Update from the President
Your Role in Bringing Light to a Darkened World
Jesus commanded His disciples to watch. Speaking of the prophetic times and events ahead, He gave us these encouraging words: "When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near" (Luke 21:28, emphasis added throughout). When this occurs, we will "know that the kingdom of God is near" (verse 31).
So if we are to watch in anticipation of these marvelous events, what does that mean?
Let us renew our efforts toward overcoming and being spiritually victorious in love, for when our ways please God, all things are indeed possible!
Our role in watching and preparing goes far beyond reading the news or compiling tables and charts. We are privileged to have an active role--indeed, a role for which we are collectively charged and responsible for--to make available the precious truths of the Bible which so few people truly understand.
There are dozens, probably even hundreds, of groups who recognize that America and the world are plunging into a moral abyss. There are many who have at least a partial understanding of the prophetic trends that lay before us. Many of these groups have their own "warning message," which produces a considerable amount of clutter, having truth mixed with error.
So what makes us unique and what is our role? As Michael the archangel spoke to Daniel, at the time of the end "many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase" (Daniel 12:4). Of that increase in knowledge, Jesus Himself told us of our incredible privilege: "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not" (Matthew 13,11, New Living Translation).
Do we understand the incredible scope of what that means? We in the United Church of God understand the magnificent arc of prophetic power held in the meaning of the annual Holy Days, the brilliant outline of the very plan of God for all humanity! We understand the context of Bible prophecy, how the foretold events are not a meaningless string of unconnected vengeful acts, but the direct reflection of the collective consequences of long-time transgressions of the perfect Law of Liberty (James 1:25). We understand how the first century Christians embraced this knowledge and held it fast. We have access to divine power that is restorative and transformational!
But we are not to keep it to ourselves. We are to proclaim, even thunder, that precious knowledge to a darkened world to the best of our ability. We have but little power, but God has set before us an open door, and we gladly step through it! (Revelation 3:7-8).
In Cincinnati and our offices around the world, God has given us a talented team of dedicated men and women who toil daily to seize the opportunities God has given us. I would that all of you could experience firsthand the infectious smiles, the attitudes, the superb quality of work that comes from these dedicated servants. Through their service to God, they collectively make possible our high-level outreach through the Beyond Today program and magazine, our ongoing personal appearance campaigns, and much of what can be described as the public Work of the Church.
Even so, as a Church we are few in number. Some might say, "How can we truly make a difference?" To answer, let us consider the example of the prophet Elisha. Israel was at war and the powerful opposing king had issued Elisha's death warrant. One morning one of Elisha's aides awoke to a startling sight. A massive army bristling with weapons encircled them. They obviously meant business. Fearful of impending disaster, he cried out. But Elisha comforted him, saying "Don't be afraid...For there are more on our side than on theirs!" (2 Kings 6:16, NLT). Elisha asked God to supernaturally open his aide's eyes to see the true reality. When the young man looked up, "he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire" (2 Kings 6:17).
With that as a backdrop, consider this appeal of Paul: "I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given...[and] that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him" (Ephesians 1:18-19, NLT). What a glorious promise!
Through the magnification of television reach, digital opportunities on the global Internet, and our traditional print media--all coupled and spiritually driven by the power of God Himself--we can pack a global punch!
But that's just part of our duty to watch and to be a watchman. Without the personal example of Jesus living in us as ministers and members, our message lacks substance. We are commanded by Jesus Christ, the living Head of this Church, to be special lights in this darkened world (Matthew 5:16). Fueled and energized by prayer and a constant renewal of our first love for the truth (Revelation 2:4), we must be daily seeking to overcome our earthly nature and put on the new man (Colossians 3:10, Ephesians 4;24), becoming imitators of God and living a new a life filled with divine love (Ephesians 5:1-2).
Thus equipped, we are then spiritually prepared to truly "cry aloud" (Isaiah 58:1). People will naturally wonder about the hope that appears within us (1 Peter 3:15). We then don't worry about making converts, as that is God's personal task (John 6:44). Our personal role is to surrender and yield to God, "that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).
This darkened and deceived world desperately needs the message we are delivering! Let us today look up and lift up our heads. Let us see the true reality of the chariots of fire. Let us renew our efforts toward overcoming and being spiritually victorious in love, for when our ways please God, all things are indeed possible!
