As Adventists and reformers we delight in the truth of the gospel and with God’s grace try to live accordingly. We also study the life of the pioneers of the Reformation and are motivated by their life of faith and their courage in hard circumstances. As we approach the close of the time of probation, the lives of Huss, Wycliff, and Luther are for us an example and a light that help us prepare for the time to come.
Some sayings from these great men of the past are also a gospel to us, like Luther’s declaration that we cannot prevent a flock of birds flying over our head, but we can prevent them from building a nest on it. This is a wonderful piece of truth that helps us understand that we need to have control over our thoughts and not dwell on what is negative or implies doubt and lack of faith. But one of Luther’s sayings that is a favourite and is most frequently quoted is when he said that, if he knew that Jesus was coming tomorrow he would still plant a tree today. Have you heard that quotation to justify people’s action when building their mansions, making financial plans for the future, planning exotic vacations, and mostly talking and living as if this world would never come to an end?
The Bible compares each one of us to a tree. That is how God sees us, fruitful trees. In Psalm 104:16 there is a wonderful assertion, “The trees of the Lord are full of sap!” In other words, the children of God are full of the Holy Spirit that keeps them growing upwards, giving fruit and shade to tired wanderers until they themselves reach the stature of Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah writes, “The Lord called thy name, a green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit.” (Jeremiah 11:16). Depending on the right exposure to the sun and the right amount of water, a tree can produce good or bad fruit. Some years ago, the olives in Tuscany were full of worms and people lost the harvest. The same can happen in our spiritual life. We should be constantly exposed to the Sun of Righteousness and watered by the water of life, otherwise even if we produce fruits, they will not be edible. He who meditates day and night in God’s word “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:3).
And the Lord Jesus Himself speaks of people as trees when He says, “For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit.” (Luke 6:43, 44).
We produce that which we are; therefore it is absolutely indispensable that we go through a total transformation of mind so that from bad trees we may turn into good ones. Only thus can we be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Only thus can we stop being the man in Romans chapter 7 and become the man in Romans chapter 8. Only thus can our greatest longing be Jesus’ second coming and His kingdom of righteousness.
“You should preserve a true Christian dignity, but avoid all affection. Be strictly honest in heart and life. Let faith, like the palm tree, strike its penetrating roots beneath the things which do appear, and obtain spiritual refreshment from the living springs of God’s grace and mercy. There is a well of water which springeth up into everlasting life. You must draw your life from this hidden spring. If you divest yourselves of selfishness and strengthen your souls by constant communion with God, you may promote the happiness of all with whom you come in contact. You will notice the neglected, inform the ignorant, encourage the oppressed and desponding, and, as far as possible, relieve the suffering. And you will not only point the way to heaven, but will walk in that way yourselves.” (CH, p. 383).
Transformation of character is an act outside our capability. We can only make ourselves available so that we may be eligible. We live in a time of earnest preparation because we are facing a time of trouble “such as never was since there was a nation” and we need to be prepared if we are to stand. What does our preparation consist of when we do not even know what our personal trials shall be in the future? Well, we do know what our trials are today, and we know that the only way to overcome is by faith. Let us face every present trial in faith, no matter how hard it is, putting our whole being in the Lord’s hands; even if things seem to worsen, He can make everything straight in due time. Only thus can we be sure that we will be overcomers when still harder trials will come our way. Let us remember the Lord’s words, “Without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5.
At the shaking time every one will stand alone, supported by his own faith that he developed during years of trials. Our faith should be as pure as gold, so let us welcome trials, thus we know that the Lord is preparing us for something great. Every trial that we overcome by faith purifies our soul and gives more room for the Holy Spirit to live in us fully.
“The path to freedom from sin is through crucifixion of self, and conflict with the powers of darkness. Let none be discouraged in view of the severe trials to be met in the time of Jacob’s trouble, which is yet before them. They are to work earnestly, anxiously, not for that time, but for today. What we want is to have a knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ now, and a personal experience now. In these precious closing hours of probation, we have a deep and living experience to gain. We shall thus form characters that will ensure our deliverance in the time of trouble.” (OHC, p. 321).
Our preparation does not mean that we neglect our daily obligations and material needs. We still live in this world and have certain things to take care of, like supporting our family, continuing with our studies, taking every opportunity to progress as long as our success in life does not separate us from God and His principles. But we need to find time to spend alone with the Lord and not just have routine worships and prayer at every meal. Our heart has to be filled with gratitude when we sit at the table well aware that there are millions in this world who do not have this privilege. Then, whether we say a prayer out loud or not is immaterial because the Lord does not look at our lips, but into the bottom of our heart.
Sister White writes, “In every age Satan has sought to impair the efforts of God’s servants by introducing into the church a spirit of fanaticism. Thus it was in Paul’s day, and thus it was in later centuries during the time of the Reformation. Wycliffe, Luther, and many others who blessed the world by their influence and their faith, encountered the wiles by which the enemy seeks to lead into fanaticism overzealous, unbalanced, and unsanctified minds. Misguided souls have taught that the attainment of true holiness carries the mind above all earthly thoughts and leads men to refrain wholly from labour. Others, taking extreme views of certain texts of Scripture, have taught that it is a sin to work–that Christians should take no thought concerning the temporal welfare of themselves or their families, but should devote their lives wholly to spiritual things. The teaching and example of the apostle Paul are a rebuke to such extreme views.” (AA, p. 348).
Life is made of extremes though. There is life and death, and in between there is sometimes sickness. There is light and darkness, and in between there is confusion. There is truth and falsehood, and in between there is dishonesty. There is cold and hot, and in between there is lukewarmness. There is conversion and the unconverted, and in between there is self-deceit.
The present truth is that we are living in the very end of times. Today some people are having a direct encounter with the Lord like Abraham, Isaac, Moses and some of our heroes of faith did at their time. The four angels are holding the winds until the number 144,000 is found; then all hell will break loose. We do not know how many have already been counted into that privileged group, how many are being sealed to be among the martyrs who will complete the number of the “souls under the altar”, who cry for their blood to be avenged (Rev. 6:9-11). Very little do we know how things will turn out to be in the near future, although we have such a good knowledge of prophecy.
Even if we go about doing our daily work, which we should, fulfilling our duties and taking care of our responsibilities, our connection with the Lord should be such that we can be ready when the harvest time comes because “I tell you, in that night there shall be two in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, the other left.” (Luke 17:34-36).
I do not know what Luther really meant when he said he would still plant a tree today if he knew that the Lord was coming tomorrow. I only know that if he knew how this saying of his is so frequently used, he would regret ever having said it. As for myself, if I really knew that Jesus was coming tomorrow, I would still plant a seed of the gospel in someone’s heart because I believe that the Lord can save till the last moment, but I would rather do like that man who had a field of potatoes in 1844, when the Advent people were expecting the Lord. Do you remember the story? He refused to harvest his potatoes; and even when his neighbours offered to do it for him for free he did not accept the offer. He wanted to give testimony of his faith that the Lord was actually coming and he would not need any potatoes that winter because he would be eating manna in heaven. But the Lord did not come. What a great disappointment! Do you remember what happened to that man? Well, there was a pest that came and destroyed all the potatoes; all the people who had harvested their potatoes lost everything, but that man who had a living faith had potatoes for himself and for his neighbours. How wonderfully does the Lord compensate a living faith!
Jesus says to his disciples of all times, “Verily I say unto you, except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3).
I close with the Lord’s promise for us today, “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Amen.
Teresa Corti