Q. Thank you for your invitation to become a member of your Church. I really like it, I think the people are great, and I believe you are teaching the truth. But I'm not sure whether God wants me to be a part of it yet, at least not while it's so small.

Anyone acquainted with out literature will know that at this time in history God's people are a tiny remnant. It has been so in the past too. If you had lived in ancient Israel in the days of Elijah when the whole nation, save a few souls, were pagan, and if the prophet had come up to you and invited you to follow him, what would your response have been? Or would you have waited for some kind of supernatural demonstration such as occurred when he challenged and defeated the prophets of Baal?

Or if you had listened to Noah preaching repentance, would you have told him that you agreed with him but asked to wait until he had more than 7 followers?! (If you had, you would have been drowned).

If you are waiting for supernatural signs (as I know many of our investigators and former members are doing) you will not be rewarded. At least probably not the signs that you are expecting. God is working through His people and giving plenty of signs -- the most important ones, in fact, though these are not what carnal man wants. We must either choose to be like the Herods of this world who demand a supernatural display (and not be converted is they saw one anyway, because signs never bring about true conversion), or like the disciples of Jesus who, despite being awed by the miracles the Saviour performed, were really converted because He possessed "the words of eternal life" (John 6:68, NIV).

God gives what signs He pleases. He has a timetable. If specific kinds of miracles and large numbers of followers in this aspect of His work aren't a part of His plan, have we any right to demand otherwise? What is more important is to see the signs that He has given for they are more than enough to bring a soul to conversion, and to bring abundant life.

The Lord has revealed many times that He has revealed sufficient for those who truly desire to know the truth to come to this work. Other signs will come later, when they are needed, and not as man would wish or dictate.

The message of the New Covenant to those who have heard the words of eternal life proclaimed to them, and who have received a testimony that this work is true, is this: Do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity -- if we do not improve our time while in this life -- then comes the night of darkness in which no labour can be performed. For then it will be too late.

The fact of the matter is that two kinds of people will come to this covenant: those who come when it is young and shoulder the responsibilities of making it grow (the future leaders) and those who come at the end when they have seen enough signs to satisfy them (the followers). But for the last there is a very real danger of disappointment for the Lord has said: "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts" (James 4:3, AV).

It is necessary for us to therefore soberly warn those who are procrastinating taking action regarding this work, for to deny the testimony of the Holy Spirit is to deny the commandment of God. If you have not been called to this work, then you are free of responsibility, but if you have -- and unmistakably so -- and you have done nothing, and have invented excuses, then judgment hangs over you like a sword (Isa.34:5). These are sobering and harsh words, perhaps, but God will not be mocked (Gal.6:7). It behooves us to act when He has spoken and not invite His wrath for disobedience, but to rather flee from it, from amongst the idolatrous and liars of the world (Luke 3:7).

You are therefore invited to join the little flock and share in the exhilarating experience of bringing this work to fruition and to partake of its rewards.

This page was created on 2 May 1998 Last updated on 2 May 1998

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