Loyalty to God: An Exciting, Motivating Concept

I had a close and happy walk with God in my early youth.  It was my greatest joy to commune with God out in nature; those were the happiest days of my life.  But gradually, over a period of years, I was was beguiled by earthly pleasures. Through miserable years far from the Lord, God's mercy did not forsake me - He kept tenderly wooing me, and such loving kindness made a deep impression upon my mind.  Out of a deep gratitude, I resolved that I would be loyal to God come what may.

One of my favorite quotes is:  "Loyalty to God, faith in the Unseen, was Joseph's anchor. In this lay the hiding of his power."  Ed 53.

When Joseph was sold by his brothers into slavery, for a time he "gave himself up to uncontrolled grief and terror."  But "then his thoughts turned to his father's God...His soul thrilled with the high resolve to prove himself true to God--under all circumstances to act as became a subject of the King of heaven. He would serve the Lord with undivided heart; he would meet the trials of his lot with fortitude and perform every duty with fidelity."  PP 213.

Daniel is an inspiring example of loyalty to God:  "Daniel did not seek to hide his loyalty to God."  RH, May 3, 1892.  "For his loyalty to God, Daniel was thrust into the den of lions."  BEcho, March 1, 1893.

There's many other Bible examples of loyalty to God: Moses' mother "sought to implant in his heart love and loyalty to God."  Ed 61.  "Abel had a spirit of loyalty to God; he saw justice and mercy in the Creator's dealings with the fallen race, and gratefully accepted the hope of redemption." PP 71.  "In the history of prophets and apostles, are many noble examples of loyalty to God. Christ's witnesses have endured imprisonment, torture, and death itself, rather than break God's commands."  AA 81.

When I made my own decision to turn from the attractions of the world and be loyal to God, one verse that really helped pull my feet out of the mire was Hebrews 11:25.  Moses could have had everything this world had to offer, but he chose "rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."  At the end of his life, "in reviewing the scenes of his life," Moses concluded that "he had made a wise decision in choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." PP 437.

"Be no longer under the thralldom of sin, but as a loyal subject to the King of kings, prove your loyalty to God."  YI, February 2, 1893.

"The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer. This will lead us to do right because it is right--because right doing is pleasing to God."  COL 97.

It's an exciting time to be alive.  Prophecy is now being fulfilled with stunning rapidity, and Christ's coming is at the door.  Truly, what Jesus said privately to His disciples could be applied to us as well, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:  For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them."

Because of our loyalty to God, a storm, relentless in its fury, is about to break over our heads with blinding force.  Oh that we might, like Joseph, thrill with the high resolve to be true to God at such a time as this.   "To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few--this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason."  5T 136 (1882).

"The same spirit that actuated those who persecuted the true church in ages past, will lead Protestants to pursue a similar course toward those who will maintain their loyalty to God. Church and state are now making preparations for the last great conflict."  RH, January 23, 1908.

"The light concerning the binding claims of the law of God is to be presented everywhere. This is to be a deciding question. It will test and prove the world." Special Testimonies, Series A, No. 7, pp. 17, 18. (1874).

"In all ages the Sabbath has been the test of loyalty to God. 'It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever,' the Lord declares."  Gospel Workers, pp. 148, 149. (1915).