The Things that Belong to Our Peace
Sammy Buruchara
“41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, 42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,
44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation. Luke 19:41-44.
These were the words of Jesus in His last visit to Jerusalem. “11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor 10:11.
“3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? 4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. 5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Matthew 24:8.
Pestilence: any very serious infectious disease that spreads quickly and kills large numbers of people.
The events of the world are happening fast. The Corona Virus has caused mayhem worldwide. Schools have been closed in most countries. People have been told to stay at home. Many are getting sick and dying. Hospitals cannot manage the sick. The economic toll is yet to be calculated.
Ellen White wrote: “I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work.”
“Life in the open air is good for body and mind. It is God's medicine for the restoration of health. Pure air, good water, sunshine, the beautiful surroundings of nature—these are His means for restoring the sick to health in natural ways. To the sick it is worth more than silver or gold to lie in the sunshine or in the shade of the trees.“ CH 166.3
If there was a time the world needed health reform it is now. If there was a time we all needed to have good immunity, it is now. If there was a time to obey all the laws of health including proper rest, sunshine, nutrition, etc, it is now.
If there was a time to have education reform, it is now. It is very clear from unexpected quarters, the heath front, that secular education is not ideal. We have not even discussed its contents which are soul destroying. There is little in the secular education that could help us during this crisis. But true education is very timely to manage a crisis such as this one. The true education student has been trained to be healthy to live in the country side and having done everything, to look up to God and not man for protection. He/she has been taught to grow their own food and get their own source of water for sustenance and stay far away from crowded cities.
“Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies.—Letter 5, 1904. 2SM 141.1
If there was a time for families and individuals to heed the country living messages, it is now. If there was one more thing that would convince someone to make a break for it, from the city to the country, it is this corona virus. All one has to do is look at Italy and USA. That is where we are heading if the virus does not stop spreading. But if one lived in the countryside, far, far from the cities, had their own food, water source, they would not be affected. I just came back from our farm in a remote region, and many people there go on their daily lives undisturbed. They hear of the corona virus but the only contact they have with are the trees and birds singing every morning.
Seventh Day Adventists who hold the light of truth for this time, shall we continue to sleep? Shall we not take the word of God and obey. Brothers and sisters may be we have another window of opportunity. Do not let this one pass as another event.
When Jerusalem was first besieged, the invading army suddenly departed. Many of the Jews who knew the prophecy of Jesus recorded in Mathew 24, took advantage of the opportunity and left Jerusalem. They ran to the mountains. But many others scoffed and even thought it was by the military might that the enemy had fled. When the Roman army came in the second time, these scoffers all lost their lives in the second siege.
God is still waiting for us to heed His counsel. Christ is still saying to you and me “If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace!”
Have a blessed Sabbath.
Sammy Buruchara
Malindi.