We are living in the closing moments of earth's history before Jesus returns. Well would it be for us daily to spend a thoughtful hour upon the life and ministry, the death and sufferings of Jesus--for as we behold Him, our comprehension of the life and experience that is before us unfolds with greater clarity and power to accomplish the work He has for us when we abide in Him. I am so amazed that of all the times I could be alive in the drama of this earth's history that I could live right before Jesus comes, and have a part to play in His great plan. Is there anything more important than being fully surrendered to Christ so He can, by giving us a new heart and mind, and filling us with all the fruits of His Spirit so that not one is missing, enable us to faithfully win souls and resist the power of the evil one? Let us consider what a privilege it is to suffer with Christ and to have an experience of oneness with Him by continual union and communion of the soul with Him. Nothing in this world can make us truly happy like Jesus.
"The period of Christ's personal ministry among men was the time of greatest activity for the forces of the kingdom of darkness. For ages Satan with his evil angels had been seeking to control the bodies and the souls of men, to bring upon them sin and suffering; then he had charged all this misery upon God. Jesus was revealing to men the character of God. He was breaking Satan's power, and setting his captives free. New life and love and power from heaven were moving upon the hearts of men, and the prince of evil was aroused to contend for the supremacy of his kingdom. Satan summoned all his forces, and at every step contested the work of Christ." {The Desire of Ages, page 257, paragraph 1}
"So it will be in the great final conflict of the controversy between righteousness and sin. While new life and light and power are descending from on high upon the disciples of Christ, a new life is springing up from beneath, and energizing the agencies of Satan. Intensity is taking possession of every earthly element. With a subtlety gained through centuries of conflict, the prince of evil works under a disguise. He appears clothed as an angel of light, and multitudes are 'giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.' 1 Timothy 4:1." {The Desire of Ages, page 257, paragraph 2}
To be truly happy in these times we need a constant connection with Christ, so no matter how strong the temptation, we are enabled through Him, the "way of escape" (1 Corinthians 10:13), to overcome as He overcame, relying implicitly upon His grace and putting all the energies of our soul into the battle before us--the battle of wresting one more soul from the camp of the enemy to be eternally redeemed in glory!