When the global pandemic hit our world, things rapidly changed for so many. Christ's words are being fulfilled as He foretold: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places" (Matthew 24:7). While this pestilence has already killed many people globally, the reality is that many have been awakened to realize how quickly life can change and the truthfulness of the prophecy given by Ellen White in Testimonies for the Church, Volume 9, page 11, paragraph 2: "Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones." We can trul

"The final movements will be rapid ones"

y see how scenarios could unfold to lead to the enforcement of Sunday as a day of rest and worship, and the liberty of conscience that has cost so much to those who have gone before be swept away. Yet Christ waits for us before He returns.

What is Christ so patiently waiting for? Notice these prophetic words from Christ's Object Lessons, page 69, paragraph 2: “'When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.' Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own." But what is Christ's character and what is the present truth message for this time? Notice these insightful words from Early Writings, page 63, paragraphs 1 and 2:

"There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is "present truth" that the flock

"It is 'present truth' that the flock needs now"

needs now. I have seen the danger of the messengers running off from the important points of present truth, to dwell upon subjects that are not calculated to unite the flock and sanctify the soul. Satan will here take every possible advantage to injure the cause."

"But such subjects as the sanctuary, in connection with the 2300 days, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, are perfectly calculated to explain the past Advent movement and show what our present position is, establish the faith of the doubting, and give certainty to the glorious future. These, I have frequently seen, were the principal subjects on which the messengers should dwell."

Christ's character is revealed all His life in consistently manifesting the fruits of the Spirit in affectionate obedience to His Father's will. He invites us to partake of His experience, too! Yes, He waits for this to be our experience in true conversion that will mature! "When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing" {The Desire of Ages, page 676, paragraph 4} The constant union and communion of the soul with Christ by the Holy Spirit will hasten the coming of Jesus! "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). As we dwell upon the subjects that elevate our minds above the things of this world, we will rejoice to suffer for His sake, pray for our enemies, and seek to find every means to help prepare others for Jesus' return! When so many distractions may clamor for our attention, let it be our realization of what really matters! "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matthew 24:35). Since these words of Christ will never pass away, then time spent reflecting upon His life and sacrifice is not only not a waste, it is an eternal investment in what will endure!

May we give the present truth message for our time by having an ever-present Savior abiding in our hearts! May we learn to come aside from the rush of this world to value each day the blessing of the experience offered us in Christ. "It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point, and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones. As we thus dwell upon His great sacrifice for us, our confidence in

Dwell upon His great sacrifice for us

Him will be more constant, our love will be quickened, and we shall be more deeply imbued with His spirit. If we would be saved at last, we must learn the lesson of penitence and humiliation at the foot of the cross" {The Desire of Ages, page 83, paragraph 4} May you find in Christ not only the character He offers you in preparation for His coming, but also the power to share and live the present truth centered in Him by a life that ever manifests all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing. As we press together to let God finish His work by sending the Holy Spirit in the fullness of the latter rain, we can know that this experience is directly connected to the message of the righteousness of Christ, and that by beholding Him, we become changed into the image of His loveliness. May your life bear witness of the power of the gospel of God's grace that not only converts sinners into saints, but has power to keep them from falling even during the time of trouble such as never was! Jesus will soon return and take His people to be with Him, for His character shall be fully matured in those who have chosen Him in continual surrender of the entire heart to Him, knowing the truth of the promise: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and ye shall keep My judgments, and do them" (Ezekiel 36:26-27). Will you yield your heart fully to Christ even now, that this may be your experience?