As I think most of you know, we are leaving Michigan next week to serve in the Nevada-Utah conference again, and pastor the Price, Moab, and Castle Valley churches. So today is the last Sabbath I expect to speak to you from this pulpit. And I may leave you with a controversial message. Some of what I am about to share may sound "wrong." You see, we are well-trained people. God is not the only one running a training program for us. The devil is too. We know that our adversary is adept in his deceptions. We have seen and heard his portrayals of his kingdom in the media that surround us, that enfold us and infiltrate us and permeate us and change us. We will be looking into the tiny book of Obadiah. But for now, please turn to Hebrews, chapter 11. Now while you're finding that, let's consider how our culture defines heroes.

We have seen portrayed before us, by media that we probably shouldn't have seen or heard, utopian futures wrought out by fictional heroes. Although burdened with flaws, these humanistic heros-somehow-manage, through boldness, fast-driving, sharp-shooting, self-sacrifice, or some other heroic means, manage to come, bleeding and battered to the closing edge of the movie on the silver screen, ultimately winning the day. Vengeance is achieved, wrongs are "righted," good is advanced (good as defined by Follywood), the music swells, the credits roll, the lights come up, the story ends, and we re-enter the wearying humdrumness of our modest lives.

We function within the scope of a culture that thinks that humanity evolved from a dreary puddle of carbon and acids a billion years ago, and yet generally knows that there is a God

Out there. Somewhere. And that they may not be just right with Him.

This culture tells us that we can't do anything that really matters. It is alright to try, just as long as you don't try too hard. That which it seems to value above all else, is being entertained. What you are supposed to do, is to join in with the unreal, Follywood manufactured world of the hero-for ninety minutes. Identify with him, feel what the movie-makers know that you are there to feel, O yes, escape the awkwardness

of being made in the image of God, but being subjected to the etching of Satan's character upon your surface. And never forget that the demon wants more. He wants to get under your skin. But he can only do it through your mind.

He wants you to think that the world functions as he portrays it to function; that a hero is like the fictional men and women created in man's image by the screen-writer; buy the popcorn and sit back! Be passive. Miss the show. He has trained you not to be a hero. He wants you to sit back and vicariously becomea mere Satanic, dehumanized VCR, playing back into your mind his carefully programmed portrayals of heroism.

You see, Christianity has not escaped this passive programming scam; no, not even Adventism. In the version of Christianity which we are all so used to, Jesus is the only hero. And we might want to amen that. But, pardon me for saying so, but it's not entirely correct. You see, Jesus is the only Savior, capitol S. He is the only Author and Finisher of our faith. But He is not the only hero. Remember Hebrews 11, and the hall of faith. Yes, by faith, the elders obtained a good report (Hebrews 11:2); yes, they

subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of the fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection...They were stoned, they were sawn asunder...of whom the world was not worthy' (Hebrews 11:33-38).

We must revise our definition of what makes heros. A hero can be one who neither takes nor receives glory to himself. Can a Christian be a hero? We can be heroes.

Yes, I think so. Let's look at Obadiah.

This little book of Obadiah is very interesting. In it we find the great controversy in miniature. Look at verse one. "Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom; we have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle." God tells His people through His servant Obadiah, that He has been inciting the nations to turn on Edom and destroy her. Verse two, "Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen." Because God comes ultimately to a time when He will judge the heathen, He encourages Israel. Since Obadiah's prophecy here likely comes following the disastrous attack upon Israel in 586 B.C., it is a word of hope to an embattled people. God wants His people to know that although the heathen attack Israel now, a day is on God's checklist when He will judge them. Verses three and four speak of the pride of Edom-of her elevation. She makes her nest in the clefts of the rock, she feels secure. Like her master, Satan, she says "Who shall bring me down to the ground?" Recall the statement of Lucifer, "I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God" (Isaiah 14:13). But in Obadiah four, God makes His claim. He will bring Edom down. And look over at verse 15: "For the day of the Lord is near upon all the heathen." As Edom has done, God will do to them. As they have rejoiced at the tribulations of God's people, and done their utmost to add to them, and to take their part of the spoil, so they shall in the end be destroyed. Their day of judgment does come. In all their consuming of sin, drinking it like water, towing it proudly behind them as if with a cart-rope, verse 16 assures us that they will be consumed in all of their consuming.

Notice that the end of Edom is not an arbitrary thing. Look at verse six, "How are the things of Esau searched out! How are his hidden things sought up!" Her actions condemn her, as Satan's actions condemn him at the close of the great controversy. Edom descended from Esau. And as God planned her destruction, so in the end He ordains the destruction of all who oppose Him and His people.

Notice the last section-the section of hope and victory, verses 17-21. "But upon Mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions." Notice here that in the end, there is deliverance among God's people. And where are God's people? On mount Zion. The people are holy. Did you catch that? They are different, changed, committed to God, changed by Him, separated from sin, they shine like the stars. They are His and He is theirs, as in the words of the Song of Solomon: "I am my beloved's, and my beloved is mine." Song of Solomon 6:3.

Deliverance does not come just because you are part of the church, on the books at the right time and the right place. Nor are those necessarily saved who withdraw from her. The salt needs to remain in the church my brethren, where it can affect the whole ship. Adventism is the center of the fight. We have no business running to the sidelines and letting liberalism prevail in the church. Do you want that written up alongside of your name? Those who are where deliverance is, are an example of holiness. The world needs their witness and the church needs their witness. God wants holy people. This is an important clue to the last part of Obadiah. And the question remains, when do we get to the last part? When do the heros come up on mount Zion? When is the mount of Esau judged? And whose is the kingdom in the end?

See verse 21: "And saviours shall come up on mount zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the Lords." Now you heard it right: saviour is in the plural, saviours. Saviours with a small s. They come up on mount Zion and judge the mount of Esau. See, two ideas are battling in the universe today, God's idea and Satan's idea. Two mountains are in collision, two giant systems of morality. The idea of good is up against the idea of bad. And when we let Jesus into our hearts, He brings His carpenter tools. He has saws to cut off what needs to be cut off, planes to make things smooth, and chisels to carve out the deep knots and flaws. In my life, I think that there have even been times when He has had to apply the hammer! But in the end, He will produce--of each of us who let him--a masterpiece. He will make a man more valuable than the gold of Ophir.

If you let Him, He will fashion you until you reflect His holiness. And that's something!

You are, individually, the unlikliest hero. You have been brought into the kingdom by our Father in such a time as this-the end-time. You are the "saviours" who shall come up upon Mt. Zion. "But brother Larry, there must be some mistake. You see, I am flawed, I have sin problems, I'm not ready to be in any movie, let alone upon the stage of God's great controversy." But listen now. Can we be biblical about this? Please? Can we address this in a very practical way then? Let me ask you a question: of all the life-stories preserved to us in this Bible, where is the person who didn't grow as he went along? Being a hero does not mean just add water; baptism doesn't make us heros.

You see, God makes the heros around here. We have no imagination of saving ourselves apart from God. Listen closely to these lines from Ellen White in RH 19 March 1889:

John saw a Lamb on Mount Zion, and with Him 144,000, having His Father's name written in their foreheads. They bore the signet of heaven. They reflected the image of God. They were full of the light and the glory of the Holy One. If we would have the image and superscription of God upon us, we must separate ourselves from all iniquity. We must forsake every evil way, and then we must trust our cases in the hands of Christ. While we are working out our own salvation with fear and trembling, God will work in us to will and to do of His own good pleasure. While you must do your part, yet it is God that must give you aid, and sanctify you. Christ makes us penitent that He may forgive us. We have an idea that we must do some part of the work alone. We have thought that there are two or three steps that we must take without any help or support. But this is not so. The Spirit of God is continually wooing and drawing the soul to right purposes, and into harmony with the law of God. The invitation is given to the helpless: 'Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk, without money and without price.' As soon as we separate ourselves from evil, and choose to serve God, we shall respond to this invitation.

Listen again to Ellen White in  7SDABC 970:

We are to copy no human being. There is no human being wise enough to be our criterion. We are to look to the man Christ Jesus, who is complete in the perfection of righteousness and holiness. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. He is the pattern man. His experience is the measure of the experience that we are to gain. His character is our model. Let us, then, take our minds off the perplexities of this life, and fix them on Him, that by beholding we may be changed into His likeness. We may behold Christ to good purpose. We may safely look to Him; for He is all-wise. As we look to Him and think of Him, He will be formed within, the hope of glory.

And what is he like, this one who we speak of being formed in us? Turn with me to Matthew 27:35ff:

And they crucified Him, and parted His garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, they parted My garments among them, and upon My vesture they cast lots. And sitting down they watched Him there; and set up over His head his accusation written, 'This is Jesus, The King of the Jews.' Then there were two thieves crucified with Him, one on the right, and another on the left. And they that passed by reviled Him, wagging their heads, and saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save Thyself. If Thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking Him, with the scribes and elders said, He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now, if He will have Him: for He said I am the Son of God."

And do you notice the focused satanic desperation that seductively and incessantly calls to the ear of Jesus as He hangs in agony: Come down from the cross! Come down from the cross! Come down from the cross! O Yes, this was the end! For Satan it was now or never. He had to win. He had to get Jesus off that cross. He mustn't die victoriously, or all was lost. Satan drove Him to the cross, put Him on it, and then did all He could to get Jesus to change His mind-to make the ultimate dodge. But He wouldn't come down. He must offer to the Father a perfect sacrifice. Did you catch that giant and desperate lie: "Let Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe Him."

And friends, a similar temptation is being placed before you and I today. "You Adventists come down from the cross and we will believe you. Set aside your doctrines and your standards and don't be so separate from us, and we will receive you. Don't be so high and so mighty. Come down from the cross and we will believe you." And do you know how many Adventists have already bought this lie? Friends, once you have bought this lie, there is no place for a Mount Zion and the Lamb standing upon it with His brethren, His treasures. Turn to Revelation 14:1 as we now close: "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Zion, and with Him an hundred and forty and four thousand, having His Father's name written in their foreheads."

But in the plan of salvation as presented by most of Christianity, there is no cross, and because there is no cross, there is-in the end-no Lamb standing with 144,000. Only a Lamb-a trophyless Lamb-a Lamb who has not answered Satan's charges-who has not produced any real commandment-keepers-who stands alone, without anyone having His Father's name written in their foreheads. It's unbiblical. No one finally stands with Him truly having Christ formed within. There is no final crowd among whom shines the glow of Christ formed within, the hope of glory, ready to follow Him wherever He goes.

This lie is being pitched to Adventists today in the preaching of a false gospel. A gospel that comes straight out of mainstream Christianity, and certainly not from the Bible. I plead with you, study the gospel by going to the Word itself. There you will find the same gospel presented by Ellen White and the Adventist pioneers. And when you have found it, don't compromise it one inch. Let the Christ who was crucified for you be formed within you. Then you will be like Him. Then it will be true of you, although God makes you a hero, that in the end (as Ellen White describes it in Great Controversy 665:

In all that shining throng there are none to ascribe salvation to themselves, as if they had prevailed by their own power and goodness. Nothing is said of what they have done or suffered; but the burden of every song, the keynote of every anthem, is: Salvation to our God and unto the Lamb.

Do not buy into the scheme of deception that says you are not meant to be a hero.

You are meant to be a hero.

You. A hero for God. As His hero, give Him all that you have and all that you are. The giant things that He has done and is doing in your life are for His glory, not your own. You couldn't handle this glory on your own. Nor do you deserve it. But He calls you to be a hero.

And some time soon, when you cast your crown before His throne, and in that moment the thought crosses your mind that in you (yes you!) God made a hero--when you fall to your immortal knees amidst the sound of angel choruses, and know that He reached down into the mire and restored His image in you, then I say, we will finally know a gratitude that will help us to understand in some measure the statement that God is love. (1 John 4:8). He made an unlikely hero. Oh my friends, let's be there. Let's meet there. Let's plan on it. Let's go up on Mt. Zion. By the grace of our God, we are well able to overcome. (Numbers 13:30). "And the Kingdom shall be the Lord's." Obadiah 21.

Last Modified 21 March 2000