22 November 2001 Editorial:
Chased Forward

Larry Kirkpatrick

Today is Thanksgiving. It is a good day to reflect upon how God's people have been led. There have been many times through the flow of history when things have looked especially bleak for us. Consider large groups of people a few hundred years ago, leaving countries in exile, seeking for places to escape persecution and be true to their faith. The Bible reminds us that "the dragon as wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed." When early Christian immigrants came to America, they were fleeing the flood spewed out of the mouth of the dragon against those who worshiped God. But a way was opened for truth in a time and place chosen by God. They came here -- to America -- with the goal of being true to their faith.

Always God's people have been chased. But they have successfully run with the footmen and then with the horses of apocalypse. It may not seem so, but they are still out front, still being led of God, still in the battle.

We may be thankful today for God's continued intervention to preserve the remnant of her Seed. We may look all around us and see departure from truth and unimaginable developments in our midst, yet there also a things we don't always see for which we ought to be thankful. We sigh and cry for the abominations done in the church, but do we forget the reminders of hope within her as well?

Perhaps few reading this will ever intersect with the church where currently we serve, Mentone California, not 15 minutes from Loma Linda University. But if you do, you may be encouraged. We have numerous young people in our congregation who know what Seventh-day Adventism is, and are glad for it. They reject the slimy and indifferent variants offered in some places and come where they know they will be fed and have that with which to feed others. Literature distribution is common, as is giving Bible studies. Two Sabbaths ago as I was sitting on the platform nine young people filed in from a certain SDA university south of Loma Linda. They'd come a distance to be where they saw that truth was being shared.

None of this is meant to uplift the messenger, for the vessel is of little importance; what matters is God's message. He and it are what draw, He and it are what change people. This congregation has been here for some time, and has often been a place where the message exists and goes out into the world from.

Another example is our evangelism study group. Some time back someone sought to introduce evangelistic methodologies recently popular in the fallen churches. But the people knew just what to do; they said, "We've all got Ellen G. White's book Evangelism; why don't we gather every Sabbath and study from it the divinely given principles especially pertaining to evangelism?" And so it goes.

It would be difficult to begin to enumerate the talent that is here, and the interest in real Adventism. In so many ways so many contribute! And much more is yet to come! We are thankful today for opportunity to serve where people love Jesus and His distinct message for this hour. We have been in other places too where there was much to encourage. Many of our young people especially have seen the pale revised versions of Adventism and are not buying. They will stay with the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, and the standards as there given. They will be active and reach out and sustain God's message. Their talent is given by and put into action for God. They will not be denied. Though strange developments sometimes dishearten, the truth is not in retreat today; rather it is being chased forward.

And our God will yet prevail.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Pastor Larry Kirkpatrick is an ordained minister of the gospel. Since 1994 he has served in the American Southwest as pastor to several churches. He received his BA in Religion from Southern Adventist University in 1994 and a Master of Divinity from Andrews University in 1999 with a specialization in Adventist Studies. While in Michigan he was employed by the General Conference at the White Estate Berrien Springs branch office. More important than his scholastic preparation has been his immersion in the biblical and Spirit of Prophecy materials. He is author of the 2003 book Real Grace for Real People. Presently he serves as Pastor of the Mentone Church of Seventh-day Adventists, located near Loma Linda, California. Larry is married to Pamela. The couple presently live in Highland, California along with their two children, Etienne and Melinda.