Written by: John Sernaque
Dear Reader,
A la carte menus are a great option when it comes to eating out. You get to pick and choose what you want to eat instead of having to eat a preset meal, which may include certain items you would not normally eat. Unfortunately, there are some who treat the Bible in the same way as an a la carte menu, as well as the Spirit of Prophecy. This was not meant to be an option. Either you believe the whole Bible and the Spirit of Prophesy were written by the inspiration of God or you don’t. The Bible was not meant to be a fair-weathered reading. Some will pick and choose from commandments, laws, and principles that appeal to them and bring them pleasure and ignore those that are not as comfortable for them. Some of these commandments, laws, and principles “infringe” on their lifestyle and are disagreeable to them. Or they place greater importance or significance on portions of the Bible and less on others. If God inspired 66 books to make up the entirety of the Bible, they are all important and significant. God does not waste anything. It all applies today as it did yesterday. It is all a culmination that brings us to the present truth. God’s truth. This goes as well for the inspired writings in the Spirit of Prophecy. How can anyone think that one book is less important than the other? There is a common misunderstanding that because we live in a different time than in which the Bible was written, we are no longer to apply all of God’s truths and principles in the world today. This is just not so. God’s plan of salvation began at the beginning of time. We are to carry out God's plan of salvation by proclaiming the Everlasting Gospel to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples. It is not meant to only be shared with others who belong to our denomination. That was not God's plan. Jesus’ second advent will not happen until the Gospel has been preached unto all. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14. This is our calling. We are called to serve the Lord with gladness.
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know [them], and be established in the present truth. 2 Peter 1: 2-12
If we continually serve God as He intended, then may our names be written in the book of life and may we be counted worthy. The goal is not to not receive the Mark of the Beast, it is to live our lives’ in Gods service that it may be well-pleasing to God and worthy of receiving the Seal of God. Yes, we are to obey all of God's 10 commandments and proclaim the loud cry warning, but who will believe the end if they do not believe the beginning. They go hand in hand. You may never miss a Sabbath service or live in the country all your life and still not receive the Seal of God. You would have missed the whole point if you pick and choose from among the books of the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy. Present truth is to share God's truth as it relates to our everyday life with all peoples. This is God's truth. This is what the world needs now. Jesus longs for us to look to Him and keep our eyes on Him. Yes, beware of Satan as he prowls around like a lion seeking whom he may devour. But if you faithfully trust in God’s Word, His whole Book of truth, He will cover you with His wings, where you may find shelter in the time of storm. It matters not what President Trump is doing or how many protests there are against climate change if you have built your foundation on the rock of Jesus, and are ready with Christ Jesus in you, the hope of glory. Leave the fear-mongering to the fanatics. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:7.
No matter how high the profession, he whose heart is not filled with love for God and his fellow men is not a true disciple of Christ. Though he should possess great faith and have power even to work miracles, yet without love his faith would be worthless. He might display great liberality; but should he, from some other motive than genuine love, bestow all his goods to feed the poor, the act would not commend him to the favor of God. In his zeal he might even meet a martyr’s death, yet if not actuated by love, he would be regarded by God as a deluded enthusiast or an ambitious hypocrite. {AA 318.2}
"We can avoid seeing many of the evils that are multiplying so fast in these last days. We can avoid hearing about much of the wickedness and crime that exist. Everything that can be done should be done to place ourselves and our children where we shall not see the iniquity that is practiced in the world. We should carefully guard the sight of our eyes and the hearing of our ears, so that these awful things shall not enter our minds. When the daily newspaper comes into the house, I feel as if I wanted to hide it, that the ridiculous, sensational things in it may not be seen. It seems as if the enemy is at the foundation of the publishing of many things that appear in newspapers. Every sinful thing that can be found is uncovered and laid bare before the world.
{3SM 211.1}
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