MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
July 20, 2022
WILL WE STAND WHEN TESTED SINGLY AND ALONE?
“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for IF YOU DO THESE THINGS, ye shall NEVER fall. . . . Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you ALWAYS in remembrance of THESE THINGS, though ye know them, and be established in the PRESENT TRUTH.” 2 Pet. 1: 10, 12, KJV. (As to what “these things” spoken of above, see verses 1-9, because only then will the promised reward stated in verse 11 apply).
Moreover, a specific set of doctrinal pillars are designated as Present Truth, revealed and entrusted to the commandment-keeping remnant since after 1844. Make “your calling and election sure” by clearly understanding what these doctrinal pillars or “landmarks” are—they are the “testing, sealing truths” during these closing hours of the investigative judgment taking place in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary.
The eternal destiny of all who claim to be members of the remnant church is determined by what they “DO,” not merely say or profess, of “these things.” Making one’s calling and election SURE is an INDIVIDUAL for “salvation” has, and always is, “individual,” never corporate, much less institutional!
Hence, the following warning of the Spirit of Prophecy:
“CWE 39, 40: “I have been shown [in vision/impression] that MANY who profess to have a KNOWLEDGE of present truth KNOW NOT what they believe. They DO NOT understand the EVIDENCES of their faith. They have NO just appreciation of the WORK for the present time.
“When the TIME OF TRIAL shall come, there are men NOW PREACHING to others, who will find, upon examining the POSITIONS they hold, that there are MANY ThINGS for which they can give NO SATISFACTORY REASON. UNTIL THUS TESTED, THEY [such preachers] KNOW NOT THEIR GREAT IGNORANCE.
“And there are MANY IN THE CHURCH, who take it for granted that they understand what they believe, but, UNTIL CONTROVERSY ARISES [such as at this very time!], they do not know their OWN WEAKNESS.
When SEPARATED from those of like faith, and COMPELLED TO STAND SINGLY AND ALONE to explain their belief, they will be SURPRISED to see HOW CONFUSED are their IDEAS of what they had accepted as TRUTH. [Here’s why and how such a fearful state of uncertainty and unpreparedness lay hidden, until exposed by certain circumstances]:
“Certain that there has been AMONG US [within, not without] A DEPARTURE FROM THE LIVING GOD, and a TURNING TO MEN [see Jer. 17:5], putting HUMAN wisdom in place of DiVINE.” – E. G. White, Counsels to Writers & Editors, pp. 39, 40 (1915).
Both preachers (ministers; pastors) and members alike, from pulpit to pews need to diligently and thoroughly examine themselves,” not others, and “prove themselves whether they are really in the faith,” and make sure they can “stand singly and alone” to explain, defend, and “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).
Bless all till next MWM, God willing, NMF.