During the recent gubernatorial election in Virginia, former President Obama admonished voters at a rally, “We don’t have time to be tired.” Whatever truth this statement might hold in the secular political world, at whatever time, cannot compare to the truth it holds in matters spiritual.
Twice in his epistles, the apostle Paul warns his readers against becoming “weary in well doing” (Gal. 6:9; II Thess. 3:13). This is because exhaustion in the struggle with evil and in the pursuit of the church’s mission to the world is an ever-present temptation. The practical demands of life stand ready to dominate and consume our time, even—and sometimes especially—when spiritual priorities become particularly imperative.
When seeking to dissuade us from the task of personal consecration, together with the larger work of bringing revival and reformation to the church and delivering the message of salvation to the world, the great adversary of souls can produce the most persuasive of arguments. For example, having followed for years the travail of Adventist education and the conflict between our distinctive faith and the varied unscriptural alternatives that often appear in these settings, I have observed godly students agonize between scholastic responsibilities and taking a larger role in campus leadership and the opportunities offered by the latter for clarifying the difference between truth and error and urging one’s peers to make Biblically faithful choices. (Albert Einstein’s warning to “not let your schooling get in the way of your education” comes to mind here.) Unfortunately, many such students end up convincing themselves that academic achievement is, after all, the reason for their presence in school, and that extra-curricular activities are best reserved for the future, when one’s life presumably will be more settled and discretionary time presumably more available. The problem is that these students will soon learn that once school is over and work, marriage, and family come along, the enemy will be ready with a whole new set of excuses for non-involvement in spiritual issues.
Spiritual conflict carries with it a unique capacity for personal anguish and painful choices. It involves taking unpopular positions in public discussions and on the church’s governing bodies, choices which run the very real risk of alienating friends and even one’s own family. It involves transforming the faith community—what many hold to be the ultimate haven of peace, quiet, and refuge from the outside world—into a battle zone. It involves heart-wrenching angst over just how strongly to address problems, when to speak and when to be silent, when and where to confront incidents of compromise and the incursion of error, and when perhaps—for any number of reasons—to hold off decisive engagement on a given point on account of larger spiritual priorities.
Weariness in well-doing, spiritual exhaustion, can easily become a constant companion in such settings, not because one wishes to compromise or temporize in the struggle with evil, but simply because there are only so many hours in the day and only so much spiritual and emotional energy with which to prosecute such endeavors. It is in such moments as these that the supernatural grace and power of the Lord become indispensable (John 15:5; Eph. 6:13-17; Phil. 4:13; Heb. 4:16; 12:28), together with adherence to our Lord’s invitation to “come . . . and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). Occasional moments of leisure, relaxation, and emotional refreshment are an absolute necessity for spiritual warriors. Diligent laborers often have difficulty learning how to truly rest. Those who neglect such time apart can easily fall victim to spiritual battle fatigue and even burnout.
The Continuing Crisis
The recent pandemic and its attendant challenges have appeared to put many issues in the church on pause—except, of course, those issues tied to the pandemic itself. But despite what some might believe or wish for, the conflict over such issues as Biblical authority, the rightful place of the prophetic gift, the origin of life on earth, the doctrine of salvation, gender roles, sexuality, and much more, has not abated. The struggle on each of these fronts is in no way over, and the imperative remains for its persistent and vigorous prosecution.
Many devoutly wish these disputes would blow over and die. But they won’t, for the simple reason that the devil continues to be enraged with the church, and will not cease his onslaught against the remnant of the woman’s seed until he draws his last breath (Rev. 12:17). There is no room in the Christian life for withdrawal into some “safety zone” where inoffensive devotion, eclectic spirituality, and risk-free witnessing dominate one’s daily walk with God and interaction with others. While the true follower of God will never invite or provoke conflict over issues not authorized by the written counsel of God (Isa. 8:20; Acts 17:11), while distracting cultural and similar crusades will not be permitted to consume the time of the striving faithful, the great controversy between Christ and Satan remains the overarching paradigm of the Christian’s spiritual journey. For the Seventh-day Adventist Christian whose worldview is thus defined, no knee-jerk aversion to controversy can form a part of one’s spiritual agenda.
The good news is that Jesus is ever at our side to supply grace and strength for the conflict. Regardless of time or place, the Godhead is but a prayer away. Because he lacks the advantage of objective truth, the enemy of all righteousness will forever seek to play on our emotions as we make the tough choices required by the struggle against personal and corporate sin. But our gracious Lord stands constantly able to produce within our hearts and public witness the delicate balance of wisdom and knowledge, justice and mercy, severity and forbearance.
Conclusion
We don’t have time to be tired. The war goes on, and our zeal—as well as our love—must be relentless. The coming months and years will demand more from the striving faithful in the Seventh-day Adventist Church than has ever been demanded from the consecrated of any era. But the keeping power of our God will more than equal the intensity of the conflict. Let us persist and persevere, in the words of the final stanza of one of my favorite hymns:
Press on, never doubting thy Captain is near
With grace to supply, and with comfort to cheer
His love like a stream in the desert will flow
Then stand like the brave, with thy face to the foe [1].
Like Asa of old, our prayers must ascend with the affirmation, “O Lord, Thou art our God; let not man prevail against Thee” (II Chron. 14:11).
REFERENCES
1. Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal, no. 610, “Stand Like the Brave” https://www.sdahymnal.org/Hymn?no=610
Pastor Kevin Paulson holds a Bachelor’s degree in theology from Pacific Union College, a Master of Arts in systematic theology from Loma Linda University, and a Master of Divinity from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He served the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for ten years as a Bible instructor, evangelist, and local pastor. He writes regularly for Liberty magazine and does script writing for various evangelistic ministries within the denomination. He continues to hold evangelistic and revival meetings throughout the North American Division and beyond, and is a sought-after seminar speaker relative to current issues in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He presently resides in Berrien Springs, Michigan