“There is another and more important question that should engage the attention of the churches of today. The apostle Paul declares that “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12. Why is it, then, that persecution seems in a great degree to slumber?
The only reason is that the church has conformed to the world’s standard and therefore awakens no opposition. The religion which is current in our day is not of the pure and holy character that marked the Christian faith in the days of Christ and His apostles. It is only because of the spirit of compromise with sin, because the great truths of the word of God are so indifferently regarded, because there is so little vital godliness in the church, that Christianity is apparently so popular with the world. Let there be a revival of the faith and power of the early church, and the spirit of persecution will be revived, and the fires of persecution will be rekindled. “
“There have ever been two classes among those who profess to be followers of Christ. While one class study the Saviour’s life and earnestly seek to correct their defects and conform to the Pattern, the other class shun the plain, practical truths which expose their errors.”
The Great Controversy pg. 43
Says Jesus, “Let both [classes] grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”
The Gospel of Matthew 13:30 KJV
Are we wheat or are we tares? Only time will tell.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
Numbers 21:8 KJV
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:14-15 KJV
In most cases of Scripture, the serpent is generally used to represent the devil, the great dragon called satan, Revelation 12:9, Genesis 3:1, however we see here that Jesus compares himself with the serpent. At first glance this may seem like blasphemy of the highest order and may even confuse many but lets take a closer look.
In speaking to Nicodemus in John 3:14-15, Christ was foretelling His death upon the cross and comparing it to the brazen serpent which Moses made in the wilderness. The idea of Christ being lifted up and crucified on the cross is seen here as a type of banner or standard or flag, that is lifted up. “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, evenso must the Son of man be lifted up” Christ said.
After coming out of Egypt and brought into the wilderness, the children of Israel, quickly looked back to the pleasures of sinful Egypt, as did Lot’s wife to Sodom, and began to complain and murmur against God and against Moses. As a result, God allowed fiery, venomous serpents to come upon them and to bite them and those that were bitten quickly began to die of the poisonous venom. However, in realising their ungratefulness and their sin, they confessed their sin to God and cried out “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord” Numbers 21:7. Because of God’s mercy and long suffering nature, He heard their prayers and commanded Moses to build a serpent of brass and set it upon a pole, that whosoever should look upon it shall live.
Now it isn’t to say that in looking upon a pole with a snake upon it had the power to take away the effects of the poison, but it was in looking by FAITH, believing in God’s Word and His power to heal from the effects of the venom, that they would be saved.
Likewise, we all have been bitten by the old serpent called the devil and satan and have been infected by the venom of SIN. We all, as a result, have been condemned to death like the Israelites in the wilderness, for “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” says Paul, Romans 3:23. Again he says, “now all these things happened unto them [the Israelites] for ensamples (examples), and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come,” 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Therefore, God gave us His Son, Jesus Christ, as the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins, the only real antidote for the venom as it were. He came as the Son of Man, and suffered as we suffer, was afflicted with temptation as we are afflicted, “For in that He Himself, hath suffered being tempted, He is able to help those who are tempted”,Hebrews 2:18.
As the serpent is used to represent satan and his sinful nature, so did Christ become sin for us. He took our sins upon Him and went faithfully to the Cross, lifted up as the serpent in the wilderness was lifted up before the children of Israel. “For He [God] hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” 2 Corinthians 5:21.
The serpent which was lifted up on the pole, directly foreshadows Christ, the Sinless One, who bore our sins, and was lifted up upon the Cross of Calvary and says Christ “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, evenso must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Christ was lifted up for you and for me. It is by His sacrifice upon the cross that our sins are forgiven and our slates made clean. We have all been bitten by the fiery serpent called the devil and have been infected with the deadly venom of sin. Therefore, lift up your heads and look to the Cross; look to Jesus as He has been crucified for your sins and for mine, believe in His power to cleanse you from all sin through His death, the death that we rightfully deserve, and the promise is, we shall not perish but have eternal life.
A guardian angel is appointed to every follower of Christ. These heavenly watchers shield the righteous from the power of the wicked one. This Satan himself recognized when he said: “Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not Thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?” Job 1:9, 10. The agency by which God protects His people is presented in the words of the psalmist: “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Psalm 34:7. Said the Saviour, speaking of those that believe in Him: “Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of My Father.” Matthew 18:10. The angels appointed to minister to the children of God have at all times access to His presence.
Thus God’s people, exposed to the deceptive power and unsleeping malice of the prince of darkness, and in conflict with all the forces of evil, are assured of the unceasing guardianship of heavenly angels. Nor is such assurance given without need. If God has granted to His children promise of grace and protection, it is because there are mighty agencies of evil to be met—agencies numerous, determined, and untiring, of whose malignity and power none can safely be ignorant or unheeding.
“Satan uses the listless, sleepy indolence of professed Christians to strengthen his forces and win souls to his side. Many, who think that though they are doing no actual work for Christ, they are yet on His side, are enabling the enemy to preoccupy ground and gain advantages. By their failure to be diligent workers for the Master, by leaving duties undone and words unspoken, they have allowed satan to gain control of souls who might have been won for Christ.
We can never be saved in indolence and inactivity. There is no such thing as a truly converted person living a helpless, useless life.
It is not possible for us to drift into Heaven.
No sluggard can enter there…those who refuse to co-operate with God on earth would not co-operate with Him in Heaven. It would not be safe to take them to Heaven.”
Christ’s Object Lessons pg.280
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
“We need [not] look for no outward evidence of the blessing. The gift is in the promise, and we may go about our work assured that what God has promised, He is able to perform, and that the gift, which we already possess, will be realised when we need it most.”
Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of the Scriptures, will be overcome by his attacks. Therefore he invents every possible device to engross the mind.
“As soon as you are washed in Christ’s blood and clothed in His righteousness, you must begin to hew your way through a lane of enemies, right up to the Eternal Throne. Every foot of the way will be disputed; not an inch will satan yield to you.“
“A familiar acquaintance with the Scriptures sharpens the discerning powers, and fortifies the soul against the attacks of Satan. The Bible is the sword of the Spirit, which will never fail to vanquish the adversary. It is the only true guide in all matters of faith and practice. The reason why Satan has so great control over the minds and hearts of men is that they have not made the Word of God the man of their counsel, and all their ways have not been tried by the true test. The Bible will show us what course we must pursue to become heirs of glory.
As the heart is opened to the entrance of the Word, light from the throne of God will shine into the soul[Psalm 119:130]. That Word, cherished in the heart, will yield to the student a treasure of knowledge that is priceless. Its ennobling principles will stamp the character with honesty and truthfulness, temperance and integrity.”
Loud Cry Compendium 