Fully Embracing the Gospel
Adventist history and heritage is jam-packed full of great lessons and mistakes that seem especially well suited in preparing us for our calling and future. If there were lessons that I have cherished and believe to be most vital, it would be our engagement with, controversies and wrestling over the gospel. Adventist history could be viewed as really being all about that.
While I love many stories, there is one that stands out. A lady wrestling over her guilt and shame was in a hopeless state. On hearing of her situation, Sister White received a very special vision and wrote:
“Last November 5th I was taken off in vision and shown how powerfully Satan was working to lead trembling souls to cast away their confidence in God. I saw that we should meet with souls who thought that God had left them . . . I saw that God’s love was still toward you and that He would receive you in His loving, sheltering arms if you would only come to Him believing. . . Said the angel, ’God leaves not His people, even if they err. He turns not from them in wrath for any light thing. If they sin, they have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ Yes, I saw that this Advocate pleads for sinners and the Father accepts His prayer. He turns not away the request of His beloved Son. I saw that He who so loved you as to give His own life for you will not turn you off and forsake you unless you wilfully, determinedly forsake Him to serve the world and Satan. . . You dwell upon the dark side. You must turn your mind away, and instead of thinking all the time upon the wrath of God, think of His abundant mercy, His willingness to save poor sinners, and then believe He saves you” Letter 17, 1862.
Adventist history at its best urges us to fully embrace the gospel. It calls us to know that we have eternal life (1 John 5:7). There is no more important message to experience for a group of people who are looking forward to the Saviour’s return. We are called to receive His righteousness, follow Him wherever He leads, and help others to be touched by His love through living out His calling in our lives, and loudly proclaiming the everlasting gospel in all its glory.
Verse of the day:
“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life” 1 John 5:13 (NIV).
