Gods Sabbath

T HE C ONSEQUENCES OF G OD ’ S P LANS

255

“Christ’s ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty and leave results with God.” The Great Controversy , 609.1. Often when God gives us specific orders and calls us to take certain steps, our imagination immediately pictures unwanted consequences and our short-sighted evaluation imagines that great calamities will follow. But our thoughts are seldom God’s thoughts! What we label a “great calamity” might in God’s sight be the best thing that could ever happen to us. Yet we often need some time in order to view it in the same light as God does. “We should choose the right because it is right, and leave con sequences with God.” The Great Controversy , 460.2. If every believer would plead with the Holy Spirit to write these words indelibly on their minds and resolve to live undevi atingly by them, how quickly would the work be finished! We need to trust more in God and less in our own wisdom. If we have a clear mandate and a “thus saith the Lord” before us, then we are to step forth in faith, fearless of the consequences we will reap if we follow God’s plans.* An illustrious example of choosing the right and leaving the consequences with God is provided in the course adopted by Daniel’s three colleagues, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (better known by their Babylonian names Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego). Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, demanded that they worship his golden image or be cast into the fiery fur nace (see Daniel 3). These three men knew that it was God’s plan for them not to bow down to the image, for they understood the second commandment “You shall not make for yourself a carved image ... you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. . . .” Exodus 20:4, 5 (NKJV). Therefore they chose to follow

* This does not mean that we should go through life totally unmindful of any consequences resulting from our occasional unwise behavior. We need carefully to contemplate the conse quences of our choices, especially upon other people. Whenever we are faced with making an important decision, we need to think through the conse

quences of it thoroughly before we choose our course of action. "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise." Ephesians 5:15. (NKJV) "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity." Colossians 4:5.