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Thanksgiving in Apocalyptic
Presenter: Larry Kirkpatrick
Location: Mentone Seventh-day Adventist Church, California, USA
Delivery: 2005-11-26 23:58Z
Publication: GreatControversy.org 2005-11-26 23:58Z
Type: Sermon
URL: http://www.greatcontroversy.org/gco/ser/kir-thinap.php
A Negative or a Positive Faith?
“Jesus is all the world to me,” goes a line from one of the songs in our hymnal. Is He? Is Jesus all the world to you? Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6) Your way, your truth, and your life? There are many who claim to believe in Him, and but few who make Him their way, their road, their pathway. They are content to wander in circles. When Jesus, in His character carpenter work presents a new obstacle in the pathway, they want to go around it. The unconverted nature is ascendant.
The truth about Christ, the truth about ourselves, is another barrier. When we need to be shown our idols, He shows us another. And what do we do? Do we want to surrender the idol, or wish the truth had not been shown us? And when it comes to making Christ’s life ours, are we ready to embrace it? Are we ready to live out all the implications of the faith presented to us in the Bible? Or are we looking for a softer, gentler, less demanding faith?
Even fellow church members tell us now that Seventh-day Adventists have been guilty of adding long lists of rules to Christianity. We are told that we have carried into our faith from the past a baggage of legalism, a truckload of ideological junk built-into the message from the first. That, now that we no longer emphasize these things, we are a more mature, more Christian people, that the closer we approach to the fallen churches, the more Christian we are becoming. Is it true?
Are we guilty of adding to God’s truth, of crowding out our Savior Jesus? Is our foundation in the apocalyptic prophecies necessarily dark and dingy, and are we a people of doom and gloom that can only be changed by taking the winding staircase downward to join that Christendom that ignores them and changes them for the imaginings of their own hearts?
Because we follow Jesus, we see the positive even while its wrapped in the negative. Far from stoic resignation and stale fatalism, the end-time perspective Heaven offers us is no mere fire and brimstone doomsday. The bright light of Christ is here too. It is in following Him that we gather strength. Darkness may loom just ahead, but moreso brightness, moreso the glow of truth and precious glory of our Savior’s presence. We hunger for His presence. We will brave the night for His light; we will surrender self and all its little tricks to walk the dusty road at His side. And when the mob takes exception at last to His teachings, will we run and warm ourselves in our own sweat at the fire, or take up our cross and be crucified at His side?
Fellowship With the Unaware
The year waxes old, and again we come to the time of family gatherings. Whether our families are Christian and Adventist or not, these years we face a challenge. Many teachings about God are current. And we are all so busy. It is easier to eat the worms mommy bird offers us than to study for ourselves. So the church stumbles onward (I didn’t say forward, but onward). Like cowboys passing through the saloon door, it turns again and again, squeaks again and again; we come to church, then we go out. Do we change the world for Christ, or just squeak the hinges on the church door?
Our beloved friends and relatives come to spend the holidays with us, or we go to spend them with them. We want to share God’s truth for this hour with them, and they are people who’ve been exposed to the message, perhaps all their lives. But often they are found in a blurry state. Their church besieged and enticed by every dead new trend, they sample the hemlock, too often finding the flavor to their liking. And the clock ticks forward again. Another person dies. Another church fight begins. Another puppet show is featured in the church paper. Another searcher for truth is ready to be led to the doors of God’s house. Will the angels say that it is safe?
But we have been warned this day would come. Consider:
That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:14-16).
We grow up into Christ or sideways into false teaching. And there is no shortage of false teachers. “We are living in a time when every wind of doctrine is blowing, and when those who think they stand are liable to fall. We are living in a time when Satan is striving to implant seeds of skepticism and infidelity in every mind. We are living in a time when error is taught so insidiously that the faith of many is being rapidly undermined” (Ellen G. White, Canadian Union Messenger, September 3, 1907).
Notice that inspiration has used the word “insidiously” in describing the way error is taught in the church in the end-time. People come to church to have their faith built-up, but too often, instead it is undermined. The end-time is a time of many winds of doctrine, many teachers, an error for every heart. But the church is to be united, an evidence that Christ is in the members of His body, that His gospel changes people. It must be then that many who are in the church by profession are not actually in Christ. We are being proved here. Our behavior, here, shows of what spiritual stuff we are made.
I was pointed to the providence of God among His people and was shown that every trial made by the refining, purifying process upon professed Christians proves some to be dross. The fine gold does not always appear. In every religious crisis some fall under temptation. The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves. Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors. Adversity purges them out of the church. As a class, their spirits are not steadfast with God. They go out from us because they are not of us; for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, many are offended… Self-deception is upon them. During the calm, what firmness they manifest! what courageous sailors they make! But when the furious tempests of trial and temptation come, lo! their souls are shipwrecked. Men may have excellent gifts, good ability, splendid qualifications; but one defect, one secret sin indulged, will prove to the character what the worm-eaten plank does to the ship—utter disaster and ruin! (Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 89, 90).
Consider the imagery of the passage. It speaks of people—people of faith—being carried to and fro. What carries them? The wind. But there is not just one wind. “Every wind”; there are many. One wind is blowing from north to south, another from south to north, another from east to west, another from southwest to northeast. Where there is an ear to listen, there is a doctrine to be listened to. So how will we measure it all? Are we converted? Have we allowed the Holy Spirit into our experience?
When we read the inspired writings, who are our assistants? There are two kinds: unfallen or fallen angels. Remember, angel means “messenger.” As we read God’s word, we listen to messengers. Depending on what we have cherished in our heart, our messengers will be sent to aid us from the gates of heaven, or they will be sent to mislead us, demons. The spiritual world is very real. This morning each of us is hearing this message with assistance. We are connected to spiritual realities beyond our vision. But rarely are we permitted to see beyond the veil. Still, we make our choices. The Spirit that we choose to accompany us accompanies us.
Perhaps we would like to imagine that we are unbiased, rational, discerning, fair-minded, even-handed, wise people. But very few of those traits likely apply to us. We are fallen beings. We have fallen natures. We are worshipping beings. We are bent toward evil by nature. We are inclined to play games with ourselves and hope for the best. Because consequences seem to be deferred, we tend to walk right through the minefields of sin, setting off explosions that we do not even feel.
Prophecy informs us that this once-great country will lose its moorings, turn on its own principles, abandon freedom of religion, loose its vitality, trade it for mob rule, finally approving a death penalty for those refusing to worship on the nationally declared Sunday of worship.
But that day has been, it seems to us, long in coming. Some scoff, thinking this merely a holdover from the less mature days of our faith. Some focus on the overwhelming tide of events stacking up round us, and tell us that the end must be near. Yes, it must be! Not because of a development here or a development there, but because we have not given ourselves over to the fullness of God’s purposes. Great though the signs be, they pale beside the fact that God is waiting for us. When we are ready, all these things will be let loose.
Revelation 7:1-3 shows us that God is waiting for His people to be sealed. We are holding things up. We have not been very serious about our faith.
But, you say, that cannot be! Look at our printing presses, our schools, our television programs, our string of Christian book stores, our hospitals, our ministries, our departments. But I come back to you again: We have not been serious. It is not a matter of how many boxcars are in the train, but a matter of whether the train is on God’s tracks. Have we have kept pace with Heaven’s movements?
Blind and Belated
Listen:
Greatness without goodness is valueless. It is as a tinkling cymbal. The man who does not gather about him the rays of light that God has let shine upon his pathway will surely surround himself with the shadows of darkness. God designs that His people shall press closer and still closer to the light. Then they will go forward and upward….
Satan has come down with great power, knowing that his time is short. The continued apostasy, the abounding iniquity, which chills the faith and constancy of many, should call the faithful ones to the front. Straight, clear, decided testimonies, freighted with the light for the time, will be given. Truth, undimmed by the furnace, will shine brighter and brighter until the perfect day. The Spirit and power of the coming One will be imparted in large measure to those who are preparing to stand in the day of God, who are hastening the second advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To these faithful ones Christ gives special communications. He talks with them as He talked with His disciples before leaving them. The Spirit of truth will guide them into all truth. God has lines of communication with the world today. Through His appointed agencies, He speaks to the people He is purifying, warning and encouraging them….
Here is a precious promise; the purposes and plans of God are to be opened to His disciples. What is a disciple? A learner, ever learning. Coming events, of a solemn character, are opening before us, and God would not have any one of us think that in these last days there is no more that we need to know. This is a continual snare of Satan. He would have us meet coming events without that special preparation which is essential to guide them through every difficulty. He would have all stumbling their way along in ignorance, making self-conceit, self-esteem, self-confidence, take the place of true knowledge. The more satisfied anyone is with himself, and his present knowledge, the less earnestly and humbly will he seek to be guided into all truth. The less of the Holy Spirit of God he has, the more self-satisfied and complacent he will feel. He will not search earnestly and with the deepest interest to know more of truth. But unless he keeps pace with the Leader, who is guiding into all truth, he will be left behind, belated, blinded, confused, because he is not walking in the light…. The word of God is to be the man of our counsel…. All heaven is looking upon the remnant people of God, to see if they will make truth alone their shield and buckler (Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 5, pp. 50, 51).
It is our appointed work to gather about us the rays of light God has let shine. The place where He lets His light shine is on our pathway. So we want to look for light in the pathway, not scattered at random here and there in any-which direction. He places it in our pathway, and we are to be diligent in gathering the manna. Failure in this will mean surrounding ourselves instead with our chosen shadows.
Are you hearing “straight, clear, decided testimonies, freighted with the light for the time”? We are promised that they “will be given.” Let us call our ministers and each other up to a higher plain. We have not time for winding, ambiguous, tentative testimonies, freighted with the light for another time. We must have the light for this time.
Would you like the Spirit and power of the coming One to be imparted to you as you do your Lord’s work? Then you must be among those who are preparing to stand in the day of God. You must not be among those merely milling about, anticipating a smooth and convenient entry into the kingdom. Narrow is the way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13, 14). Eternal life is a goal that keeps moving. Perhaps you have it today, but will you have it tomorrow? For Jesus walks just a bit further on tomorrow. Are you keeping pace with Jesus? Are you in the pathway with Him (Revelation 14:4)?
Many are near a light, they see a bit of light here or there, they think they are relatively close to Jesus; they’ve said the magic words, they’ve been reassured time and again by the preachers that they are saved. But Satan also comes all lit up with light. He assures you that you can keep on sinning for now and still be saved. Are you part of a company who are preparing for the day of God? Are you part of a company “who are hastening the second advent of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”?
There are a group out there, we are here shown plainly, who are accelerating the return of Christ. How? We are told in another place (Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69) that it is by developing a mature Christian character that the end is hastened. We want to learn not to sin, learn not to cave-in to the inclinations and habits we want to have fed. We want to learn to resist the flesh, to consent to the promptings of God’s Holy Spirit. How are we doing?
Christ gives to this group special communications, He talks with them as He talked with His disciples before leaving them. His lines of communication are open to those who are willing to hear. Through His appointed agencies, He speaks to the people He is purifying, warning and encouraging them. I hope you are in touch with His appointed agencies.
He promises to open His purposes and plans to His disciples. Are you one of them? Are you satisfied with your present knowledge as a Christian, as a proponent of present truth? Are you seeking, humbly, earnestly, to be guided into present truth? You say “Yes, I want to learn more.” But where is the evidence? Are you studying the Scriptures daily? Do you set aside during your week regular times for serious Bible study, serious review and consideration of the counsel in inspired writings? Do you attend prayer meeting? If you have less of the Holy Spirit of God than you think, you will feel more self-satisfied and complacent. You won’t be searching earnestly and with the deepest interest to know more of truth. You will be content to drink sugar juice from a straw in little droplets and you will not be found near the fire hose of truth, awash in great gushing cataracts of insight from on high.
We must keep pace with our Leader Jesus, or be left behind. It is that simple. And what excuse will we have, whose shelves are lined with innumerable Bibles and books bright with the truth for this time, when we neglect heart time with Jesus, refuse quiet time with the Holy Spirit? Will our lives ever be what they should, when we are willing to be left behind, belated, blinded, and confused?
Friends, all Heaven is looking upon us to see whether we will make God’s Word our shield and buckler. What have we been doing? Many have been sleepwalking toward the cliff, unprepared, unready, following they know not what. What will you do when your faith is tested? What will you do when you are found unprepared to give an answer for the hope that is within you (1 Peter 3:15)?
Greatness without goodness is valueless. Any such greatness will be leapt upon and used to advance wrong agendas. Make no mistake, there are orators, authors, preachers, teachers out there with silver tongues. They can talk fast and they shine with cultivated greatness. They have mental brilliance. But many a brilliant teacher, gifted with great mind, is a mouthpiece for error. Many a PhD is an advocate of that which, carried to its logical end, will leave you unprepared for heaven. Yes, every wind of doctrine is blowing today, and the gale grows only more severe. The storm is not relenting, but the skies darken further. We have not seen the worst of things yet by any means!
Stumbling at the Cornerstone
For the Jews, the stumbling stone was a self-salvation via their works. They preferred those to Christ. Romans 9:33 shows that in giving His Son to save them, God laid a stone of stumbling: “Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offense: and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” If their mistake was a commitment to saving themselves by their own works, the prominent error in our day is seeking a salvation that has no boundaries, a wide road home. But Christ is not on the wide road.
If we are in company with Christ, the scenery along the way is going to be what you find along the journey of present truth. Jesus is going to take us where we have never been before. We are going to begin to see how worldliness is ever seeking to creep into our lives, and how the standards we have been called to uphold as a people have to do with protecting us, helping us, creating an environment where we can grow as Christians.
The real stumbling stone is Christ. People reject truth because their commitment to it is only superficial. They have other motives for being at church; other fiefdoms, other fish to fry. The truth is unwelcome. And so the process begins; people begin to modify their faith and round the corners. The requirements for following God are quietly explained away as some defect in the group’s heritage. The founders were over-zealous, but we are the mature ones, we have grown past their closed-minds. Ours is an enlightened faith. And so the attitude goes. We are seen as narrow and straight-laced when we persist in believing the message God has entrusted to His people. Our worst critics are those who have been in the way but have abandoned their faith and joined the ranks of antichrist.
Be not disheartened dear hearts. Be not distracted by those who persist in unfaith, who refuse every attempted wakening from their stupor. Stand in the pathway with Christ. He is headed in the right direction. The Bible faith that we believe will take us through the rapids of the end-time if we are faithful and do not so squirm that we pull our hand out of the hand of our Savior.
Prosperity increases those who profess. Difficult times purge the church. Her greatest advances are always after adversity has come trimming and pruning. On this basis we may expect that adversity is coming, for we know that a revival such as we have never in our lives seen is on the way. At some point it will become obvious that a revival of primitive godliness is underway, and that the moisture of the Latter Rain is falling. Then there will be a rush for truth, but it will be too late. At last it will be seen that the real stumbling stone was Christ, and that it was not the imagined baggage that hindered our advance, but unwillingness to let Him be our Head, stubbornness at being His bride, a persistent preference for Barabbas, thinking that just maybe, he will prove the more lenient groom. But our choice is between One who died for us, and one who is a murderer.
The journey has been longer than we anticipated, but not because Christ took the longer way. We have taken the longer way, lingering in the wilderness and playing with our idols and toys midst the sand and the dust and the scorpion sting. Bravo.
Some friends and relatives do not get it. That is to be expected at a thanksgiving in these times. But take courage just the same. God’s truth has not changed. His Son still died on the cross and intercedes today to change us, His present truth still calls us to the higher line. Our Lord warned us that family would be divided against family in the end-time. But from this day, do your utmost to follow Christ. Remove every pothole that hinders your faith, makes you more susceptible to the siren call of the world. Instead of gloom let your face be animated with hope and joy and a recognition of the solemnity of the hour. If time should last, it may be that at a future holiday gathering, your experience in Christ will be so compelling that some in your family will turn, and find the way home with Him. Let the world snicker, let the scoffer scoff. What is that to you? Follow Christ. GCO
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