| The Christian Life | January 1940 |
Victory Through Decision and Trial
“And now, why tarriest thou? Arise, and be baptized.”—Acts 22:16
INDECISION is a handicap in attaining success along any line of endeavor; and it is particularly so in the Christian life. In the words of our text, Ananias encouraged the recently converted Saul of Tarsus not to hesitate in taking the step that would indicate his appreciation of the Lord’s grace in rescuing him from a wrong course and acknowledging his sin in persecuting the church of Christ. When the Lord intercepted Saul on the road to Damascus, and this ardent Pharisee learned that he was actually opposing God rather than serving Him, he enquired, “Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?” But now, that he had learned through Ananias what the Lord required of him, it was important that he take quick and positive action to do the right thing, else his first victory as a Christian would be lost.
The advice of Ananias to Paul might well serve as an example to us. In Paul’s case there was no question as to the right course to take. Out on the Damascus road he had been convinced of his wrong course, and had been advised that instructions would be given him in Damascus to guide him in doing the will of the Lord. These instructions had now been given, and the divine will for him was, therefore, clear; hence, there was no reason for delay. Likewise, when we become convinced of what constitutes the Lord’s will for us, we should not hesitate to go forward. Indecision, when once the way before us is clear, weakens character, and helps to lay the foundation for defeat.
Not alone is positive and prompt decision necessary in entering the Narrow Way, but it is a necessary quality of character all along the way. We entered the Narrow Way through a resolute determination to abandon our own wills, and to do the will of God; and in every experience of life thenceforth we should, without hesitancy, decide and act in harmony with that original consecration. Almost daily the Christian comes to crossroads of greater or lesser importance, and decisions must be made as to which way to go. Those who undecidedly stand at the crossroads, hesitating to go forward in harmony with the terms of their consecration vow, certainly cannot make progress.
PROPER STUDY NECESSARY
Knowledge is necessary, however, in order to make positive decisions—not a knowledge of the outcome of what we decide to do, but a knowledge of what God’s will is in the matter. God reveals His will to His people, and then expects them to exercise faith in the outcome of obedience to that will. The poet has well said, “One step I see before me; ’tis all I need to see.” But that one step must be seen ere we can decide to take it; hence the importance of keeping close to the Lord and through His Word, being able to discern His will as it applies to all the experiences of life.
To hold back from taking a step until we are convinced of the Lord’s will in the matter, does not imply a lack of decision. Indeed, it often requires great positiveness in order to refrain from taking action. Ananias could properly say to Paul “Why tarriest thou?” because Paul knew what it was that the Lord required; but there are times in the life of every Christian when watchful, prayerful waiting on the Lord becomes necessary. True, we need always to watch and pray, but there are times when we can go forward simultaneously with our watching and praying; while at other times the Lord may temporarily withhold the definite clue as to the course that we should take.
But we should never lack definiteness in our resolution to do the Lord’s will, even, if need be, our definiteness be manifested merely in our determination to wait for the Lord’s signal to go forward. To hesitate, or wonder, or hold back when the will of the Lord is clear, is detrimental to spiritual health and growth. “Why tarriest thou?” is a question we might all ask ourselves with profit whenever we discover the slightest tendency to falter in meeting the sacred responsibilities our consecration vows have imposed upon us.
GOD PROVES THE CONSECRATED
God reveals to His people their privilege of making a full consecration to do His will; and then, after they make the consecration, He permits them to be tested in order that their sincerity and determination in the doing of His will might become demonstrated and crystallized. In the divine providence, trials may be permitted to come to an individual prior to consecration, but these seem particularly for the purpose of directing the mind and heart to seek the Lord. Many have found the Lord and the truth through some great sorrow that came into their lives. But the trials which serve as tests of faith in, and devotion to, the Lord, come after consecration; and when they do come, they should not be looked upon as evidences of unfaithfulness, or that a wrong course has been taken, but as tests of our determination to do the right thing despite the difficulties entailed.
James says, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.” (James 1:12) All the trials which the Lord permits to come upon us are calculated to test the genuineness of our original consecration vows. And it is doubtless also true that as each decision of life is made in conformity with the terms of our consecration, the Lord will test the sincerity of that decision. Blessed is the man that endureth these trials; that is, who continues to carry out his consecration in spite of the difficulties with which he is confronted.
Herein is the importance of interpreting scripturally the providences of the Lord. If we decide upon a certain course, and then are confronted with experiences which make it appear desirable to reverse our decision, the fleshly inclination is to say that the Lord is showing us that we took the wrong course; especially if the course decided upon was one that was not pleasing to the flesh. This would be the wrong way to interpret our experiences.
Having intelligently decided upon a course which we are convinced is the Lord’s will for us, all of our experiences which would indicate to the contrary, should be looked upon as tests of our determination to pay that which we have vowed. This is what is implied by “enduring” temptation. If the trials dampen our zeal, or turn us aside from the full payment of our vows unto the Lord, then we are not enduring those trials as we should; hence are not in line for the richness of blessing that belongs to those who are faithful.
James further says, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God.” (James 1:13) There is a difference between temptations and testings. Satan tempts the Lord’s people to do wrong; while God tests their determination to do right. Satan attempts to lead us away from the course of faithfulness by the allurements of the world and of the flesh. God, on the other hand, holds before us the rewards of righteousness to encourage us in surmounting the many trials and difficulties which confront us in the Narrow Way.
James also explains that a man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lusts, and enticed. To consecrate ourselves to the Lord in the first place, was contrary to the desires of the flesh; so we may expect that the desires of the flesh will ever exert an opposing influence in our consecrated lives. As prompt decision and action were necessary in order to enter the Narrow Way, we must continue to be quick and resolute in taking our stand on the Lord’s side as each issue of the Christian life presents itself. Victory will not go to those who are habitually wavering between the right and wrong.
“HOW LONG HALT YE?”
Every decision of the Christian should reflect his obedience and devotion to God and to the doing of His will. We cannot successfully serve two masters. The deciding factor in every issue, then, is the Lord’s will. This is the unerring touchstone, as it were, by which we determine the right course to take. We should never halt between two opinions when it becomes clearly manifested that one of the opinions represents the Lord’s will and the other does not. Desires and opinions which run counter to the Lord’s will are as other gods which are calling for attention and devotion.
Natural Israel was in a sorry plight, because the worship of Baal had well nigh supplanted the worship of Jehovah, the true God. Spiritual Israel today, as individuals and as companies of individuals, may well take this lesson to heart. Are we, as individuals, or in our ecclesias, permitting other gods to take the place of the true God? Is the will of friends or of family, or our own stubborn will, supplanting in our lives that humble, spirit of full surrender and devotion to the will of our loving Heavenly Father who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light?
If upon close self-examination we find that this is to any extent so, then let us determine that no longer will we halt between two opinions, as Elijah indicated natural Israel was doing, but will cast aside the idols which our wayward hearts, in our folly and faithlessness, have set up, and which measurably are taking the place in our lives which belongs to our Heavenly Father alone. Elijah put the question to natural Israel: “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow Him, but if Baal, then follow him.” (I Kings 18:21) Well might this same question serve as a challenge to the sincerity of our devotion to God each time the circumstances of our lives call for renewed determination to sacrifice our all in proving our love for the true God.