Lesson 7. Effort Is Necessary

Reflecting upon my path and the various stages of growth in Christ throughout my life, I can say that I passed through different milestones in my spiritual growth. In 1993, I accepted Christ as my personal Savior and made Him the Most Important One in my life. Two years later, I was baptized in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Throughout that time, I studied the Bible and the few spiritual books that were being published and reached me during that period. I then understood the danger that television posed to my spiritual life and decided to have nothing to do with it. However, I did not know how to remove it from my home, but I decided to make what was most important the most important thing.

In 1998, I bought a computer and began learning to use it. I immediately noticed how much time working with this new technology consumed—and that it took this time away from what was most important. I decided to keep what was most important as the most important thing, while also learning about the electronic world, working two jobs, and raising a young daughter. I lived in the countryside and greatly appreciated its advantages.

In 1999, I discovered the Internet and its opportunities for evangelism. Very little time remained for life itself. Yet I decided to make what was most important the most important thing. Although electronic life consumed much time, I learned to save time so that with little expenditure I could receive great advantages.

Afterward, I moved to a city, and later to another city.

Throughout that time, my whole life was a struggle for survival. Constant financial difficulties compelled me to work a great deal. Evangelism on the Internet consumed much time, yet I also wanted to read, have fellowship with God, meet with friends, and be with my family. I made an effort to grow and develop in the spiritual world as well.

Every morning, continually, I sought God and held on to Him with all my strength.

But in 2009, a real and comprehensive crisis entered my life, and I understood that something had to change, although I did not know what. I began asking for love, and God began to answer.

This is where the most interesting part began. It seemed that all the forces of evil had come crashing down upon me. Temptations and trials pressed upon me from every side, yet I was happy that I loved and was at peace in Jesus. Everything I undertook for my spiritual development and formation was destined for success, and God’s love was always with me. In it, I became victorious.

By 2010, smartphones had appeared. At first, I saw them as a great evil for my spiritual nature and wanted nothing to do with them. I preferred reading books and using a computer. What was most important remained the most important thing in my life. I fought for my spiritual purity and won victories in spiritual battles.

Later, however, I noticed that a smartphone could save me time, and I decided to own one.

In 2014, I purchased a new Samsung phone, which I immediately gave away because I could not afford such a luxury, and I bought a Chinese model instead. A digital boom began in my mind. I understood what danger a person could carry in his pocket if he did not keep his fleshly desires under control. I began making an effort not to fall into temptation, and I made what was most important the most important thing in my life.

Every morning, I place myself in God’s hands and live with Him throughout the day, quietly rejoicing in our fellowship. I have learned to give everything to Him and to resolve every task and problem with Him. This requires even greater effort, but it is not difficult, because I desire it and have made it the most important thing. In response to our relationship, He gives me His love, which makes my struggle against sin so easy—but not without effort.

I understood something very important in the School of Love: merely listening to and reading about love is not enough, although that too is necessary. Sometimes a person must also get up in order to do something, decide and accomplish something, promise something and fulfill it.

I studied the laws of wealth and business management and learned how to earn money, but love does not allow me to accumulate wealth in this world; its treasures are stored in another place. Although I have so many opportunities to become rich, I become rich toward God and make what is most important the most important thing.

Matthew 11:12 says: “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” This is indeed so.

In our day, the digital world has become part of life, and it can no longer be removed; this is a fact. But my phone can become my enemy if I do not know what is most important to me. It can deprive me of spiritual strength and of the desire to make an effort to obtain what is most important by offering me an easy life. You touch the little screen, lie down on the couch, and simply lie there listening—or, even better, watching. And you know everything. Wonderful! What would Solomon have written about this? Vanity, all is vanity. Or, more precisely: emptiness, emptiness of emptiness.

I believe that a profound meaning is embedded in the terms used for the Internet and social media: the World Wide Web and social network. These things are intended to catch someone in them and, once caught, make that person their victim. Here effort is needed simply to avoid becoming dull-minded amid the abundance of information, to make what is most important the most important thing, and to remain steadfast in this to the end. This requires effort. It requires superhuman effort, and such effort is available to us. Its name is love, happiness, and friendship in Christ Jesus.

1. Please read Matthew 11:12; Romans 12:11; Matthew 6:33–34; Philippians 4:13; 3:14; and Matthew 7:14 in the light of our lesson.

2. What did you understand from this lesson?

3. What does it mean to take it by force? What does this look like in your life?

4. What effort does the Lord expect from you?

5. What does the enemy offer in order to deprive me of spiritual strength?

6. How can we free ourselves from the dangerous influence of television and the computer?

7. What help does the Lord offer us? See Revelation 3:18.