The Battle Rages

It’s not that I didn’t know it before, but it’s easy to forget when things are going pretty good–or so it seems. Our school is home to more than one hundred students that to this day profess to be Buddhists. It is also home to at least twenty baptized Seventh-day Adventists as well as a few that are Christians of other denominations. Each day the students attend two worships and, on school days, chapel and a Bible class. Sabbaths are filled with more worships and Bible studies.

This weekend we studied about the Beast in Revelation 13 and Daniel 7. It took three study times to finish the study guide (partly due to having it translated). At the end of the study, those who want to follow God even when the rest of the world is following the Beast were asked to stand. No one stood. The appeal was repeated. Finally a total of no more than thirty people stood. It isn’t every day that such a call is made. As I scanned the room I was astonished at how few were standing. Even many of our baptized students were still sitting. All through the closing song I fought back the tears.

I dare to hope that perhaps they misunderstood the call or at least that they will make the commitment before it is too late. But sadly, many in this world will never make the decision to follow God regardless of the cost. We’re in a battle. Just giving people the theory isn’t going to work. We need the power of the Holy Spirit to reach their hearts. That means that we must be fully surrendered instruments in God’s hands. We can’t fight this battle on our own, but with your prayers and the power of God victories will be won!