I CAN BUT CHOOSE NOT TO ‘COME DOWN’ (Part 4)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

I CAN BUT CHOOSE NOT TO ‘COME DOWN’ (Part 4)

“For he [King Hezekiah] clave to the Lord, and departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses. And the Lord was with him.” 2 Kings 18: 6, 7, KJV.

Like Hezekiah (when he was faithful), Nehemiah also “clave to the Lord, and departed not from following Him. And thus the Lord was with Nehemiah. Here’s the living evidence:

“Messengers [of the enemies of truth, both open and pretended friends] were sent REPEATEDLY, soliciting a conference with Nehemiah, but he REFUSED [exercised his will and chose to do right] to meet them. Bold threats were made of what they proposed to do, and messengers were sent to HARANGUE the people engaged in the work of building. These presented FLATTERING INDUCEMENTS and promised the builders FREEDOM FROM RESTRAINT, and wonderful privileges, if they would unite their interests with them and CEASE THEIR WORK OF BUILDING.

“But the people were commanded NOT TO ENGAGE IN CONTROVERSY with their enemies and TO ANSWER THEM NOT A WORD [Why?] that NO ADVANTAGE OF WORDS be given them [the enemies of truth]. Threatening and ridicule were resorted to. ‘They said: Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall’ [Neh. 4:3].

Sanballat ‘was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews’ [Neh. 4:1]. Nehemiah prayed, ‘Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head’ [Neh. 4: 4].” – E. G. White, Vol. 3 Testimonies for the Church, pp. 573, 574.

As in the time of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah, the majority of the Jews, the chosen people then, were not part of the faithful few who were laboring to rebuild the literal broken down walls and repair the breach.

How about us at this very time? Are we numbered in the books of heaven as part of the faithful few Sabbath-keepers who are actually engaged in the work restoring the glory of the law and the sanctification of the whole Sabbath day in our own individual hearts and minds, in our families, and in our church congregation and worship services?

How many of you have already committed the Ten Commandments to memory by now? If not, how can the law act as an impregnable “law” to protect us from being infiltrated by Satan’s “fiery darts” of deception and temptation?

(To be continued). I can only keep encouraging you. It is up to you to “take heed” as a free moral agent. Bless all, NMF