It often happens in a Christian’s life that faithful men and women who have stood faithful for many years suddenly fall and lose the power of God and even become enemies of their former companions.
The fall happens suddenly, but before it occurs there has been a preparation for it. This is as the leaves of the trees which are green throughout the summer; then when the temperature gets colder in the autumn they fall off the trees. But before they fall there has been a change in their colour. They are not green anymore, but have changed their colours to brown, red and yellow. This change of colour takes time, while the fall is sudden.
This same process happens often in a Christian’s life also. Slowly they lose their interest in missionary work, they do not pray to God as much as before, Bible reading becomes intermittent, and attending all the church meetings is not important anymore.
This happened in the time of Samuel. We read in 2 Samuel chapter 1, verses 19, 27: “How are the mighty fallen!”
The mightiest of all of God’s creation was Lucifer. He was the wisest, and the most intelligent of all the angels, but he fell from the perfect, pure, and holy being into Satan, the Devil, Father of lies, and a murderer. He was able to deceive the third part of the angels in heaven to join with him in his rebellion against God. He deceived Adam and Eve into disobedience toward God and today more than seven billion people in the world are on his side, while God has only a small flock who are still on His side.
Who can fall? Only he who is standing; the others are already fallen. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 10:12
Our message that we are proclaiming today is, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen.” Revelation 18:2
The churches that are teaching errors are fallen, and from what have they fallen? “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Galatians 5:4
These religious organizations with millions of members have been built on the foundation of sand, and therefore they could not stand when the storms and rains came upon them. In the world wars, members of the churches were pointing their weapons often against members of the same church to which they belonged.
The angel of the Laodicean church has fallen from grace, therefore God said, “I will spue the out of My mouth.” Revelation 3:16. And after this, what is left in the church? Only a form, and name, and empty ceremonies. Then it is true that, “the glory is departed from Israel.” 1 Samuel 4:22
At the Minneapolis conference in 1888, two faithful young men proclaimed a powerful message to the nearly 100 delegates, of which not even one accepted their message at that time. But the sad thing is that both of these young men also lost their faith later on. E.J. Waggoner divorced his wife and remarried and was separated from his employment in the church. A.T. Jones, after 20 years of faithful employment for the church was separated from his employment and later from the church membership.
A few years later the mighty truly did fall. In Europe, 98% of the members joined with their leaders in apostasy while 2% remained faithful to God and refused to join the military service. And this 2% who did not fall became the foundation of our church, the International Missionary Society of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Reform Movement.
“As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. –The Great Controversy, p. 608
Ministers and pastors who for years had defended the truth, now became bitter enemies of those who stood faithful to God; professed Christians who had rejoiced in the truth now suddenly took their stand against the truth and against God.
Or was it suddenly? The change in colours had taken a longer time and then the fall took place suddenly. What had taken place earlier was that they lost their love to God and to their fellow men. “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” Revelation 2:4
Without this first love they could take weapons in their hands to kill their enemies.
Many causes for the fall are recorded in the Bible. “The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” Proverbs 11:5
Another cause for the fall is riches. “He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.” Proverbs 11:28
Pride has caused many to fall, even spiritual pride, feeling that he is better than others. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
Paul writes, “To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” Hebrews 3:7–8
“Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.” Proverbs 28:14
Even the prophets did fall. “Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophets also shall fall with thee in the night.” Hosea 4:5
Now the question comes, who shall be able to remain standing?
“But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap.” Malachi 3:2
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6:12–13
Terrible is our enemy against whom we must fight and to remain standing. Paul wrote, “having done all to stand.”
Nothing less is sufficient. We must do all. And then we can stand. If anyone of us happens to fall, we do not need to remain fallen.
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord : and he delighteth in His way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand.” Psalm 37:23–24
“The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.” Psalm 145:14
Anyone that may have fallen down The Lord tells them, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for the light of heaven has come upon us. We are to let this light shine all around us. We do not need to fall; the promise of God is to help us to remain standing. “Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.” Jude 24
We need to be like the evergreen trees. In the summer’s warmth and as well as in the winter’s cold they do not change their colours. We also can remain faithful in a time of peace as well as in the time of trial and persecution; we need not fall. Amen
Timo Martin