4 minute read
Looking Forward to Camp Meeting 2024
Message From the President
Several years ago, I climbed Mount Hood with some friends. At 3,429 m, the summit of Mount Hood is the highest point in the State of Oregon. As we trekked through the snow on our push to the summit, we carefully made our way around the end of a gaping crevasse. We were roped up for protection, and climbed cautiously, making sure to stay well back from the edge. Some years earlier, on May 30, 2002, nine members of a climbing party plunged into this very crevasse. The helicopter which came to assist with the rescue crashed and rolled 1,000 feet down the mountain.
We made it safely past the crevasse that day and summited the mountain. The views were amazing! A few hours later, on our descent, we were making our way back around the same crevasse. We traced the footprints we had left in the snow on our way up, not realizing that the heat of the sun had softened the snow bridge at the end of the crevasse. As I crossed the snow bridge, suddenly the ground beneath me gave way. In that moment, as I began to plunge feet first into the crevasse, I instinctively flopped over at the waist, and my crevasse fall was halted. My friends on the rope team held me fast. I plunged the pick of my ice axe deep into the surface snow and climbed back out of the hole to safety. As I stepped away from danger, my heart was still racing. I was so grateful to God that I had not fallen completely through the snow bridge. And I was certainly thankful for my friends on the rope team who had held me fast.
In our walk with Jesus, there are times when we encounter “crevasse falls.”
Thankfully, the Psalmist gives us this reassurance, “If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” (Psalm 139:9-10 NIV)
In this world of trials and temptations, there are times when we struggle. I find it tremendously reassuring that at those times, Christ will hold me fast. One of my most treasured verses in all scripture is Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Back in Bible times, people considered the right hand to be the strong hand. (Please don’t take offense if you’re a lefty.) When Jesus holds us fast with His righteous right hand, we are safe. Ellen White put it this way, “By prayer, by the study of His word, by faith in His abiding presence, the weakest of human beings may live in contact with the living Christ, and He will hold them by a hand that will never let go.” Ministry of Healing, p. 182.
Friend, I urge you to build into your life the habits that will help you “live in contact with the living Christ.” These last days will be “perilous times.” (2 Timothy 3:1) The days ahead will be very difficult. The Prophet Daniel tells us that just before the return of Jesus, “There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then.” (Daniel 12:1 NIV) If there was ever a time when we need to press close to Jesus, that time is now. Thankfully, we hold onto Jesus with the assurance that He will hold us fast!
Our theme for Alberta Camp Meeting this summer is, “He Will Hold Me Fast.” I invite you to join us July 12-20, 2024, for an inspiring week of worship, fellowship and spiritual renewal. Take your relationship with Jesus to the next level! Join us for Camp Meeting this summer!
