October 18, 2009

Dear Friend,

In 1869 John Wesley Powell commenced the first exploration of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. At that time there was no real knowledge of what lay ahead in the white water rapids, but all knew that it was a treacherous journey––a journey in which there was a high chance that they would perish somewhere in the Canyon. During the ensuing days, they encountered great difficulties, but because of the high canyon walls, there was no turning back. After a long and arduous trip, two men decided that death lay ahead in the river, so they separated from the discovery party and tried to return to civilization by climbing the walls and crossing the unknown desert. The tragedy is that one day later John Wesley Powell’s party broke out into the calm of the Colorado River and returned to civilization and safety. The two men who tried another path, sadly, were never heard from again.

There is a lesson we can all learn from this tragedy. It shouts a warning that we all need to consider as we move into the future. Mr. Armstrong warned us for years through sermons, in his writings and other media that are still available today. He warned that Jesus was coming and to stay the course that God has set out for us. Other scattered groups which he trained are still proclaiming this same message. That message is the Good News of the coming Kingdom of God. It has been proclaimed, “as the soon-coming” Kingdom. The Bible warns us that we can become complacent in waiting for the arrival of Jesus Christ and that many would get weary as the time approached. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Gal 6:9

 Christ said that at the end-time some would even proclaim that the end would not be for years in the future. “...and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." 2 Peter 3:4  In order to explain the wait, some groups have presumptuously set tentative days in order to calm those who lack the faith in the cetain return of Jesus to a dying world. Christ knew that there would be those who would lack the faith, who would wane at the long wait and would seek some explanation of the delay and not just wait in faith. The Philadelphians are those who stand firm until the end and wait in faith. “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly!...” Rev 3:10-11 The journey is difficult and treacherous. Never deceive yourselves about that. But we must keep to the path that we were taught to follow from the Word of God. Christ said “I will come again” in John 14:3, and He cannot lie. Are we convinced of that truth? If not, we will have a difficult time in enduring to the end. That is why we must be strong, encourage one another and pray for all those in the Body of Christ no matter where they attend and that God would give us, in the Wholeworld Church of God, Spiritual strength.

In the service of Christ,
Ronald W. Laughland

Pastor