I joined the Seventh-day Adventist when I was 16. I was Catholic prior to this, and when I was introduced to the Bible by an Adventist pastor I was absolutely fascinated. I was quickly filled of fire. After all, the church of my birth (the Catholic Church) was the beast, and the pope was excerpting God's throne. Good thing I had found the Adventist church, the only true and remnant church! All other churches were from the devil, as they all worshipped on Sunday. True, there were some true devout Christians among them, but the Adventist church was called by God to bring the 3 angels message to the world!
I quickly decided not to pursue my goal of becoming an engineer. I decided to become a preacher instead, and I began attending the Adventist seminary, Collonges-sous-Salève. I finished my Master’s degree, and while there, I discovered I loved teaching. I decided to become a professor of Theology, and I applied to do my PHD at Andrews University. However when I arrived in Berrien Springs, I discovered, to my dismay that Andrews University did not recognize my Master’s degree. I first had to do my Masters of Divinity before I could consider doing a PHD, which would require 2-3 additional years of schooling. I couldn’t do this to my dad who was sponsoring my studies (it’s quite expensive for an European to attend an Adventist college in the States!). I couldn’t abandon my dream of becoming a teacher, however, and I proceeded to pursue a Masters Degree in teaching.
None of this diminished my zeal for the Adventist church, however. I was actively involved in every church I attended. My first teaching assignment was at Walla Walla College. During the 3 years I was there, I offered my service in the area of giving Bible studies. There were many other assignments, but at my last church, I was actively involved in the preaching schedule, I was a church elder, Sabbath School Coordinator and teacher, I was in charge of Vacation Bible school, I was the chairman of our church school, and the list went on. In a word, I was involved, and I really believed in my church!
However, being involved in a church does not necessarily co-exist with having a close relationship with God! I was involved, but I didn’t personally know my Maker. Oh, I thought I did – but no matter what I did, I couldn’t explain the huge emptiness in my heart. It was very confusing. I was spiritually dry, spiritually empty. I struggled with addictions that had plagued me for 30 years. Yet, wasn’t I part of God’s remnant church? Why didn’t God free me from this addiction? What was wrong with me?
Then one day, while driving to work, I was impressed to turn on the radio. It was tuned to a local Christian station, and Chuck Swindoll was presenting the gospel message in such a beautiful, simple way, that my heart was touched. That was the day God started to work on me. After 35 years of trying to “work” my way to Heaven, I realized that Salvation by Faith was, indeed, a very Biblical concept!
I wanted to share this Good News with my brothers and sisters at church. Not only did I learn that they were all still struggling with their salvation, but also that they were not open to changing their beliefs, even though what I was presenting was based on the Bible! Sadly, I preached a sermon once about salvation, and during the course of the sermon, I asked who was certain that they were saved. Only 4 people put their hands up, and one of them was my wife. All the other 100 or so people were not certain of their salvation!
This saddened me more than I could know, but it made me begin to ask questions. If this very basic Bible-based belief was not embraced by my church, were there other things taught by Seventh-Day Adventists that didn’t have their basis in the Bible? I began to pray a prayer that would eventually change my life. I prayed, “Lord, lead me to your truth!” Little did I know that God was already preparing to answer my request!
A few weeks later, I received an invitation by e-mail to attend a Messianic synagogue. It sounded interesting, and they were only a 2-hour car drive away from where I lived. Why not try it? At least they weren’t worshipping the Beast by keeping Sunday!
The day I was supposed to go there, my mother-in-law fell and was rushed to the hospital. I was unable to go. I should have known that the enemy was trying to discourage me from having a unique experience with God. However, this did not stop me from making plans to attend at the next possible moment, and the following month, we headed to that place of worship. As we entered the synagogue, an overwhelming presence was felt by both my wife and myself: God’s presence through His Holy Spirit was in that place! I never had felt His presence that way before. During the service there was prophesying. The Rabbi’s wife prophesied that there was someone in the congregation that was facing the open door, the door of the Messiah Yeshua. She was encouraging that person to not hesitate any longer, but to go through that door. Little did she know that she was prophesying to me.
I thought I knew Jesus, I thought I knew my Bible, but that day I tumbled down from my ivory tower and accepted Jesus into my life. That day, He became real to me, and my whole life changed. He gave me total victory over the addiction I had struggled with for 30 years. But even more amazing, after my first encounter with the Holy Spirit, I found I could open my Bible and actually understand it. I mean really understand it like I never could before! The difference simple: God’s Spirit was dwelling in me. Jesus was so right when he said: John 16:13 3 "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.”
My outward attitude changed as well. I used to be an egotistical selfish individual who would only think about himself (just ask my wife!). Dishes? That’s women’s work! Cleaning up? Women’s work! My wife had long ago given up hope that I would ever change, and she had stopped asking me to help out with these things. But she began to see changes happening in me. I began insisting on doing the dishes, putting away my shoes without any reminders, and cleaning up all my working areas. God made a difference in my life, He has become my Messiah! Praise the Lord for leading me to Him!
Yes, I used to think I was saved. After all, didn’t I obey all of my church’s doctrines? Didn’t I try to read my Bible? Didn’t I try to pray? Didn’t I…? But I learned that being saved is not about what I can do, it’s about what God does in a person’s life. Jesus came on this earth to die in my place, to save me from eternal damnation. He saved me through His own blood! Jesus loved me! Jesus loves me! He manifested that love by making His dwelling place in me, through His Holy Spirit! Praise to God!
All my life I went to church without knowing my Saviour. All of my life I tried to earn heaven, but I never succeeded. Jesus made the difference in my life! And He is willing to make a difference in your life, too! Will you let Him into your life? Stop being “religious”. Stop trying to earn your way to Heaven, because you will never succeed. Let Jesus come into your life, and you will become victorious! Let Him into your life, and the Bible will start to become clear to you. Let Him come into your life, and “when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth.” Won’t you do that now?
I have discovered that many Adventists are in the same boat I used to be in. They feel empty, they doubt their salvation, and they do not know what to do about it. The major thing that keeps many in the Adventist church is the Sabbath and the fear of attending a Sunday-keeping church, as they do not want to be part of Babylon.
These few pages have been put together to help you find your way to freedom my friend. Jesus promised: John 8:31-32 "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Truth is not a set of doctrines. Truth is not even a church. Truth is a person! John 14:6 “Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The only way to God is through Jesus Christ!
My friend, you may be finding yourself in a situation similar to mine. You may be attending a church that professes to know Jesus, a church that proclaims that it is Bible-based. But does your life feel fulfilled? Do you have that assurance that you are saved? Have you experienced the power of God's Holy Spirit in your life? Have you obtained victory over your addictions?
If your answer to any of these questions is no, may I suggest you kneel down and pray a simple prayer: "Lord, lead me to all your truth." Our Heavenly Father will honor this prayer. Wait for and expect His answer, and be prepared for changes to happen in your life. If you follow where the Lord leads you, your empty life will become full. Your uncertainty of your salvation will disappear. You will know beyond a doubt that you are saved. And as for your addictions? As you learn to rely on the Holy Spirit, you will become victorious!
Please prayerfully consider the words written on this site. I have nothing to gain from this. I do not hate the Seventh-day Adventist church, but my heart aches to see so many unfulfilled souls who are still in the dark, who still lack Freedom in Christ, who still lack that fulfillment only brought about by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. My prayer is that you will all come to know Jesus and experience the joy of having Him dwell in your heart. He loves you my friend, He really does. Why don’t you kneel down and pray "Lord, lead me to all your truth." God will honor your prayer, my friend!