Open Doors For Everyone In The World To Jesus Christ
|
Arise,
shine! For thy light is come,
For,
behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And
the Gentiles shall come to thy light,
Then
thou shalt see, and flow together, Nearly 100 years ago Ellen White, a gifted messenger of God, wrote: Among earth's inhabitants, scattered in every land, there are those who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Like the stars of heaven, which appear only at night, these faithful ones will shine forth when darkness covers the earth and gross darkness the people. In heathen Africa, in the Catholic lands of Europe and of South America, in China, in India, in the islands of the sea, and in all the dark corners of the earth, God has in reserve a firmament of chosen ones that will yet shine forth amidst the darkness, revealing clearly to an apostate world the transforming power of obedience to His law. Even now they are appearing in every nation, among every tongue and people; and in the hour of deepest apostasy, when Satan's supreme effort is made to cause "all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond," to receive, under penalty of death, the sign of allegiance to a false rest day, these faithful ones, "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke," will "shine as lights in the world." Revelation 13:16; Philippians 2:15. The darker the night, the more brilliantly will they shine. {PK 188.2} About the East specifically: "Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the East to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the East, and are come to worship Him." {DA 59.1} The wise men from the East were philosophers. They belonged to a large and influential class that included men of noble birth, and comprised much of the wealth and learning of their nation. Among these were many who imposed on the credulity of the people. Others were upright men who studied the indications of Providence in nature, and who were honored for their integrity and wisdom. Of this character were the wise men who came to Jesus. {DA 59.2} The light of God is ever shining amid the darkness of heathenism. As these magi studied the starry heavens, and sought to fathom the mystery hidden in their bright paths, they beheld the glory of the Creator. Seeking clearer knowledge, they turned to the Hebrew Scriptures. In their own land were treasured prophetic writings that predicted the coming of a divine teacher. Balaam belonged to the magicians, though at one time a prophet of God; by the Holy Spirit he had foretold the prosperity of Israel and the appearing of the Messiah; and his prophecies had been handed down by tradition from century to century. But in the Old Testament the Saviour's advent was more clearly revealed. The magi learned with joy that His coming was near, and that the whole world was to be filled with a knowledge of the glory of the Lord. {DA 59.3}
Today as more light shines on the followers of Jesus because of God's wonderful Providence, old labels that separated God's children from God's children because of race, position, or defect, are no longer necessary. How much more then are Ellen White's words made appropriate in 2004? The only barriers between us in the brotherhood of man under God are those barriers created by Satan acting out the weakness of man without God. Now exposed completely for the lies that they are, these barriers are going to come tumbling down like the walls of Jericho as people's eyes are opened to them in these last days. It is plain that mankind's problems are insurmountable by mankind's wisdom. The complexities involved in governing over technology-intensive democracies are formidable, and they are uncontrollable without the introduction of legalized oppression. Introduce into that mix terrorism and high-technology weapons and everyone rightly dreads the future. But the Lord Of Armies has not been inactive in this world. Many people and races the world over are prepared to heed His call, but are the followers of Jesus Christ prepared for those people? Of all our sinful ways, any bigotry, enviousness, pride in position, and/or class distinctions we might harbor must fall before His Mighty Sword before His return. May we begin the creation of His Kingdom that we interrupted when we crucified Him. May we be ready for the miracle of our promised reward!
|