Camp Meeting
Greetings to you saints of the Most High God. While living in a world of uncertainties, a world that harrases and traumatizes us from all angles because of the strategies of the enemy of righteousness. We have come to a time where we are supposed to go out and meet with the Lord during the upcoming camp meetings. Yes, times may be difficult but consider what the Bible says about our priorities. Jesus advised that we need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness then all these things shall be added unto you see Matthew 6:33). You may need to ask yourself, how many programs that have nothing to do with your salvation that have received priority even in your time of need. There are sacrifices we all make in hard times just for this world, what about giving priority to things of eternal value?
If you and I are tempted to decide not to go for camp-meeting this year, meditate upon these words prayerfully
“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake, we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What is it that can separate you from the love of God, is it the state of the economy, He is the great economist, is it fear for the future, He is your future. I urge you, fellow members, to put your trust in the unfailing God. He has an appointment with you, will you decide not to meet the appointment? If there is any good reason for you to camp this year, it is the state of the economy. Do not allow the circumstances of life to determine your relationship with God. Refuse by the grace of God to be the conquered but be the conqueror.
Consider also the experience of Habakkuk, “17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places” (Hab 3:17-19).
Does our God seize to be who He is because the vines have failed? Just because there is no food does that make our God insufficient to our problems. Are we now as God’s children wanting to take things in our own hands or we still want to depend upon the one who remains unchangeable regardless of our situation. Is this not the right time to say to the enemy, regardless of our circumstances, we will rejoice in our LORD. The hour of our weakness and vulnerability is the right hour for His power to be displayed. I urge you by the grace of God to resist the temptation not to go for camp-meeting this year. Take a bold leap of faith not to miss an important appointment with your Creator.
Consider what Ellen White says about the importance of us attending camp-meeting: Serious Loss in Remaining Away “Our camp meetings are arranged and held at great expense. God’s ministers who advocate unpopular truth, labor excessively at these large gatherings to bear the message of mercy from a crucified Redeemer to poor fallen sinners. To neglect or treat these messages with indifference is to slight the mercy of God and His voice of warning and entreaty. Your absence from these meetings has been very detrimental to your spiritual welfare. “ 4 testimonies: 115
” Let all who possibly can attend these yearly gatherings. All should feel that God requires this of them. If they do not avail themselves of the privileges which He had provided that they may become strong in Him and the power of His grace, they will grow weaker and weaker and have less and less desire to consecrate all to God.” Allow nothing to discourage you from meeting such an important appointment with your God. ChS 197.3
Encouragement from Pastor M. Choga
