In brief, our hedge of protection in the time of trouble and at
any time for that matter is obedience to God’s law.—rb
Chap. 262 -
Angelic Protection in the Time of Trouble
Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy
doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the
indignation be overpast. Isa. 26:20.
In the day of
fierce trial He [Christ] will say, "Come, my people, enter thou into thy
chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little
moment, until the indignation be overpast." What are the chambers in
which they are to hide? They are the protection of Christ and holy angels.
The people of God are not at this time all in one place. They are in
different companies, and in all parts of the earth. {Mar 270.1}
I saw the saints
leaving the cities and villages, and associating together in companies, and
living in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food and water,
while the wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst. {Mar 270.2}
During the night a
very impressive scene passed before me. There seemed to be great confusion
and the conflict of armies. A messenger from the Lord stood before me, and
said, "Call your household. I will lead you; follow me." He led me
down a dark passage, through a forest, then through the clefts of mountains,
and said, "Here you are safe." There were others who had been led
to this retreat. The heavenly messenger said. "The time of trouble has
come as a thief in the night, as the Lord warned you it would come."
{Mar 270.3}
In the time of
trouble just before the coming of Christ, the righteous will be preserved
through the ministration of heavenly angels; but there will be no security
for the transgressor of God's law. Angels cannot then protect those who are
disregarding one of the divine precepts. {Mar 270.4}
In the closing
period of earth's history the Lord will work mightily in behalf of those who
stand steadfastly for the right. . . . In the midst of the time of
trouble--trouble such as has not been since there was a nation--His chosen
ones will stand unmoved. Satan with all the hosts of evil cannot destroy the
weakest of God's saints. Angels that excel in strength will protect them, and
in their behalf Jehovah will reveal Himself as a "God of gods,"
able to save to the uttermost those who have put their trust in Him. {Mar
270.5}
April 7, 1896
Treasure Laid Up in Heaven.
By Mrs. E. G. White.
"Lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also." "If ye then be risen with Christ,
seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of
God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye
are dead [to earthly pleasures and worldly attractions], and your life is hid
with Christ in God." What follows this experience?--"When Christ,
who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the
children of disobedience." {RH, April 7, 1896 par. 1}
Truth languishes in
our earth, and he that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey. What shall
I eat? and what shall I drink? and wherewithal shall I be clothed? are the
questions which are occupying the minds of men, while eternity is dropped out
of their reckoning. Men do not look upon the Lord Jesus Christ as the only
hope of the world. He sees his purchased possession the sport of every kind
of deception, and knows that the end thereof is eternal ruin. Those for whom
he died are absorbed in providing themselves with temporal things that are
not required. At the same time they are neglecting the preparation of
character which would fit them for an abode in the mansions which he has
purchased for them at an infinite price. Christ calls upon them to change
this order of things, and to act as rational beings. He would have them use
their God-given faculties in contemplating eternal realities. He lifts his
voice in warning, saying, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon
earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and
steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . . No man can serve
two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he
will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and
mammon." {RH, April 7, 1896 par. 2}
When temporal
matters absorb the mind and engage the attention, the whole strength of the
being is engaged in the service of man, and men look upon the worship due to
God as a trifling matter. Religious interests are made subservient to the
world. But Jesus, who has paid the ransom for the souls of the human family,
requires that men shall subordinate temporal interests to the heavenly
interests. He would have them cease to indulge in hoarding up earthly treasures,
in spending money upon luxuries, and in surrounding themselves with those
things which they do not need. He would not have them destroy spiritual
power, but directs their attention to heavenly things. He urges that men
should seek more earnestly and continually for the bread of life than for the
bread which perishes. He says, "Labor not for the meat which perisheth,
but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man
shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed." "Except
ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in
you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I
will raise him up at the last day." It is the word of God that is
essential for our spiritual growth. "It is the Spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are
spirit, and they are life." Those who are doers of the words of Christ
will bring heaven into their life. {RH, April 7, 1896 par. 3}
Christ is our
Redeemer, our owner, and he is intensely interested that we shall have peace
in this world. He seeks to present before us the attractions of heaven; for
where the treasure is, there will the heart be also. To lay up treasure in
heaven is to use our God-given capabilities in acquiring means and influence
that may be used for the glory of God. Every dollar we earn is the Lord's
property, and should be used in reference to the time when we shall be called
to give an account of our stewardship. No one of us will be able to evade the
future reckoning. By choosing to lay up treasure in heaven, our characters
will be molded after the likeness of Christ. The world will see that our
hopes and plans are made in reference to the advancement of the truth and the
salvation of perishing souls. They will see that Christ is all in all to
those who love him. {RH, April 7, 1896 par. 4}
The world is
stirred to intense activity in seeking for earthly treasure. Men prostitute
their God-given powers in devising and executing earthly projects; but Christ
lifts his voice, like the trump of God, and calls the attention of men,
saying, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world,
and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
{RH, April 7, 1896 par. 5}
In securing
treasure in heaven, we place ourselves in living connection with God, who
owns all the treasures of the earth, and supplies all temporal mercies that
are essential for life. Every soul may secure the eternal inheritance. The
Lord opens the fact before his people that there is full room for the
exercise of their faculties, for the fulfilment of their loftiest aims, for
the acquirement of the choicest and most enduring treasure. They may lay up
treasures where neither fire nor flood nor any manner of adversity can touch.
It is the highest wisdom to live in such a way as to secure eternal life.
This may be done by not living in the world for ourselves, but by living for
God; by passing our property on to a world where it will never perish. By
using our property to advance the cause of God, our uncertain riches are
placed in an unfailing bank. But it is not riches alone that is accounted as
treasure. We are to dispense our wealth of thought, to use our God-given wisdom
in devising and executing plans to honor and glorify God. We are to make to
ourselves friends by relieving the distress of the poor and by building up
every interest we possibly can in the earth, to keep heaven and God
continually in view, and to lift up the standard of righteousness among men.
In so doing we are using the means and the influence that the Householder has
lent us in trust to make for ourselves friends of the mammon of
unrighteousness. The world may condemn us for using our means in building
meeting-houses, in feeding the hungry, in helping the oppressed and suffering
out of their difficulties; but the Lord says that this is the very work that
should be done with his intrusted capital. Those who make friends with the
mammon of unrighteousness will be received into everlasting habitations.
Every sacrifice made for the purpose of blessing others, every appropriation
of means for the service of God, will be treasure laid up in heaven.” E.G.
White, {RH, April 7, 1896 par. 6}
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