What is safer? Coming out or staying in? No one can answer this question before knowing the details of any dangers on either side. There are only two choices. I hope that everyone will make the right decision which will result in the greatest safety and protection. If the danger is on the outside, then we should stay inside and not venture outside. It is safer to stay in. This is true when there is a rain or snowstorm,  or any other physical or climactic danger and we need to take shelter. Going out is dangerous, staying in is much safer. But, on the other hand, when the peril is inside, your safety is to come out from where you are. In part one we shall examine the importance of staying in, when and why  it is safer to stay in and not come out.

The church of God is in a greater danger today than at any time in the past. It would be good for every believer and member of God’s remnant church to understand the real spiritual conditions to which we are exposed, so we may be on the alert. Let us first examine the situation in the light of God’s revealed word.

Very often those who abandon the faith in the end do so because they came to the faith initially for all of the wrong reasons.

It is possible that some come to the church today who appear to be followers of Christ, but are not serious in their commitment. As long as something interesting is going on, and they are entertained, then they will keep coming around. If not, then they will be as some in Jesus’ day. “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” John 6:66

In Acts 27:1–12, we read about the time when Paul advised his fellow travelers not to go out of the ship, because it would be dangerous if they did.

This happened on a ship that was to sail to Italy, to deliver Paul and some other prisoners to Rome. They entered into a ship, but sailing was now dangerous at this time of year and Paul said unto them, “Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives.”  Nevertheless the centurion believed the owner of the ship, and not what Paul Counselled.

During the journey, not long after, there arose a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. The ship was caught, and could not bear up in the wind, so they let the ship be blown by the wind. The fear was great. The tempest was too much so they lightened the ship by throwing cargo overboard. It was very difficult because for many days they did not see the sun nor the stars; they lost hope. Luke wrote, “all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.” Verse 20. If they would have hearkened unto Paul’s words and not set sail, this harm and loss would not have occurred, but his words were not accepted by the passengers and the crew; they ignored his counsel.

This is how the last warning will also not be heeded by many  today. From the beginning, people have taken the message of warning lightly, and when they see the fulfillment of the prophecy, it is very hard for them; they now remember the messenger and his words. In Noah’s time, they neglected to heed the message of warning, until the flood came suddenly and destroyed them. Then they cried, “open the door.” But it was too late.

Today, the health reform, the Bible Sabbath, and the influence of the world are some of the topics which many oppose. Only few are ready to hear. But, why?

When the storms of life with its issues and difficulties come, many leave the faith and go out from the church. Is leaving the church the solution? Maybe you have an issue with a brother or sister in the faith? What is the way forward? Let us examine the experience of Paul and his ship.

“There shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship” (Acts 27:22), said Paul. As the sailors attempted to flee, by letting down the lifeboats into the sea, under the guise of casting the anchors out of the foreship, Paul said to the centurion “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” Acts 27:31. The soldier then cut the ropes and let the lifeboat go.

In other words, do not go out of the ship yet, for you cannot survive or be saved. There was a time later when the ship was broken into pieces when they had to leave. They which could swim cast themselves into the sea, and swam to land. The rest held onto some broken pieces of the ship and made it to land.  They escaped all safely to land. No one perished.

Dear reader, are you in the true Church of God? If so, do not go out. Stay inside and work hard for your salvation. The church can be symbolized by the ship. And you have to stay in because “except ye abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” God calls us to “stay in the ship” during the rough times.

The teaching that all Christian churches and groups constitute the church of God is unbiblical and false. It is a well-calculated, satanic deception to divert minds from the Biblical teaching that God has one peculiar church. His church can be identified by the following characteristics:

  • The members keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12
  • They preach the Three Angels’ Messages and keep the seventh-day Sabbath holy. Revelation 14:6–11
  • They uphold the unity of the faith by teaching the principles of the present truth, as presented in the Bible and the Spirit of prophecy. Revelation 12:17
  • They stress the importance of health and dress reform, which in turn supports each person’s spiritual, mental, and physical powers to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Colossians 3:17
  • They uplift high moral standards through the message of Christ Our Righteousness. Romans 3:23–26; 5:1–2; Ephesians 2:5–10
  • They oppose participation in warfare and worldly politics because it is contrary to God’s law. John 17:14–17; 18:36
  • They teach against cooperation with any ecumenical movement or alliance with fallen churches, trade unions, etc.
  • They do this consciously, taking into account the responsibility, and privilege God has entrusted to His church. 1 Peter 2:9–10; 2 Corinthians 6:14–18

The above teachings are the source of spiritual strength for God’s people and at the same time are powerful weapons against the attacks of the great adversary, during the storms of life. The storm in your Christian life is not a reason for backsliding or leaving your entrusted work and your hope.

Before reading and quoting the Spirit of Prophecy, please be sure of your answer: Are you in? Will you come out or remain aboard, notwithstanding hardships and storms?

“God has a church on earth who are lifting up the downtrodden law, and presenting to the world the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world. . . . There is but one church in the world who are at the present time standing in the breach, and making up the hedge, building up the old waste places; . . . Let all be careful not to make an outcry against the only people who are fulfilling the description given of the remnant people who keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus, who are exalting the standard of righteousness in these last days.

“God has a distinct people, a church on earth, second to none, but superior to all in their facilities to teach the truth, to vindicate the law of God.” –Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 50, 58

Unfortunately, some make excuses to leave the church. What are some of those excuses?

  • Loneliness (not being visited)
  • Issues with some members
  • Storms of life (hardship, poverty, trials)
  • Hardship in Christian life and temptations to violate God’s principles (comparing earthly attractions with eternal life, Sabbath breaking for life advantages, health reform issues, fidelity, and faithfulness in tithing, etc.)
  • Inability to stand against opposition whether internal or external.

There are many more.

Weapons the devil uses to attack God’s church

Do not be the victim of Satan’s snares. The Devil has numerous weapons with which he attacks the church and its members hoping that they will leave the faith and the church. Unless you remain aboard the ship, you will not be saved.

Here are a few snares which he has used successfully to entrap his victims:

  • Open apostasy–transgression of God’s holy law. Hebrews 3:12–13; 1 John 3:4
  • Love of money, boasting, pride, blasphemy, disobedience, ingratitude, neglect of holiness, failure to love God and one’s fellow man, lack of forgiveness, slander, lack of self-control, brutality, despising of that which is good, treachery, and having the form of godliness while denying its power. 2 Timothy 3:2–5
  • Persecution, affliction, and inflicting all manner of suffering. 2 Timothy 3:11–12
  • Sexual immorality, which is a major problem in this generation. 1 Thessalonians 4:3–6
  • Conflict in the church, in the workplace, at home, and in society. James 4:1–2
  • Hatred, jealousy, envy, wrath, malice, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, dissension, heresy, murder, drunkenness, and every type of selfishness—all of which the Scriptures call the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19–21
  • Fornication, idolatry, homosexuality, sodomy, theft, covetousness, and reviling. 1 Corinthians 6:9–10
  • Hypocrisy and pretense. Jude 4
  • Pharisaical pride and a spirit of ingratitude, insincerity, and formalism. Matthew 23:13, 15
  • Presumptuous sins. Psalm 19:13–14; Deuteronomy 17:12–13
  • Worldly fashion and adornment, jewelry, and costly apparel. Isaiah 3:16–24; 1 Timothy 2:9–10
  • Heresy, false and erroneous teachings, and rebellion against church order and organization. Ephesians 4:14

The above are snares that can tempt and have tempted many. Let us take heed and look unto Jesus for our strength. We have no excuse for yielding to temptation, thus weakening our faith. “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35–39

All the above problems may occur to strengthen our faith and for our good. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

Why do some leave the church? “Unless these men stay aboard, they cannot be saved.” Dear reader, remember that, “in the presence of God, and all the heavenly intelligences, in the presence of the unseen army of hell, Christ founded His church upon the living Rock. That Rock is Himself–His own body, for us broken and bruised. Against the church built upon this foundation, the gates of hell shall not prevail.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 413

One day Jesus asked “the twelve, Will ye also go away?” John 6:67. He asked this question because, first of all, “a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did.” John 6:2. And yet later in the same chapter we read, “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked no more with Him.” John 6:66 What happened? The problem was that there were those who wanted the blessing of following the Lord without the sacrifices that come with making a full commitment.

There is no reason to be discouraged, “Human power and human might did not establish the church of God, and neither can they destroy it. Not on the rock of human strength, but on Christ Jesus, the Rock of Ages, was the church founded, ‘and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’ Matthew 16:18. The presence of God gives stability to His cause. ‘Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man,’ is the word that comes to us. Psalm 146:3

“‘In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.’ Isaiah 30:15. God’s glorious work, founded on the eternal principles of right, will never come to nought. It will go on from strength to strength, ‘not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.’ Zechariah 4:6.” –Prophets and Kings, p. 595–596

Even if you experience some hardships, you need to remain aboard the ship. Although you face hard times,  and fierce storms, remember your destination. The Lord will help you fight the battle we all face as Christians.

“Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:12–13 NKJV). “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (James 1:2–3). “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations.” 1 Peter 1:6

As Christians, our hope is in the storms.

“We should remember that the church, enfeebled and defective though it be, is the only object on earth on which Christ bestows His supreme regard. He is constantly watching it with solicitude, and is strengthening it by His Holy Spirit.” –Manuscript 155, 1902

The past confirms our confidence in the future. The storms of today cannot discourage a devoted Christian. The exactness with which each event in prophecy has been, and is being fulfilled in our day, assures us that events still the future will surely come to pass. The wonderful way in which God has guided and protected His people through the centuries, overruling the designs of evil powers, indicates that the church that is now militant will continue to be guided until it soon becomes the church triumphant. It will pass through a severe process of shaking and pruning.

Before the great final day of our deliverance from this world and before probation ends, while the door of mercy is still open to sinners, the following prophesied events will occur: The sealing of the 144,000, the outpouring of the Latter Rain, the sounding of the Loud Cry, the shaking, the enforcement of Sunday worship, the finishing of God’s work, and the close of probation, which will be followed by the Seven Last Plagues. During these events, God’s people will be severely tested and proved. These events will bring about the early time of trouble and persecution.

In Revelation 13:11–17 a prophetic description is given of the persecution to occur before the close of probation under the  enforcement of the Sunday law; and it will become more intense after that, particularly during the time of Jacob’s trouble. “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1–2

For the storms in the Christian life, “we have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.” –Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, p. 196

“Until Christ shall appear in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory,” the messenger of the Lord writes, “men will become perverse in spirit and turn from the truth to fables.

“The church will yet see troublous times. She will prophesy in sackcloth. But although she must meet heresies and persecutions, although she must battle with the infidel and the apostate, yet by the help of God she is bruising the head of Satan. The Lord will have a people as true as steel, and with faith as firm as the granite rock. They are to be His witnesses in the world, His instrumentalities to do a special, a glorious work in the day of His preparation.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 4, p. 594

God is always there and keeping His promises during our “storms”. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV). Stand firm in God’s true Church, do not come out of her. Amen.


Victor Shumbusho,
D R Congo

 

To be Continued