Definitely, nowhere in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy do we
learn that this is the time to panic or lose our heads. To the
contrary, this is the time for ardent prayers. This is the time to
frequent God's house and to associate with His people like never
before. This is the time to really care for our brother.
As we
go about our lives, please remember that in times of crisis, many
civil guarantees will be suspended or canceled outright. The world
has seen years of peace and quietness. Time had been given to us.
However, this is the time for action in preparation for what may
come.
According to predictions by the experts, one of the first things
that may happen is massive job loss. In times of crisis, there is
no job security, and as workers in the upper echelons of society
lose their jobs, they will fall back on the jobs of the less
fortunate persons. It must not surprise us to soon see persons who
had high paying jobs, be our trash collectors, for want of a better
job.
As
Adventists we must be aware of this reality, and one of the first
groups of casualties may well be the Sabbath keepers. Protections
we have enjoyed thus far may not be there anymore, and to ask for
the privilege of Sabbath off to worship according to the dictates of
our conscience may well be the reason to be laid off. We need not
despair, for the Lord is on our side. However, there are things we
can do today to at least lower the possibility of getting fired.
No, it is not relying on the laws to protect us, but by being the
best workers possible.
Although it was always important that Seventh-day Adventists should
be the best workers and citizens there are at all times, now it is
more essential than ever. We must engage in our work always with a
prayer on our lips, asking the Lord to help us to discharge our
duties to the best of our abilities. Let us make sure we are never
late for work; let us make sure we are not the first to leave at
quitting time. Let us pray to the Lord to preserve our health in
order for us not to have to take days off due to real sickness or
because we just need "a day to attend to other business." Let us
treat our fellow workers with respect, and deal honestly with our
employers, by giving an honest day's work. Let us go beyond the
call of duty. After all, what is to happen shall happen, but don't
let us accelerate it needlessly by just being average workers. We
must be the best workers around.
This
is the time to intensify our commitment to the Lord, our love for
one another, and our dedication to His church. We do not return our
tithe to force the Lord to bless, because according to His
blessings, we return to Him what is His. This must be a priority
now. Let us come together to pray and to study God's Word. Let us
fill our churches on Wednesday nights to pray and invite our
neighbors to come with us to the house of the Lord to pray.
If
you know of a brother or a sister who has fallen on hard times, make
life more bearable for him/her. Share with each other what we have,
and make the burden of our fellow Christians lighter.
No, we
are not in panic mode, but we realize that this may be the call of
the Lord to draw closer to Him and to be prepared for bigger things
that are to come on this earth.
May the
Lord grant us His peace in this time of trouble, and may His
blessings preserve us from the ills of the world and the
uncertainties surrounding us.
Maranatha! -Israel Leito, President of the Inter-American Division
The
World is in financial turmoil, and many see this as fulfillment of
prophecies. Because we are a prophetic people, we pay keen
attention to the events gripping our world in fear. However, God's
people can remain confident, knowing we are in His hands. This is
not the time to panic. It is not the time to be paralyzed by fear,
nor is it the time to forget that this is the Lord's church, and we
are His people.
