March 7: THE REMNANT DESCRIBED (part 6)

Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12

These warm words of encouragement for God’s remnant are placed meaningfully on the heels of the sternest warning in all of the Bible. The third angel’s message (vv.9-11) is a difficult message, mainly because the world has been conditioned through Satan’s influence to reject it. It is necessarily stern because it is a matter of eternal life or death. Its pointed urgency makes it appear quite confrontational. But confrontation is not the enemy that our misguided world has painted it to be. It is often the very thing that brings us to seek God in earnest.

An essential facet of patience is that of knowing when to be stern and when to show tenderness. There is a delicate balance here that requires not only endurance in terrible circumstances, but the discernment of a keenly dependent focus on the Holy Spirit’s leading. How often have I been stern when tenderness would have better conveyed the idea of honoring the Lord with obedience? On the other hand, how often have I lacked firmness when someone needed a decisive, guiding hand? The kindness and severity of God (Romans 11:22) is worthy of much focus and contemplation.

God’s last-day people are entrusted with a message of terrible urgency. Many in the world who do not know God are watching to see what kind of message the actions of His professed believers are conveying. Those who keep the commandments of God will eventually land in a spotlight that may not be of their choosing. Do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. (Mark 13:11)

God’s commandments are regarded by many as just writing. But that writing can supernaturally convict its reader of sin and point the reader to the Writer. The Spirit of God brings the power of forgiveness for past failures to any who seek it. That same Power leads the forgiven ones to honor the very “writing” which convicted them of sin, enabling them to keep the commandments of God, which means to honor those commandments with their lives. If our Savior did not have the power to lead us in the way of righteousness, it would have been unreasonable for Him to tell a woman caught in adultery to “go, and sin no more” (John 8:11). Our adversary has sneaked into many churches to teach Christians that obedience to God’s commandments is impossible, making Him out to be an unreasonable dictator.

This brings us to the faith of Jesus. For His followers, this starts out as faith in Jesus: in His all-sufficient sacrifice once and for all. But a faith that grows becomes more Christlike. Jesus said, “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15:10)

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…Philippians 2:5