When the ship called Bohemian sank, there was a mother with a little girl holding on to a piece of timber. After some time the mother said, “I can’t hold on any longer, I must let go and drown.” The little girl replied, “Hold on a little longer, mother, Jesus will save us.” This encouraged her to hold on until the rescue boat arrived to save them.
“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:11. We are nearing the end, and soon our time to prepare for eternity will be over. While we are holding fast to our faith, we are to help others also to hold fast. Satan is now very active, knowing that his time is short. He is doing his utmost, trying to destroy the unity in the church. And we must do our utmost to hold on to the unity and love in our church. Our religion is to a great extent learning how to live in peace with one another. The sermon of Jesus on the mount gives us instructions on how to treat others.
Most of the Ten Commandments deal with our relationship to our fellow men. God did not make man to live alone. We are created as social beings, living with others in harmony. But sin has separated people. We are separated in different nations, and in different classes. Sin brings divorces to the families. It has brought distrust, enmity, suspicion, and separation between people.
But, our religion calls for love to our fellowmen, even to our enemies. People who get on our nerves and bother us, we are to love and care for them.
“God wants His people to be united in the closest bonds of Christian fellowship, confidence in our brethren is essential to the prosperity of the church.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 3, p. 446
Jesus prayed especially in a solemn, most touching prayer, “That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” John 17:21
“Troublous times are before us, but let us stand together in Christian fellowship.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, p. 38
If we want to hold on to our faith we need the support of others, and we need to support them. We need to visit one another and talk to one another. “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name.” Malachi 3:16
“Believers are to associate together in Christian fellowship, regarding one another as brothers and sisters in the Lord. They are to love one another as Christ loved them.” –Medical Ministry, p. 316
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27
“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Isaiah 58:6–7. Eight requirements are mentioned here and all of them have to do with helping others.
Jesus also mentioned that the conditions for eternal life are in helping others. “Then shall the King say unto them on His right hand, Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave Me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took Me in: Naked, and ye clothed Me: I was sick, and ye visited Me: I was in prison, and ye came unto Me.” Matthew 25:34–36
Paul writes to us also, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.” Romans 15:2
We must be very tender hearted and tolerant towards others. Their salvation must be very important to us. We need to encourage them to hold fast to the end, because we are our brothers’ keepers.
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14
It is very easy to say, “I love you.” But to show it in action is much harder. The greatest love for others is this: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13
If we are willing to die for our friends, would we not be willing to live for them, and make our lives a living sacrifice for them? “‘Press together; press together,’ are the words of our Divine Instructor. Unity is strength, disunion is weakness and defeat.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 293
Press together means more than just being together, it means that a special effort is made for it. “In unity there is a life, a power that can be obtained in no other way. There will be a vast power in the church when the energies of the members are united under the control of the Spirit. Then will God be able to work mightily through His people for the conversion of sinners.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 237
Make it your life purpose to help others. Put sunshine into the lives of the discouraged ones.
Job writes, “Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.” Job 29:12–13, 15–16
Let your prayer be, Lord, make me a blessing. Only a cheerful happy person can make others happy. Let us use this little time that we have left to help others hold on a little longer, because soon it will be too late. In serving others, you save yourself. Amen.
Timo Martin