Dear Brothers and Sisters:
Given that we are going though a painful and trying time of separation, I felt compelled to encourage each of you to persevere in the faith, to remain faithful. If ever we have been tested in our resolve to remain true to our coming King, it is now. “Never, never, never, give up!” Sir Winston Churchill
The hymn with chorus "Hold the fort, for I am coming!" written by P.P. Bliss, was suggested to him by an incident in the American Civil War. At Altoma Pass the fort being held by General Corse was besieged by the enemy under General Hood, who summoned it to surrender. Corse refused to surrender. Many were the casualties, but in spite of the hopeless situation the defenders remained faithful. Then a white signal flag across the valley, some twenty miles away, waved the message, "Hold the fort, for I am coming." General Sherman was marching to the relief of the beleaguered and faithful defenders.
“Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my little apple tree and pay my debts.” Martin Luther
It is not faith and works; it is not faith or works; it is faith that works.
“O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.” (Psalms 31:23 KJV)
Amad á Jehová todos vosotros sus santos: A los fieles guarda Jehová, Y paga abundantemente al que obra con soberbia. (Salmos 31:23 SRV)
“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 10:22 KJV)
Y seréis aborrecidos de todos por mi nombre; mas el que soportare hasta el fin, éste será salvo. (Mateo 10:22 SRV)
“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” (Matthew 24:45-47 KJV)
¿Quién pues es el siervo fiel y prudente, al cual puso su señor sobre su familia para que les dé alimento á tiempo? Bienaventurado aquel siervo, al cual, cuando su señor viniere, le hallare haciendo así. De cierto os digo, que sobre todos sus bienes le pondrá. (Mateo 24:45-47 SRV)
“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:23 KJV)
Su señor le dijo: Bien, buen siervo y fiel; sobre poco has sido fiel, sobre mucho te pondré: entra en el gozo de tu señor. (Mateo 25:23 SRV)
“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2 KJV)
Mas ahora se requiere en los dispensadores, que cada uno sea hallado fiel. (1 Corintios 4:2 SRV)
“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10 KJV)
No tengas ningún temor de las cosas que has de padecer. He aquí, el diablo ha de enviar algunos de vosotros á la cárcel, para que seáis probados, y tendréis tribulación de diez días. Sé fiel hasta la muerte, y yo te daré la corona de la vida. (Apocalipsis 2:10 SRV)
“And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.” (Job 1:21-22 KJV)
Y dijo: Desnudo salí del vientre de mi madre, y desnudo tornaré allá. Jehová dió, y Jehová quitó: sea el nombre de Jehová bendito. En todo esto no pecó Job, ni atribuyó á Dios despropósito alguno. (Job 1:21-22 SRV)
Let us persevere in faithfulness.
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” (1 Chronicles 16:11 KJV)
Buscad á Jehová y su fortaleza; Buscad su rostro continuamente. (1 Crónicas 16:11 SRV)
“Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” (Psalms 37:24 KJV)
Cuando cayere, no quedará postrado; Porque Jehová sostiene su mano. (Salmos 37:24 SRV)
“But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18 KJV)
Mas la senda de los justos es como la luz de la aurora, Que va en aumento hasta que el día es perfecto. (Proverbios 4:18 SRV)
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42 KJV)
Empero una cosa es necesaria; y María escogió la buena parte, la cual no le será quitada. (Lucas 10:42 SRV)
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32 KJV)
Y decía Jesús á los Judíos que le habían creído: Si vosotros permaneciereis en mi palabra, seréis verdaderamente mis discípulos; Y conoceréis la verdad, y la verdad os libertará. (Juan 8:31-32 SRV)
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:21-22 KJV)
Y como hubieron anunciado el evangelio á aquella ciudad, y enseñado á muchos, volvieron á Listra, y á Iconio, y á Antioquía, Confirmando los ánimos de los discípulos, exhortándoles á que permaneciesen en la fe, y que es menester que por muchas tribulaciones entremos en el reino de Dios. (Hechos 14:21-22 SRV)
“Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:” (Romans 2:6-7 KJV)
El cual pagará á cada uno conforme á sus obras: A los que perseverando en bien hacer, buscan gloria y honra e inmortalidad, la vida eterna. (Romanos 2:6-7 SRV)
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2 KJV)
ADEMAS os declaro, hermanos, el evangelio que os he predicado, el cual también recibisteis, en el cual también perseveráis; Por el cual asimismo, si retenéis la palabra que os he predicado, sois salvos, si no creísteis en vano. (1 Corintios 15:1-2 SRV)
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58 KJV)
Así que, hermanos míos amados, estad firmes y constantes, creciendo en la obra del Señor siempre, sabiendo que vuestro trabajo en el Señor no es vano. (1 Corintios 15:58 SRV)
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9 KJV)
No nos cansemos, pues, de hacer bien; que á su tiempo segaremos, si no hubiéremos desmayado. (Gálatas 6:9 SRV)
“If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:” (2 Timothy 2:12 KJV)
Si sufrimos, también reinaremos con él: si negáremos, él también nos negará: (2 Timoteo 2:12 SRV)
“And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.” (Hebrews 3:5-6 KJV)
Y Moisés á la verdad fué fiel sobre toda su casa, como siervo, para testificar lo que se había de decir; Mas Cristo como hijo, sobre su casa; la cual casa somos nosotros, si hasta el cabo retuviéremos firme la confianza y la gloria de la esperanza. (Hebreos 3:5-6 SRV)
“For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;” (Hebrews 3:14 KJV)
Porque participantes de Cristo somos hechos, con tal que conservemos firme hasta el fin el principio de nuestra confianza; (Hebreos 3:14 SRV)
“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10:23 KJV)
Mantengamos firme la profesión de nuestra fe sin fluctuar; que fiel es el que prometió: (Hebreos 10:23 SRV)
“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:35-36 KJV)
No perdáis pues vuestra confianza, que tiene grande remuneración de galardón: Porque la paciencia os es necesaria; para que, habiendo hecho la voluntad de Dios, obtengáis la promesa. (Hebreos 10:35-36 SRV)
“To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1 Peter 1:4-7 KJV)
Para una herencia incorruptible, y que no puede contaminarse, ni marchitarse, reservada en los cielos Para nosotros que somos guardados en la virtud de Dios por fe, para alcanzar la salud que está aparejada para ser manifestada en el postrimero tiempo. En lo cual vosotros os alegráis, estando al presente un poco de tiempo afligidos en diversas tentaciones, si es necesario, Para que la prueba de vuestra fe, mucho más preciosa que el oro, el cual perece, bien que sea probado con fuego, sea hallada en alabanza, gloria y honra, cuando Jesucristo fuera manifestado: (1 Pedro 1:4-7 SRV)
“But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.” (Revelation 2:25-28 KJV)
Empero la que tenéis, tenedla hasta que yo venga. Y al que hubiere vencido, y hubiere guardado mis obras hasta el fin, yo le daré potestad sobre las gentes; Y las regirá con vara de hierro, y serán quebrantados como vaso de alfarero, como también yo he recibido de mi Padre: Y le daré la estrella de la mañana. (Apocalipsis 2:25-28 SRV)
Now from the Pen of Inspiration:
“Happiness that is sought from selfish motives, outside of the path of duty, is ill-balanced, fitful, and transitory; it passes away, and the soul is filled with loneliness and sorrow; but there is joy and satisfaction in the service of God; the Christian is not left to walk in uncertain paths; he is not left to vain regrets and disappointments. If we do not have the pleasures of this life we may still be joyful in looking to the life beyond.” {Steps to Christ, 124, 125}
“We are in a most trying position, waiting, watching for our Lord's appearing. The world is in darkness. "But ye, brethren," says Paul, "are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." It is ever God's purpose to bring light out of darkness, joy out of sorrow, and rest out of weariness for the waiting, longing soul.” {Testimonies for the Church, 5:216}
“The Lord has a great work to be done, and He will bequeath the most in the future life to those who do the most faithful, willing service in the present life. The Lord chooses His own agents, and each day under different circumstances He gives them a trial in His plan of operation. In each true-hearted endeavor to work out His plan, He chooses His agents not because they are perfect but because, through a connection with Him, they may gain perfection.” {Christ’s Object Lessons, 330}
“God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer.... Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.” {Testimonies for the Church, 1:187}
“The Lord will give His message to those who have walked in accordance with the light they have had, and will recognize them as true and faithful, according to the measurement of God. These men will take the place of those who, having light and knowledge, have walked not in the way of the Lord, but in the imagination of their own unsanctified hearts.... The ranks will not be diminished.” {Selected Messages, 3:422}
“Our mortal bodies may die and be laid away in the grave. Yet the blessed hope lives on until the resurrection, when the voice of Jesus calls forth the sleeping dust. We shall then enjoy the fullness of the blessed, glorious hope. We know in whom we have believed. We have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. A rich, a glorious reward is before us; it is the prize for which we run, and if we persevere with courage we shall surely obtain it.” {In Heavenly Places, 352}
“There stand the host of the redeemed, the palm branch of victory in their hand, the crown upon their head. These are the ones who by faithful, earnest labor have obtained a fitness for heaven. The lifework performed on earth is acknowledged in the heavenly courts as a work well done.” {Child Guidance, 569}
May God continue to watch over us, one and all.
Pastor Richard Parent