will come; perhaps not as we first thought it would, but at the very time when we most need it. But oh, how often prayer is offered in a cold, lifeless, spiritless manner. Such prayers God does not accept. He delights in prayer that is earnest, importunate. Jacob wrestled all night in prayer for a blessing, and he obtained the victory.” (Signs of the Times, November 18, 1889)
“The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger — a faith that will not faint though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined. His victory is an evidence of the power of importunate prayer. All who will lay hold of God’s promises, as he did, and be as earnest and persevering as he was, will succeed as he succeeded.” (The Great Controversy,621)
“It is God’s purpose to carry forward His work in correct lines, in ways that will advance His glory. But Satan is ever trying to counter work God’s purpose. Only by humbling themselves before God can God’s servants advance His work. Never are they to depend on their own efforts or on outward display for success.” {4BC 1173.3}
Jesus told His followers a story to teach them that they should always pray and never give up. (Luke 18:1)
Eph 6:18
One of the biggest struggles in prayer is losing heart and quitting too soon. A person may pray for something for a few days, a few weeks, or even months. But when no clear answer seems to come, they often become discouraged and stop praying about it altogether.
This is a serious mistake. Many people start things but never finish them. That habit can damage every area of life. A person who constantly begins things without completing them develops a pattern of failure. Many beginnings with no completions. The same is true in prayer. If someone starts praying for something but gives up before the answer comes, they are building a habit of spiritual defeat.
When people lose heart, discouragement grows. Soon they begin to doubt whether prayer really works at all. That kind of unbelief weakens the prayer life and robs it of strength.
“To persist in prayer and not give up does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Constant prayer means keeping our requests continually before God as we live for him day by day, believing he will answer. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. God may delay answering, but his delays always have good reasons. As we persist in prayer, we grow in character, faith, and hope.” (Life Application Notes re Luke 18:1)
Someone may ask, “How long should we keep praying? Is there a time when we should stop asking and simply leave the matter with God?” The answer is this: keep praying until the request is clearly answered, or until God gives deep peace and assurance in your heart that the answer is coming. Only then should we stop pleading. Prayer is not only speaking to God. Prayer is also listening to God. Prayer is also part of a spiritual battle against evil. God often works through the prayers of His people in that conflict. Because of this, God alone knows when the work of prayer is complete, not us. Sometimes we stop praying because we see the answer with our eyes. Other times we stop because God gives faith and assurance in the heart. That faith can become just as certain as physically seeing the answer, because it comes from God Himself.
As believers grow in prayer, they begin to recognize this quiet assurance from God. They learn when to rest in faith and when to continue praying until the answer comes. Remain at God’s promises until you meet Him there. God often comes to His people through the promises He has spoken in His Word.
“We must pray always, if we would grow in faith and experience. We are to be ‘instant in prayer,’ to ‘continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.’ Peter exhorts believers to be ‘sober, and watch unto prayer.’ Paul directs, ‘In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.’ ‘But ye, beloved,’ says Jude, ‘praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God.’ Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into our life; and from our life, purity and holiness flow back to God.” (SC 97)
As we are reminded in Scripture:
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thes 5:17).
Prayer should be continual and persistent, not something quickly abandoned when answers seem delayed.
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Heb 10:35-36)
This passage connects patience, endurance, faith, and receiving God’s promises, which is the main point for today’s message.
“When we know not what to pray for as we ought, we are to pray as did Jacob, ‘I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.’ This persevering prayer will bring the sure answer of blessing. God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Then do not be afraid to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers.” (Our High Calling, 131)
In Luke 18:1-8, Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow to teach one central lesson: God’s people should continue praying and never lose heart, even when answers seem delayed.
The passage begins by directly stating Christ’s purpose for the story: “people ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Before the parable even starts, Jesus reveals the meaning. Prayer is not meant to be occasional, weak, or easily discouraged. It is to be continual, persevering, and rooted in faith. Trusting in God’s “precious promises.” (2 Pet 1:4)
Jesus describes a judge who neither feared God nor cared about people. He was hard, selfish, and unmoved by justice. A widow repeatedly came to him asking for help against her adversary. In Bible times, widows were often among the weakest and most vulnerable people in society. She had no power, influence, or wealth. All she possessed was her persistence.
At first the judge ignored her. He had no compassion and no desire to help. Yet the widow kept returning again and again with the same request. Finally, the judge decided to act, not because he became righteous, but because her continual pleading troubled him. He said within himself that he would give her justice so she would stop wearing him down with her constant appeals.
Jesus then draws a sharp contrast between the unjust judge and God. The lesson is not that God is reluctant like the judge. Quite the opposite. If even a corrupt and uncaring judge eventually responds to persistence, how much more will a loving and righteous God respond to the cries of His people?
Christ says:
“Shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?” Luke 18:7
The “elect” are God’s faithful people. They cry to Him “day and night,” showing continual dependence and trust. The delay mentioned in the passage does not mean God is indifferent. Rather, it reveals that faith is often developed through waiting. Prayer is not merely about obtaining things from God; it is part of a living relationship of trust, endurance, and surrender.
One important truth in this parable is that delayed answers are not the same as denied answers. Heaven may seem silent for a time, but silence is not abandonment. God sees the whole conflict between good and evil in ways human beings cannot. Sometimes He delays because He is working on circumstances, on other people, or on the heart of the one praying.
The widow also represents the condition of the believer in this world. God’s people often feel weak, oppressed, misunderstood, or surrounded by injustice. Yet Christ teaches them not to give up. Persistent prayer becomes an expression of faith. Every repeated prayer says, “I still believe God hears. I still believe He cares. I still believe He will act.”
This parable also shows that true prayer is more than casual words. The widow was earnest. She cared deeply about what she requested. In the same way, real intercession involves persistence because the matter truly matters to the heart. Shallow desires are quickly abandoned, but deep faith continues knocking at heaven’s door.
There is also an important connection between prayer and spiritual warfare. The widow had an “adversary.” Scripture often presents believers as living in conflict against the powers of evil. Persistent prayer becomes part of the believer’s resistance against discouragement, temptation, fear, and unbelief. This is why the enemy often tries to convince people to stop praying. If he can cause discouragement, he can weaken faith.
“The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?” (SC 94)
Near the end of the parable, Jesus says something that is very striking:
“Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8
This reveals the deeper issue behind persistent prayer: faith. Continuing in prayer when answers are delayed is itself an act of faith. Anyone can pray once. Faith continues praying when nothing seems to change. Faith holds onto God’s character even when circumstances remain dark.
The parable of Luke 18:1-9 teaches that persistence in prayer is not trying to force God to care. Rather, persistent prayer keeps the heart connected to God until His will and answer are revealed. Prayer changes the believer as much as it changes circumstances. Through continued prayer, faith grows stronger, dependence deepens, patience develops, and the soul learns to trust God’s timing.
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.” (Rom 12:12)
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.” (Eph 6:18)
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)
Together these verses show that persistent prayer is not fanaticism or unbelief. It is one of the clearest expressions of enduring faith in God.
Ephesians 6:18 brings the entire “armor of God” passage to its strongest point by saying how every piece of spiritual armor must be connected to constant prayer. Paul writes, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.” This verse teaches that the Christian life is not fought merely by human strength, knowledge, or discipline, but through continual dependence upon God. The phrase “praying always” does not mean a person must speak prayers every second of the day, but that the heart should remain in continual communion with God.
“All prayer and supplication” shows there are different kinds of prayer. Worship, confession, thanksgiving, urgent pleading, and intercession for others. It depends on who we are and what is going on with us at the time. To pray “in the Spirit” means prayer is guided by the Holy Spirit rather than by mere form or empty repetition. Here, Paul also connects prayer with spiritual alertness by saying believers must watch “with all perseverance,” meaning they are not to grow careless, sleepy, or discouraged in prayer. In the context of spiritual warfare, this verse reveals that prayer is not separate from the battle; it is the very atmosphere in which the battle is fought. Without persevering prayer, the armor becomes ineffective because the believer is attempting to fight spiritual conflicts without continual connection to the power and purpose of God.
2 Peter 1:4 declares that God has given believers “exceeding great and precious promises.” Prayer is one of the best way for people to lay hold of those promises and bring them into our daily experience. The promises of God are not merely comforting statements to admire from a distance; they are invitations to come boldly before God in faith. When a believer prays over God’s promises, they are not trying to persuade God to be willing, but are responding to what God has already declared Himself willing to do. Prayer becomes the hand of faith reaching up to claim what God has spoken. This is why Scripture repeatedly connects prayer and God’s promise together. God often chooses to wait for His people to ask, trust, and persevere before fulfilling what He has pledged. he who created us knows that prayer deepens our dependence upon Him and teaches the soul confidence in His Word. As one Christian author stated it:
“Every promise in the Word of God furnishes us with subject matter for prayer, presenting the pledged word of Jehovah as our assurance.” — Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing,133).
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us.” (John 5:14)
The promises of God reveal His will. Prayer gives the believer confidence to approach heaven on the basis of those promises. True prayer is therefore deeply connected to Scripture because faith itself is built upon hearing and believing God’s Word. When Christians pray the promises of God, they are agreeing with heaven rather than merely expressing human wishes. This is why persevering prayer grows stronger when rooted in God’s promises; the believer is no longer standing upon feelings or appearances, but upon the unchanging character of God Himself. Prayer anchored in the divine promises of God can endure delay, hardship, and silence because it trusts the One who spoke.
“Ask; then ask again, and keep asking. It is better far to ask than to receive without asking. The cloud of mercy is hanging over you, and God longs to have you claim His promises.” (Christ’s Object Lessons,145).
“God in His great mercy will give to all His believing people efficiency and power for His work and service, even as He gave power to Joseph, Samuel, Daniel, Timothy, and scores of others who availed themselves of His promises. They believed Him and relied upon Him, and this was their righteousness. Men and women have to move by faith. They have to press their way through the cloud of objections which Satan brings up to hinder their progress. When God sees that they will trust Him as their helper and their efficiency, they may pass safely through the great darkness…”.]{adapted from EGW, UL 206.4}
“Without the constant help which comes only from God, even those who are looked upon as the most eminent believers are in danger of falling into the sins which Satan has prepared to dishonor God. Bear in mind, all who claim to be believers, that it is only when you have that faith which works by love and purifies the soul, only when you have the joy of Christ’s salvation in the heart, that you are qualified to guide sinners to repentance and reformation. It is the genuine believer, who not only assents to the truth, but believes and practices the truth, who is not satisfied unless he has with him the presence of God, that is a power for good in the world.”{by EGW, UL 206.5}
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.It will happen that everyone who calls on the Lord’s name will be rescued.(Joel 2:32)
Rom 10:13
Why don’t we call on Him today? Why do I run to other people for help when God is so close and can hear even my weakest prayer? Why do I sit and try to figure everything out on my own? Why not immediately place myself and all my troubles in the Lord’s hands? The simplest way is the best way, so why don’t I go straight to the living God? I will not find real help anywhere else, but with God I will find the perfect solution, because He has clearly promised it right here in His Word.
I do not need to wonder if I am allowed to call on Him, because His Word “everyone” includes me. It includes anyone, anywhere, anytime, who calls on God. So I will follow this truth and call on the Lord who has made such a great promise to us all.
Yes, perhaps my situation is urgent, and I do not see how I can be rescued—but that is not my responsibility. The One who made the promise knows how to fulfill it. My part is to trust and call on Creator, not to tell Him how to act. I am His servant. We are His adopted sons and daughters. (Acts 2:17). We call on Him, and He will deliver us. (Rom 10:13)
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
One Christian author penned the following words:
“Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him.”{EGW, SC 93.2}
Prayer enables us to receive Creator. This is so encouraging when we read John 1:12 which reads “to them that received Him gave He power, to them that received Him gave He the right, to become, to remain the sons and daughters of God.” (emphasis mine)
Such statements highlight the same principle found in Romans 10:13: calling on the Lord is not about informing God, but about entering into dependence on Him and receiving what He has already promised to give us all if we just call on Him. No qualifying, no fixing ourselves up first, no being a certain kind of person first. Call on Him. This is what the Word of God says: “Call on me….”
Romans 10:13, directly affirms the idea in Joel 2:32. In both places, the focus is on the universal scope of God’s promise and the simplicity of the response required. Joel originally spoke in the context of judgment and restoration for Israel, where calling on the Lord meant turning to Him in repentance and dependence during times of crisis. Paul applies that same promise, in a broader way, shows us that it now extends to all people without distinction. The core idea is unchanged: deliverance is not earned or engineered by human effort but received by calling on the Lord in faith and trust.
“So now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
This powerful text adds the necessary foundation for the promise:
“now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
The qualification for deliverance is not found in us at all, but entirely in what Christ has accomplished through His sacrifice. The reason anyone can call on the Lord and be saved is because the cross has made access possible. His shed blood is what removes distance, guilt, and separation, by bringing the sinner near to God. Calling upon the Lord is the response, but the cross, and all that it involved is the basis that makes that our calling on Him effective.
As one writer put it
“Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. Now we have a message, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (EGW 6 BC 1113.1)
The cross is not merely an example or symbol; it is the actual means by which sinners are brought near and qualified to receive deliverance. Because of what Christ has done, we know what He wants to do. because of what He has done, we know what He will do. The promises of Joel 2:32 and Romans 10:13 stand firm for anyone who calls on His name. Jesus says “They will be saved!”
“Hanging upon the cross Christ was the gospel. Now we have a message, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world.” Will not our church members keep their eyes fixed on a crucified and risen Savior, in whom their hopes of eternal life are centered?
This is our message, our argument, our doctrine, our warning to the impenitent, our encouragement for the sorrowing, the hope for every believer.
If we can awaken an interest in men’s minds that will cause them to fix their eyes on Christ, we may step aside, and ask them only to continue to fix their eyes upon the Lamb of God. They thus receive their lesson.
Whosoever will come after Me, let them deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow Me. Anyone, whose eyes are fixed on Jesus will leave all. They will die to selfishness. They will believe in all the Word of God, which is so gloriously and wonderfully exalted in Christ.” {EGW, 6BC 1113.1}
“Be perfect, therefore, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
(1 Cor 2:5)
“Christ sets before us the highest standard of Christian character—one we should aim for throughout our lives. Paul speaks about this kind of perfection when he writes: “Not that I have already reached it or have already become perfect, but I press on… I press toward the goal for the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12–15).
How can we reach the kind of perfection our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calls for? Is it really possible to meet such a high standard? Yes—it must be, or Christ would not have commanded it. He is our righteousness. By becoming human, He went before us and achieved a perfect character on our behalf. We are to place our faith in Him—a faith that works through love and purifies the soul. True character perfection is based on what Christ is to us. If we continually depend on our Savior’s merits and follow His example, we will become like Him—pure and undefiled.
Christ does not ask anything impossible of us. He does not expect His followers to do anything without also giving them the grace and strength to accomplish it. He would not call us to be perfect unless He had every necessary grace ready to give. He has promised that He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask than parents are to give good gifts to their children.
Our responsibility is to strive, within our own lives, to reach the same kind of character perfection that Christ demonstrated in every aspect of His life on earth. He is our example. In everything, we should aim to honor God through our character. When we fall short day after day of God’s standard, we put our salvation at risk. We need to understand and value the privilege Christ gives us, and show a firm commitment to reaching the highest standard. We must rely completely on the power He has promised to provide.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers,and sisters I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (Phil 3:12-15, ESV)” (1)
“Sometimes trying to live a perfect Christian life can be so difficult that it leaves us drained and discouraged. We may feel so far from perfect that we think we can never please God with our life. Paul used perfection (Phil 3:12) to mean mature or complete, not flawless in every detail. Those who are mature should press on in the Holy Spirit’s power, knowing that Christ will reveal and fill in any discrepancy between what we are and what we should be. Christ’s provision is no excuse for lagging devotion, but it provides relief and assurance for those who feel called of God to a higher standard.” (2)
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(1)(adapted from That I May Know Him,May 4th,by EGW)
(2)(adapted from Life Application Notes, Phil 3:12-15)
