April 17, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
LET THE SILENT WRITTEN WORD SPEAK WITH A ‘STILL SMALL VOiCE’
“To the law and testimony. If they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20, KJV.
If you haven’t noticed yet or maybe wondered why, I haven’t literally spoken since after our last worship service.
Instead, I was moved to emphasize that all must now learn to hear the physically inaudible voice of the invisible God speaking “in a still small voice” to you through the visible words of the Word in the pages of IT IS WRITTEN.
Observe:
“The last great delusion [not calamity] is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true, that will be impossible to distinguish between EXCEPT by the Holy Scriptures. By their TESTIMONY [Isa.8:20] every statement and every MIRACLE is to be tested.
“Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God [the ‘law,” Isa. 8:20] will be opposed and derided, their way will be made very hard. They can stand ONLY in God.
“In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the WILL of God as REVEALED in His [written] word; they can honor Him ONLY as they have a right conception of His CHARACTER, GOVERNMENT, and PURPOSES and to ACT IN ACCORDANCE with them.
“None but those who have trained the intellect to GRASP the truths of the Bible will STAND in the last great conflict.
“To every soul will come the SEARCHING TEST, shall I obey God rather than man?
“THE DECISIVE HOUR IS EVEN NOW AT HAND. Are our feet planted on the Rock of God’s immutable Word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus?” Great Controversy, 1884 ed., pp. 411,412.
This “searching test” in “the last great conflict” is not this Covid-19 global pandemic but is what is yet ahead of us! God is teaching and preparing us for this last test! Did you notice how quickly man obeys the “mandates” of man because of the fear of man and the deadly virus but do not “fear God and keep His commandments?” That’s where the final test will be: between the laws of man and the law of God. So “make your calling and election sure” for eternal “salvation is individual.” Remember the sixth day is the preparation day for the Sabbath day. Use it wisely for its divine purpose as well! Bless all. NMF