Spiritual Highs will not Prevent Spiritual Lows

Christ Triumphant - A Devotional by E.G. White

Spiritual Highs will not Prevent Spiritual Lows

Today's Text: Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. 1 Kings 19:2

The Message:      However bold and successful and courageous the people of God may have been in doing a special work, unless they constantly look to God and continue to have confidence in the work He has given them, they will lose their courage. After God has given them a wonderful revelation of His power, bracing them up to do His work, circumstances will arise to test their faith, and they will fail unless they trust implicitly in the Lord.      Thus it was with Elijah. He had by the help of God defeated the prophets of Baal. But he was disappointed as to the results of the manifestation of God. Under the threats of the wicked queen he lost his courage and his faith. He lost sight of Him in whose keeping he was, and without being sent he fled for his life. He was terribly depressed, for he had hoped for much from the miracle wrought before the people.      Had Elijah, knowing he had done the divine will, maintained his confidence in God, had he made God his refuge and strength, standing steadfast and immovable for the truth, the impression made upon the king and the people would have wrought a reformation. Elijah had been braced for trial under the inspiration of God, but when Jezebel's threatening message was brought to him and shouted in his ear, awakening from a deep sleep, he lost his hold on God....      This was the time when he should have had courage in the Lord, showing a living, active faith. He should not have fled from his post of duty. God had given him a wonderful manifestation of His power to assure him that He would not forsake him, that His power was wholly sufficient to sustain him, for He was the Lord of the powers of heaven and earth.      But Elijah forgot God and fled.... "And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head.... And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee."      My heart melts within me as I read the words of Holy Writ, and see the interest that the heavenly family has in the faithful servants of the Most High. "And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God."-Letter 62, 1900.

Commentary: My friend, there are times in our walk with God that we will experience the wonderful manifestation of God in our lives.  These manifestations of God's love for us are to be treasured up that our faith may be strengthened for what is to come.  After the victory on Mount Carmel, God was preparing to bring in a revival in the land, but Elijah let go of the hand of faith in God and fled his post. The experience of Elijah is similar to the experiences that we all have had at one time or another.  After we have gained some victory in our lives, Satan changes his attack and hits us in some point of our lives where we are unguarded.  Spiritual highs often lead to spiritual lows, but this does not need to be the case.  If we are fully surrendered in our lives we may go from victory to victory.  As Christ gained the victory over Satan, we too may overcome. In the last days each will be tried to see if we have any real faith in the Word of God.  During that time of test and trial the faith that we have developed will be revealed.  Many through neglect and compromise will find like Elijah that their faith fails them.  It is only as we learn to wholly trust in God that we can be sustained during that time. It is in a crisis that our characters are revealed.  When the soul comes face to face with certain death, our faith will be revealed.  At this time there will not be any time to develop a relationship with God.  That relationship must already be in place and our faith in God must already be established.  We must be like the three Hebrew worthies on the plane of Durah when faced with the awful choice between worshiping the image or certain death.  We must be ready to says as they did saying "O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." (Daniel 3:16-18). My friend, the time is soon to come when the final test will be brought upon us all.  How we react to this trial of our faith will be determined by the preparation that we are making here and now.  If we are compromising with the truth today, we will compromise with it during that time.  Now is the time for us to develop a saving relationship with Jesus. God bless,

Video of the Week Pagan Origins of the Trinity - Nader Mansour Who are the gods of Babylon? What does that have to do with us in the last days? This presentation deals with the origins of one of the most fatal deceptions prepared for the last days. It might very well challenge you, but you will enjoy it.