The things we have seen taking place in our country over the past several months have been troubling. We have seen how quickly things can change, how quickly freedoms outlined in our Constitution can be taken away. Freedom of speech can be shut down overnight for those who don’t agree with the politically-correct narrative.
We have seen freedom of worship curtailed and Christian speech banned in public arenas. Our freedom to operate legitimate businesses has been limited, or in some cases shut down altogether by government regulations or by riots and looting.
I find the words of the Lord’s messenger descriptive of the time we are living in:
“We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude.
“The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.
“The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us…Bold robberies are of frequent occurrence. Strikes are common. Thefts and murders are committed on every hand. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children. Men have become infatuated with vice, and every species of evil prevails.
“The enemy has succeeded in perverting justice and in filling men's hearts with the desire for selfish gain. ‘Justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.’ Isaiah 59:14. In the great cities there are multitudes living in poverty and wretchedness, well-nigh destitute of food, shelter, and clothing; while in the same cities are those who have more than heart could wish, who live luxuriously, spending their money on richly furnished houses, on personal adornment, or worse still, upon the gratification of sensual appetites, upon liquor, tobacco, and other things that destroy the powers of the brain, unbalance the mind, and debase the soul. The cries of starving humanity are coming up before God, while by every species of oppression and extortion men are piling up colossal fortunes.” (Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 11-12)
We shouldn’t be surprised at the things we are seeing take place in our country and the world. God has told us these things would happen. In Luke 21:25-28, He gives us an abbreviated list:
“And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; (these things have already happened) and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth…” (This is this taking place now). In verse 28 God tells us how to respond to these things: “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
These things tell us the long dark night of sin is almost over – our friend Jesus is coming to bring an end to sin and suffering. Certainly, we can lift up our heads and rejoice over such good news!
But friends, we are not hearing much rejoicing over the soon coming of Jesus, even in the church!. The voices of the saints are more often lifted up in strife over political differences, over things happening in our country, government mandates, theological differences in the church, etc. There seems to be more divisive conversations over WHAT is coming than joyful conversations over WHO is coming.
This is not good, for it shows the true condition of our hearts. Our Lord tells us,
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).
If you want to know where a person’s heart is, listen to his conversations. There is a direct connection between our words and our focus in life. Our conversations reveal what our minds are filled with.
The Lord’s messenger puts it this way:
“It is difficult to keep the undisciplined mind fixed upon profitable subjects. But if the thoughts are not properly employed, religion cannot flourish in the soul. The mind must be preoccupied with sacred and eternal things, or it will cherish trifling and superficial thoughts” (Our High Calling, p. 111).
In another place she says:
“We should meditate upon the mission of Him who came to save His people from their sins. By constantly contemplating heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger. Our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be more intelligent and fervent.
“When the mind is thus filled . . . the believer in Christ will be able to bring forth good things from the treasure of the heart” (Sons and Daughters of God, p. 109).
Yes, the things we see and hear taking place in our country are not comforting. Our lives are being affected by these things and it will only get worse. But here is something we must understand - this is not a battle between the right vs. the left, Republicans vs. Democrats, communism vs. democracy. It is a battle between God’s truth and satan’s lies. God’s truth is not found in a political party – it is found in the Bible. This doesn’t seem to be understood very well - just listen to the conversations. Many Christians, including Seventh-day Adventists, invest more time and emotional energy in listening to, discussing, and arguing over current political and social issues than they spend in discussing and encouraging others in the soon coming of Jesus.
The enemy is distracting us and dividing us. God clearly outlines the division His truth will bring: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household” (Matthew 10:34-36).
In Mark 13 He says: “Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake” (v. 12-13). Did you catch that? He says His children will be hated by all. In other words, they will not fit in with any political party because they are not seeking to establish a kingdom on this earth. They are “strangers and pilgrims on earth.” They are looking for “a better country, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).
What is the word of the Lord for us in these uncertain times? Consider Luke 12:32-34: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Let’s break this verse down. What is the first thing He tells us? “Do not fear”. If someone as all-powerful and all-knowing as God tells us not to fear, what can we assume? That He knows what is coming and is prepared for it. He has more ways to provide for us than we can think of. Instead of being afraid, we are to rejoice!
What’s the next thing He tells us? “It is His good pleasure to give us the kingdom.” What kingdom – the United States of America? Is this the kingdom He will give His followers so “Christians” can govern a land filled with division, darkness, and sin? Is this the kingdom we should be fighting to maintain? No. As much as I am grateful for the privilege of being born and raised in this country, and as much as it troubles me to see it being transformed into something that is not good – this country is not the one I want to maintain. God has another kingdom to give us when this one is gone – a kingdom where there will be no politics, no divisions, no tears, no sorrow, no pain, no death.
The prophet Daniel tells us God’s kingdom will be established only when all earthly kingdoms are destroyed. “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand forever” (Daniel 2:44). This is the kingdom that should be the subject of conversation for every follower of Jesus.
The next thing God tell us in Luke 12:32-34 is: Don’t invest in this world – you won’t get any returns. “Sell what you have and give alms.” Be a blessing to others, let your resources be used to spread the good news of the gospel to others; then you will have real treasures that cannot be stolen or destroyed.
In light of these things, what should our energies be directed toward – making America great again? Or telling others about God everlasting kingdom of peace and helping them to be a part of it? This is how we lay up treasures in heaven which can never be destroyed.
Notice the last thing Jesus tells us: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Could it be that one reason so many of us are fearful of the things taking place is because more of our treasures are invested in this world than in the kingdom of heaven, and we realize we are about to lose them?
As Christians we have a better kingdom to focus on than the kingdoms of this world. John the Revelator describes it:
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away…Then I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” (Revelation 21:1-5)
The prophet Isaiah describes it:
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. No more shall an infant from there live but a few days, nor an old man who has not fulfilled his days…They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth children for trouble; for they shall be the descendants of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them.” (Isaiah 65:17-23)
Isaiah also writes:
“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play by the cobra’s hole, and the weaned child shall put his hand in the viper’s den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountains, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord.” (Isaiah 11:5-9)
Friends, the long dark night of sin is almost over. Let us fix our gaze a little higher. God has prepared a kingdom for those who love Him. Let’s fill our minds with the realities of that kingdom and it’s King. Then we will have something encouraging, something that gives hope, to share with those around us.
“Seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-3).
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Dick Bullock is the pastor of 3 churches in “the Thumb” of Michigan.