July 23: Guarding The Way
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.” Revelation 22:12
When Jesus leaves His priestly role of intercession for His people, He will return as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 19:16). The word quickly is telling us that earth’s final events will be rapid ones. Some well-meaning translators have used the word “soon,” but the original word means with rapidity. Now that we are living in the final days of earth’s history, soon also applies.
As His return is now very close, let us heed this warning: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:13)
We are to live in readiness for the return of our Redeemer! But how are we to watch for Him? By spending quality, Holy Spirit-led time in the Bible, in prayer, and sharing our faith. These are the very pursuits that the adversary is working to prevent. Those who have no desire to understand His word will most likely sabotage themselves with no direct “help” from Satan. Therefore, Satan’s most concerted efforts squarely target the people of God, for he is well aware that those who cultivate a love of the truth (2 Thessalonians 2:10) will receive it along with its freeing, sanctifying power. Just as he has worked from the beginning to overthrow the law of God, his continued goal is to derail and overthrow the faith of believers!
“Whenever the study of the Scriptures is entered upon without a prayerful, humble, teachable spirit, the plainest and simplest as well as the most difficult passages will be wrested from their true meaning.” THE GREAT CONTROVERSY by E.G.White
There is a pervasive yet subtle brand of liberality masquerading as “conservative” which regards correct understanding of God’s word as non-essential. But, by God’s grace, history is marked with a solid line of His true servants who, for the love of truth, have powerfully contended against false teachers. Hardly anyone deliberately sets out to become a false teacher, but once he attaches himself to a falsehood, he will pass it on to others as truth. Each error leads to other errors—and the circle of deceiving and being deceived (2 Timothy 3:13) perpetuates in an ever-widening, downward spiral.
The Scriptures have been given as a guide for anyone who desires to become acquainted with the person and will of Almighty God. As the Source of all life, His will is for life to continue! To ignore or rebel against His word is to separate oneself from life’s Source. All of us have been guilty of this very thing (Romans 3:23), but God has graciously granted a probationary period during which we are given opportunity to have our characters remolded and remade into His likeness. Ever since our first parents sinned, He has lovingly acted to guard the way to the tree of life (Genesis 3:24), that we might once more partake of its life-sustaining fruit for eternity!
In the midst of the street of [the heavenly city], and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2 (KJV)