Whether Men Will Hear or Whether They Will Forbear

A few weeks ago I shared the truth about the Father and the Son with a pastor of a small Spanish church where I visit once in a while. He asked me to send him anything I had on the subject via email, which I did. Next time I saw him, he mentioned that he had received all my emails. “Interesting” he said, and that was all.

For a few months also, the Lord has laid upon my heart to share this beautiful message with a friend that I’ve known for a good number of years. When we study she seems to understand, but immediately after the study is over, the conversation turns to mundane things. There are no comments, hardly any questions, and apparently very little interest.

One dear, long term friend heard me attentively, as I shared this message that I consider of unparalleled beauty, and said to me, excited, “I want to study this!” We decided to wait a few days, and speak again later to set up a time for studies. A week later she called me, but our  conversation had a different tone. She had obviously spoken to someone. “Who can understand God?” she said? As we got ready to part, as friendly as usual, I knew there was no need to mention the studies.

There are others that know that my friends and I are not believers in the Trinity, yet when we visit the church never ask a single question. We strive to be respectful and orderly, and not bypass church authority, but oh, just a little spark of interest would be such a blessing!

Recently on a Friday, I was feeling discouraged and lonely for kindred spirits in the area where I live, thinking I should be quiet and said nothing more about the subject to anyone when the phone rang. It was a dear friend sent by divine appointment. He listened attentively and then pointed me to the following verses:

Eze 2:1- 4 And he said unto me, Son of man, stand upon thy feet, and I will speak unto thee. And the spirit entered into me when he spake unto me, and set me upon my feet, that I heard him that spake unto me. And he said unto me, Son of man, I send thee to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against me…I do send thee unto them; and thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD.

Eze 2:5 And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house,) yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.

Abundant light has been given to our people in these last days. Whether or not my life is spared, my writings will constantly speak, and their work will go forward as long as time shall last. My writings are kept on file in the office, and even though I should not live, these words that have been given to me by the Lord will still have life and will speak to the people. But my strength is yet spared, and I hope to continue to do much useful work. I may live until the coming of the Lord; but if I should not, I trust it may be said of me, "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them" (Revelation 14:13)....  {1SM 55.5}

The Lord will have others that will arise and shine revealing light and truth from on high. They may not be appointed to a prophetic office but they will go with the Spirit and power of Elijah to show the house of Israel the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. It was because of them that I heard and accepted this message, and it was so during the time of the rebuilding of the wall:

The success attending Nehemiah’s efforts shows what prayer, faith, and wise, energetic action will accomplish. Nehemiah was not a priest; he was not a prophet; he made no pretension to high title. He was a reformer raised up for an important time. It was his aim to set his people right with God. Inspired with a great purpose, he bent every energy of his being to its accomplishment. High, unbending integrity marked his efforts. As he came into contact with evil and opposition to right he took so determined a stand that the people were roused to labor with fresh zeal and courage. They could not but recognize his loyalty, his patriotism, and his deep love for God; and, seeing this, they were willing to follow where he led.—(Prophets and Kings, 675, 676.) {Pr 153.1}

Eze 6-8  And thou, son of man, be not afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns be with thee, and thou dost dwell among scorpions: be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house. And thou shalt speak my words unto them, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear: for they are most rebellious. But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee...

When God raises up men to do His work, they are false to their trust if they allow their testimony to be shaped to please the minds of the unconsecrated. He will prepare men for the times.  They will be humble, God-fearing men, not conservative, not policy men; but men who have moral independence and will move forward in the fear of the Lord.  They will be kind, noble, courteous, yet they will not be swayed from the right path, but will proclaim the truth in righteousness whether men will hear or whether they will forbear.—Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 262-263. {ChL 73.3}

The Lord reminded me that I had strongly and angrily rejected this message a few times before he pressed gently, one more time, on the strings of my heart through this very friend that was now calling. Back in December of 2009 he had only said a few words about it to me, but I could not reject it anymore. His words sent me searching, calling friends, inquiring, seeking, until through someone else, the Lord pointed me to Maranatha Media and so many things became perfectly clear. My dear friend encouraged me not to give up, to keep placing the truth in front of church friends, whenever there is an opportunity. Reading Ezekiel chapters 2 and 3 in context helped me understand that we can’t abandon them just because they seem uninterested. Out of love for our heavenly Father, His Son and them, we must keep praying, perseveringly, sharing till the very end, whether they hear (with the heart) or not.

Eze 3:11  And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.

He will go out before God in the spirit and power of Elijah--to reconcile fathers and children, and bring back the disobedient to the wisdom of good men--and he will make a people fully ready for their Lord. Luke 1:17, Phillips.  {CC 271.1}