| WORLD VIEW

 

The pillow on which I lay my head each night is a wonderful thing—generously long, pleasantly soft, and filled with a synthetic fiber that suitably imitates the feathers plumping my grandfather’s pillow. And while the press of work means that I sometimes don’t spend enough time with my head actually on it, it admirably performs its function, providing me with comfort and support for six or seven hours each night. I like my pillow: indeed, after experiencing the ones offered at some of the hotels I visit in my travels, I could even say I love my pillow.

 

But I don’t bring it to church with me.

 

That’s hardly surprising, given that the experience of worshipping with other believers ought to be one in which I find it hard to go to sleep. The environment of faith expects me to be fully and reverently alert. Paul reminds us, “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:11).

 

When I meet with other believers—to hear the Word preached, to study Scripture, to pray for revival, to plan for mission—comfort shouldn’t be the chief consideration. I expect my pastor to remind me of the lateness of the hour, that my friends will invite me to stay awake with them and pray, that my heart will be challenged by a repeating call to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. I expect reminders to “be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

 

So it is that I applaud my church—the worldwide fellowship of Seventh-day Adventists—for the initiative called “Connecting With Jesus” featured in this month’s edition. Distributing the heaven-inspired messages found in the Spirit of Prophecy will ready this people for the unprecedented times of stress and difficulty that Scripture predicts will accompany the last days of human history. The ministry of Ellen White expressed in these volumes will call us back to Bible study, to repentance, to a deeper awareness of the power of the indwelling Christ, and to a special urgency in reaching those who haven’t yet connected with Jesus.

 

The greater comfort for God’s people will be found, not in sleep, but in knowing that they have placed themselves securely in the center of His will.