The Faithful Few
Two thousand years ago Jesus spoke a parable that is very, very important today. He said “There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man; and there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him saying avenge me of mine adversary, and he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, though I fear not God nor regard man; yet because this widow troubleth me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh shall He find faith on earth?”
Jesus asked the question: when the Son of man cometh shall He find faith on the earth? Will there be faithful people? When the Son of man (Jesus) comes the second time He will find faith on the earth. There will be faithful people.
Sis. E. White said, “I saw a company who stood well guarded and firm, giving no countenance to those who would unsettle the established faith of the body. God looked upon them with approbation. (Test. Vol. 6 pg. 17) But the true faith was not to become extinct. God has ever preserved a remnant to serve Him. (PP. pg. 125)
The servant of God (John) saw 144,000 in heaven. When we compare this number to the billions of people on the earth you can see why Jesus asked the question: when the Son of man cometh shall He find faith on earth? How can we identify these people?
“The little remnant who love God and keep His Commandments and are faithful to the end will enjoy this glory and ever be in the presence of Jesus and sing with the Holy angels.” (EW 66)
“God has a Church on earth who are lifting up the downtrodden Law and presenting to the world the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.” (T.M. pg. 50)
The remnant people of God keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. They are also exalting the standard of righteousness in these last days. These people are known around the world as Seventh Day Adventist Reformers of the International Missionary Society. What a privilege to be in the Church of God!
All through the ages – from creation to the present time 2002 – God has had faithful witnesses, truehearted worshippers. Let’s look at some of them.
“Adam and Eve, at their creation had a knowledge of the Law of God … its precepts were written upon their hearts.” (PP. pg. 363)
Adam taught His descendants the Law of God, and it was handed down from father to son through successive generations. In the time before the flood, God had a remnant. The Spirit of Prophecy says that “God commanded Noah ‘come thou and all thy house into the ark, for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” Noah’s warnings had been rejected by the world, but his influence and example resulted in blessings to his family. As a reward for his faithfulness and integrity God saved all the members of his family with him. What encouragement to parental fidelity!
After the flood God had a remnant (the faithful few) Shem and his descendants — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The children of Israel were the people of God, the few of the nations. Even among the Israelites there were unfaithful people, many went after other gods and worshipped Idols.
From their deliverance from Egypt to the first advent of Christ, God had a remnant (faithful few) that stood firm and kept the commandments and have the faith of Jesus. After Jesus went back to heaven in A.D. 31, His disciples continued to be the faithful few. On the day of Pentecost it was only 120 disciples who have received the Holy Spirit and then 3000 more accepted the message. Shortly after the death of the Apostles, the membership of the Church increased but the faith of Jesus decreased, and the falling away took place and “the man of sin (the Pope) was revealed, the son of perdition – who opposeth and exalteth himself above God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God.” What a treachery!
In spite of this treachery, God’s remnant people continued to keep His commandments and have the faith of Jesus.
A.D. 538 the Roman Church started to rule the world, this so-called Christian church with the pope as its head – not Christ. This church, which was and is the Ambassador of Satan, the Dragon of Revelation 12, the Beast of Revelation 13 and the Whore of Revelation 17, did everything in her power to kill the faithful few who kept the commandments of God and had the faith of Jesus. During the 16th to the 18th century, this power continued to persecute God’s faithful people. The great reformers of this era were the objects of merciless and relentless persecution, but God took care of His people.
In 1844 He raised up the Advent Movement. These people preached that Jesus would come in that year. When this did not happen they experienced what we now know as the great disappointment. Where at the beginning over 50,000 had accepted the message, now only 50 of that number remained faithful.
In 1863 the Seventh Day Adventist Church was organized. The Lord continued to bless His people and give them light on issues concerning Health Reform, war, etc, but many of the people and leaders became proud and when in 1888 the message of Christ our Righteousness was given – the only message that can save us, the message that will enable us to keep the commandments, it was rejected by the leaders. With the rejection of the Christ our Righteousness message, the Church was not able to make a right decision in 1914 when the First World War began. But thanks to God He preserved a Remnant of only 2% of the existing church, and this 2% is known today as Reformers (International Missionary Society Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement)
This faithful few have gone through many trials and tests and many have sealed their faith with their blood. Yet there remain many more trials to go through and many more who will seal their faith with their blood. Will they remain faithful always? Only the Lord knows.
There are many who have asked, “Will you (the few) finish the work of God on the earth? My answer is yes. Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord.
My Brothers and Sisters allover the world, let us look in our hearts, ask the Lord to wash and make us clean. The Lord Jesus is coming; now is the time to be ready because in an hour when you think not the Son of man cometh. We are living in the time of judgment and very soon Jesus will call our names. How are you with the Lord? Have you made it right with God?
The world is full of wickedness but God has a remnant – the faithful few, who will stand to the end. May God help us that we remain faithful. Amen.