Our Friendship with God

How much can I do for God?

If you have a friend and you never bothered to take the time to talk with them or spend any time with them, how long would they remain your friend? Friends are there for us when we need them. They help us when we are in need, they encourage us when we are despondent, but what if we never returned the favour and did anything for our friend irt return? The last article showed us how much God has done for us. What great love He has shown toward us by giving His life on the cross of Calvary, and to what lengths He is going to, today for the salvation of mankind. Yet God cannot fully save man without man’s cooperation. What is our part in the process of salvation?

What do you owe to God?

Many in world say “nothing – God hasn’t done anything for me,” but if their life is a mess, they often blame God for not being there for them. When things go well, they feel they have no need of God.

Others will say, “Everything, He’s done so much for me.” However when God makes some requirement of them – asking them to give up some worldly habit or cherished idol, to change their diet, manner of dress, or to keep the Sabbath, they refuse.
Do these people really believe they owe all to God? They must be in debt because they are not giving what God asks and He asks us to surrender our lives, our hearts and whole being to Him.

Are we in debt to God?

If you compare what God has done for us to what we’ve done for God, who has paid more? We owe our life when we sinned – however Jesus cancelled our debt. What do we owe Him in return for this favour? We owe our sinful hearts, which include our worldly habits. Some have difficulty paying this debt – they see it as something so overwhelmingly difficult and they only want to pay off a part of their debt. When we talk about worldly music, TV, unhealthy foods, or incorrect dress, is it really we (the church) who are saying this? Or is it God speaking through His church? Is it our private interpretation of what is right or wrong? Or is God talking to you and telling you that these habits are a part of your debt that you have to pay? If it is written in the Bible or Spirit of Prophecy, then it is directly written from God. Unfortunately some are in the habit of picking and choosing which part of the Spirit of Prophecy books they will take more seriously and which they will put aside as not so important. Also, God has given wisdom to the leaders and older people in the church. In the church there are people who have come from the world and know what is out there – people who have made experiences throughout their lives about right and wrong principles.

Some people are looking to do the bare minimum in order to keep this friendship with Jesus alive. However that is not enough, we should be doing all that we can in this friendship. We need to give it our all and what God asks for is not unreasonable. He’s our friend and wants what is best for us and if we decide to make Him our friend we will understand this and accept it.

GOD’S CURSES VS. HIS BLESSINGS.

“Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.” Deut. 11:26-28.

Our Friend has promised great blessings for us if we obey His commandments. If we choose to disobey, curses will come upon us. The choice is ours. He wants blessings for us but we must choose if we want them or not.

God has promised: “And said. If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.” Ex. 15:26. It was true, not only in Ancient Israel, but it is also true today that the physical well-being of the human race is to a large extent dependant on their regard for divine law. Those who disregard the laws that govern healthful living have only themselves to blame for the consequences. God is interested not only in man’s spiritual state but also in his physical state.

“God brought the Israelites from Egypt, that He might establish them in the land of Canaan, a pure, holy, and happy people. In the accomplishment of this object He subjected them to a course of discipline, both for their own good and for the good of their posterity. Had they been willing to deny appetite, in obedience to His wise restrictions, feebleness and disease would have been unknown among them. Their descendants would have possessed both physical and mental strength. They would have had clear perceptions of truth and duty, keen discrimination, and sound judgment. But their unwillingness to submit to the restrictions and requirements of God, prevented them, to a great extent, from reaching the high standard which He desired them to attain, and from receiving the blessings which He was ready to bestow upon them.” PP 378

“The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Ps. 34:7 The continual presence of guardian angels is one of the Christian’s sweetest assurances. This protection is promised for those who fear Him; those who have made Jesus their best friend.

Snakes in the wilderness: Jesus, our best friend, is a powerful friend. He is a friend that no enemy on this earth can defeat. It would do well for us to ally ourselves with Him. He wants to help and protect us; unfortunately many people refuse this offer of help. The offer of help comes on condition of obedience. Would you want to help a friend who was constantly refusing to spend time with you and even blaming you for every trial and difficulty they faced? Often we would not even consider these people our friends, however Jesus will not be easily turned aside. He tries over and over again to reach us and to teach us of His great love and His protection until we sever that connection with Him through our sin. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear; But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” Isaiah 59:1,2.

This is how the Lord felt with Israel in the wilderness. He was protecting them from so many unseen dangers and they did not appreciate all that He had done for them. In order to show them clearly how close He was to them and what He was doing to protect them, He decided to withdraw His protection for a short time when they had done some murmuring and complaining.

“And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread. And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.” Numbers 21:5-7

The deaths were due to the withdrawal of the protecting hand of God. The part of the country through which they were travelling was infested with snakes, scorpions etc. therefore they needed a daily miracle to provide protection from them. But now the Lord withdrew His protection and allowed the snakes to attack the people. We also have God’s protecting hand over us to keep us safe from many unseen dangers since we have an enemy that is as angry as a roaring lion and would love to devour us.
“If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Ps 66:18. If I regard iniquity in my heart – love the things of the world, my prayers are not even acceptable. What a sad occurrence if our best friend will not even hear us.

However, “When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man’s best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His own divine merit.” ST 03-16-90
GOD ASKS US TO PROVE HIM…(as we discussed in the last article)

DOES HE IN TURN PROVE US?

Our Friend has made us many promises and He invites us to prove Him (as mentioned in the previous article). He is not afraid of proof because He knows how weak our faith is. In return He also proves us. Do we really mean what we say when we call ourselves Christian? Sometimes He will allow some crisis to come in order to prove our character. Will we remain faithful as did Job? Or will we curse God as his wife encouraged him to do?

In Ancient Israel: “Then said the LORD unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in my law, or no.” Exodus 16:4
“And thou shall remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” Deut 8:2

Feeding the 5000 “When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.” John 6:5,6
Ask God to prove: “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” Ps 26:2. Sometimes we don’t even know what is in our hearts and we should not be afraid to invite God to examine and prove us.

Prove yourself “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?” 2 Cor. 13:5 “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Gal. 6:4. Make your own test. Prove yourself according to the Law of God. See if you are truly living your life as you should – is there some worldly habit that you are still clinging to, refusing to give up? Are you really treating Jesus as you would your best friend on earth?

ISRAEL’S DESIRE FOR EGYPT

While Israel was travelling in the wilderness, Jesus had great concern for their welfare. Even though they murmured numerous times, He still was there for them. He still was a friend to them and provided them with food and water and also protection from their enemies. He didn’t just provide any food, He gave them the best.

However Israel was not happy. They had good healthy food in the wilderness but they felt something was lacking. Manna was like wafers with honey. It could be made into bread. This one item of food had all the nutrition required for health – not like our food today that we need to have a variety of in order to obtain all the nutrients required for health. That was angel’s food.

Yet they were not satisfied – they were crying for the food they had in Egypt. “And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks and the onions, and the garlick: But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes.” Num. 11:3-6. They didn’t like what God had to give.

“Our habits of eating and drinking show whether we are of the world or among the number whom the Lord by His mighty cleaver of truth has separated from the world. These are His peculiar people, zealous of good works. God has spoken in His word. In the case of Daniel and his three companions, there are sermons upon health reform. God has spoken in the history of the children of Israel, from whom for their good He sought to withhold a flesh diet. He fed them with bread from heaven; “man did eat angels’ food.” But they encouraged their earthly appetite; and the more they centred their thoughts upon the fleshpots of Egypt, the more they hated the food which God gave them to keep them in health physically, mentally, and morally. They longed for the fleshpots, and in this they did just as many in our own time have done.” CDF 379,380

Israel wanted to go back to Egypt under the leadership of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. They were dissatisfied with Moses’ leadership. Moses was a friend of Jesus and was encouraging the rest of the Israelites to make Him their best friend also. However they disliked the restrictions. “And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? Was it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.” Numbers 14:3,4

Egypt is symbolically used to describe the world “The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader and is steadily retreating toward Egypt.” T5 217 (Regarding the SDA church)
“They shall not dwell in the Lord’s land; but Ephraim shall return to Egypt, and they shall eat unclean things in Assyria.” Hos. 9:3. They didn’t literally go to Egypt. The Assyrians took them into captivity and they were scattered, however by stating that they returned to Egypt, this was a prophecy that they would return to the world.

So today people may be in the church, but they are complaining and longing for the things of the world. What is wrong with this kind of music, or this kind of food -we dislike the plain foods set out in the Spirit of Prophecy. It just does not taste very good, as it is too bland. What is wrong with this kind of dress? Just a little of this and a little of that won’t hurt. We put our worldly books and music away, 1 min. before Sabbath starts. We walk off the job 2 min. before Sabbath begins… Guard the edges of Sabbath as we are instructed to be ready 30 min. before. Some youth are asking for a little of the world. They see nothing wrong with just a little bit. They moan and groan and complain about things they see as restrictions to their happiness, but our Friend would not ask us to give up anything that was not bad for us. He loves us and wants the best for us.

WHO WANTS TO GO TO HEAVEN? WHO WANTS TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE ON THIS EARTH?

These two ideas go hand in hand. “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” MarklO:29,30. If we follow our Friend closely on this earth, we are not only promised eternal life in heaven, but we are promised a good and happy life on this earth. It may not be what the world looks at as happiness. They equate happiness to a mass of material possessions, or fame. Yet this does not bring lasting peace. Peace, contentment and true happiness are promised to us. This the world cannot give to us.

HE IS A GOD OF LOVE EVEN THOUGH AT TIMES HE DOES APPEAR AS A TOUGH GOD?

“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes [shall be] they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Mat 10:34-37.

Christ came to set sinners at peace with God, but in so doing He also inevitably set them at variance with all who refuse the offer of peace. The Christian must never seek, or be content with, the peace that comes through compromise with evil. When a man accepts Christ as his best Friend his closest friends often turn out to be his most bitter and relentless enemies. This is often true, not only in heathen lands, but also in Christian lands and among professed Christians who practice a form of religion but know little if any thing of its power to transform the life. No human obligation is a valid excuse for not taking up the cross of loyalty, obedience, and service to Christ.

IS GOD FAIR?

Does He give unreasonable requirements? “Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. Hear now, O house of Israel; Is not my way equal? Are not your ways unequal? When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done he shall die. Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, are not my ways equal? Are not your ways unequal?” Ezk 18:25-29.

Often Christians are tempted to think that God is unequal or unfair in His requirements. But it is really we who are unfair. Jesus, as our best friend, wants the best for us. All the restrictions that seemingly are placed upon us are not really restrictions, but guidelines to healthy and happy living. As our friend He wants the best for us.

So why are certain things prohibited? Certain types of music, food, and fictitious TV shows? Is our friend simply trying to deny us some fun and pleasure in life, making life uninteresting? These things are not from our friend, but they come from our enemy with the sole purpose of turning us against our Friend and all the good things He has in store for us in Heaven. Our enemy wants us to perish with him. Our enemy wants to distract us, to take our minds off from our Friend, hoping we will forget about Him.
What does Jesus tell us through the Spirit of Prophecy about novel reading? Can this principle apply also to any TV shows that are fictitious?

“In the education of children and youth, fairy tales, myths, and fictitious stories are now given a large place. Books of this character are used in the schools, and they are to be found in many homes. How can Christian parents permit their children to use books so filled with falsehood? When the children ask the meaning of stories so contrary to the teaching of their parents, the answer is that the stories are not true; but this does not do away with the evil results of their use. The ideas presented in these books mislead the children. They impart false views of life and beget and foster a desire for the unreal.” MH 446/447

All these tools our enemy uses to take our minds away from our Friend who is doing so much for our salvation right now in Heaven. Our Friend is coming soon to take us back to Heaven with Him and our enemy does not want us to be ready. Those only will be able to return with Him to Heaven who have made Him their best Friend on earth and done all they could to maintain, and preserve that friendship, working in cooperation with Him.

DO SOMETHING

When we are friends with someone we will do things to help them. Imagine a marriage where the wife tells her husband she loves him. She really does, however she sits at home all day watching TV, refusing to cook for him, clean his house, wash his clothes or take care of their children. Does she really love him? She says she does. She will give him a lot of hugs and kisses, but will not do any housework. A true friend will do things to help their friends and loved ones. Saying is not enough, it is doing what counts.

We need to not only pray, but also act. If we simply go to church and perform our church duties, we look good in the eyes of our brethren, but that is not enough. Not for our Friend. We need to get up and do something. “If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency.” 3T 281.

In the time of Jonathan – they were fighting the Philistines. Most of the Israelites were frightened. Many had fled the army and went to hide in the mountains. Jonathan was the son of King Saul and if he had chosen to stay with the king and wait for Samuel to come to perform the sacrifice and hope that the courage of the soldiers would be bolstered up he would have been fine. No one would have thought any less of him as a person, as a soldier, or as the king’s son. He would have been ok no one would hold it against him to stand at his father’s side in this crisis. After all it was not really his job to lead the army. It was his father’s job. However he decided to take action. No one asked him to do it, and it was not a requirement that he go and do it. He just got up – took his armour bearer – saw a need and decided to take action. He went secretly with his armour bearer and knew that if God was with him, the two of them could win the battle. God is not dependent on numbers; He only needs willing, diligent workers.

“And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:6. He prayed for God to move a mountain and He did. The battle was won with their small beginning. “Jonathan did not depend so much on his armour as on the unlimited power of God. He simply used that which he had at hand, and God blessed his humble dependence on Heaven. Even if the king should turn aside from the path of obedience, God proposed to prove to all Israel that salvation is a matter of individual choice and action, and not so much a mass movement. How tragic the situation would have been had God rejected all Israel when the king chose not to obey.” 2BC 515.

Also David, when he went to fight Goliath, had he decided not to do anything about it in the first place, no one would have thought any different of him. He still would have been loved by his family and respected by his friends. However he saw a problem; he saw the lack of faith on the part of the king to solve this problem, so, armed with the strength of God, he decided to step forward and go in the strength of the Lord. He won a great victory that day. God moved a mountain for him.

“My brethren and sisters, do you desire to break the spell that holds you? Would you arouse from this sluggishness that resembles the torpor of death? Go to work, whether you feel like it or not. Engage in personal effort to bring souls to Jesus and the knowledge of the truth. In such labor you will find both a stimulus and a tonic; it will both arouse and strengthen. By exercise your spiritual powers will become more vigorous, so that you can with better success work out your own salvation. The stupor of death is upon many who profess Christ. Make every effort to arouse them. Warn, entreat, expostulate. Pray that the melting love of God may warm and soften their icebound natures. Though they may refuse to hear, your labor will not be lost. In the effort to bless others your own souls will be blessed.” 5T 387

If you choose to continue sitting in church every week, not doing anything else for your Friend, no one will condemn you. You can look like an ordinary church member and everything will appear fine. However the Lord is looking for extraordinary helpers and friends. Friends who will do more than warm a pew every week – friends who will go and share the good news to their associates, the good news that there is a Friend named Jesus who can solve all their problems and give them comfort and help in time of need.

WE MUST HAVE COURAGE!

God will fight for us -but we need courage, so when we are in difficult situations we can ask God to move a mountain and He will, according to His will. He’s our Friend.

“Christian life is more than many take it to be. It does not consist wholly in gentleness, patience, meekness, and kindliness. These graces are essential; but there is need also of courage, force, energy, and perseverance. The path that Christ marks out is a narrow, self-denying path. To enter that path and press on through difficulties and discouragements requires men who are more than weaklings.

“Men of stamina are wanted, men who will not wait to have their way smoothed and every obstacle removed, men who will inspire with fresh zeal the flagging efforts of dispirited workers, men whose hearts are warm with Christian love and whose hands are strong to do their Master’s work.” MH 497

Our true Friend has promised, “and lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” Mat. 28:20.
ABRAHAM DID SOMETHING when he heard about the up-coming destruction of Sodom. He is an example of someone with strong faith. When he heard that Sodom was going to be destroyed, he didn’t just accept the news as a judgment from God, but decided to see if he can do something about averting the impending doom. He could have just agreed with God, that yes, they are wicked and deserve punishment. No, he decided to see if he could do something about it. Abraham was called the friend of God. As a friend they had good communication between them and he wanted to do something for his fellowman in requesting that they be granted a little more time on this earth to get to know Jesus as a Friend as he knew Him to be.

“And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?” The discussion went on until finally they concluded with, “And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.” Genesis 18:23, 24, 32. “God conferred great honour upon Abraham. Angels of heaven walked and talked with him as friend with friend. When judgments were about to be visited upon Sodom, the fact was not hidden from him, and he became an intercessor with God for sinners…. Abraham had honoured God, and the Lord honoured him, taking him into His counsels, and revealing to him His purposes.” PP 138,139 This man of faith pleaded for the inhabitants of Sodom. Once he had saved them by his sword, now he endeavoured to save them by prayer. Love for perishing souls inspired Abraham’s prayer.

May God help us to make Jesus our best Friend. We are facing a crisis in the near future. Our faith will be tested to the limit. The only way we will survive is by the help of our best Friend. However, unless we make Him our Friend today, He may not be there when we need His help. It would be fearful to hear Him tell us, “I know you not” when we come to Him for help. Mat. 25:12. By maintaining our Friendship today, we are promised that He will be with us in our times of need.
AMEN