Heaven’s Resources

Years ago in Jackson Park, Chicago, an infidel gathered a crowd around him. Then he began to denounce God.

“If there is a God, look at what a terrible mess He has gotten the world into. If there is a God, why doesn’t He do something about it? If there is a God, I challenge Him here and now to strike me dead in the next three minutes!”

In awed silence the crowd waited. The minutes ticked off. When the three minutes were up, the infidel shouted, “See, this proves that there is no God.”

Then he challenged anyone in the crowd to come up and prove that he was wrong. For several seconds no one made a move. Then an old woman with a shawl around her shoulders made her way through the crowd. Standing before the infidel, she asked, “Sir, do you have any children?”

“Yes, I have two fine boys and two lovely little girls.”
“If one of them would come to you with a butcher knife and say, ‘Here, Daddy, kill me,’ Would you do it?”
“I love them so much that I could not even think of killing them,” the infidel responded.
Then the old woman said, “This is why God didn’t strike you dead during those three minutes. He loves you. He gave His only Son that you might have your sins forgiven and be saved. You’d better accept His offer.”

Most assuredly, God loves the sinner and wants to save everyone from certain destruction. He is appealing to the world to repent and to respond to His amazing love. As a parent frantically searches for his lost child, so God is engaging all of heaven’s resources in seeking to rescue lost sinners headed for eternal death.

A special and urgent three-fold message recorded in the book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, is circling the earth urging everyone to accept God’s plan of salvation. “The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love.” Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 415. All must choose either to accept or to reject this message of love. No one can be neutral in this decision.

As the gospel is being preached, the sealing of the 144,000 saints is also in progress. God is making up His jewels for His kingdom. He is polishing and perfecting the characters of His people so that they can be prepared for the unleashing of the seven last plagues and the second coming of Jesus. “The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God–candidates for heaven.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 216.

Today, each person’s character is being tested to reveal the hidden and unknown sins that still need to be overcome. While God’s elect are being sealed by the Holy Spirit, our Savior is ministering as a high priest and advocate on behalf of His dear children. This solemn work has been going on since the year 1844 in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary. Each and every day, names of the professed people of God come up for examination to determine if they are worthy of everlasting life. In other words, there is a court session in heaven which will decide our destiny.

In order to complete the number 144,000, God not only works through the Holy Spirit, but also uses human instrumentalities to gather people into His fold. “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. As the laborers unite their efforts with God, there will be phenomenal success. “When divine power is combined with human effort the work will spread like fire in the stubble.” Selected Messages,Book 1, p. 118.

Very soon the 144,000 will ALL be sealed and will be ready for translation. Before their translation, another voice (Revelation 18:4) will sound to call the faithful out of the confusion of Babylon.

It was twilight when a Minnesota farmer started to cross a lake in his small sailboat. As he was sailing along, the wind suddenly changed and a gust overturned his boat in the middle of the lake. Being a good swimmer, he started to swim toward the part of the shore where he thought his house was located. It was springtime, and the water was covered with masses of floating ice. In the darkness, he became confused and disoriented and swam in the wrong direction. His strength began to give out. As he was about to give up and sink into the freezing water, he heard a voice. It was that of his little girl on the back porch of their home, calling, “Father, Father!” Her voice put fresh life into his exhausted body. He thought, “If she would only call once more, I could tell which way home is by the sound of her voice. I am afraid she will go into the house and close the door, because she has heard no reply to her call.” Then another call came, “Father!” The sound told him he had gotten turned around in the darkness and was going in the wrong direction. He fought his way through the ice and at last reached the shore and home.
Dear Friend, there is a voice calling you. If you are a part of the remnant church, the call of God is, “Be faithful to the end.” If you are not in His remnant, the call of God is, “Come into my remnant.” It is my prayer that you will answer “Yes!” to Jesus’ call.