What do we need to focus on?
( page 3 of 5 )
What do we need to focus on, during our time here in suffering?
II Cor 4 (v. 16) Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing,... (v. 17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,...
FROM A PERIODICAL TITLED: “THE DAY-STAR”
We all went under the tree, and sat down to look at the glory of the place, when Bro. Fitch, and Stockman, who had preached the gospel of the kingdom, whom God had laid in the grave to save them, came up to us and asked us what we had passed through while they were sleeping.[1]
We tried to call up our greatest trials, but they looked so small compared with the far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory that surrounded us, that we could not speak them out, and we all cried out Hallelujah, heaven is cheap enough, and we touched our glorious harps and made heaven's arches ring.[1]
Image #1
Here is another quote about comparing our trials to the glory of heaven:
Oh, what music! There is not an inharmonious note. Every voice proclaims, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" (Rev. 5:12). He sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied. Do you think anyone there will take time to tell of his trials and terrible difficulties? "The former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind" (Isa. 65:17). "God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes" (Rev. 21:4).[2]
Rom 8 (v. 18) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Satan represents God’s law of love as a law of selfishness....The fall of our first parents, with all the woe that has resulted, he charges upon the Creator, leading men to look upon God as the author of sin, and suffering, and death.[3]
Just like we are suffering now, satan must look forward with trembling for when he will suffer for all of the evil that he has done; and then we will be compensated according to the measure that we have suffered on this earth.
Matt 19 (v. 29) And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters....or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit everlasting life.
An example for us to follow from the past:
Determined to make his adopted grandson his successor to the throne, "Thutmose I" saw to it that Moses was educated for his high position. In the court of pharaoh, Moses received the highest civil and military training of his day....All the wealth, influence, and power of the then-civilized world lay at Moses’ feet. It was his for the taking if he would cast his lot with the Egyptians and forget the God of heaven….[4]
Heb 11 (v. 24) By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, (v. 25) choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,
Image #2
Moses never became the Pharaoh of Egypt. Instead, he chose something better.…Moses looked beyond the palaces, beyond the pleasures of earthly wealth and ease, to a future that made Egypt’s fortunes fade into insignificance. He chose to become the son of the Mighty King, the son of the God of Heaven![4]
Heb 11 (v. 26) esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. (v. 27) By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
This planet Earth is involved in a great war called the Great Controversy:
And this same city to which the ancient patriarchs looked with such longing is held out before us today, still waiting for the moment when faith becomes sight.[4]
Those of us who survive the war will have spent only a few decades.…maybe 70 years.…at the most.…here on a sin-wracked planet.…Then 70 billion trillion gazillion years on Earth II.…If that’s true, maybe we ought to spend a bit more time thinking about eternity and a little less thinking about the here and now.[5]
Image #3
In the end, you will be given a chance to investigate why God let us suffer.
Rev 14 (v. 7) ....for the hour of His judgment has come....
God has to give an account to all created beings, about how he handled the sin problem and answered to satan’s claims; or else we would serve him out of fear.
Isa 1 (v. 18) Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord....
We will have a thousand years to discover why God allowed terrible things to happen on this earth.
When we suffer, he [satan] wants us to conclude God is to blame.…If he can fill our lives with misery and suffering and death, then convince us that it’s all God’s fault, we’re his.…This is the great central issue of the Great War, this is what it is all about.[6]
Image #4
God’s word says: our eyes will be opened and we will see everything.
I Cor 13 (v. 12) For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
Every question of truth and error in the long-standing controversy has now been made plain. The results of rebellion, the fruits of setting aside the divine statutes, have been laid open to the view of all created intelligences. The working out of satan's rule in contrast with the government of God has been presented to the whole universe. Satan’s own works have condemned him.[7]
And after reviewing the books, what will be our conclusion?
Psm 119 (v. 7) I will praise you with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.
God handled everything in the great controversy perfectly!!
God’s wisdom, his justice, and his goodness stand fully vindicated. It is seen that all His dealings in the great controversy have been conducted with respect to the eternal good of his people and the good of all the worlds that he has created.…[7]
Image #5
Psm 145 (v. 10) All Your works shall praise You, Oh Lord....
The history of sin will stand to all eternity as a witness, that with the existence of God’s law, is bound up the happiness of all the beings he has created. With all the facts of the great controversy in view, the whole universe, both loyal and rebellious, with one accord declare: “Just and true are Thy ways, thou King of saints.”[7]
Rev 15 (v. 3) ....Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, Oh King of the saints!
This is what we should be focusing on....Your great name! video ref. [8]
The lost are saved....find their way....at the sound of Your great name!
Every fear has no place....at the sound of Your great name!
References:
1. E.G. White, "The Day-Star" (24 JAN 1846), par.1
2. E.G. White, Selected Messages (book 3), p.431, par.4
3. E.G. White, The Desire of Ages, p.24, par.2
4. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion’s Gates, p.341-342.
5. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion’s Gates, p.338.
6. Mark Finley, (1995). Beyond Orion’s Gates, p.96.
7. E.G. White, The Great Controversy, p.670-671, par.3
8. Natalie Grant. “Your Great Name” with Lyrics. Online video. YouTube, 29 July 2011. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rq03fa_nOq4
Image #1: David Hopkins, (20156). Give all of your praise to God. Retrieved from http://www.dailywordofgodgroup.com/benefits-of-praise.htm
Image #2: Let there be movies, (2013). Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh. Retrieved from https://lettherebemovies.com/2013/12/27/mdd-minority-report/moses-before-pharaoh/
Image #3: Leah Blau, (2016). The pain that you have felt, can't be compared to the joy that is coming. Retrieved from https://dailyquotes99.com/photos/2331984/58-best-comforting-bible-verses-images-on-pinterest-words-be-patient-broken-heart-quotesromans-bibleromans#
Image #4: Author unknown, (n.d.). God does not allow pain without allowing something new to be born as well. Retrieved from https://wiirocku.tumblr.com/page/518
Image #5: Melita Housand, (2017). Beautiful morning. Retrieved from http://qige87.com/beautiful-morning-images.html
Print 