I gladly remember how my parents would often tell me about and teach me principles that they thought at that time to be the best for me, in order to achieve a good education and a good profession; in other words, how to go through the challenges of this life and be successful. Let us ask a question here: what is true success? So many seek it, but they never find it. As a result, very few people achieve true success. Everyone desires to succeed but most fall far short of achieving their goals. There are people who, although they see that they have failed, in very few cases will they realize or acknowledge it. Yet most people fail without knowing why. So, some think they are destined to fail and this is not true. Men and women of all ages can achieve success, but they must understand and practice the right principles that guides one to true success, and only then will they understand what exactly brings them to achieve true success.
Do you know what success is? Many people believe that success consists of obtaining a certain amount of wealth. Their only purpose is in accumulating money and material things. Others think that success means how much power they get. So, they measure their lives in how much influence they have over people, events or even government or world affairs. Such people are usually controlling other’s decisions. To them, success is how much or how many they control. Generally speaking, these people are more miserable than those who seek wealth because they live in fear of losing their power. Still others hope to achieve fame. These people are often driven by a need to be known. They seek for name recognition. Of course anyone can enjoy his or her 15 minutes of fame but not everyone believes that fame means true success, and those who are famous probably represent the most miserable, successful ones in this category. Some people in the world think success involves elevating self above others. But is this true success from the Bible perspective? Think for a moment and be honest; how many people in the world could you name who you consider truly successful, but who do not fit one of these categories, such as wealth, power or fame? Few, if any. Every millionaire eventually dies—there is no exception to the rule that all die. Notice this, the Bible says in Hebrews 9:27, “. . . it is appointed unto men once to die. . .” Also we find written in Ecclesiastes 3:19, “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts. . . as the one dieth, so dieth the other. . .” “All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.” Ecclesiastes 3:20
In every case, wealth, power and fame, even the recognition that the most famous people have, dies with them. Obtaining and enjoying these things could not keep them alive. There are aspects of the character that these people should consider to be virtuous qualities. One must be courteous, loyal, hard-working, honest, punctual, dependable, patient and probably much more, to be truly successful in this world in God’s eyes. Almost everyone recognizes these as good qualities, but fewer people every day exhibit them.
Let us start by enumerating some of the goals, from the Bible perspective, of a person who wants to have true success in this life. Doesn’t every human being want to be successful in this life? The Bible makes it clear in James 1:5, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” Having this in our minds, let us move further and try to understand that true wisdom comes only from God; we need God’s wisdom in order to be a successful follower of Christ on this earth. As ambassadors for Christ, as we have been called by Paul under Divine inspiration, we must represent God’s kingdom in every aspect of our life. We must let people know and understand that our kingdom is not of this world but in the world to come, when everything shall be made new again by our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
When we go to God in prayer we should know what to ask for; the first thing we need to do is to set the right goal. Many kinds of goals can be set throughout our lives and most people know this. Goals can be small, medium, large and very large. I know many people who set goals for themselves, as you probably have and do, and so do I. For instance, I know people who set a goal to plant and take care of a garden; this is a small goal. Another goal is to graduate a college, which is a large goal. Or perhaps to plan a vacation, get married, have children, lose weight, buy a house, paint a house, read a book, play a game, or whatever goal you might set—there is nothing wrong with these goals, but to choose the right goal makes the difference. Few actually take time and realize that true success can be considered a goal. Here are some quotations from the Spirit of Prophecy:
“Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God’s ideal for His children. Godliness—godlikeness—is the goal to be reached. Before the student there is opened a path of continual progress. He has an object to achieve, a standard to attain, that includes everything good, and pure, and noble. He will advance as fast and as far as possible in every branch of true knowledge. But his efforts will be directed to objects as much higher than mere selfish and temporal interests as the heavens are higher than the earth.” –Education, p. 18
“The Holy Scriptures are the perfect standard of truth, and as such should be given the highest place in education. To obtain an education worthy of the name, we must receive a knowledge of God, the Creator, and of Christ, the Redeemer, as they are revealed in the sacred word.” –Education, p. 17
Give your heart to Jesus and accept His salvation and justification. Proverbs 23:26 states, “My son, give Me thine heart.” Put God in the first place. Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” What does it mean? Well, to put Him in the first place means to put our tastes and conveniences aside. If we give Him first place in our decisions, all of His promises will be ours. We should accept our human weakness and unite our heart with Christ’s, trusting in His grace every day. What is that connection compared to? Jesus mentioned that in John 15:4–5, it was compared “to the vine and the branches.” How can we be united with Him? Through daily communion with Jesus, through prayer and study of His word, and through total trust in His infinite grace and righteousness.
I believe there are two essential elements to a true education and growth in our Christian experience. I have mentioned these many times before—it is prayer and study of the word of God. Do you want to succeed in your Christian life? Do you want to have constant growth in your relationship with Jesus Christ? If you want this, Jesus will give you His blessings, His care and protection wherever you go, and a personal and intimate experience with Jesus will accompany you throughout this life.
“All who would be efficient workers must give much time to prayer. The communication between God and the soul must be kept open, that the workers may recognize the voice of their Captain. The Bible should be diligently studied. The truth of God, like gold, is not always lying right on the surface; it is to be obtained only by earnest thought and study. This study will not only store the mind with most valuable knowledge, but will strengthen and expand the mental powers, and will give a true estimate of eternal things. Let the divine precepts be brought into the daily life; let the life be fashioned after God’s great standard of righteousness, and the whole character will be strengthened and ennobled.” –Gospel Workers, p. 76
What else do we need in order to have a fulfilling and successful Christian life? Well, we need faith. The Bible plainly speaks that if we do not have faith then we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6). So then we need faith in order to achieve the goal of goals, which is eternal life. I often I hear the expression among Christians today, even among Seventh Day Adventists—“well, we do not need a church assembly”—in other words, they say, “why should I go to church? I can study the Bible at home, with my family or on my own.” But, is this right? Perhaps we have many reasons to stay home, but is this the will of God? The Bible says that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17. Paul admonishes us not to forsake the assembly or congregation with other believers, in these perilous days that we live in. Listen to these inspired words:
“The church is God’s appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God’s plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to ‘the principalities and powers in heavenly places,’ the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 9
I believe God has a visible remnant church on this earth. I believe that I am a part of it, and since I became a follower of Christ I have never doubted it. I have seen in my walk with God, people coming in and going out of the church for one reason or another, but, dear friend, let me tell you something. Do you think God is going to save a person who doesn’t like fellowship and service? In fact, let me bring to you a Bible verse which tells what eternity and heaven will be like. “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.
You see, if we walk in the light we have, what? Fellowship—it means coming closer to Jesus, coming together; it means service to the King of kings and Lord of lords. Here is another statement from the Spirit of Prophecy:
“Through centuries of persecution, conflict, and darkness, God has sustained His church. Not one cloud has fallen upon it that He has not prepared for; not one opposing force has risen to counterwork His work, that He has not foreseen. All has taken place as He predicted. He has not left His church forsaken, but has traced in prophetic declarations what would occur, and that which His Spirit inspired the prophets to foretell has been brought about. All His purposes will be fulfilled. His law is linked with His throne, and no power of evil can destroy it. Truth is inspired and guarded by God; and it will triumph over all opposition.
“During ages of spiritual darkness the church of God has been as a city set on a hill. From age to age, through successive generations, the pure doctrines of heaven have been unfolding within its borders. Enfeebled and defective as it may appear, the church is the one object upon which God bestows in a special sense His supreme regard. It is the theater of His grace, in which He delights to reveal His power to transform hearts.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 11–12
The last point I want you to know from this study is “be steadfast,” to live a full and happy Christian life. In Jesus we can show gratitude, compassion, and interest in all of our relationships with one another. God’s promises are sure. We need not fear the world and what might come in the future because our King is stronger than the defeated foe, Satan. You see, if we are not earnest, enthusiastic, happy and dynamic, consecrated Christians then Satan can stop you from following Christ.
“Not without a struggle does Satan allow the kingdom of God to be built up in the earth. The forces of evil are engaged in unceasing warfare against the agencies appointed for the spread of the gospel, and these powers of darkness are especially active when the truth is proclaimed before men of repute and sterling integrity.” –The Acts of the Apostles, p. 167
My brother, my sister, and dear friend, as you have read this message, maybe there have been some thoughts you have been struggling for some time, or perhaps, right now, the voice of the Holy Spirit is telling you to put that thing or thought away; “I am here to help you and strengthen your faith.” Maybe you have heard God’s voice many times, through the vast amount of messages that you have heard; but nothing has changed in your life and you have become disappointed over time. Perhaps there was a time that you enjoyed reading the Bible or sharing your personal testimony with others, or you enjoyed coming on Sabbath to study the Sabbath School lessons, but now you do not. There is hope; don’t let those thoughts overwhelm you. Come to Jesus the way you are, bring to Jesus your broken heart, your life, which may be scattered in thousands of pieces because of sin. There is still hope, my friend. Jesus can revive, repair and rebuild your life, my brother, my sister.
Listen to these words found in Ezra 9:9, “For we were bondmen; yet our God hath not forsaken us in our bondage, but hath extended mercy unto us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our God, and to repair the desolations thereof, and to give us a wall in Judah and in Jerusalem.” What a promise, my friend! He did it in my life and He also does it in the lives of many, for those who have an interest in searching for something better than this horrible world in which we live.
This is not our home; I prefer something better than hospitals, sickness and death. God wants us to be saved, but He will not force us. He gave us a free will, and He places before us two ways, which are found in Deuteronomy 30—life or death, curse or blessing. How tenderly He calls us. Choose life so that you can live. At the cross Jesus gave everything for your salvation and for mine. Now it all depends on our choice. What is your choice today?
I have chosen Jesus and He changed my life. I have chosen Jesus and He gave me much more than I have ever had. He brought me from the dirt of this world, showing me that there is meaning in this life if we follow Jesus. I am in debt for this kindness that my Lord and Saviour has shown me, and that is why I want to point your attention towards the One who deserves all our praise and glory in heaven and on earth. As the Bible says in Acts 4:12, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” This is Jesus, my friend, and He invites you right now to give your heart to Him and surrender completely in His arms, because there is the only place where you and I can succeed and have eternal life.
There are seven wonderful promises of God to you and to I if we are to succeed in our Christian life:
- “I [will] give to eat of the tree of life.” Revelation 2:7
- He “shall not be hurt of the second death.” Revelation 2:11
- “I [will] give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written.” Revelation 2:17
- “To him will I give power over the nations.” Revelation 2:26
- “[He] shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life.” Revelation 3:5
- “I [will] make [him] a pillar in the Temple of My God, and he shall go no more out.” Revelation 3:12
- “I [will] grant [him] to sit with Me in My throne.” Revelation 3:21
One day, and that is very soon, my friend, Jesus is coming again. Before He comes, He will put down His golden censer and state, “It is finished,” “It is done.” The plan of salvation will be accomplished. God’s people are sealed and prepared for heaven, to inherit the wonderful promises mentioned in the book of Revelation. Do you want to take part in these blessings? I know you want to, as I also want to. Let us put all our trust in Jesus because then we can succeed in our Christian lives and be overcomers in this world.
Jesus set us a perfect example in terms of salvation and a perfect life. Let us make this our highest goal, which is eternal life, because Jesus will help us. He promises this to us in His word, the Bible. His promises are sure and eternal for those who want them. Let us live the rest of our lives only for Jesus, is my wish and prayer. Amen!
In Christ,
Nicholas Anca