Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White
| In the End Times Enemies will Perish |
|
Today's Text:
And the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Exodus 14:27
|
The Message:
In the whole territory of the world He has created, there is not a kingdom that is independent of God. And when men and women in an earthly kingdom or community understand the laws made to govern the subjects of the Ruler of the universe but still refuse obedience, they bring themselves under condemnation of the law that God, our Supreme Ruler, has established from the foundation of the world.... Because of the stubbornness of Pharaoh, it was decided that the voice of God, in words of command, must demand that the Israelites be set free from their life of slavery. Pharaoh refused, and the Lord punished the kingdom because the earthly ruler would not let God's people go to become a kingdom under divine rulership. Pharaoh's refusal brought many plagues upon Egypt, until the stubborn king was impelled to concede to God's plan. And then he again hardened his heart in rebellion against God and sent his immense army to bring the Israelites back to continual service for the Egyptian ruler. The Lord wrought wonderfully for the salvation of His people. He made a way of escape in the midst of the Red Sea. The waters were piled up as a strong wall, and a path of deliverance was made for the hosts of Israel following the leadership of Moses. In pursuit of Israel the vast armies of Egypt ventured to traverse the sea by the same path. A dark cloud was before them, and yet they pressed on. When the whole army-"all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen" were in the very bed of the sea, the Lord said unto Moses, "Stretch out thine hand over the sea." Israel had passed over on dry land, but they heard the shouting of the armies in pursuit. As Moses stretched out his rod over the sea, the embanked waters that had stood as a great wall rolled on in their natural course. Of all the men of Egypt in that vast army, not one escaped. All perished in their determination to have their own way and to refuse God's way. That occasion was the end of their probation. Thus it will be with every class who choose to refuse the light God gives, and persist in following a course of action that makes void the law of Him who is Supreme Ruler over all kings-over all human powers that oppose themselves to the law of the Supreme Ruler of the universe, and set themselves in array against the expressed will of the great I AM.-Manuscript 35, 1906 (Manuscript Releases 21:64, 65). |
|
Commentary:
My friend, in the end all of the enemies of God will be destroyed. They will be destroyed because of their persistent refusal to submit to the will of God and obey His commands. But while the ultimate end of all that rebel against God is death, this does not mean that His people will be without trial and persecution. The Scriptures tell us in 2 Timothy 3:12 "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.". Therefore if you desire to follow after the example of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, persecution will come into your life, but do not fear for Christ has overcome the world.
In the last days all that profess to be followers of Christ will be tried to see if their faith is genuine or merely a profession, to see if the Son of God is truly living within their hearts. The exercise of our faith during trying circumstances enables us to have greater faith, for faith begets faith.
In these last days there have come into the church many professed followers of Christ. All have the opportunity to grow as wheat, but through persistent compromise with sin many have become tares. Each have grown together and, until the time of the harvest, it is not distinguishable who are the wheat and who are the tares, but the persecution of the last days will reveal who are God's and who are not. The trials of the last days must come.
The condition of the church today is found in the message of the Faithful and True Witness to the church of Laodecia. Their condition is such that He says "and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:" (Revelation 3:17). They are in this condition because they do not have the righteousness of Christ. They have accepted the false god of the trinity and as such are blinded and content with the righteousness of a false god. They have rejected the One true God of the Bible and have accepted another mediator in place of the Son of God. In order for His people to recognize their true condition before Him, He allows their faith to be tried in the fires of affliction that they may see their wretched condition. But while He brings this persecution upon them His message to them is "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent." (Revelation 3:19). His love for them is unchanged, but He cannot leave them to be deceived. All that desire to know the truth will have the opportunity to see and repent.
God loves you with an everlasting love. He desires for you to accept His offer of mercy and be sanctified by His Son, but in order for this to happen, you must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Jesus said of the Scribes and the Pharisees in Matthew 15:9 "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." The doctrine of the trinity is a commandment of men and as such cannot be acceptable to God. It is in vain that those with this false mindset worship God.
My friend, if you desire to be sustained in the persecution of the last days, you must be sanctified by the Spirit of the Son of God; not through another spirit, but by the Spirit of God through His Son. The mystery of godliness may be manifested in you "which is Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
God bless,
|
|
Video of the Week
|
Comments
Post a Comment