I couldn’t help but reflect on the present opportunity God has given every Seventh-day Adventist to shine the Three Angels’ Message light on this past week’s dramatic events. Never were these messages more needed and relevant than today.
This message transcends race for it is to go to “every nation, tribe, tongue, and people” (Rev 14:6). In a time of anger and despair, we have a message of hope for it is the message of "the everlasting gospel” (ibid).
It takes our minds back 2,000 years to the events of Calvary giving us an opening to proclaim a message to remember the unjust death of an innocent individual, Jesus, the Christ. And still echoing through the millennia is His prayer, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
He gave the Apostles no message denouncing the unfeeling, cruel, and oppressive Roman soldiers policing Israel. He gave them no call even for peaceful counter-demonstrations against the riotous rabble that had demanded His death. He gave them no rant against the church. They received no message from Him to agitate for new laws, since laws—however good they may be—fail to change the heart. Instead, in departing, Jesus gave them the gospel commission and the promise that He would be with them to the end.
Acts 2
With tongues on fire from the Holy Spirit, the disciples gave His message and it kept the multitude spellbound. After hearing the gospel message, the listeners did not go away reporting that the Disciples’ message was about the terrible deeds of man, but instead they declared, "we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11). It was a message of hope "that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (vs. 21). It was a message pointing to Jesus (vs 22). It was a prophetic message that could be given with confidence (vss 25-31). It was a convicting message (vs 37). It was a practical message outlining the steps to salvation (vs 38). It was a message that brought joy to those who accepted it and filled the church with new converts (vs 41).
The current events serves to remind us that,
“The government under which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive; on every hand were crying abuses,—extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty. Yet the Saviour attempted no civil reforms. He attacked no national abuses, nor condemned the national enemies. He did not interfere with the authority or administration of those in power. He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually, and must regenerate the heart.
"Not by the decisions of courts or councils or legislative assemblies, not by the patronage of worldly great men, is the kingdom of Christ established, but by the implanting of Christ's nature in humanity through the work of the Holy Spirit. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12, 13. Here is the only power that can work the uplifting of mankind. And the human agency for the accomplishment of this work is the teaching and practicing of the word of God.
"When the apostle Paul began his ministry in Corinth, that populous, wealthy, and wicked city, polluted by the nameless vices of heathenism, he said, “I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2; DA 509-510).
Let us pray that this will be our message in our homes, our community, and church.
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"But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth” (James 3:14).