Can God Still Be Trusted?

I just recently finished re-listening to George Müller’s autobiography. What an amazing testimony from this German man of God! His stated reason for his life of faith (and his work for orphans) was to demonstrate to the modern church that God can still be taken at His word. The record of his life shows that we can still claim God’s promises and expect Him to answer!

So how does this fit in with AdAgrA and agriculture? Well, the SDA church has been given Divinely inspired counsels on how we should be living in these last days. But, do we believe them? Are we following them to the best of our abilities? Or, are we allowing circumstances to temper our obedience? Can we still trust God in spite of our modern-day obstacles?

Let’s just look at one particular quote from Ellen White’s book, Education, and try to apply the message to our lives:

“The education centering in the family was that which prevailed in the days of the patriarchs. For the schools thus established, God provided the conditions most favorable for the development of character. The people who were under His direction still pursued the plan of life that He had appointed at the beginning….” (my emphasis added).

Questions:

1. Is our education centered in the family? (Remember that education is a life-long process.)

2. Do we want the conditions most favorable for character development?

3. Do we want to be under His direction?

4. Do we understand the plan of life that He appointed at the beginning?

“Those who departed from God built for themselves cities, and, congregating in them, gloried in the splendor, the luxury, and the vice that make the cities of today the world’s pride and its curse. But the men who held fast God’s principles of life dwelt among the fields and hills. They were tillers of the soil and keepers of flocks and herds…”

5. Do we hold fast God’s principles of life?

6. Do we dwell among the fields and hills?

7. Are we tillers of the soil and keepers of flocks and herds? (This does not necessarily mean that this has to be your main livelihood.)

“…and in this free, independent life, with its opportunities for labor and study and meditation, they learned of God and taught their children of His works and ways.” (Education, p. 33).

8. Do we have a free, independent life?

9. Does our lifestyle give opportunities for (physical) labor, study and meditation?

10. Is our lifestyle such that we are learning of God and teaching our children of His works and ways?

I challenge you to prayerfully consider these questions. Yes, I am aware of some of the unique challenges European Adventists face. I know that following God’s plan is never easy, but also remember that the Children of Israel had to put their feet in the water before the Jordan River opened up — leading them into the Promised Land (see Joshua 3:15-17). God is wanting to lead us into the Promised Land too!

It is not presumptuous to follow God’s counsel! The world will think it’s lunacy, but God is looking for men and women with faith to believe and demonstrate in their lives that God’s Word can still be trusted! May He find those men and women in YOU!

John Dysinger, along with his wife Pam and their children, started Bountiful Blessings Farm in the fall of 1998 (after 8 years of classroom teaching). He has learned almost everything the hard way, but is thankful for the many lessons God has taught him in the process. Now his passion is to encourage others to experience the blessings of an agrarian life.