WHAT IS YOUR REASON FOR LIVING
If you do not have something you are willing to die for, you are most likely still struggling to find a reason for living. What is your reason for living?
“Welcome back to what promises to be an epic journey through the unseen. We are looking at a saga, not of this world. It is an unseen battle for our souls. Are you willing to die for your soul salvation?
This is the 5th part of a 13-part series unlike any other.
We’re diving into the cosmic war beyond what we can see, hear, or imagine.
It is a war between the forces of good and evil. It is a war for your soul. (Split)
We’re digging deep into the heart of this cosmic battle, exploring the origins of sin, the nature of evil, the history, and what will lead to the ultimate showdown between God and Satan.
This series isn’t just about understanding the forces at play; it’s also about knowing our place within this universal struggle.
Every episode, every moment of this journey matters because, like it or not, this is a war that touches us all.
It is about a God who loves us so much, and He is willing to fight for our souls.
Your view of the universe and our place within it is about to change forever. If you have not viewed the previous videos, view them at SabbathSchoolDaily.com.
Before diving into this conflict, let’s take a moment to invite God’s presence.
Inviting God’s Presence
Heavenly Father, give us stability of purpose so that we can be relied on to move even in times of difficulties and danger. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Great Controversy
The War Between Good and Evil
(Lesson 5)
Faith Against All Odds
Part 1 Introduction
What ignited a revolution across Europe in the 1500s, leading to a seismic shift in the religious and cultural landscapes? What gave the Protestant reformers of that era the courage to defy the norms and face death without hesitation?
They were driven by a profound conviction that gave them a purpose for living that transcended their very existence.
In his insightful book The Empty Self, Philip Cushman draws a compelling contrast between merely having something worth dying for and possessing a deep, driving purpose for living.
He observes that many in today’s society wander through life without direction, lacking anything they deem worth dying for.
This, in turn, leaves them with little they find worth living for. They live their lives marked by shallowness, where nothing has significant value or deep meaning.
However, the lives of the Protestant reformers completely differ from this modern emptiness.
They had something worth dying for, which formed their purpose for living.
Their beliefs were more than religious practices; their beliefs in the scriptures, the written word of God, that is, the Bible, were the essence of their identities.
Denying their beliefs in the Word of God would be like denying their very selves.
Thus, they refused to deny the Word of God, and they found peace, not fear when facing death for standing up for what they believed.
Their convictions didn’t just save their souls; they transformed the world.
These reformers laid the foundations for what would become what we know today as the Protestant churches.
They embody the blueprint for living a life filled with purpose. Their actions and sacrifices demonstrate that what we believe matters and should never be compromised.
Drawing upon the teachings of Scripture, such as Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You,” we see that the Bible served as their guide and light. It is still relevant and can guide us today.
The battle these reformers fought continues, and it’s our turn to adopt their steadfast purpose and continue their legacy in our own spiritual journeys.
We must live our beliefs based on what is written in the Bible and allow it to be the essence of our identity.
As we explore the powerful impact of the Reformation, we are called to learn from the reformer’s example.
The Bible is not only spiritual history but also the guidebook we need to face the challenges of our time.
As we delve into how the enduring truths of the Scriptures prepared the reformers for their tests, we, too, can find guidance for the ultimate tests we face today.
Let this lesson inspire you to build your life on the unshakable foundation of the Bible, just as the Reformers did.
Join us as we uncover how the lessons of the past equip us for the future, empowering us to live with conviction and purpose.
Like the Protestant reformers, let us find our peace in the truth and strength in our faith, forging a path that not only honors their legacy but also prepares us for the great tests ahead.
What makes the Bible different from other writing and self-help books we find today? What makes the Bible so powerful that people would be willing to die for what they believe? Continue to Part 2: God’s Word Alone
The Great Controversy
The War Between Good and Evil
(Lesson 5)
Faith Against All Odds
Part 2: God’s Word Alone
Have you ever wondered what power lies within the pages of the Bible? In Psalms 119:103, 104, Psalm 119:147, and Psalm 119:162, King David reveals his profound adoration for God’s Word, describing it as sweeter than honey and more precious than gold.
King David declares in
Psalms 119:103-104
103 How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. (Psalms 119:103-104)
He says in Psalms 119:147
147 I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. (Psalms 119:147)
He expresses in Psalms 119:162
162 I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. (Psalms 119:162)
King David had some deep insight into God’s Word.
His insights not only shape centuries of faith but also ignite the transformative fires in the hearts of many, including the Protestant reformers of the Middle Ages.
These reformers built their very lives on the Scriptures. They saw the Bible not merely as a book but as the living, enduring voice of God.
As expressed in I Peter 1:23, they saw the Bible as the living “word of God which lives and abides forever” (I Peter 1:23).
To them, God’s promises in the Bible were a treasure chest filled with jewels that reinforced their faith and fortified their courage. Ellen G. White plainly describes in the book The Ministry of Healing, that the promises in the Bible make our faith and courage grow strong. Expressing that the promises in the Bible are like leaves from the tree of life, healing and empowering all who embrace them, she says:
“So with all the promises of God’s word. In them He is speaking to us individually, speaking as directly as if we could listen to His voice. It is in these promises that Christ communicates to us His grace and power. They are leaves from that tree which is ‘for the healing of the nations.’ Revelation 22:2.—Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, p. 122.
In the Bible Study Guide, Mark Finley beautifully describes the value of the scriptures, saying: “The Scriptures shine joy upon our sorrow, hope upon our discouragement, light upon our darkness. They give direction for our confusion, certainty in our perplexity, strength in our weakness, and wisdom in our ignorance. When we meditate upon the Word of God and by faith trust its promises, God’s life-giving power energizes our entire being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.” (The Great Controversy, 2nd Quarter, 2024, https://sabbath-school.adventech.io/en/2024-02/05/02-sunday-god%E2%80%99s-word-alone)
Such convictions led the Reformers to deeply internalize and live out the truths of the Bible, often at great personal cost. Many faced persecution and even death, yet their commitment never wavered.
They were not mere spectators in their faith but active participants who stood firm against adversity, fueled by the truth of the Scriptures.
As discussed in Lesson 4, Standing for Truth, John Wycliffe was among the reformers who bravely sought to make the Bible accessible to all by translating it into English.
Despite the severe consequences, including his arrest and a death sentence, Wycliffe stood unwavering.
At his trial, he declared, “With whom, think you, are ye contending? With an old man on the brink of the grave? No! With Truth—Truth which is stronger than you, and will overcome you.”—Wylie, book 2, chapter 13, quoted in Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 90.
His dying words were fulfilled in the light of the Word of God. They dispersed the darkness of the Middle Ages.
Today, the questions posed by David’s reflections on Scripture remain..
Is the Bible relevant today? Absolutely. It serves as a guide, a comforter, a source of spiritual strength, and a blueprint for living a life aligned with divine principles.
In a world filled with challenges, the truths of the Bible provide the clarity and resolve we need to overcome adversity.
Just like David and the Protestant reformers, the truths of the Bible are timeless. The scriptures are lights guiding our paths, but we are not to be selfish with this light. What does God expect us to do with it?
View the next segment of this video, Part 3: Passing on God’s Word
The Great Controversy
The War Between Good and Evil
(Lesson 5)
Faith Against All Odds
Part 3: Passing on God’s Word
In the face of adversity, as Satan seeks to have our souls, what drives people like William Tyndale and the Apostle Paul to stand firm and speak the truth?
2 Corinthians and the historical records of Tyndale’s heroic efforts to translate the Bible give us some insight.
From 2 Corinthians 4:1–6 and 2 Corinthians 2:14, we learn about the Apostle Paul’s courage and unyielding faith in God.
Despite constant troubles and confrontations with false teachings, Paul stood unwavering in his mission. He declares in 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart.
2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:1-6)
And He expresses in 2 Corinthians 2:14
14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. (2 Corinthians 2:14)
Paul faced many obstacles in his quest to share the truth of God’s word. Having the confidence that God’s word would be victorious, He asserted, in 2 Corinthians 13:8
8 … “we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth. (2 Corinthians 13:8).
Paul was convinced that the Bible was the word of God. In God’s word, Paul found a reason for living. Therefore, he found something worth dying for.
Paul’s powerful declaration highlights his commitment to sharing the Gospel, irrespective of the challenges he faced.
Mirroring Paul’s determination in a later era were reformers like William Tyndale, who became a monumental figure during the Middle Ages.
Like Paul, Tyndale encountered severe obstacles as he sought to give England an accurate and readable translation of the Bible.
His aim was not only to correct previous errors in Wycliffe’s translation, which had been completed about 140 years before but also to make the scriptures accessible to the common people.
Despite being arrested and facing a trial that would lead to his martyrdom death in Belgium in 1536, Tyndale’s determination did not waver.
History tells us that he was condemned on the charge of heresy and sentenced to be burned. His executioners strangled him while they tied him to the stake and then burned his body.
His dying words were spoken with zeal in a loud voice.
His reported final pea as he was being executed was: “Lord, open the king of England’s eyes.”
This was a testament to his unbreakable spirit.
Miraculously, God answered Tyndale’s prayer, for within four years after his death, multiple English translations of the Bible began to circulate. In 1611, the King James Version of the Bible was printed. Tyndale’s work greatly influenced this version of the Bible. The 54 scholars who produced the work drew heavily from Tyndale’s earlier English translation.
Today, the King James Bible stands as a legacy of Tyndale’s sacrifice.
Its deep impact is owed significantly to Tyndale’s dedication.
It is estimated that the Old Testament accounts for 76% of his work, and the New Testament accounts for 83%.
In 2011, the King James Version of the Bible celebrated over 400 years, reaching the milestone of one billion Bibles in Print.
Tyndale has a reason for living because he found something worth dying for. His sacrifice was well worth it. The King James Version has impacted tens of millions of people around the world.
Tyndale and his Bible-believing colleagues trusted God. They believed that regardless of how challenging or difficult things got, God was working everything out according to His divine will.
As we reflect on Tyndale’s legacy through the lens of Daniel 12:3 and Revelation 14:13, we see his life as a bright light for all who are willing to share the truth as found in the scriptures.
Daniel 12:3
3 Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever. (Daniel 12:3)
Revelation 14:13
13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” (Revelation 14:13)
These verses not only commemorate his eternal contribution but also inspire us to carry forward the torch of sharing Bible truth. It gives us a reason for living.
Daniel reminds us, “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens,” urging us to live lives of bold witnesses.
Let us draw inspiration from these heroes of faith and fortitude. As we navigate our paths, may we too find the courage to uphold and share the enduring truths of the Bible. (Split)
Remember, just as the commitment of people like Paul and Tyndale shaped the course of history, our actions today have the power to illuminate the future.
May we stand firm in truth and courage, and let our life be a testament to the transformative power of God’s Word.
Great is the reward in heaven of those who are witnesses for Christ through persecution and reproach. While the people are looking for earthly good, Jesus points them to a heavenly reward. But He does not place it all in the future life; it begins here. The Lord appeared of old time to Abraham and said, “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Genesis 15:1. This is the reward of all who follow Christ. (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 34).
However, some might say that the Bible is difficult to understand. What approach should we take to gain a better understanding of the Bible so that we may obtain that reason for living?
Continue to the next Segment of this video, Part 4: Enlightened by the Spirit.
