By John Thiel, The Last Generation Challenge Series, mp3

Scripture reading: Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

We are living in the last generation. If we are going to be the true believers in the last generation, we have a challenge before us. We are definitely living in the last generation through the prophecies. In this dark time in which we live – what they have actually coined nowadays the “post-Christian era” – true Christianity is not anymore regarded on a broader scope at all.

2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

Whenever we feel that we are in the darkness, whenever we feel that the dark place is very oppressive, we do well that we take heed to the word of prophecy. Because every time that darkness wants to crowd in upon your mind, when doubt and confusion want to get hold of you, prophecy is a light that shines in the darkness. It actually illuminates the confusions of our mind, and takes us out of that confusion as we study it carefully. It is an avenue by which the daystar – which is none other but Jesus Christ – begins to arise in our hearts. I thank God for this because I have gone through some interesting exercises of mind over the past few days and I needed this reminder here. “Of course, it is the prophecy that illuminates my path.”

The prophecies of the Bible are there to help us to see the challenges that we have to meet today. In Revelation 7 is a prophetic detail and a revelation of the darkness around us; the angels of God are holding the four winds of strife, the whirlwind of trouble. They are holding on, being told of the angel.

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. 2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

This is a short excerpt of Scripture that shows us what is happening around us even though we can’t see the angels. But according to this the strife, the bloodshed, the wars that have been continuing ever since the First and the Second World War, are still being held so that in a place like Australia, which is regarded as such a lucky land, we have been protected a lot here from the terrible struggles, but why? Because the whirlwind has not been completely unleashed; the angels are still holding back these winds of strife that we can see around us in the other parts of the world. Why? Because there is an angel that has called upon these angels to hold, until God’s servants are sealed in their foreheads. The angel that was responsible for that, according to the Spirit of Prophecy, is one of the angels of Revelation 14. We read there the messages of the three angels, and it has to do with the sealing of the 144,000, because it says in verse 1:

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.

After having described something about the 144,000 the scripture gives the first angel’s message in verses 6 and 7, then the second angel’s message in verse 8, the third angel’s message in verses 9-13, and then the coming of Jesus in verse 14. We have prophecy that identifies the experience of God’s people ever since the first angel’s message was first proclaimed before the world, The hour of God’s judgment has come, which is none other but 1844, when Jesus moved from the holy place into the most holy place.

As this work of the third angel (v.9-13) is taking place, this is exactly the angel that is saying to the other angels, hold until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. In his work he receives help in Revelation 18 the grand and final work of this sealing. This angel comes and lightens the whole earth with his glory. The whole earth is to be covered with the glory of God (cf. Hab. 2:14).

The Last Cry

Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

What we want to do is to reflect and concentrate more on Revelation 14:6, 7:

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The true messengers of God with the true gospel (the everlasting gospel) are here being identified. We want to remind ourselves of the meaning of this everlasting gospel, the true gospel that is being brought forth to our appreciation. The cry is, Fear God, and give Him the glory, for the hour of his judgment is come. Connected with the gospel is the hour of God’s judgment, because the people who have truly taken hold of the gospel are going to be investigated. The understanding of the true gospel must be very vivid before our mind’s eye.

The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is the great truth around which all other truths cluster. {5BC 1137.7}

It is the gospel of Jesus and His atonement with us. In His atonement He gave Himself for us so that we would become one with Him. This atonement for sin is the great truth which all need to understand for themselves. It is the true gospel, around which all other truths cluster.

In order to be rightly understood and appreciated, every truth in the Word of God, from Genesis to Revelation, must be studied in the light which streams from the cross of Calvary, and in connection with the wondrous, central truth of the Saviour’s atonement. Those who study the Redeemer’s wonderful sacrifice grow in grace and knowledge. {Ibid.}

That is what the message was. The angel preaches the everlasting gospel to them that dwell on the earth. This is the pure gospel by which we can correctly understand everything in all the scriptures; because all the scriptures are connected with this central theme.

The objective of the pure gospel, of the whole exercise of practical truth in the gospel, is clearly expressed by the apostle Paul to Titus. Why are we to be given a pure gospel? Because the pure gospel is going to produce something. Here is the true objective of the pure gospel. Jesus gave Himself for us in the atonement,

Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This is what the true gospel is all about. It is a gospel by which Jesus has given Himself to us so that it would generate within the believer a hatred for sin, so that he would give up sin, so that we would be redeemed from all iniquity, so that we might be purified and be a people zealous of good works. This is what the objective of the gospel is all about. This is the big question that Satan has managed to confuse Christianity upon today. As soon as you uphold the true commandments of God, true Sabbath keeping, and all the aspects of God’s will, they say to us, You’re trying to get to heaven by works. But here it tells us that the gospel of Jesus, the true gospel, is there to create a peculiar people, zealous of good works. That’s what it’s for, and that is our challenge, to be those kinds of people.

We hear this argument among so many professed Christians. They have picked up on the suggestion of the devil in the darkness of today’s mentality, as it was just when Jesus came.

The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan’s deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world’s dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, “with healing in His wings.” Malachi 4:2. {DA 22.1}

In that dark time of Christ’s coming to this planet prophecy enlightened the true student; and we, today, are also in this darkness, because the darkness has gathered momentum, Satan has managed to confuse the people. What is the darkness that surrounds us?

Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness. He declares that it is impossible for us to obey its precepts. The fall of our first parents, with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death. Jesus was to unveil this deception. {DA 24.2}

Here is the darkness, “It’s impossible to keep the law,” and God is to blame for all the problems in the world. That’s the darkness, and Jesus came to diffuse that darkness.

As one of us He was to give an example of obedience. For this He took upon Himself our nature, and passed through our experiences. “In all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren.” Hebrews 2:17. If we had to bear anything which Jesus did not endure, then upon this point Satan would represent the power of God as insufficient for us. Therefore Jesus was “in all points tempted like as we are.” Hebrews 4:15. He endured every trial to which we are subject. And He exercised in His own behalf no power that is not freely offered to us. As man, He met temptation, and overcame in the strength given Him from God. He says, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8. As He went about doing good, and healing all who were afflicted by Satan, He made plain to men the character of God’s law and the nature of His service. His life testifies that it is possible for us also to obey the law of God. {Ibid.}

This is the challenge that we have to meet in this dark hour – To stand before the world who, under Satan’s direction, is saying that it is impossible to keep those Ten Commandments perfectly. In this world of darkness we are to stand.

By the life and the death of Christ, the thoughts of men also are brought to view. From the manger to the cross, the life of Jesus was a call to self-surrender, and to fellowship in suffering. {DA 57.3}

This is interesting, isn’t it? Jesus came to suffer with us, and “from the manger to the cross, the life of Jesus was a call to self-surrender, and to fellowship in suffering.”

Jesus came with the truth of heaven, and all who were listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit were drawn to Him. The worshipers of self belonged to Satan’s kingdom. In their attitude toward Christ, all would show on which side they stood. And thus everyone passes judgment on himself. {Ibid.}

This is the key. This is the challenge that lies before us as individuals, and that is going to be the stimulus upon the world around us that is going to identify and challenge the true believers versus those who are self-serving. “The worshipers of self belonged to Satan’s kingdom;” and “in their attitude toward Christ, all would show on which side they stood.” I’ll never forget the words which were said to me years ago; I had found a company in Adelaide and I was working with them and I showed them the path of suffering that we need to engage in together with Jesus.

The person that was active there with me, when he heard me sharing message after message of entering into the sufferings of Christ, he said, You shouldn’t be showing that to these people; they don’t want to hear suffering, suffering, suffering! He wanted to attract people by something better than that, if there was anything better than that. The fact is that if we are going to conquer Satan, we must enter into the sufferings of Jesus, and not serve self. If we serve and please ourselves we are on Satan’s side. Anything that pleases me is on Satan’s side. Anything that doesn’t please me, but pleases the Lord, is on God’s side. Jesus demonstrated that. The life of Jesus, from the manger to the cross, was a call to self-surrender and to fellowship in suffering. And it is by our response to Jesus, in our attitude toward Him on that level, that all would show on which side they stood.

God’s Glory in Contrast to Self-Service

This is our challenge. Which side are we going to be on in this conflict? God’s glory or self-glory? Remember what God’s glory is? When Moses asked God, “Please, show me Your glory,” and God revealed His glory to Moses, in Exodus 34 we can understand what this means:

Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear [the guilty]; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth [generation].

God’s character is here enunciated very clearly by Himself. That character is being questioned by Satan. It is being judged. He claims that God is a selfish God, when he himself is the selfish one. But he puts the blame upon God. Here is our challenge, which side are we on? Do we shun the concept of suffering together with Jesus? I want to please myself, don’t I? I want to be comfortable in my little self. Well, if I want to stay there I’m on Satan’s side. If I’m on God’s side there is something I must do. Here is the call, the call which Jesus has made by His life of selflessness:

Psalm 96:7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. 8 Give unto the LORD the glory [due unto] his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.

Worship the Lord in what? In the beauty of holiness. If you are on the Lord’s side you will suffer together with Jesus; you will deny self, so that you will give God the glory when Satan has tried to smudge His character. You will do as Jesus did. He came to demonstrate before the universe, before the world, that the accusations made by Lucifer against God are not true. Jesus gave God the glory, and if we are on Christ’s side we will do the same. “Give unto the Lord glory and strength.” That is what Revelation 14:6-7 is about, Fear God, and give glory to Him. That’s the call of the three angels’ message. That is the challenge for the people living in the last generation – to give God the glory. Give Him the glory. This is our work.

The children of God are called to be representatives of Christ, showing forth the goodness and mercy of the Lord. {SC 115.1}

God’s children are to be in the footsteps of Jesus, representatives of Christ, showing forth the goodness and mercy of the Lord.

As Jesus has revealed to us the true character of the Father, so we are to reveal Christ to a world that does not know His tender, pitying love. “As Thou hast sent Me into the world,” said Jesus, “even so have I also sent them into the world.” “I in them, and Thou in Me; . . . that the world may know that Thou hast sent Me.” John 17:18, 23. The apostle Paul says to the disciples of Jesus, “Ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ,” “known and read of all men.” 2 Corinthians 3:3, 2. {Ibid.}

This is our challenge. To be what? An epistle. What does that mean?

In every one of His children, Jesus sends a letter to the world. If you are Christ’s follower, He sends in you a letter to the family, the village, the street, where you live. Jesus, dwelling in you, desires to speak to the hearts of those who are not acquainted with Him. {Ibid.}

We are to be letters of Christ – an epistle.

Perhaps they do not read the Bible, or do not hear the voice that speaks to them in its pages; they do not see the love of God through His works. But if you are a true representative of Jesus, it may be that through you they will be led to understand something of His goodness and be won to love and serve Him. {Ibid.}

Christians are set as light bearers on the way to heaven. {SC 115.2}

In this darkness of Satan’s confusion God’s faithful and true believers are to be as light bearers to shine the light there.

They are to reflect to the world the light shining upon them from Christ. Their life and character should be such that through them others will get a right conception of Christ and of His service. {Ibid.}

Can you feel the challenge? Who is on the Lord’s side? Are we going to live for self? or am I going to live for the glory of God, to give Him the glory? The question, the challenge, is, Will we be among this people that show that character in their lives? This takes us back to Rev. 14:1. Here they are, the 144,000, in this dark period of earth’s history:

Revelation 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty [and] four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. … 4 These are they which were not defiled with women;

Women – these false churches that have given a false representations of God’s character, His law.

Revelation 14:4 …for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

In this dark hour God’s people are to reveal this glory to the world. Without fault. The question, the challenge, is, Will we be among them? To become a true believer, to have the pure gospel, to be a representative of Jesus to the world around us, let the true gospel take our sinful self and replace it in His atonement with us. Here is the atonement message, the great truth around which all other truths cluster. To actually be a people who will respond to the challenge I will let Him become one with me, and myself one with Him. Then, as I give Him my sinfulness, which is a self-worshipping activity, and I enter into suffering with Him in the atonement, His sinless glory will be manifested in us; and we will then stand forth and reflect that glory. That is what the challenge is to God’s people.

The question of most vital importance for this time is, “Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will unite with the angel in giving the message of truth to the world? Who will receive the light that is to fill the whole earth with its glory?” {RH, November 5, 1889 par. 12}

This is the Revelation 18 angel.

You must remember that this angel represents the people that have this message to give to the world. {RH, August 18, 1885 par. 14}

And the whole world is illuminated by that glory, by the angel who is going to cover the earth with all the glory of God. Who is on the Lord’s side, versus who is on the devil’s side? It is our response to Jesus that will show whether we are on the Lord’s side or on Satan’s side. You can see that the everlasting gospel is an integrated part of being the people that will give God the glory. Here is the call and challenge:

Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, [and] the bright and morning star.

The morning star will arise in your heart through prophecy. I am the One, Jesus says.

Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

It’s so easy to read these words on the page, isn’t it? But here is a personal appeal to come and take of Jesus, the water of life, and to enter into the atonement with Him, the morning star, by letting the day star arise in our hearts, and to let the light illuminate us so that it can then illuminate others around us. It is the light of entering into a selfless, self-denying, suffering path with Jesus on the cross, and then on the path of the cross.

As we hear and read these words there is a strange tug of war that goes on, Yes, I know I should be doing this. If in the secret of my heart there is this response that I would desire to demonstrate Jesus to the world, a commitment to such a challenge, isn’t that what we were singing?

O Jesus, Lord and Saviour,
I give myself to Thee,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,

This is what the call is. We are to respond to that call, to respond in real, practical terms. To spend a little longer on this is my purpose, not only in this divine service, but to enlarge it from Sabbath to Sabbath. To spend time in God’s word to understand the real, practical terms of what is meant by taking of the water of life, by following Jesus, by giving God the glory.

What is it that I should do in joining with this angel and giving glory to God? To let Jesus into my heart and take my sin, and to let Him give us His righteousness. But let us read what that actually means. It’s so nice, so poetical to say, Jesus is my Saviour, I love Him; but then comes the challenge – Do I really side with Him in all reality?

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Give God the glory; how? Whether you eat, or drink, or dress, or speak, or whatever you do, do it to the glory of God. What you eat and drink, what you dress like, your lifestyle, the career you choose in life, your employment, whatever it is that we do, whatever we do, you name it – to submit to God’s idea, to God’s glory – this is what it means to give Him the glory. To live a life of self-denial means to live a life that is in harmony with God’s will versus my natural human will. It is the path that Jesus walked.

It’s very clear, is it not? We all have our own way of doing things, and what I am used to doing seems good enough for me, because I am enjoying it; I am finding that this is the path that I want to live – my way. We have personal likes and dislikes. I am going to launch out in a series of sermons on this point, and as I do, it is going to be a continual challenge whether I will submit to God’s way or not. Whether I eat, or drink, whatever I do, I am going to listen to what God is saying, and I am going to listen very carefully so that I might give Him the glory – God’s idea in reference to whatever we do. We fashion our lives according to what comes to us easily, don’t we? It’s far easier to do as I feel comfortable with. And when I do something the way I like it to be done, I then fall into the joy of glorying in it. We glory in what we do, don’t we? And we want to tell other people, Look, look what I have done. This is natural. This is the natural human response:

Philippians 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

You want to carefully look at what the inspired words are saying here. What is the enemy of the cross? What is the person who is making his choice to be on Satan’s side? Their God is their belly. In other words, what my belly is asking for, what my appetite is calling for, is what I worship. I will do what my belly says, not what God says. Whether you eat, or drink, who is your God? And they glory in their shame. Instead of glorying in the sufferings of Christ they glory in their shame and mind earthly things. Now this covers a vast field. What are earthly things? and what is the glory of God? This is not something that I can handle in a very short time. We will connect it all week by week, so that we may understand clearly what it means to be on the Lord’s side, so that whatever I eat, drink, or dress, or my career, you name it, I will submit to God’s idea in everything. This is the challenge so that we can give Him the glory.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death.

There is a way that seems right, and I want to follow what seems right to my natural responses. But I am siding with my natural self if I do that, I am siding with Satan. Whose side am I on?

Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

What my natural flesh and desire and appetite, and whatever it is that I want to exhibit, if that is the flesh it is going to be corruption. But if I want to exhibit what God’s will is, I need to follow in Christ’s footsteps and sacrifice according to His will and way. I will not glory in self and the world, I will glory in Him. I will give Him the glory. This is what it means to give Him the glory.

The appeal of Hosea 10 is part of this amazing challenge. Since what a man soweth that shall he also reap, therefore here is the appeal:

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Here lies the call and the challenge: Will I follow in the footsteps of Jesus instead of my way? Will I follow in the footsteps of self-denial and suffering, or in the path of glorying in my ways, in my shame, in the things that are according to the flesh?

Jeremiah 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches:

Can you see all this glory? But what is the glory?

Jeremiah 9:24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I [am] the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these [things] I delight, saith the LORD.

We couldn’t have it clearer, could we? It is important then that we go forth and focus our full attention upon all the ways of God. To be part of the people who are on the Lord’s side, part of the people of the angel that is to fill the earth with all the glory of God, what aspects of God’s glory are we to be zealously acquainted with? What are these ways of God’s glory? Where shall we inquire? What is God’s glory, God’s way that we are to acquaint ourselves with? What is written about those who will be on the Lord’s side?

Isaiah 58:12 And [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

How many times have you heard people today saying, “Come on, you’re living in the past, John”? “You’re old-fashioned, come on! Things change! Time changes things!” Well, if we are on the Lord’s side, what is written here? It says we will raise up the foundations of many generations. We will repair; we will restore the paths, the ways of life that we should dwell in.

Where shall we look for these paths? What should we be doing?

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths,

What paths? The old paths; not the new-fangled modern ideas.

Jeremiah 6:16 …where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

But this is exactly what they say today:

Jeremiah 6:16 …But they said, We will not walk [therein].

“No, thank you! That is not the path that I want to walk.” It’s the path of selflessness to walk in the old paths. To submit to becoming acquainted with God, and to put that into action – this is God’s glory. We are to learn of Him, to be acquainted with Him, and put ourselves in total submission to all of His ways. It will be then that we will give glory to God. It is so vivid and so clear: to give God the glory means, not to glory in myself, but to glory in the ways of life, in the old paths, to glory and follow in the footsteps of Jesus in restoring the old paths.

With its beautiful, poetic language, Isaiah 60 tells us something that is so nice to read on its own; but when you read it in its complete connection with everything else, it’s a bit hard. Well, give God the glory. As God shines His word upon our hearts, His glory in His word, the Lord then says:

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

We read this on its own and we think, Oh, yes, that’s nice, I’d like to shine (in the way I imagine it). But when you read it in the context of our present meditation, you realise all of a sudden that God’s character, God’s ways, are to be seen in me, while the ways of the world, which are gross darkness, are all around us.

We are to arise and let God’s glory be seen upon us. Here lies the purpose of our continuing study: that we here, and other people in other lands, will think, Right, here is what we will do! And as in each country there are a people who will constitute the 144,000, what will happen to the whole world? What will happen to the whole world when there are a people who are faithful to God’s ways?

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

That’s what is going to happen. While the darkness is all around God’s beautiful ways will become so distinct in contrast to the darkness that it will flood the whole world, like water covers the whole planet. Jesus said it. When the kingdom of God is preached for a witness to the whole earth, then Jesus will come. People will witness what the glory of God is. It doesn’t mean that they will adopt it; but they will see it, and they will say, Yes, that is pretty good; if the whole world was to practise that it would be good. And they say that, don’t they? If the whole world were to keep the commandments of God, it would be good. Well, come on then, what are we waiting for?

What are we waiting for when we know that, if this was practised, the whole world would be wonderful? But that is only a witness to so many people. But we are to be the people that respond to the challenge. May God grant us to move forward in this, and to understand that, whatever I do, whether I eat, or drink, or whatever I do, I am to put it into action according to God’s way, and not my own. And let us not to reason like, “I think God says this; He doesn’t mean what He is saying there.” He means exactly what He says; it’s just a matter of adjusting ourselves to the beautiful ways that God has expressed, and we will demonstrate it. People will see it.

I’ll never forget the day that we were out camping in the bush; two cars came past and they saw us, they saw the sisters, they saw the men, and then they drove off again. Then they came back, and there was only a few of us left, and they said, You people are different. They were Muslims. They recognised that we who were Christians were different to the other Christians that they knew. They could see the glory of God upon those people. But we are to go forward with much more progress than even at that time. We are to show the love as well as the practice of obedience together.

May God grant us to take hold of this living truth, and resolve right here and now that we will do what the hymn says, I will live for Jesus, I will make a resolve in my heart that, no matter how much it’s going to cost me, I am going to give God the glory. This is my prayer.

Amen.