John and Jane Doe were members of the Church of God. Along with their two children, they were a close-knit family. John worked as a shop foreman at a large manufacturing facility. Jane worked part-time at a pet store. Although they had their usual share of trials and troubles, times were good for the Does.

The family regularly attended weekly Sabbath services in their local congregation of about 75 brethren. They often participated in church activities and looked forward to the Holy Days, especially the Feast of Tabernacles.

John and Jane prayed and they read the Bible. They tried to keep God's laws and be good examples to their children. As did most Church members, the Does kept up with world news and events. Although they knew there were many trouble spots around the globe, it appeared that major prophesied end-time events were not imminent.

Catastrophe

But then suddenly, the unexpected occurred! Abruptly and swiftly, simmering international tensions exploded on nearly every continent. Almost overnight in numerous countries, financial markets melted down, bringing economic catastrophe to millions. As fear and panic gripped the leaders and citizens of major world capitals, it wasn't long before the growing crisis reached the shores of America.

Overseas orders for manufactured goods at John's company began to rapidly plummet, forcing management to initiate worker layoffs. John survived the cuts for a few weeks, but finally, after nearly 17 years of faithful service, his employment was terminated. The shock of this event severely jolted John and Jane.

Meanwhile, international economic tensions continued to escalate. As a result, the U.S. economy began to falter. Numerous firms were forced to slow or cease operations. Thousands were thrown out of work. The resulting competition for employment made John's efforts to seek a new job intensely harder.

Due to declining sales at the pet store, Jane lost her job. At that point John's unemployment compensation simply became too little to maintain their former lifestyle. They were forced to apply for food stamps and other assistance.

Regular Sabbath services were ongoing, but the Does were attending less frequently. Attendance by other brethren was also noticeably declining as they too experienced financial troubles. As the days passed, John and Jane's situation grew worse.

"Where Is God?"

One day, frustrated and exasperated, John said to Jane: "Why is God allowing us to go through this? Haven't we been faithful to Him and His Church all these years? Why are we being punished? What have we done to deserve this condition? Where is God when we need Him? I simply don't understand." Jane agreed.

Economic circumstances throughout the country were growing dire. Shortages of goods mounted, resulting in rapidly rising prices. Each day, more people lost their jobs and businesses closed. With millions terminated from employment, the economy plunged into depression. Lacking financial resources, many turned to illegal means to obtain goods and services. Break-ins, carjackings, assaults, thefts and murder became commonplace. Governors of many states were forced to call up the National Guard to help local police in dealing with the growing tide of lawlessness.

After months of a futile job search and constant financial pressure, John was unable to find work. As a result, the Does were compelled to abandon their house and mortgage and move in with Jane's parents. Other Church families, constrained by their own difficult circumstances, made similar moves. Some families were doubling and even tripling up in relatives' or other Church members' homes.

Product shortages throughout the country continued getting worse. Consumer goods grew scarcer as prices spiraled. Tensions mounted in cities and towns. State and local authorities were forced to quell riots with tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets. As rumors spread that people were hording food and other goods, thefts and break-ins into private homes became routine.

The Does' financial plight grew increasingly precarious. Although they had food to eat and a place to live, their lives were totally different than before. Gone were the happy, easy times. With their situation seemingly unbearable, John and Jane began feeling more and more as if God had abandoned them. Regretfully, they stopped attending Sabbath services and curtailed Bible study and prayer.

They turned away from brethren who tried to encourage them to remain faithful. Admonitions by their pastor and longtime friends in the Church to trust God fell on deaf ears. To the Does, God's promises of help in times of trial seemed empty. Their love for Jesus Christ had grown cold. They discarded faith and abandoned God.

Little did they know, however, that the worst was yet to come. And sadly, they now faced it without a close relationship with God, leaving their spiritual survival in great peril.

Back to the Present

Certainly, this is a troubling picture. Here, formerly loyal members of the spiritual Body of Christ are overcome by gloom, hopelessness and despair. Although nothing could have been done to prevent the catastrophic economic events, could the spiritual outcome for our imaginary family in this potential scenario been different?

What if you and I faced something similar? If the world we know collapses around us, would we stand strong or fall apart spiritually? What if circumstances dramatically changed and turned our present world on its head? Would we remain steadfast in faith or relinquish it in despondency?

What can we do to guarantee that what happened to John and Jane won't happen to us? Is there a way to survive spiritually even in the darkest times and under the most intense circumstances? It all begins with where we place our trust. On what do we depend? Do we trust in possessions, people, talent, ability or position? Or is our trust in Someone mightier and immensely more powerful?

Spiritual Staying Power

Sadly, the Does did not have the spiritual staying power they thought they had. The outcome of their story could have been different. They didn't have to disintegrate spiritually. Perhaps having lived so well for so long spoiled them to the point that it seemed inconceivable they would be required to endure such intense conditions.

What about you and me? What would we do if we had to face something similar or even worse? What would it take for us to turn away from God and abandon His Church and our brethren?

Bible prophecy makes it clear that terrible events are relentlessly on the march toward the climax of the age of man. Unless repentance occurs, all humanity sits on the edge of disaster. In Matthew 24:21-22, Jesus Christ explained that the time before His return will be intensely chaotic and traumatic. How dreadful will it become? Christ said that if He didn't return, no human being would be saved.

Perhaps these events won't occur for a long time. But what if things changed suddenly? What if God allows us to be caught up in the maelstrom of end-time distress? Will we be spiritual survivors? I'm not referring to physical survival. Interestingly, the apostle Paul stated in Romans 14:8, "For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's."

The point is not that our physical life is prolonged. Why? Because in the end our physical life and physical things won't save us. Rather, what we most need now is a daily, consistent, unswerving spiritual relationship with our Heavenly Father. Whatever is thrown at us physically should not, in the end, really matter because we are in pursuit of the spiritual goal—eternal life in the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33).

Spiritual Rewards

Our brave ancestors in the faith were able to look past the traumas of this life and concentrate on the rewards in the next. Hebrews 11:36-37 says, "Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented."

In Hebrews 11:16 we read, "But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

Yes, a spiritual reward was what they desired and passionately sought. What about us? Will we remain faithful as they did? Are we building and maintaining an unshakable bond with God? Are we developing His character to the point of being willing to die for His ways? Are we fully trusting in Him through the difficulties that life now throws our way? If so, we will not be in trouble later, when possibly even greater events test our convictions.

As we struggle in faith in an ever-more corrupt society, we would do well to remember the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. "For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin" (Hebrews 12:3-4).

Through the worst of times God promises never to abandon His faithful followers (Hebrews 13:5; Romans 8:31). He will remain committed to us if we remain devoted and obedient to Him.

What is the principal key to spiritual survival? It is simply closeness and faithfulness to God. We must know, love and obey Him without question or doubt. And we must do so passionately, faithfully, zealously!

How Are We Doing?

So, how are we doing? Are we growing closer to God or are we distracted by other interests? God wants to know—and He will find out—if we will remain loyal to Him. Before He can give us the power of the universe, He must know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we will remain steadfast and obedient to Him.

Since He can't allow another satanic rebellion, He must determine where our loyalties lie. That is why, as Jeremiah 17:10 says, "I, the L ord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."

So, yes, we can count on God, but can He count on us? In Genesis 22 we read how God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his only son, Isaac. When Abraham was willing to implicitly follow His request, God said: "For now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me" (verse 12).

What should our reaction be if we are placed in what appears like an untenable situation? The apostle Paul provides the answer in 1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

If we are to be spiritual survivors, we must be unwavering and resolute toward our Heavenly Father and His way of life. Let's be more determined than ever to get close and stay close to God! UN

John LaBissoniere is an elder in the Knoxville, Tennessee, congregation and an employee of the Media and Communications Services department.