Thursday        June 12
For Such a Time as This

There is an unfortunate tendency among some Christians to dwell on the hard things of Bible prophecy. We see that trying times lie ahead, and the study of prophecy can become fear-based, focusing on hardship instead of the promised resolution to the story. While God does not sugarcoat the future, and He is honest about the events that will transpire between now and the close of the great controversy, it is important always to read the story to the end.

There is a general pattern in prophecy where God reveals the truth about the mess created by our human rebellion, and He shows us the consequences. But then He always holds out hope. Some have looked at the predictions of a final crisis—the “time of Jacob’s trouble”—with fear and trembling. Undoubtedly, the closing moments will not be easy ones for God’s people. But just as the prediction of hard times is reliable, so is the promise of deliverance.

Amen!  We ought to study all of the truth, not leaving out that which many do not want to hear. The delay in the coming of Jesus is because we have  not done that which God has asked us to do. The Laodicean condition applies in our day. Few are truly born again of the Spirit. Thus, we read of this strong rebuke beginning with Rev. 3:14. But, God does not leave us there. No, He tells us what we must do in order to be born of the Spirit:

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

In Revelation 12, the devil pursues Christ’s bride with hateful vengeance, but God intervenes to save her. The story of Esther also has a beautiful queen playing a central role in the drama, and God uses her powerfully to save His people.

And so we see how successful Satan has been in deceiving professing Christianity regarding the gospel message. That includes much of those who have been entrusted with the truth. There will be a shaking in the church caused by those who rise up against the Laodicean message. There will be revival and reformation in His organized church. The ministry will be purified by persecution. God will raise up from the plow many who will have been taught by the Holy Spirit, not by the institution of so called higher education.

Read Esther 4:13-14; Esther 5:1-3; and Esther 9:20-28. What lessons can we draw from these passages regarding our plight in the closing moments of earth’s history?

God raised up His remnant church for a specific moment in history. As the 1,260 days of the Dark Ages drew to a close, God brought His bride out of hiding (compare with Rev. 12:14) to carry His final message of mercy to the world: the three angels’ messages. We are here “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).

It is true that the three angels' message involves mercy, but after the opening verses we see not mercy, for it is ended for those who reject the gospel of grace. Justice is seen clearly as the wicked are thrown into the lake of fire and will burn until all sins have been punished.

Esther discovered she was not alone to face the persecution being unleashed on her people by Haman: she found favor from the king, and her people were ultimately delivered. Neither are we alone as we enter the final moments of earth’s history—the King is on our side, and God’s people will be delivered, as well.

Things worked out well, at least in this story, for God’s people. It doesn’t always happen that way, though, does it? Why, then, must we always take a long-term view of things in order to maintain the hope that we have in Christ?

How did it end for the Jews who were God's people?  Israel is an ensample for those who the ends of the world is come. Sadly, we have not yet learned the lessons we ought to have. We are reproducing the sins of Israel. When will Jesus come? Tell the truth, when He has a people who have ceased to sin. Then He says "let him who is holy be holy still and he who is filthy be filthy still.

Amen Brother Beacon!  Glory, glory to His name!

Those who see Christ in His true character, and receive Him into the heart, have everlasting life. It is through the Spirit that Christ dwells in us; and the Spirit of God, received into the heart by faith, is the beginning of the life eternal.  DA 388.

To eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ is to receive Him as a personal Saviour, believing that He forgives our sins, and that we are complete in Him. It is by beholding His love, by dwelling upon it, by drinking it in, that we are to become partakers of His nature. What food is to the body, Christ must be to the soul. Food cannot benefit us unless we eat it, unless it becomes a part of our being. So Christ is of no value to us if we do not know Him as a personal Saviour. A theoretical knowledge will do us no good. We must feed upon Him, receive Him into the heart, so that His life becomes our life. His love, His grace, must be assimilated.  DA 389.

Turmeric is not the only spice being contaminated by lead.   It is a serious danger that many are not aware of.  The FDA ought to be more concerned about these foods which are contaminated with lead.

Here is a study from PubMed that reveals the danger from lead in Turmeric.   source

Amen Brother Curt.

Yes, many want a pill to remove the pain right away. And they want a cure via the pill. But, the problem is not just impatience, few want to change their lifestyle which is often the reason why there is an illness. We must deal with the cause of the illness else we are only putting on a bandage.

Rahab, thanks for the warning about lead. I did a little research and found that much of the lead was coming from


How to Test Turmeric for Lead

The easiest way to avoid this issue is to use fresh turmeric. If you buy it fresh, and local, you’re much closer to the source and you control the process. Whole and unpeeled turmeric is less likely to be contaminated or adulterated. You can easily slice, grate, or dry it — and it stays good in your fridge for a long time.

To test if the powder in your cupboard may contain lead, mix a teaspoon of turmeric powder with water. If there is lead, it will instantly leave streaks of water-soluble colour in the water.

We tested our own turmeric in a recent Ask Julie Anything – check it out!

You can also test the turmeric for adulteration in a few other ways:

1. The Water Test: Take a glass of warm water and add a teaspoon of your turmeric powder to it. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. If the turmeric powder settles down, it is pure. If it doesn’t settle to the bottom and leaves a dark yellow colour, it is adulterated.

2. The Palm Test: Take a pinch of your turmeric powder and rub it into the palm of your hand for a few seconds, then turn your palm over. Pure turmeric will stick to your palm and leave a yellow stain, whereas adulterated turmeric will mostly fall off.

While this may not be a common issue, it’s an important one. Always check the source of your turmeric and test if you’re unsure of purity. No amount of lead is safe, so you need to avoid it for yourself and your pets!