When Jesus was here on earth, He observed many who were forsaken and alone. His reaction in Matthew 9:36-38 was telling: “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

The multitudes were weary, despaired, depressed, distressed, without hope, exhausted and harassed—also because of the lack of true and meaningful teachings from true shepherds. They were fatigued, resulting from being burdened. They were abandoned and neglected.

It is no different today. Most people are truly alone and under a terrible yoke which is wearing them down. But there is a way out of such predicaments. Christ told His disciples to ask the Father to provide laborers for a plentiful harvest—laborers who would teach and manifest the way of compassion, peace and rest. Christ came to find who was lost (Luke 19:10), and His disciples are to follow His example—to care for, tend and lead His sheep (John 21:15-17); and not to behave like unprofitable, uncaring shepherds (Ezekiel 34:4-5).

That way towards rest can only be found in Jesus. He told all of us in Matthew 11:28-30: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Christ told us to lay down the crushing yoke of sin, and receive His yoke instead. It reflects submission to His authority, His guidance and teachings, as well as partnership with Him—and to learn from His example of compassion, humility and gentleness. His yoke is easy and light because He carries its weight with us—we do not have to carry it alone.

Christ was not talking about heavy burdens which are hard to bear; especially those burdens inflicted on us by wrong teachers (Matthew 23:4). Rather, His commandments are light—not burdensome (1 John 5:3). This might perhaps not appear to be the case at first, as we are burdened by lifelong habits of sin. At the beginning, the road to life may be “difficult” (Matthew 7:14). But it will become more and more a “light” affliction in comparison with the “eternal weight of glory” to be revealed in us (2 Corinthians 4:17). Taking up our cross and following Jesus (Matthew 16:24) is so much easier than carrying our cross alone. The cross which we will have to carry is our separation from our sin and wrong priorities (Mark 10:21). The cross which we all carried in the past was our cross or heavy burden of our sinful conduct.

With Christ, our walk will be so much easier. Isaiah 41:13 tells us: “For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’”

We walk hand in hand with God, as it were, in partnership and agreement, because two cannot walk together unless they are agreed (Amos 3:3). We walk or better LIVE with God. We follow Christ wherever He goes (Revelation 14:4).

If you have not found the true God in your life, but really want to live with Him and be freed from your burdens and fears, seek God with all your heart, as He tells you in Jeremiah 29:11-13: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”

When you really want to love God and seek Him diligently, seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness, then you will find Him (Matthew 6:33; Proverbs 8:17). And He WILL give you rest for your souls.

For those of you who once knew the Truth, but slipped away and fell, lost interest, but still have the underlying and somewhat suppressed feeling that you ought to return to Him in order to be freed from your burdens and unhappy lives, sensing that you are missing out, it is not too late:

“Thus says the LORD: ‘Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls…’” (Jeremiah 6:16).

Do this; return to God! And He WILL give you rest for your souls.

A hallmark of the writings of the Apostle Paul was his unyielding focus on the future—that is, life in the Family and Kingdom of God.

We have many details of Paul’s calling and then the message he taught under the inspiration of God. We are also told of his struggles, persecutions and health problems (2 Corinthians 11 and 12). In Romans 7:24, Paul writes, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?”

Today, among brethren in the Church of God, we also see great personal trials.

Of course, that is true of the world at large, and that is because of sin, its penalty and the influence of Satan. But we have been called out of this world—still in it but not part of it (John 17:16). This is what Paul preached, and how he lived his life.

Paul wrote:

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Paul said, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1), and in that, we find our ultimate example—as Paul also wrote:

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The story of the 5 loaves and 2 fish that we read about in Matthew 14:13-21 is a very encouraging and uplifting miracle, showing the compassion that Jesus had for others.   It further shows His amazing capacity to produce a miraculous event, when necessary.   The number of people who ate and were filled was about 5,000 men, besides women and children, perhaps a total approaching 15,000 to 20,000 people. And after they had all eaten, there were still twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 

It is an example of how our great God can provide in such abundance, even from insignificant beginnings.   The 5 loaves and 2 fish would normally only feed a very few people, but not in this case, as thousands were fully catered for.

Great things being achieved from very little can also be seen that out of all the people on earth today, around 8 billion, God has called us into His Church.   It is amazing to think that we, of all people, should be given knowledge that the world is oblivious to. 

A further example of small beginnings can be seen in Deuteronomy 7:6-7: “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples.”

These small beginnings can be accomplished by very ordinary people as we read in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29: “…for you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.”   

We can see from just these few sections of Scripture that God’s choices are not what the world would make.   In Luke 12:32, we see encouragement about God’s people down through the ages: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

The Church was a little flock then and is still a little flock today, but what a job the current little flock has been given to do.   We are to get the message out about the coming Kingdom of God on earth and to act as watchmen in so doing.   On our website, we read about the Work that the Church of God has to do today:

“We believe that it is the Church’s commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations as a witness, to warn all nations, and especially the lost tribes of the house of Israel (mainly in the United States, Great Britain, certain Commonwealth nations and nations in Northwestern Europe) of impending danger, and to feed the flock.”

This takes a lot of time and effort but as the people of God, we call to mind Matthew 6:21: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also,” and it confers a responsibility on all members to back up and support this Work.

Another example of “small things” can be found in this example as commented upon by Wikipedia:

“The lesson of the widow’s mite or the widow’s offering is presented in two of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4) when Jesus is teaching in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Gospel of Mark specifies that two mites (Greek lepta) are together worth a quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. A lepton was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Judea, worth about six minutes of an average daily wage.”

This example has been used many times in messages and articles down through the years, showing such a willing and giving attitude from someone who had very little.   But from that very little, as was highlighted in the miracle of the 5 loaves and 2 fish, God can accomplish much. It is clear that no offering is too small in God’s eyes.

We have just kept the annual spring Holy Days where God instructs us to give as he or she is able, and our offerings will help us to do the Work that we have been called to do.   We should always do this cheerfully as God instructs us in 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, so that the good news of the soon coming Kingdom of God will continue to be preached by us as is required by God.

Let us have the same attitude that Jesus had when His parents were looking for Him as we read in Luke 2:49: “And He said to them, ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?’”

Let us, likewise, be about our Father’s business!

Over the last few weeks, my youngest son has been playing soccer with a team. They practice twice a week and then usually have games on Sundays. As with any team, when you first put them together, it is challenging as everyone finds their place and starts to understand strengths and weaknesses. As a parent on the sideline, it can be quite frustrating at times to watch their games and not comment out loud on how they could be doing something different or better. Occasionally, I have yelled out to my son to push harder or change positions, even though this is discouraged. 

When I take a step back and think about our lives as Christians, I can draw parallels between me watching these games and how God the Father and Jesus Christ watch us living our lives here now on this earth. I wonder how many times they are cheering from the sidelines, or groaning inwardly at our awkward attempts and failures. The Bible very clearly tells us that God is always watching our lives (Hebrews 4:13; Proverbs 15:3). 

As we continue in this life, we are each growing and being tested and tried to show that we are worthy; that we can persevere and overcome those trials which we each face.

As we are approaching the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread, our minds and our thoughts should be turning more inwards and reflective, contemplating just how we are matching up to what we proclaim to be true. In 1 Corinthians 11:27-28, Paul reiterates for us that we should be examining ourselves – seeing where we fall short and where we are winning.  

When we do this examination properly, God is pleased with us because He sees our effort. He understands that we are continuing on and we are attempting to remain as true Christians. Psalm 103:13-14 reminds us that He knows who and what we are: “As a father pities his children, So the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.”

When a parent yells for his child to do better on the sidelines, it’s a sad attempt at control. It produces nothing good or useful. In similar fashion, the Bible shows that God is not distant from us in this process. In fact, we are told that “the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth…” (2 Chronicles 16:9). He is watching, not just to observe, but to strengthen, to guide, and to help us grow.

The kids practice twice a week, working with their coach on things that they can do better. Oftentimes, the games reveal weaknesses that need tweaking and practice.

Similarly, we live from moment to moment, either including God in our ways or not. Paul encouraged the Christians at his time to keep trying, keep pushing, even IF it was challenging at times. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:24–25: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.”

When we think about our lives in this manner, all of the sudden, the game changes. It’s not simply a loss or win scenario; rather, we are playing for our eternal lives. God wants us to win. He will do everything in His power to help us to do so. We must be willing participants in this regard, though. We have to want this victory more than anything and in turn do everything required to win. When Jacob wrestled with Christ, he would not let Him go until he received a blessing from Christ, showing his serious desire to win. 

Paul was constantly encouraging the churches he was writing to, to push harder, to do more, and to overcome more. We should develop or have the same attitude and mindfulness as we prepare to participate in the Passover ceremony. Let’s note what Paul says in Philippians 2:12–13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” This is such a powerful Scripture for us—we strive, we attempt, we push, and God empowers us to do so. He gives us strength to overcome and to grow. 

God is never far away from us. God is always willing to listen and waiting for us to come to Him and to turn our lives in every way back to Him (Lamentations 3:40-41). 

So, as I continue to sit on the sidelines and watch my son play, I’m reminded that growth doesn’t happen all at once. It comes through practice, through mistakes, through correction, and through persistence.

And in much the same way, our Christian lives are about striving for perfection, day by day. As we approach the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, let’s take that examination seriously. Let’s look honestly at where we need to grow, where we need to push harder, and where we need to let God work more fully in us. We have to be careful here, though. It is easy to get caught up in the looking and the realization of our shortcomings; it is another to actually make the necessary changes to improve and grow. James 1:22-25 warns us to “…be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

We are striving for an imperishable crown, eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Nothing can compare with that. When we think about this, when we meditate on it, when we let it fill us up and overtake our entire lives, then we will make real, tangible progress. 

As we move forward from this point to the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, let’s not just recognize where we need to change, but actually commit to and practice it. Let’s put in the effort, the practice and the repetition. Just like those kids on the field, improvement doesn’t come from simply knowing what to do; it comes from doing it, again and again.

Let’s each respond with this determination. Let’s push harder. Let’s strive more. Let’s refuse to give up. This isn’t just a game; we are fighting for our eternal life.

As members of the Church of the Eternal God, we each have a commission to obey God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and also to honor our calling by protecting ourselves from sin. We can do this by living faithfully and avoiding evil in our lives. We cannot however lock ourselves away; we live in this world that Satan controls, and therefore we must protect ourselves through prayer and obedience to God. We must distance ourselves from the enemy.

I recently read an account as to how the young Continental Militia sought to protect the new American nation from the British forces. They could not avoid the British presence as the colonies had been governed by England and the King. The new nation had declared independence from Britain in 1776, but the British were unrelenting in their efforts to quell this uprising. The ill-equipped American force realized that fighting such a powerful enemy was often not as effective as avoiding them in the first place. When we are baptized into God’s true Church we recognize that we are joining a spiritual battle against evil, and yet the only way to win such a battle is to rely wholeheartedly on God and never impede Him.

Much as we must protect our hearts and minds by avoiding Satan, it is interesting that the new American militia sought to protect their strategic fortress of West Point, NY, by avoiding the enemy, rather than being desirous of engaging in battle. As the first buds of springtime of 1778 began to emerge, and the ice on the Hudson River in New York State began to break up, the under-powered continental troops of the new republic sought to defend against the British Navy and land forces. The historic West Point Military Academy was constructed at a strategic, yet vulnerable point along the Hudson River. The river provided a barrier between the New England territory and the rest of the Middle Atlantic region of the young nation. The military academy sits atop the cliffs on the west bank of the Hudson, and although the site was defensible to a degree, it was impossible to stop the British from making their way up-river, leaving most of New York and New England susceptible to attacks and sabotage.

A British engineer, aiding the continental forces, designed a 650-yard linked chain that would be laid across the Hudson from West Point to a small island, now known as Constitution Island. Imagine a necklace of iron, but then consider that each link weighed in at 114 pounds and was 2 feet in length. Some 750 separate links comprised the 65-ton chain that would be lowered and raised much as a ship’s anchor, to admit friendly vessels or repel the British warships. The fledgling American force installed the chain each spring/summer from 1778, until it ceased to be needed in 1782. This was referred to as Washington’s Watch Chain, euphemistically nodding to the new president’s pocket watch. The chain’s sole purpose was avoidance and protection rather than engagement.

Washington and his men stood watch and protected the new nation, and as true Christians, we must also protect our hearts and spiritual lives from the enemy. We know that we can all too easily become ensnared in sinful ways, including relying on our own abilities, as we see in Jude 6: “And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day…”

Additionally, consider  2 Peter 2:4-6: “For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly…”

When we repent and rely on God, we are released from the bondage of sin. We understand that our freedom and safety was purchased by God through the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and so we read in Romans 6:18: “And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” We know that sin can be like a bear trap that we stumble into; we did not intend to place ourselves in that position, but we must ask ourselves how we might have avoided the situation and similarly, sin. Consider the wisdom contained in Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” We must be proactive and work, but also never place ourselves in that bear trap of sin. Again, we should guard our spiritual lives as aggressively as we protect our bodies from illness and injury. We recall the words of Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The message is straightforward; in order to protect ourselves from sin, we need to be mindful of our actions and intentions and always guard against and avoid evil.

Being aware of the progression of sin is another good way to protect oneself. We see this clearly in James 1:15: “Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” As true Christians, we pray consistently for strength to remain faithful to God the Father and to Jesus Christ and to do as we read in Ephesians 6:10-11: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

We do not need a massive iron chain to avoid sin; we simply need the power and majesty of God the Father and Jesus Christ, and to follow the commandments to lead us to safety and eternal Life in the Kingdom.

The phrase “We create our own demons” is heard in the movie “Iron Man.” It does not originate from the Bible. But it is surprising that it contains a thought that comes close to biblical Truth.

Most people believe that their problems primarily come from outside sources, such as circumstances, other people, or the world. However, the Bible reveals a deeper problem. Jesus Christ explained, “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts…” (Matthew 15:19).

The real battle takes place within the human heart.

The Bible does not deny the existence of spiritual powers; on the contrary, it clearly shows that there is an invisible influence that tries to deceive true Christians and lead them away from God’s Way of Life. Scripture clearly names this influence: Satan and his demons.

But it also shows just as clearly that destruction usually does not begin with an outward act; it begins with a thought.

Thoughts can take root, gain ground, and ultimately determine our lives. In this sense, thoughts are “planted” – but the decisive factor is whether we give them space.

Thoughts shape attitudes. Attitudes shape actions. And actions ultimately shape character.

What we accept, what we allow, repeat, and justify, that is what we nurture, and that is what gains power over us.

What a person thinks repeatedly eventually becomes part of his or her being. The Bible describes this process with clarity:

“Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:15).

Let us note the sequence. Sin does not begin with the act. It begins in the mind.

This is a Truth that most people do not want to see. It is easier to recognize the faults of others than our own. We expect patience, justice, and understanding from others, but are often unwilling to give the same in return.

This is how human nature works. It tends to justify itself and shift the blame onto others.

But this is precisely where many of the “inner demons” arise that can destroy a Christian’s life: bitterness, pride, envy, and the refusal to forgive.

In the beginning, they are just thoughts or feelings. But if they are not recognized and countered, they grow. They begin to influence our thinking, poison our relationships, and harden our hearts.

The good news, however, is that we do not have to remain in this captivity.

Jesus Christ said: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).

But this freedom requires an uncomfortable Truth: we must be willing to face ourselves honestly and see the Truth about our own lives. For God’s Word is like a mirror; it shows us who we really are.

But God does not leave us alone in this inner struggle. He gives us the help and strength to overcome evil if we allow Him to.

As Scripture testifies: “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

The Son of God came to destroy the power of the devil and free us from spiritual bondage so that we can find the way to God and His kingdom.

We do not create evil out of ourselves. But when we feed wrong thoughts and attitudes, we open the door to it.

And again: thoughts shape attitudes, attitudes shape actions, and actions ultimately shape character.

However, when we begin to accept God’s Truth, recognize our own faults, and are willing to repent, real change sets in. Then bitterness, pride, and hatred lose their power over our hearts, and God’s Spirit begins to renew our minds.

For God has not called us to remain prisoners of our human nature. He has called us to be transformed. Through His Spirit, our minds can be renewed, our hearts can be softened, and our character can be shaped step by step according to God’s measure.

And that is precisely why Jesus Christ came, so that we might find entrance into His Kingdom.

(Initial Translation from the German: Daniel Blasinger)

“We’re living in uncertain times.” 

This was a common refrain in news broadcasts 6 years ago when Covid-19 was beginning to spread around the world. At the time, many people were getting sick. Death tolls were in the headlines. Fear was the dominant instrument used in propaganda to bring some semblance of control and order in our society. The confusion sown at the time was pronounced, making it difficult to discern the truth from fiction. Uncertainty abounded. Governments enforced policies affecting numerous people’s lives materially, and mostly in a negative way. Day-to-day life changed for just about everyone on the planet, causing many to not know what to do next. People made all kinds of wild speculations about what the future would hold, but nobody really knew what would happen. The future was not clear.

I raise this memory as an example of what collective uncertainty feels like. When the future is hard to predict, it can be a challenge to know what to do. We face uncertainty today as well. The advent of AI is changing the landscape of how work is done, with many predicting massive job loss and unemployment. Nobody really knows what will happen, but sensational speculations abound. War in the Middle East escalates instability in the region, putting the world’s nations on edge. These are current occurrences at a global scale. Individually, on a personal scale, we deal with uncertainty too. Sudden changes in life circumstances can alter the course of our future in a moment, sometimes at a global scale, and other times individually. Uncertainty is a fact of life. 

What are you going to do?

When faced with a choice for which any decision will lead to an unpredictable outcome, how do you make up your mind about what to do? If AI is taking over the world, threatening to steal your job, what are you going to do about it? When other kinds of calamities in your life disrupt your plans, how do you make decisions?

One way to make decisions is by trying to achieve an outcome, focusing on that goal, and modifying your behavior to reach that outcome. The ends justify the means. This is the approach that fear-mongering promotes. Those who claim to have solutions will say things to the effect of, “If you want this outcome, do this, not that.” They prey upon the fear of uncertainty, making empty promises for the stability of a certain and comfortable outcome. 

However, focusing our efforts to control our outcome is a trap. “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:13-16). The Bible is clear that we can do nothing to save ourselves. The circumstances of our lives are firmly in the grasp of the living God. He is the One who brings about the outcomes in our lives — not we. To get into a way of thinking that presupposes we can control our outcomes is doomed to cause compound problems. If the outcome is the fixed objective, and our behaviors are the variable that changes, we would be bound to deviate from righteous behavior in submission to God. This is not what God wants.

The Bible instructs us consistently to practice righteousness (compare Matthew 5:6; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:7,10). This is the superior way to make decisions. 

When we accept that it is impossible for us to do a good job of controlling the outcomes in our lives, it takes a lot of pressure away. We must trust God to direct our paths, knowing that He is the One who will give us exactly what we need. Our work is to listen to Him, focusing our efforts on being profitable servants to Him. Living this way keeps our behavior as the fixed constant, leaving the outcome as the variable. This places uncertainty into God’s control, not ours. In this way of making decisions, we can be satisfied inherently in doing what is right in the eyes of God. We don’t have to worry about the uncertain future.

When Daniel and his friends were in captivity, they faced life-threatening uncertainty. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego had their lives threatened if they refused to worship the god of Nebuchadnezzar. But rather than try to control the outcome of that situation, compromising their convictions to save their lives, they chose to not waver. “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up’” (Daniel 3:16-18). Note how they submitted to the Will of God, knowing that the outcome of their lives was in His hands. They had faith that holding fast to righteousness would yield the best result. And it did. Following this moment, they were indeed thrown into a burning fiery furnace, but their lives were miraculously saved. 

Uncertainty prevails in our lives. As the time of Jesus Christ’s return draws near, the magnitude of uncertainty will increase even more. Everyone will need to answer the question posed to them, “What are you going to do?” Many in the world will attempt to take matters into their own hands to control their outcome. But this way is corrupt. The right way in the eyes of God is live according to righteousness, directed by virtuous principles. This makes uncertainty powerless in its fight against us, placing God firmly in control.

Feelings are inner experiences that show how we evaluate or personally perceive something. They arise in response to thoughts, situations, or physical conditions and influence our actions.

Feelings can be viewed from three perspectives. From a psychological point of view, feelings are subjective perceptions such as joy, fear, anger, or sadness. They help us to quickly assess situations, for example, to recognize dangers through fear—a kind of protective reaction. At the same time, feelings cause physical changes, such as a faster heartbeat when we are afraid, a sense of warmth when we are happy, or inner tension when we are angry. Hormones and the nervous system play an important role in this. Feelings also influence our relationships. Through facial expressions, voice, and behavior, we show others how we are feeling. They can occupy space within us and give rise to envy, pride, shame, gratitude, romantic love, and many other emotions.

However, feelings should not be confused with emotions. An emotion is a process, or a reaction that comes from within a person, a visible or tangible expression. A feeling, on the other hand, is the conscious inner experience of this emotion. Feelings are like an inner compass, so to speak. They guide us in our decisions. Whether these decisions were ultimately good or bad is another matter.

Paul already formulated an interesting thesis when he wrote: “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

Here, Paul sets an important standard between “lawful”, meaning legally possible or not expressly prohibited, and “not helpful”, meaning not useful and edifying, not beneficial to life and relationships with God and others. Feelings can lead us to allow or justify something that is not good. So, the question remains: Does it serve my salvation, my life? Does it build me or others up? Or am I about to be controlled by this feeling?

Paul does not warn against feelings per se, but against becoming a slave to false desires, impulses, or inner states.

The Bible knows the concept of spiritual influence. It speaks of temptation, accusation, or seduction that comes from the adversary, from Satan. At present, many people’s feelings are being put to the test. Peter wrote: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

For true Christians, such influence is often a hard trial. Questions may then arise such as: “Does it lead to hopelessness with no way out? Does it lead to self-condemnation? Does it lead away from love and trust? Does it bring inner enslavement or compulsion?”

The Holy Spirit of God, on the other hand, is described as the Spirit of truth, peace, freedom, and love: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that trust in God must be our inner anchor, regardless of what we feel or experience.

Solomon wrote: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

And Paul wrote: “… we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

No matter what happens to us, feelings are as volatile as a flag in the wind – confidence today, doubt tomorrow; joy today, sorrow tomorrow.

God’s Word does not say that we should suppress our feelings, but that we should not make them our ultimate standard. God is described as unchanging, while the human heart can falter. That is why trusting in God is not a feeling, but a decision.

Trusting in God is not about never being afraid, never doubting, and always being strong. Rather, it means turning to God with our fears and doubts, as well as our anger and sadness, and asking Him for help!

Even Jesus prayed to His Father in great agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying: “…not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).

Perhaps it can be summarized this way: Feelings say, “This is how I experience it right now.” But faith says, “This is how God is – even if I don’t feel or understand it right now.”

Trust in God is like a foundation underlying changing inner states. It is not our feelings that carry us – it is God who carries us.

Our trust must always be rooted in God and not guided solely by our feelings.

David put it concisely: “Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah” (Psalm 62:8).

(Initial translation: Daniel Blasinger)

Those of us who were members of the Worldwide Church of God went through quite a difficult time when, after Mr. Armstrong’s death, the new leadership started to change many, if not most, of the doctrines we were familiar with and had believed as being God’s Truth.

Many of the brethren and our friends accepted the changes and discarded what they appeared to have believed for many years. Could it be that their religious beliefs were preferences rather than convictions? When changes in doctrines were made that suited them better, things like no need to tithe or keep God’s Sabbath, or even clean and unclean foods, they preferred these new doctrines rather than the previous ones.

I was amazed how quickly some who appeared to be strong members welcomed the changes.

There is a vast difference between preferences and convictions. And to show that, I would like to quote from a U.S. Supreme Court decision from 1972. The case was named Wisconsin versus Yoder. It involved three families, their fathers being Jonas Yoder and Wallace Miller of the Old Order Amish religion and Adin Yutzy of the Conservative Amish Mennonite Church. It concerned the question of whether the state had the right to force children of the Amish religious community to attend school between the ages of 15 and 16.

The parents argued that if the children had to attend school for two more years, they would have to go outside the Amish community and learn secular values that were not in accordance with the Amish beliefs. Up to age 14 they had their own Amish schools. Also, the Amish children learnt further skills informally by working with their parents on various tasks.

This appeal was based on the 1^st and 14^th Amendments of the Constitution of the U.S. that guarantees U.S. citizens the right of free exercise of religion.

In their determination for the families, the judges stated that the record in this case abundantly supported the claim that the traditional way of life of the Amish is not merely a matter of personal preference, but one of deep religious conviction, shared by an organized group, and intimately related to daily living.

In other words, the Amendments only protected religious convictions and not religious preferences. A belief, no matter how strongly held, is only a preference, and not a conviction, if, when circumstances change, the person will change their beliefs.

Many things can cause a person to change their preferences: Peer pressure, family pressure, legal pressure or even the threat of death. If any of these factors can cause a person to change their beliefs, then that person does not have a conviction, only a preference.

Let’s look at a few examples in the Bible which show the difference between preferences and convictions. Matthew 13:20-22 is an example of preferences of belief. Verse 20 reads: “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy…” The Truth is exciting at first and he may embrace it enthusiastically and even live by it, but it becomes clear that it is only a preference and not a conviction, when future circumstances interfere with the new-found belief and he discards that Truth.

Continuing with verses 21 and 22:

“…yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” Such individuals have not been convicted but have merely exchanged their previous beliefs for a whole new set of beliefs. If life becomes too difficult to continue on the new path, then these beliefs would be changed again to avoid the difficulties that have arisen. Real conviction is sadly lacking.

A legal comment on this judgement by the Supreme Court stated, “A conviction is not a spurious-of-the-moment decision. It is a premeditated response to a situation that was likely to occur. This means that it does not matter whether other people stand with you in the crisis or not. Only conviction can enable you to stand alone. People with preferences will usually, ultimately, follow the crowd.”

A good example of conviction is in Daniel 3:16-18. The king had commanded everyone to worship an image he had erected when they heard a certain type of music. Three Jews refused to bow down to the image and so they were brought before the king. This is their response to the threatened punishment of death in a fiery furnace:

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.’”

All three men were looking death squarely in the face. If their devotion to the true God had merely been a preference, they would probably have quickly recanted their “rebellious” position and reasoned their way out of the situation. Their decision was not an on-the-spot reaction. They had the courage of their convictions. They were not about to defile themselves. Remember, there were tens of thousands of other Jews in Babylon at this time. But the three men were not concerned about what others did or what others thought. They were willing to take a stand by themselves even when facing the death penalty.

They did not submit to the king to save their lives by using human logic and applying the principle stated in Romans 13:1-2, “Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgement on themselves.” They knew that submitting to and obeying the king and bowing to the statue would go directly against the second commandment of God, and as Peter and the other apostles said in Acts 5:29, “‘We ought to obey God rather than men.’” In other words, where there is a contradiction between men’s laws and God’s Laws, we must obey God’s Laws.

Over the centuries, God’s people have faced trials, tests, persecution and heresy. Regrettably, many compromised their beliefs. They gave up what they once proved to be true for a variety of reasons. Some couldn’t handle the ostracism they faced. Others gave in to pressure from family or friends and embraced false teachings to keep the peace. Still others were persuaded that false teachings were true, being convinced by clever arguments or false intellectual reasoning.

All had one thing in common. They proved that their previous beliefs were merely preferences, not convictions. Otherwise, they would have persevered in them. But those who are convicted of the truth do not compromise their beliefs for any reason. They prove, and then they live by the Truth. No amount of pressure from any source will convince them to believe another gospel.

When trials come, convicted Christians stand firm in their beliefs. Their foundations are not moved or shattered because such believers build on the solid Truths of God’s Word. They do not compromise with God’s Law and their understanding grows. Changes may come within the framework of the truth, but the basic building blocks of their faith never change. With God’s help, they stand fast in their convictions.

We all need to examine ourselves in the light of what happened to the Church of God just over thirty-five years ago. We all need to make sure that we are Christians of conviction and have not simply preferred God’s Church as opposed to another, or none. The Church of God will continue to face persecution and opposition to its teachings, intended to wear down our faith and undermine the Truth. As individuals, this will test our convictions. Our reaction will determine whether our beliefs are just preferences or whether we are truly Christians of conviction.

Mr. Armstrong stated many times that your spiritual growth is linked directly to your dedication and involvement in the Work of God by supporting the effort to get the Gospel of the Kingdom of God out to the world as a witness, coupled with the warning of imminent destruction of the modern nations of the ancient House of Israel. These nations include the United States, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, who can trace their lineage back to the children of Jacob, who had his name changed to Israel.

This Work is the most important work on the face of the earth which may lead to trials of mocking and persecution and in some cases martyrdom but for those who faithfully pursue this challenge to the end of their life or the return of Christ, whichever comes first, a great potential as resurrected children of God awaits them with the opportunity to rule with Christ during the Millennium and on into eternity for whatever God in His divine wisdom has in store for them.

Staying focused on this task is really a challenge in this day and age with all the distractions and temptations Satan likes to throw at us. We have to be aware of this as stated by Paul in 2 Corinthians 2:10-11: “Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

This was in reference to a member who had to be chastised, but following that, Paul was admonishing the brethren to forgive him, as they were aware of Satan’s devices.

Satan is not out to encourage us to faithfully push through trials we all face but wants us to get discouraged, weary and hopefully quit and potentially lose out on salvation if leaving the Truth is not repented of.

As the god of this world, he will do everything in his power to trip us up, who has polluted every aspect of society, including music, movies, books, church doctrines of this world, which teach a false Christ and Sunday worship, arts and language. He is the prince of the power of the air, and his footprint is everywhere and his influence is great.

The solution is his removal which will occur at the return of Christ, and his influence will cease until he will be used by Christ at the end of the Millennium to tempt mankind one more time. Afterwards, he will be dealt with by God, never again to influence mankind.

In the meantime, the question is: “Where is our heart?”

Deuteronomy 6:5 tells us: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

Fulfilling this takes time and effort on our part. This means that we have to diligently use the tools God has given us to accomplish this task, since it is possible for us to be successful. These tools include prayer, bible study, meditation and occasional fasting. There is no fast-tracking into the Kingdom of God; the path requires dedication and commitment on our part, but the outcome and the reward are really worth it.

You have to make the effort to draw close to God.  Then what will happen? 

James 4:8 says: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” 

The result is that God will draw close to you. The more you overcome sin which acts as a barrier and resistance, the more you can draw close to the Father and to Christ, and they will be close to you.

People are totally deceived who practice sin, including worshipping on the wrong day and breaking His commandments, sometimes with impunity, and who still think they have a close relationship with Christ and God the Father.

Thankfully, one day God will remove the veil from their eyes. They will be called and given the opportunity we now have. Let’s be grateful for that.

Matthew 6:19-21 admonishes us:  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Treasures in heaven are building a strong relationship with God and Christ while our hearts have to be in the Work of God for us to truly fulfill our destiny and receive our glorious reward of a golden crown and rulership in the kingdom of God.