In terms of time measurements, a moment is so short and perhaps the most volatile. This volatility tends to lessen as you move from a minute to an hour, a day, etc. Because a moment of time is the most volatile, it is perhaps the most important in our lives. Once an action is done, it shortly becomes history and thus it also becomes impossible to undo it, for that moment is gone. No wonder, as we are to see shortly, one moment may be enough to decide one’s destiny!

In this line of thought, Sister White in the book Patriarchs and Prophets, p.61, asks the solemn question: “Who can know, in the moment of temptation, the terrible consequences that will result from one wrong step?” We also read: “In one moment, by the hasty, passionate, careless tongue, may be wrought evil that a whole lifetime’s repentance cannot undo.” –Education, p. 236

Space is limited to furnish all possible Biblical examples here.  Perhaps only this portion will do:

“A short time at most would have secured him [Esau] food in his father’s tents, but to satisfy the desire of the moment he carelessly bartered the glorious heritage that God Himself had promised to his fathers. His whole interest was in the present. He was ready to sacrifice the heavenly to the earthly, to exchange a future good for a momentary indulgence.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 179

Of his brother Jacob, it took a great deal of contrition; he suffered remorse from a sin which he had repented of and received pardon. His mother also, through her artifice, was punished in that she was no longer able to see her beloved son. . . .

Surely, it is real! An action may be done in a moment but the results may be enormous and long-lasting. That action may be a key to great things that would follow afterwards (good or bad). One may sow just a few seeds, but the harvest is always greater than the sowing. Many lives today are in total misery and slavery of sin because of just one action that they did in their life. If they will not, by faith, cry and trust in the grace of Jesus, they will perish.

Among the vital gifts which man was endowed with by God at creation is willpower— being a free moral agent—thus granting man the power to make independent decisions. Truly, without this trait, man would be a mere automaton or robot.

“To man alone, the crowning work of His creation, God has given a conscience to realize the sacred claims of the divine law, and a heart capable of loving it as holy, just, and good; and of man prompt and perfect obedience is required. Yet God does not compel him to obey; he is left a free moral agent.” –Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 216

“God had power to hold Adam back from touching the forbidden fruit; but had He done this, Satan would have been sustained in his charge against God’s arbitrary rule. Man would not have been a free moral agent, but a mere machine. –The Review and Herald, June 4, 1901

“Without freedom of choice, his obedience would not have been voluntary, but forced. There could have been no development of character. . . . [Also] “His affections were pure; his appetites and passions were under the control of reason.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 49, 45

What a state that was! After his fall, man became depraved and had an inclination toward evil, that by himself he lost the power to resist evil.

“When man transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony, and not at variance, with Satan.” –The Great Controversy, p. 505

“His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil.” –Steps to Christ, p. 17

As a result of their sin Adam and Eve had forfeited the Eden home.

“After their sin Adam and Eve were no longer to dwell in Eden. They earnestly entreated that they might remain in the home of their innocence and joy. They confessed that they had forfeited all right to that happy abode, but pledged themselves for the future to yield strict obedience to God. But they were told that their nature had become depraved by sin; they had lessened their strength to resist evil and had opened the way for Satan to gain more ready access to them.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 61

While we need to acknowledge the condition of man as stated above, Christ, the second Adam, has given the first Adam and his posterity (those that would remain faithful) an assurance of the return to the lost paradise. He says that even though man sold his kingdom to Satan, He will give it back to him and his posterity, this time, in a more glorified state than in the beginning.

“Christ is called the second Adam. In purity and holiness, connected with God and beloved by God, He began where the first Adam began. . . .

“Christ was tempted by Satan in a hundredfold severer manner than was Adam, and under circumstances in every way more trying. The deceiver presented himself as an angel of light, but Christ withstood his temptations. He redeemed Adam’s disgraceful fall, and saved the world. . . . He lived the law of God, and honored it in a world of transgression, revealing to the heavenly universe, to Satan, and to all the fallen sons and daughters of Adam that through His grace humanity can keep the law of God. . . .

“Christ’s victory was as complete as had been Adam’s failure. So we may resist temptation, and force Satan to depart from us.” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. 42

Through the condescension, death and resurrection of Jesus, Satan was surely defeated. Now we can be overcomers! Through the power of the Holy Spirit combined with our willpower we can once more make right decisions!

“Realize every moment that you must have the presence of the Holy Spirit; for it can do a work that you cannot do of yourself.” –Testimonies to Ministers, p. 310

You and I are now travelling to the heavenly home, and really, we may have a great desire to reach there. But our enemy is doing, and will do whatever it takes to prevent us from reaching that abode from which he himself is forever banished. The call upon us is that we must be careful in every moment of our lives. The sacred writings give us strong exaltations.

“You are not secure a moment against the attacks of Satan. You have no time to rest from watchful, earnest labor. You should not sleep a moment at your post. This is a most important warfare. Eternal consequences are involved. It is life or death with you and your family.” –Child Guidance, p. 185

“You should not for one moment give place to an impure, covert suggestion, for even this will stain the soul, as impure water defiles the channel through which it passes.” –The Adventist Home, p. 333

The story of Joseph depicts a situation that shows how much value a moment has in our lives:

“Joseph’s faith and integrity were to be tested by fiery trials. His master’s wife endeavored to entice the young man to transgress the law of God. Heretofore he had remained untainted by the corruption teeming in that heathen land; but this temptation, so sudden, so strong, so seductive—how should it be met? Joseph knew well what would be the consequence of resistance. On the one hand were concealment, favor, and rewards; on the other, disgrace, imprisonment, perhaps death. His whole future life depended upon the decision of the moment. Would principle triumph? Would Joseph still be true to God? With inexpressible anxiety, angels looked upon the scene.

“Joseph’s answer reveals the power of religious principle. He would not betray the confidence of his master on earth, and, whatever the consequences, he would be true to his Master in heaven. Under the inspecting eye of God and holy angels many take liberties of which they would not be guilty in the presence of their fellow men, but Joseph’s first thought was of God. ‘How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?’ he said.

“If we were to cherish an habitual impression that God sees and hears all that we do and say and keeps a faithful record of our words and actions, and that we must meet it all, we would fear to sin.” –Conflict and Courage, p. 75 (emphasis mine)

The Lord admonishes us through His servant: “Do not stop for one moment to reason. Satan would rejoice to see you overthrown by temptation. Do not stop to argue the case with your weak conscience. Turn away from the first step of transgression.” –Counsels on Health, p. 587

If we stay at the place of temptation and take a step into sin, we will finally find ourselves far from God. The way of return may be so hard that more often than not, people have lost their way and perished.

Conclusion: “The pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares. Those who would rather die than perform a wrong act are the only ones who will be found faithful.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 53

Now is the time to re-think our position. Now is the time to get closer to God than ever before. There is no time to waste. Let us take care of every moment. Overcoming one temptation is one step heavenward and prepares us for great victories in life. May God help us to do this and be with Him in the heavenly Canaan. Amen.

Joel Msiska