Let’s suppose that you decide you want to give Bible studies to someone. You go to the pastor and ask if he can direct you to prospective members, and he says, “Yes, as a matter of fact I have two families who have requested Bible studies. You may choose which one you would prefer.” And he describes them to you.

The first is a successful businessman in town. He and his wife are well thought of in the community. The wife does volunteer work at the town hospital, and the husband is involved in local politics. Their children are well-disciplined. Their home is immaculate. Neither of them smoke or drink. A few years ago they became interested in health and now not only go jogging five miles a day but are vegetarians as well. In fact, it was their interest in health that led them to inquire about Seventh-day Adventists.

The second family live downtown in a little apartment over a liquor store. The husband and wife–well, perhaps I should say the man and woman, for they only live together and are not legally married. Anyway, the couple are both unemployed; welfare provides their sole income. The man has served time in the county jail more than once for relatively minor offenses-petty theft, possession of narcotics, and similar charges. The woman is an alcoholic and severely overweight.

She has three children, none of whom have the same father and none of whom are related to the current “man of the house.” A few weeks ago the child protective agency removed the children from the home temporarily, charging the parents with neglect and child abuse. This crisis brought about the initial contact with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, for the mother wants to be able to keep her children and says that they now realize they need God if they are going to get their lives together.

Which family would you like to become involved with? It’s your choice! Which of these two families do you think has the greater potential for becoming good Christians, good Seventh- day Adventists?

I remember visiting the alcoholic husband of a church member. As we tried to talk, he stared up at me through bleary eyes and said, “I really admire the Adventists. It takes a strong man to be an Adventist.”

Do you agree with that? Or can a weak person become a good Adventist? Might it be possible to fill the church with strong people who wouldn’t think of doing anything wrong, but who never realize their need of Christ?

It makes no difference to the devil whether a person is lost inside or outside the church. And one of his detours to keep us from the genuine experience of surrender is to get us to work on our sins, to try hard to live good lives.

Working to give up your sins is a dead-end street whether you are strong or weak. If you are strong, your good behavior can become a barrier between you and the Saviour. If you are weak, you can become so discouraged and overwhelmed by your failures that you give up completely.

“We are not to look at ourselves. The more we dwell upon our own imperfections, the less strength we shall have to overcome them.” - Ellen White, Review and Herald, January 14, 1890.

The Jewish nation at the time of Christ demonstrated this principle. The Jewish church was full of strong people. It took a strong man to be a Pharisee! Yet it was the strong people who rejected Jesus and finally crucified Him.

The weak people in the Jewish nation were on the outside, condemned as great sinners. The leaders had excommunicated them long ago for their falling and sinning. They had given up hope of ever making it to the kingdom. Yet the weak people flocked around Jesus, accepted His offer of grace, and became His most steadfast followers.

It looks pretty hopeless for the strong person, doesn’t it? Shall we all go out and get drunk so that we can recognize our need? Or shall we all, strong or weak, realize once again that our behavior neither saves us nor causes us to be lost. All must come to Jesus for His salvation.

Are you a strong person? So was Paul. So was Nicodemus. Are you weak? So was Mary. So were Peter and Matthew. So was the demoniac. All of them had a common need, the need to give up on themselves and come to Jesus. All of them found that He accepted them when they came to Him.

He will accept you today as well.