By John Thiel, mp3

Take the world, but give me Jesus.

The world, all its joys and comforts are of no real support when we see around us things falling down and all that people have planned and worked towards being lost; delays and discomforts. There is comfort in the Lord, and that can never be removed from us. With the considerations that we have in the fact that Jesus is very soon to return, and that all the things of this earth are to be destroyed, and we can see how it’s all crumbling around us, there is a preparation that is to be entered into with an intensity not yet seen. We need to occupy ourselves with something much higher than merely enjoying this planet; especially with regards to our social pastimes and our social interactivity with others around us.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Meditate on those two words – fellowship, and communion. When we get together we hold communion; we commune together. When we go in amongst the people and our families, there is something in which to commune together. When they have their special occasions and gatherings, it’s a high time to fellowship together. The analogy of light and darkness is here conveyed. It is the analogy of relationships with people who are not light, but darkness. It is very powerfully expressed in 1 Thessalonians 5. If we are illuminated with the truth that we have, we are identified as children of light versus those who are not illuminated with the truth that we have.

Children of the Day Versus Children of the Night

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Light/day, night/darkness. The analogy is very vivid. If it is day time it is light and you can see where you are going. If it is night and you haven’t got lights to show you the way then you are in the dark. The children of the world, people who are not illuminated by the light, are darkness; they are not day. The people who are illuminated by God are children of light, of the day.

God Divided the Light from the Darkness

What God did at creation He still does today. What did He do at creation?

Genesis 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that [it was] good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night.

We are not children of the night. We are meant to be children of the day. What did God do in reference to day and night? It says that He divided the day from the night, the light from the darkness. He divided it. What does that mean? He separated them, so that one does not blend with the other. Is that right? The analogy comes directly into focus. If we are children of the day and of light, and we live in a world surrounded by darkness, what has God’s command been? “Let there be light, and I will divide the light from the darkness.” Do we understand what that really means in reference to that analogy? A divided state from those who are darkness. God still divides light from darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for … what communion hath light with darkness? … 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,

As we are preparing for the imminent coming of Jesus and all our preparation is very intensely exercised, we are called to be the children of light getting ready for Jesus to come, while the rest of the world are not getting for Jesus to come. They are in darkness; we are to be the light. Here is the plain direction that we are to be out of communion with these people – no communion. God calls for separation, like He called to the light to be divided from the darkness.

God calls for separation from the world. Will you obey? Will you come out from among them, and remain separate and distinct from them? “For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” You cannot mingle with worldlings, and partake of their spirit, and follow their example, and be at the same time a child of God. {2T 44.1}

It’s an impossibility because light and darkness don’t mingle.

The Creator of the universe addresses you as an affectionate Father. {2T 44.1}

The affections that belong between God’s children with their Father and the affections that exist in the world with their pleasure seeking and their affections, those two affections do not mingle. It is as stark as day and night.

If you separate from the world in your affections, and remain free from its contamination, escaping the corruption that is in the world through lust, God will be your Father, He will adopt you into His family, and you will be His heir. In place of the world, He will give you, for a life of obedience, the kingdom under the whole heavens. He will give you an eternal weight of glory and a life that is as enduring as eternity. {2T 44.1}

God is still dividing day and night in the analogy as well. To be candidates of this honoured company of 144,000 the call is very clear:

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people,

The people that come out of Babylon, out of that darkness, are to be the 144,000. We, as a very small company of people, are dwelling among those around us that are night, darkness. Children of the night are all around us, including Seventh-day Adventists, and our relatives that may be among them, or even in the organisation that we have been named by. It is very important to just examine what has actually happened in the ranks of Adventism that makes even them children of darkness. Observe carefully how the night comes on:

Satan is continually at work to press his temptations among us. At first he presents little deviations from right; {PH043 12.1}

At first, a little bit, just something small, a little something different;

…then after the senses have become accustomed to this slight departure from the light which God has given, he presents another temptation to lead away from former positions and principles. Then as the mind becomes accustomed to that, he presents a still greater departure from the simplicity of our faith, until the barriers are broken down, and idolatry in various forms is at home in our midst. God then moves upon those who will not shun to declare his whole counsel, and charges them, “Lift up thy voice like a trumpet, {PH043 12.1}

I know so well how true this is. I have gradually come to discover how in my own experience I have regarded certain things as a Christian that were not actually Christian. I have had to come very slowly, as the Lord led me, out of that darkness. But as I came out of that darkness step by step, I found with my fellow relatives and in the ranks of organizations that I have been in, a path exactly as is described here. If we are going to walk in every item of light that God has ever given and if we decide that we are going to follow Jesus in every respect, then we will discover how dark it is around us. As we are coming out of this darkness to stand in readiness for Jesus to come by preparing ourselves and changing our lifestyles so that we will be in tune when Jesus comes, we have a challenge, a difficult challenge, to meet: To stand among our relatives and associates and give the trumpet a loud sound, lifting up our voice like a trumpet.

A trumpet too close gets very noisy in the ear. I still remember my brother practising his cornet in the home, and it really annoyed the whole family, because it was so noisy in the one room that it went right through the house. When we are uplifting the pure truth in amongst people that are in darkness, it becomes like a big sound and they don’t like it. Apostle John is here writing:

Writing to a helper in the gospel work, a woman of good repute and wide influence, he said: “Many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. {AA 554.2}

This is a very day and night, black and white statement. If we do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, then we do not have God; the people are in darkness.

He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him Godspeed: for he that biddeth him Godspeed is partaker of his evil deeds.” {AA 554.2}

Take this seriously. This is the counsel of God to the apostle. If we commune with people in our home who are not in the doctrine of these last days in Christ, it says that we are in grave danger. We are not to commune with those who are not in the doctrine of Christ. For he that biddeth this person Godspeed by his demeanour, he is partaker of his evil deeds.

We are authorized to hold in the same estimation as did the beloved disciple those who claim to abide in Christ while living in transgression of God’s law. There exist in these last days evils similar to those that threatened the prosperity of the early church; and the teachings of the apostle John on these points should be carefully heeded. “You must have charity,” is the cry heard everywhere, especially from those who profess sanctification. {AA 554.3}

“We must love them, don’t be so sharp. Don’t be so separated. We must love them; we must be with them and help them.”

But true charity is too pure to cover an unconfessed sin. While we are to love the souls for whom Christ died, we are to make no compromise with evil. We are not to unite with the rebellious and call this charity. {AA 554.3}

If you love your relatives, what should you do? What should you do with your relatives who are not in the light? Should you commune with them in their dimensions? We say, Sorry, I can’t be where you are, but look, this is the truth, this is where I must be. It was very well said by someone a few weeks ago, If you want to spend time with me, come, I love you, come to be where I am, I can’t come to be where you are. This is very important. This is the word of God. If we are where they are on their territory, holding communion and having lovely time together with them, we do not love them. Because if we loved them we would let them know vividly that the life that I live by prevents me from joining in a communion with them in their area.

We are not to unite with the rebellious and call this charity. God requires His people in this age of the world to stand for the right as unflinchingly as did John in opposition to soul-destroying errors. {AA 554.3}

The apostle teaches that while we should manifest Christian courtesy {AA 555.1}

Yes, we are to be courteous to these people.

…we are authorized to deal in plain terms with sin and sinners; that this is not inconsistent with true charity. “Whosoever committeth sin,” he writes, “transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.” {AA 555.1}

This is very serious. Let us consider how Satan is trying to work upon us to hold us in communion with our relatives who are in rebellion to God’s truth that we stand for. Satan will work through the children of darkness to captivate the children of light.

Many are the ways by which Satan works through human influence to bind his captives. He secures multitudes to himself by attaching them by the silken cords of affection to those who are enemies of the cross of Christ. {GC 597.1}

What kind of binding? By silken cords – those beautiful, silken cords of human affection – he works to bind us into communion with those who are really the enemies of the cross.

Whatever this attachment may be, parental, filial, conjugal, or social, the effect is the same; {GC 597.1}

Parental: “O, my dear son, my dear daughter, I love them so much that I don’t want to separate myself from their happy time; I want to be there and be happy with them too.” Filial: family. Conjugal: husband/wife in a deep emotional bond.

…the opposers of truth exert their power to control the conscience, and the souls held under their sway have not sufficient courage or independence to obey their own convictions of duty. {GC 597.1}

An Example

I must keep the Sabbath. We have learnt, as we get ready for Jesus to come, how true Sabbath-keeping is that we keep Him close to us and our meditations are all the day with Him right from one sunset to the other sunset, and we do nothing but focus upon that. My family has a wedding and the wedding starts just after sunset. Since it’s after sunset then I can get ready to go to the wedding. Yes? On the Sabbath? My mind will be getting ready for the wedding, and therefore I will be thinking about other things than the Lord and my duty towards Him. If I follow the duty of my relationship with the Lord, I will not violate one moment of the Sabbath for the sake of my family. Not one moment. This is one example. There are many more examples like this.

If we are not separated Satan will work through those bondings on my conscience and I won’t have strength to stand separated and follow and obey my own conviction of duty. The bonding is so strong. Haven’t you felt it? how sometimes you just rationalize and think, This isn’t so bad? But the little things which we think are not so bad we become used to, and then it leads us to the next thing, and after a while we don’t care anymore about certain sharp convictions that we used to have. They become shades of grey. That is darkness, it is not light.

Jesus is Our Light

We love the light that we have gained in the research of God’s word:

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

What a beautiful scripture. We can identify the wonderful light that shines into my heart when I look to Jesus and His light, His glorious truth in His face, the knowledge of that is just so illuminating. If you have Jesus, the Light of life inside of you, if the real Jesus is in you, what will happen?

John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

What do you expect if Jesus is shining in your heart and you mingle together with other people in the darkness, what will happen in their attitude to you? They cannot comprehend. Darkness cannot comprehend light. The reason why I am sharing this is because we are concentrating on getting ready for Jesus to come. Can we hold side-shows on the way, side-shows with our relatives who are not preparing? Can we do that?

I saw that the judgments were just upon us, and that the trouble would soon be to this land, and that blood would flow in streams. The angel said,”It will soon be even to the horses’ bridles.” That was an awful time. {16MR 33.1}

This was written in 1850, where are we now?

I saw that we must be willing to go alone, and that we must cut loose from everyone who will not walk godly in Christ Jesus. {16MR 33.2}

What is our case now? How much time do we have now to straddle alongside the darkness? Have you heard the news? Kalgoorlie had an earthquake, and another eruption in Iceland, so that the planes are once again stranded. What a disruption. Let a few more of these things happen and this world is in chaos. How close are we? Have we time to dilly dally? It says, “I saw that we must be willing to go alone, and that we must cut loose from everyone who will not walk godly in Christ Jesus.” Do you want it clearer? We must cut from those who will not walk godly in Christ Jesus.

I saw that the unbelief of brother or sister, father or mother, husband, wife, or children, was no excuse for any, to hinder them from doing their duty; {16MR 33.2}

If God enlightens us and we continue to mingle socially with the darkness, what will become of us?

…and that those will lose their souls if they seek to please their unbelieving friends more than God, and they will be counted unworthy to be partakers of Christ’s glory. {16MR 33.2}

That is what will happen to us. Is Jesus in you? Do you love Him? Is the light shining?

I saw that Jesus was rejected by His own nation, {16MR 33.3}

Were they believers in the Bible? But they rejected Him. We are surrounded by people who claim to be believers in the Bible, but what are they doing? Are they living exactly in faithfulness to God? According to everything that we have been reading here, they are actually rebellious because they will not obey and they ridicule us for our strictness in the faithful principles of our life, for the way we eat, the way we dress. If they say, You are going too far; what are they? They are in the darkness. We cannot find rapport with them.

…and if Jesus suffered we must be partakers of His sufferings. {16MR 33.3}

I’ve got Jesus in me? I will be rejected if I will live in harmony with Him.

Cut Clear

Said the angel, “Cut clear, cut clear, cut clear from everything or anyone that hinders thy progress.” {16MR 33.3}

Cut clear: the dividing of the light and the day is here addressed.

I saw that the ties of nature between man and wife, parents and children, need not be severed. {16MR 33.3}

We are still in the family.

Still, those who believe God and His truth must obey God even if it displeased their nearest and dearest friend. {16MR 33.3}

If you do this, what will they do to you ultimately? They will put up with you for so long, until they can’t put up with you any longer. We don’t say, “I’m not going to be part of this family anymore.” No. I am still part of the family; however, I will do what God tells me to do even if I absolutely displease them. They will be so upset if you don’t go to their marriage, or to their party. They will be so upset because you won’t go and socialize with them in their pleasures. They will get so angry with you, but you just say quietly and lovingly, “I love you, but I love God too, and I love Him more.” I had some very strange experiences doing that.

I saw that there would be no chance to get ready after Jesus leaves the most holy place, therefore we must get right now, while there is a chance. Very soon it will be too late. –January 26, 1850. {16MR 33.3}

That was written in 1850. I get the shudders when I think of that. Has Jesus already left the sanctuary? I don’t feel He has, but I think He’s leaving it very soon. Let us compromise nothing as we prepare to meet Him for these last days. Let us heed Isaiah 60. What does He want us to do? He wants to divide the light from the darkness.

Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

“Let there be light.” So He says to us, “Get up, thy light is come; the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” If you will get up and follow the light, you will leave the darkness behind.

Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

“And the darkness comprehended it not.” When I first came across that appreciation, my brain did somersaults. It’s wonderful light, and the people don’t comprehend it. I have seen it ever since. Let us not call it charity by staying with those who are ridiculing our faith. Let us move on to do just what God wants us to do. Fulfil the duty, and don’t palliate one iota. Cut clear. Remember what the angel said? “Get ready, get ready, get ready.” This time he says, “Cut clear, cut clear, cut clear;” three times. We have the message loud and clear, and we can understand perfectly day and night, black and white, no shades of grey. God grant us the determination to remain very close to Jesus.

Amen.