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Today — a time of preparation …

“The work of the people of God is to prepare for the events of the future, which will soon come upon them with blinding force.” 2SM 142

For as long as they can remember, the Franklin family has been interested in country living. Gradually, over the past 40 years, Jere’s study of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, has revealed the truth about country living– it has always been God’s plan for His people! In fact, your survival depends upon understanding His call to country living! Yes, the Lord will provide for His people during the time of flight (Jacob’s Time of Trouble), but there is an length of time between the National Sunday Law and the close of probation when the remnant will be responsible for growing their own food and providing for those who escape the cities at the last moment. This world is not our home. We are preparing to leave for our home in heaven. God leads His people on, step by step; out of the large cities, then the smaller cities, to rural homes, to country homes, to secluded homes among the mountains, into the wilderness (where He supplies the needs of His remnant by ravens, angels, or manna), and finally heaven!

How to come to Jesus and be ready for heaven …

Finding Jesus has always come as the result of crises in my life. When I was very young I came to realize, because of the pain of severe beatings, that without help I might be killed. So I prayed, “Dear Jesus, help me!” Almost immediately the atmosphere in the home would change; no apologies, but less anger, a restrained quietness. Several years later, when my friend, Willis, drowned at the Oregon Coast, I wept at his funeral and came to the knowledge of Jesus’ comfort. I lost my Dad shortly before a Week of Prayer during my first year at Walla Walla College. When I was rebaptized there, I knew a deeper sense of His abiding. Before graduation I sensed a pattern emerging; my heart-wrenching experiences resulted a broken spirit, repentance, and deeper conversion followed by spiritual regeneration.

By the time I reached mid-life I thought I had been through the worst trials that could ever come, but there was more. Our son, Jed, was badly burned in a gasoline explosion (40% of his body with third degree burns) at age eight. His mother and I did not know if he would survive. There were months of pain, years of grafting and release surgeries, physiotherapy, pressure garments, and learning to cope with the scars. The world around me seemed so trivial. I cried out to God, claiming the promise of Psalm 147:3, “He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds.” Once more, Jesus made Himself real to me.

God, through His Son, heals my wounds. It is in the dark times that Jesus comes closest to me. Every crisis that comes yields new evidence that Jesus is near. Trials are allowed that I might know what is in my heart, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). In times of pressure, I have done and said things that I regret, sins for which I have had to beg forgiveness. The gift of repentance comes wrapped in the repulsiveness of our own imperfection. But Acts 5:31 has become special to me, “Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.” Imagine a Father who would send His Son to die for me! I love His Son. I hate my mistakes. That is the gift of repentance. God always honors those who humble themselves and present their need to Him: “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit”(Isaiah 34:18).

Jesus gives me gifts that don’t look appealing to my humanity; sorrow, brokenness, suffering, and repentance. But He gives them to me that my joy may increase and that I might be more useful to Him. Without knowing need, my heart could not know His love. He not only loves me, he wants to be with me and is coming back to get me (John 14:3; I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also).

My favorite author, Ellen White says that the darkness that rests on our path is merely the veil with which God covers His glory when He comes to impart rich blessings! (5T 215) Heaven comes to us, not in sunshine, but in clouds. The words of the old hymn were truly inspired: “Just when I need Him, Jesus is near.”

Do you need Him today? Experience has taught me that the more I sense my need, the nearer He comes to me. Without a sense of my weakness, I could not know His strength. Without sorrow, I would not need His comfort. Heaven comes to those who know that earth is not their home and trust God to replace their confessed human weakness with His divine provision. Jesus never refuses to come near one who acknowledges his need.