He Is Coming
The world measures success by fame, fortune, position, and influence. If these are possessed in abundance, a person is generally considered successful in this world. It means that he or she is renowned by erring mortals and has access to a larger proportion of this world’s material goods than most people enjoy.
Not so in the realm of faith. The reward to be gained is not temporal; it’s eternal. It is measured by how complete is our sacrifice to the meek and lowly Saviour, how deep our surrender to His perfect will, how pure the depth of our love and devotion. All this can be achieved only through the abundance of His merciful grace.
Genuine success requires an efficient use of talent and resources. When measured in the heavenly courts, it will be evident that there is a wholehearted appreciation of the heavenly light entrusted. Such light is necessary in the formation of Christian character, by which we all will be judged. “Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48).
The enemy of our souls wants to steal the light from heaven - and along with it, our only hope of success. He tried to rob Christ of His glory in the heavenly courts by grasping at position - falsely claiming to be equal to Him as Creator. Now on earth he is continuing the same process of burglary by trying to snatch from Christ the glory of His heritage: His beloved children. By undermining our faith, the enemy is trying to rob us like a pickpocket would do. Yet this is being done on such a huge scale that it can be considered no less than grand larceny and embezzlement.
According to 2 Chronicles 20:20, the foundation upon which we are to be established is belief in the Lord our God. The archenemy is constantly seeking to disrupt that structure and cause it to crumble.
And, according to the same verse, what about our prosperity - real, genuine prosperity according to the value system of heaven? That prosperity comes from believing God’s prophets. If the enemy cannot shake our faith in the gift of prophecy, he will distract and rob us of time to study and meditate upon the inspired writings. First he starts by causing us to neglect them. Then, if he can actually cause us to doubt and question them, his sinister strategic maneuver will have dragged us down a step further. Don’t let him get away with it!
God calls upon us to reclaim our precious hour of opportunity. “While so many are panting after honor and greedy of gain, do you, my beloved brethren, be eagerly seeking the assurance of the love of God and crying: Who will show me how to make my calling and election sure?
“Satan carefully studies the constitutional sins of men, and then he begins his work of alluring and ensnaring them. We are in the thickest of temptations, but there is victory for us if we fight manfully the battles of the Lord. . . .
“Some have become almost lost in the mazes of skepticism. To such I would say: Lift your mind out of that channel. Fasten it upon God. The more closely faith and holiness bind you to the Eternal One, the clearer and brighter will the justice of His dealings appear to you. Make life, eternal life, the object of your pursuit.
“I know your danger. If you lose confidence in the testimonies you will drift away from Bible truth. I have been fearful that many would take a questioning, doubting position, and in my distress for your souls I would warn you. How many will heed the warning? As you now hold the testimonies, should one be given crossing your track, correcting your errors, would you feel at perfect liberty to accept or reject any part or the whole? That which you will be least inclined to receive is the very part most needed.”1