- ✪ Operation HASTEN
- -5 Heeding the Times
- -4 Awakening a Sense of Urgency
- -3 Shouldering Responsibility
- -2 Overcoming Obstacles
- -1 Encouraging Burden Bearers
- 0 Nurturing the Faith of Jesus
- H Highlighting Present Truth
- A Activate the Youth
- S Separate from Babylon
- T Train in True Education
- E Evangelize the Cities
- N Nurture Christ-Like Characters
Before we can fully engage in Operation HASTEN, we must undergo several mindset shifts. The fourth in our countdown is the need for a deep and abiding sense of Advent urgency. We need to act as if we truly understand the times we are living in because there is no more time to waste.
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
Romans 13:11
We need to be clear on our purpose, yet some of us don’t even know what our purpose is. Our purpose is rooted in our identity. So, who are you? What is your identity? Many identify with sports teams or their work, but as Seventh-Day Adventists, our identity must be centered around our faith and our mission.
“Our identity informs our purpose... being clear with our identity is the only way we can be clear with our purpose.”
Rob
We can break down our identity into two key components: Seventh-Day and Adventist. The term "Seventh-Day" signifies our observance of the biblical day of rest, a sign of our allegiance and sanctification.
“Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.”
Exodus 31:13
We cannot be Seventh-Day Adventists and not believe in the Sabbath, just as we cannot be Adventists without believing in the imminent return of Christ. The dictionary defines an Adventist as one who believes in the imminent second coming of Jesus.
Imminent
/ˈɪmɪnənt/
Likely to occur at any moment; about to happen.
We must operate as if Jesus could return at any moment. Are we living with this sense of Advent urgency? If not, we must question whether we are truly aligned with our mission as Advent leaders. We are facing a pivotal time with significant challenges on the horizon. The time to prepare is not tomorrow; it’s today.
“The cause of God demands men who can see quickly and act instantaneously at the right time and with power.”
3T 497.2-3
Urgency does not mean panic. Panic causes chaos, but urgency motivates focused action. We must be proactive and act now—not out of fear, but because of what is at stake. Every moment matters. Jesus is waiting for us to do our part.
“Long has God waited for the spirit of service to take possession of the whole church so that everyone shall be working for Him according to his ability. When the members of the church of God do their appointed work in the needy fields at home and abroad in fulfillment of the gospel commission the whole world will soon be warned and the Lord Jesus will return to this earth with power and great glory.”
The Acts of the Apostles (AA 111.1)
If we had done our part, Christ would have already returned. We have a role to fulfill in God’s plan. The enemy is counting on us to hesitate, but when we move decisively, we disarm his plans.
“Rapid movements at the critical moment often disarm the enemy and he is disappointed and vanquished for he had expected time to lay plans and work by artifice.”
3T 497.4
The work we have failed to do in a time of peace will have to be done in the most discouraging circumstances. We still have the freedom to act now, but the window is closing. Let’s not wait until it becomes illegal to share our faith before we start sharing it.
“The work that the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under the most discouraging and forbidding circumstances.”
Testimoniess for the Church (5T 463.2)
Let us move from being just Watchmen to being Lightbearers, demonstrating the power of the gospel in our lives. We need to stop focusing on right versus left politics and start focusing on light versus darkness. We are at war, and this is not a time for indifference or half-hearted efforts. This is a time for action.
“We have no time to lose. The end is near… We must look our work fairly in the face and advance as fast as possible in aggressive warfare.”
Testimonies for the Church (6T 22.3)
Let us put our sails up and move forward in faith, trusting that God will guide us. The end is near, and we must act with the urgency that the times demand.