Thanks be to God who leads us, wherever we are, on Christ’s triumphant way and makes our knowledge of him spread throughout the world like a lovely perfume! 2 Corinthians 2:14, Phillips.
There is no hope for the success of any religious organization where criticism is cherished as a fine art, and called spiritual discernment. Men might far better be blind to others’ faults than to be inspired by that keen, detective spirit that will watch for defects in those whom the Lord loves, and through whom He works. We all need to humble ourselves, not to have an exalted idea of self….
Lose sight of all others except Christ. We want Christ in our humanity, and Christ wants to abide in us. We are human and fallible, every one of us, and unless Christ is formed within, the hope of glory, we shall make wonderful blunders in estimating our fellow workers according to our pattern and measurement. God sees beneath the surface. He sees all the good, and He marks all the evil. Leave to Him the work of passing judgment on your brethren.
Have a care for the young men and young women who are now forming their characters. Converse with them, and help them all you possibly can. Let no one educate the young men and young women in the science of picking flaws. Let not the youth hear you finding fault with those who do not please your fancy. The youth are Christ’s servants, to be cared for, to be encouraged in good, pure, holy thoughts. They need no lessons in evil surmising. Satan stands ready to instruct them in this line. Teach them to be kind, to respect and love one another as Christ has loved us. Keep the perfume of Christ’s character in your own words and actions. Let querulous complaints forever cease. Then there will flow into your heart the sunbeams of the righteousness of Christ. God will bless you, and make you a blessing….
It is the character, not the placing of our names on the church books, that makes us Christians. What manifestations will appear when Christ, abiding in the heart, is shining in the faces of those who love Him and keep His commandments. Truth is written there. The man is transformed into Christ’s image. A worldling may pass by and not mark the change, but those who have had communion with Christ discern the expression of Christ in word, in spirit. The influence upon the heart is seen in a habitual gentleness, a more than human love. The sweet peace of heaven will be in the soul, and will be revealed in the countenances.—Letter 6, January 14, 1899, to “Brethren and Sisters in Camp Meeting at Ballarat.”
The Upward Look p. 28
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-I am asking for prayer for Ty who is in her 80’s. she is suffering with a lot of pain. please pray for some relief for her and may she find Jesus as her healer. Also pray for Amber she has not talked to her mom in two years. R
—-please pray for Jacob who has had a stroke has bleeding in the head doctors are saying he will not survive, but God has the last word. Becky
—-Umar needs prayer for his wife, she is been hospitalized. Also pray for Lisa who is fighting for her life in ICU. Arlene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
When Esther Marie was not quite a year old, we moved from the coast of North Carolina to the middle of the state. Until we could find a place to live, we camped at a private campground for a few weeks. It was a quiet campground with an open area for RV’s and a wooded area for tents. We pitched our large canvas tent in a nice spot under the trees on the shore of a small lake. It seemed like an ideal spot. The campground was not crowded, so we looked forward to a happy time while we got settled into the new area.
Unfortunately, all was not happy. There was a group of Canadian geese that had taken up residency in that same campground. For some reason, a large gander took an immediate dislike to Esther Marie. We never could figure out why. No matter where her ten-month-old feet took her, he was after her with his head down, wings outspread, and hissing loudly.
If we decided to take a swim, that goose was there spoiling our fun. If we went for a walk along the trail, he was there. If we just stayed around our camp, we had to be very watchful as he would try to sneak up on our baby girl. She was too little to be afraid, but we knew the danger of the situation. Indeed, I had worked with a man who, as a child of four years, had been deafened by a goose.
One day, as we were walking along a path that circled the small lake, Mr. Goose, with threatening pose, came rushing toward us. Ron lost his patience with that mean, old goose. He had chased that goose away so many times without success that he felt like he had to do something drastic. Ron gave him a hard, swift kick right in the breast. Mr. Goose rolled over and over down the hill and into the lake. From that moment, we had no more trouble with him. He always kept his distance.
Just as that mean old goose was constantly after us, so we have a much greater enemy that is continually trying to harm us and is always harrassing us no matter where we go. Just like Esther Marie, we are not always aware that anything is wrong, but he is there seeking to destroy us just the same. This is why Peter warns us, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8,9 We must be very watchful for the evil one lays many snares for our feet. We must be constantly on our guard lest we be overtaken by the enemy. We cannot be off our guard for a moment, as he often sets his traps where we least expect them.
Our Great Redeemer does not leave us without a weapon against the great foe. He has given us His Holy Word, that we may recognize our danger and flee into His Great Arms of Love. When in the wilderness of temptation, Our Great Exemplar fought the evil one in through the Word. “It is written” was His defense: “It is written” must be ours. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Ps 119:9-11 “Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication.” Eph 6:13-18 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”2 Tim 2:15
“Let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” Let us put “on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thes 5:6,8 Let us declare as did Jeremiah, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jer 15-16
Rose

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10.
The truth of God revealed in His Word is to be a living, abiding principle. It is not to be looked upon as an influence among many but that which is set over all others. It will exercise a power over the life and conduct until the whole being is assimilated to the image of the Perfect Pattern, and the human agent is complete in Jesus Christ. “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: rooted and built up,” not in self, not after men’s ideas, but “in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:6-8).
Your greatest danger will be that you will not see the need of contemplating the character of Christ with a set purpose to imitate His life and conform your character to His character. You are to show a marked difference between your character and that of the world. “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:9, 10).
The grand truths of the Bible are for us individually, to rule, to guide, to control our life, for this is the only way in which Christ can be properly represented to our world in grace and loveliness in the characters of all who profess to be His disciples. Nothing less than heart service will be acceptable with God. God requires the sanctification of the entire man, body, soul, and spirit. The Holy Spirit implants a new nature, and molds through the grace of Christ the human character, until the image of Christ is perfected. This is true holiness….
The spirit and word and influence you carry are making impressions upon the minds of others. The atmosphere which surrounds the soul, if it is evil, will be like a spiritual malaria, which will be poisonous to those around. But it is profitable for the soul to have an atmosphere that will be as a savor of life unto life to others. When the soul is weighted with the truth which works by love and purifies the soul, a heavenly atmosphere will pervade the soul. “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed” (Proverbs 13:20). Every soul that claims to believe the truth, should manifest uprightness of character, devotion to God, steadfastness of purpose, and represent the character of Christ in a well-ordered life and godly conversation.—Letter 70, January 13, 1894, to “Brethren in Responsible Positions in the Review and Herald Office.”
The Upward Look p. 27
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for S who is being controlled by a mentally ill husband. Pray that God opens her eyes and gives her an opportunity to escape. R
—-I have an unspoken prayer request. M
—-Please pray for a friend and family. Husband (nephew) shot his wife and then killed himself. Debra
—-Please keep my daughter in your prayers. She has been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 29 and we ask God to heal her completely. Vicki
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28.
Christ employed every means to arrest the attention of the impenitent. How tender and considerate were His dealings with all. He longed to break the spell of infatuation upon those who were deceived and deluded by satanic agencies. He longed to give the sin-polluted soul pardon and peace.
Christ was the mighty Healer of all spiritual and physical maladies. Look, O look, upon the sympathetic Redeemer. With the eye of faith behold Him walking in the streets of the cities, gathering the weak and weary to Himself. Helpless, sinful human beings crowd about Him. See the mothers with their sick and dying little ones in their arms pressing through the crowd that they may get within reach of His notice and touch. Let the eye of faith take in the scene. Watch these mothers pressing their way to Him, pale, weary, almost despairing, yet determined and persevering, bearing their burden of suffering in their arms.
As these anxious ones are being crowded back, Christ makes His way to them step by step, until He is close by their side. Tears of gladness and hope fall freely as they catch His attention and look into the eyes expressing such tender pity and love for the weary mother as well as for her suffering child. He invites her confidence, saying, “What shall I do for you?” She sobs out her great want—“Master, that Thou shouldest heal my child.” She has shown her faith in urging her way to Him, though she did not know that He was making His way to her, and Christ takes the child from her arms. He speaks the word, and disease flees at His touch. The pallor of death is gone. The life-giving current flows through the veins. The muscles receive strength.
Words of comfort and peace are spoken to the mother, and then another case just as urgent is presented. The mother asks help for herself and her children, for they are all sufferers. With willingness and joy Christ exercises His life-giving power, and they give praise and honor and glory to His name who doeth wonderful things.
No frown on Christ’s countenance spurned the humble suppliant from His presence. The priests and rulers sought to discourage the suffering and needy, saying that Christ healed the sick by the power of the devil. But His way could not be hedged up. He was determined not to fail or become discouraged. Suffering privation Himself, He traversed the country that was the scene of His labor, scattering His blessings, and seeking to reach obdurate hearts.—Letter 31, January 12, 1898, to Uriah Smith, longtime editor of the Review and Herald.
The Upward Look p. 26
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—- Carolyn is asking for prayer for lots of pain with her lower back! Arlene
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Before Eileen was born, we determined that when we had children, we would never turn them over to a babysitter. I would stay home while she was little. This was a big sacrifice financially, but we felt that by doing this would, we could ground them spiritually.
As time went by, however, we found that there were times when this was not possible. The first time that we left Eileen, she was no quite a year old. There was a deacon’s meeting at the head deacon’s house and since Ron was a deacon, he needed to attend. This meeting was a little different, as the deacons’ wives were required to be there as well. They announced that no children would be allowed. They would be too much of a distraction.
What were we to do? One of the ladies in our church volunteered to watch Eileen. Barbara had four girls of her own and convinced us that she was well able to watch Eileen for the two hours that we would be gone. Convinced at last, we bundled up our little one and drove to Barbara’s house. With some misgivings, we left her in the woman’s care.
The meeting went longer than expected and I missed my baby terribly. Finally the meeting got over and we quickly drove to Barbara’s home to get her. I was so happy to hold my precious little one in my arms again. Relieved that Eileen was fine, we went home. She wasn’t fine, however. A few hours later, we were awakened by Eileen’s cries and screams. She was doubled over in pain. We were terribly frightened and didn’t know what to do. For several hours, we held her while she cried. The next day, we found out that Barbara had fed her blueberries. The tiny seeds in those delicious berries were too hard on her delicate stomach. We were not at all happy with that woman.
Our Dear Saviour cares for us more tenderly than we care for our children. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.” Ps 103:13 He promises, “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” “Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Ps 32:8; Heb 13:5;Isa 43:1-3 T
The evil one is always trying to feed us the seedy things of this world, things that will only harm us. The familiar story of the prodigal son illustrates how far we can sink if we “taste” of his allurements. (Luke 15) The younger son turned from his father’s tender love and care, left home, and spent all of his inheritance on trifles. He believed the devil’s promise of a life of worldly pleasure and prosperity, but soon he was left alone, penniless, in rags, and so hungry that he wished to eat even pig slop. When he was at his lowest, this son remembered his father’s tender care and determined to return. He did not yet understand his father’s great love and thought that he would be taken back as a servant, but it was better than feeding pigs and starving to death. “But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.” That loving father reinstated his wayward boy into full sonship again.
Just as that father forgave his son who had sunk so low, so our Heavenly Father forgives us when we ask Him. He bids us, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Isa 1:18 Matt 11:28-30 John reminds us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 What love! What forgiveness!
May we always trust in our Heavenly Father’s love and care for us. May we determine never to partake of the devil’s seedy pleasures, for “the end thereof are the ways of death.” Prov 14:12 May we love and serve the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength for He loves us more than we can ever understand. (Mark 12:30;Jer 31:3)
Rose

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17.
The work of your salvation and mine depends wholly upon ourselves, for it rests with us to accept the provision that has been made for us. God has done everything for us that a God can do. Christ has purchased you with His own blood; He has paid the ransom money, that you might be united with God, and separated from sin and sinners. When the heart is opened to Christ, the Holy Spirit will work in it with mighty, renewing power. But in order that we may be laborers together with God, there must be on our part an entire surrender to God. We must, to the extent of our ability, devote ourselves to Him, straining every spiritual sinew, and as faithful soldiers doing service for Christ….
The law of duty [to God] is supreme. It claims authority over reason and conscience, over talents and possessions. It will admit no rival, and will not for one moment abate its high demands. It enters into no compromise with any oppressive power of earth. In every act of duty we are hiding self in Jesus. We reach out beyond ourselves, beyond the narrow scope of selfish and present gratification. Obedience to God brings the soul into agreement with the highest laws in the universe. It imparts dignity and true greatness to the humblest occupation where Christ can preside. It crowns the lowliest position in life with the highest honors, bringing man into alliance with God and binding up his interests with plans and purposes that have existence in the infinite mind from eternity.
The Lord Jesus Christ has paid the price for you, not to secure a mere assent to the truth, but for heart service. He desires the homage of your soul. You cannot cease to believe that you ought to do the will of God. You can no more release yourself from the claims of duty than you can flee from the presence of God. It is only in obedience to God that you will realize true happiness….
I entreat you to open the door of your heart and let your Saviour in. Give Him the whole heart—that which He has purchased. Ever bear in mind that it is you who must choose. God forces no man. He has chosen you, and engraven your name in the palms of His hands. Will you not give yourself fully to Him? Time is short. You have not a moment to lose in hesitation. The divine Word is in your hands, to be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path.—Letter 21a, January 11, 1893, to N. D. Faulkhead, treasurer of the Echo Publishing House, and at the time involved with secret societies.
The Upward Look p. 25
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for my dear mother. She is at my home now and I am doing everything I can for her. I am having a hard time getting fluids down her. She acts like she has forgotten how to suck on a straw. She is not herself at all and she seems to go in and out of reality. I have my daughter in law here helping me with her. Please pray that God will restore her to health in body and mind. Connie
—-Please pray for Jeon that God will supply his needs. Roberta
—-Please pray that Samuel’s wife can soon get a visa to join him. Rose
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
All of my life, I have sneezed and itched because of allergies. My grandmother had never heard of allergies and thought I had a continual cold. She gave me cold medicine all of the time which caused me to lie around a lot because it made me so sleepy. Living in a house full of adults who didn’t communicate well with one another, complicated matters. Sometimes I was given more than one dose.
The older I got, the worse my allergies became until by the time I was in my 40’s, I went to an allergist to get tested to see what I was allergic to. The test results showed that I was allergic to nearly everything. In fact, they found that there were only two items that I was not allergic to out of all the items that they tested me for. I was so desperate to feel better, that I was willing to take four shots twice a week even though I hated needles. Unfortunately, I had such an allergic reaction to the shots, that they had to be stopped. I was so disappointed.
When we moved here, my allergies were even worse. They were so bad, that we considered moving away from this area even though we had bought a mobile home and would have difficulty selling it. Seeing my misery, a lady at our church suggested that I stop using all dairy products and see if that would help. Now that was not easy, as a good share of our diet consisted of milk, cheese, and eggs. I wasn’t sure that I could cook without them, but I was willing to try anything. I found that if I ate anything that had even a component of milk, such as sodium caseinate, I could feel my throat swell and I would get an allergy attack. Just a little bit of dairy acts as a catalyst which makes me react to everything else that I am allergic to. Even so, this was a struggle for me, but I was so miserable with my allergies, that I was willing to do it. Soon my allergies were so much better that I lost my desire for the food that I had formerly loved.
Sin is like those allergens that make me so miserable. Paul likens sin’s working to yeast. “Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” 1 Cor 5:6 Hanging on to just a little bit of sin affects our entire life. Allowing just a little bit of sin to remain in our lives affects our judgment. Toying with sin affects not only our life but the lives of those around us.
Our Dear Saviour pleads, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” Eze 33:11 Turning completely away from sin is the only solution to be rid of the “sin allergen.” Yet we cannot do this in our own strength. Sin has left us weak and unable to do our Father’s Commandments. Yet He Who bids us turn from sin has provided the Way! “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:” 1 John 2:1 Think of it! Our Dear Saviour left the glories of Heaven and the worship of all the unfallen beings throughout the universe to come down to this sinful planet and live a perfect life despite all of the poverty, all of the hatred that the devil could heap upon Him, and finally pour out His life upon the cross (the cruelest way of execution). What love! What wondrous love!
Paul explains, “After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Rom 6:1-4
May we come to Jesus today and receive the cleansing from sin that we so desperately need. May we shun sin even more earnestly than I avoid dairy products which make my allergies worse. May we daily walk with our Redeemer along the pathway that leads to His Heavenly Kingdom is my prayer.
Rose

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16.
There is a power for good in intellect, if it is conformed to the mind of Christ, sanctified and controlled by the Spirit of God. But intellect alone cannot give a fitness for heaven, or enable us to reach the divine standard. In order for a man to be what God desires him to be, he must have a pure, noble character. The right that one has to claim that he is a man is determined by the use that he makes of his intellect. Before man can be acknowledged as a laborer together with God, he must get out of and away from the self-confidence that claims much and gives little….
Human beings have no right to think that there is a limit to the efforts that they are to make to represent the goodness and love of God in the work of saving souls. Did Christ ever become weary in His work of soul-saving? Did He ever draw back from self-denial and sacrifice? When church members bring into their lives the self-denial that Christ brought into His life, when they put forth the continuous, persevering efforts that He put forth, they will have no time and no inclination to weave into their experience the false threads that would spoil the pattern….
We are to watch, and work, and pray, never letting self obtain the mastery. We are to be ready, through watchfulness and prayer, to spring into action in obedience to the Master’s command. Wherever we see work waiting to be done, we are to take it up and do it, constantly looking unto Jesus….
For Christ’s sake, watch and pray, and during the year that we have just entered, strive to restrain all harsh words. Resolve that you will not speak words that will cast a shadow over the lives of others. Do not stop to ask whether those around you appreciate your efforts to deny self. Open the windows heavenward. Think of Christ, and try to please Him….
Satan will use every possible device to make you like himself, and thus separate you from the One who gave His life for you. Evil angels will strive for the mastery in your life. If you have not on the whole armor of God, you will be overcome. Shall it be thus, or shall you sign the pledge that you will not be intemperate in word or in spirit, that you will keep the divine Pattern ever before you?
This warning was not given by the apostle without a purpose. We should all feel that it is our duty to stand at our post, on guard over ourselves, lest the evil agencies warring against us shall be successful in leading us to say and do that which will please the enemy.—Letter 11, January 10, 1905, “To Those Assembled at Council in Nashville.”
The Upward Look p. 24
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prayer Requests
—-Three prayer requests…Joseph – seeing a neurologist this afternoon.
Thelma – having knee surgery this morning. Taylor – recovering from a heart attack. Joe
—-My mother is going to the hospital this morning, for a dead infected kidney removal. Her system is very complicated with possibility of a second stroke or a heart attack despite the quad bypass 2 years ago. We are apart. PLEASE pray for Gods blessing on this to be a success and all according to his will. Wendy
—-Please pray for my friend Darcy’s sister Marcy who is having a biopsy on some lumps they found recently. They are growing and very painful. Debra
—-I’m asking for prayers for my son-in-law Jeremy who is in the ER after nearly passing out at work. He has extremely low blood pressure and they do not know what is wrong with him. Today is the first day of camp meeting and my daughter is one of the staff. Please keep them and all involved in prayer. Kathy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Friends,
Ron’s has bursitis in his shoulder that gives him a lot of pain. Even though he is going to physical therapy for it, he still needs to take a pain reliever for it. Because his body has become used to the aspirin that he normally takes for fibromyalgia pain, it no longer is effective. I suggested that he switch to ibuprophen for awhile, but he is hesitant to do so. Whenever he takes that pain reliever, he has very vivid dreams. These dreams are so real and scarey that he is bothered by their memory. I can understand why he is not sure that he wants to take it.
Normally, dreams “evaporate” before we even awaken or shortly thereafter. They are nothing more than insignificant “mind doodles” that keep our brain healthy. In fact, scientists have done studies where they did not allow thier subjects to dream. Within days, they begin to hallucinate. This showed the scientists how important having dreams are for us psychologically.
There are times, however, when dreams are more than just the natural part of sleep. Some dreams are especially sent from our Great Creator. He uses every means possible to get His children’s attention. Over the millennia, patriarch and prophet have received special dreams that have had great meaning for us as well as for those living at the time.
Some dreams were sent to bring hope and comfort such as Jacob’s dream of the ladder that reached all the way to Heaven. (Gen 28:12-15) This dream, given so many years ago, still has meaning for us today. Our Dear Saviour is the Ladder from earth the Heaven. He tells us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.” “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 1:51;14:6
Some dreams bring a warning such as the wise men’s being “warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.” Joseph also was given warning at that very same time. “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Matt 2:12,13
Heathen kings were also given dreams by the King of Kings. Some of those dreams were strictly for their time such as when King Abimelech and the Pharaoh in Abraham’s day were warned to restore to Abraham his wife. Others received dreams that had world-wide significance such as the Pharaoh’s dream of a coming famine in Joseph’s day. (Gen 41) This famine, the Bible tells us, “was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.” vs 56,57
One heathen king that was especially used by the Great King of the Universe to open the future, not only to himself, but also to us, was Nebuchadnezzar. The second chapter of Daniel gives the account of this event. As this king was going to sleep, he was wondering what should come to pass after he was gone. He that reveals secrets made known to this man what would come to pass from his time all the way to the end of the world. What a privilege! God revealed to this ancient monarch that his kingdom would not stand forever, but would be succeeded by others—Medo-Persia, Greece, Rome, and Rome divided. Finally, “shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” vs 44 Later Daniel was given more dreams that filled in more details concerning the same time period (chapters seven through twelve). They are well worth studying.
What a wonderful God we serve! He declares “the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” Isa 46:10 What a comfort this is! We can trust Him to guide our life for He alone knows the future. He can never be taken by surprise. He has a solution for all of the problems that perplex us.
May we remember that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” 46:1 May we cast all our care upon him; for he cares for us. (1 Peter 5:7) May we declare as did David, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Ps 139:1-4
Rose