A marked feature of the church in the wilderness was God's direct and visible guidance (Ps. 78:52). He governed their itinerary with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Thus, their movements were never random or arbitrary. Moreover, wherever the Lord bade the children of Israel to encamp, He manifested His presence in the cloud, which hovered over the sanctuary until He planned for them to move to another place. God's last-day church receives guidance no less sure.
List some of God's promises to guide and protect His remnant church. On
what conditions does He fulfill these promises?
Ps.
25:9, 10;
32:8;
119:105;
John
16:13.
As the church trusts in God's will and Word, revelations of Christ's
righteousness will illuminate the hearts of the faithful and bless their
endeavors to fulfill the gospel commission.
"The Word of God illuminates the way so that men may walk safely in the spiritual darkness of this world. He who has this light to guide him need not stumble even though his path is beset with evil." - SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 3, p. 902.
The church militant triumphs as it follows the Captain of its salvation in His campaign to rescue all who consent to be freed from Satan's bondage. Members of the church are Christ's support troops in the final and most intensive phase of His campaign.
What promise of guidance especially sustains the church in the last days of its work? Matt. 28:18-20; Heb. 13:5, 6.
"The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant. In reviewing our past history, having traveled over every step of advance to our present standing, I can say, Praise God! As I see what God has wrought, I am filled with astonishment and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history."- Ellen G. White, Review and Herald, Oct. 12, 1905.
How have you already experienced God's guidance in your life? Are you confident that God is guiding His church now and that He will continue guiding it in the future? If so, what is the basis of your confidence?