Knowing and Abiding

KEY VERSE: “If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye shall also continue in the Son, and in the Father.” —I John 2:24

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: I John 2:18

THE LORD, HAVING heard our cry for help, inclined his ear, and lifted us up out of the “horrible pit,” “set our feet upon the rock,” Christ Jesus, and established our “goings” in the narrow way. (Ps. 40:2) But we realize that on our part it required more than merely to take the first step of consecration. This was a proper beginning and we then rejoiced in the light of God’s countenance. But we know, even as Paul wrote, that after having thus done the will of God, we need patiently to endure as we walk in the path of the just, or justified, else the light in that pathway, instead of becoming brighter, could easily become darkness.—Prov. 4:18; Matt. 6:22,23

Paul wrote, “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Heb. 4:1) We realize that while God has made almost innumerable precious promises to help us, to give us guidance, and through Christ to extend mercy and forgiveness, we also know that there are conditions attached to these promises. We know that if we come short of meeting these conditions we might experience the ‘frowning providences’ of the Lord, instead of continuing to behold his ‘smiling face’.

One of the assurances the Lord has given us is that he shows himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward him. (II Chron. 16:9) Knowing this we pray, “Let the words of my mouth, and the mediation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.” (Ps. 19:14) We wanted in the beginning and we want now, a ‘clean heart’, one that is emptied of self and filled with the Spirit of the Lord.—Ps. 51:10

The light of the Gospel, shining in the face of Jesus Christ, revealed to us that in our flesh there dwells no good thing, that by nature we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. But we also learned that the Lord is judging us, not according to the flesh, but according to the intents of our heart—that our fleshly imperfections are all covered by the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

So on this basis we had, and still have, boldness to go to the “throne of [heavenly] grace,” to obtain mercy and strength, saying to our Heavenly Father, “Thou hast [in the past] been my help; leave me not [now], neither forsake me.” (Heb. 4:16; Ps. 27:9) We realize how feeble is the “arm of flesh,” how certain it is to fail us. (II Chron. 32:8) We know that we cannot be dependent upon even our choicest earthly friends and relatives to give us the spiritual help that we so often need, but we know that even if our father and mother should fail us the Lord would take us up.—Ps. 27:10

As we progress along the path of the just and our hearts become more and more enlightened, we sense our increasing need of “wisdom from above.” So we pray, “Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path because of mine enemies.” (Ps. 27:11) The true ways of the Lord are plain, simple, not confusing. One of our great enemies is Satan, and he is always trying to lead us away from the true paths of righteousness. He is a wiley foe, and only by the Lord’s help in making his ways plain can we hope to keep free from our enemy’s deceptions and allurements.

Jesus taught us to pray for deliverance from evil. David expressed a similar thought and it is appropriate that we too should pray, in his words, “Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.” (Ps. 27:12) Through the Apostle Paul, our loving Heavenly Father replies, I am for you, be not afraid, for no one can prevail against you. I did not spare even my own Son, but delivered him up for you and for all, and surely now, through him, I will freely give you all you need. Who shall lay anything to the charge of my elect?—Rom 8:33

How wonderfully reassuring are these words of our Heavenly Father! Knowing that we have sought his face and found it, he wants us to know that only by turning willfully aside from the light of this pathway which reveals each onward step and gives us strength to take it, will we become separated from him. Even though we may have tribulation we know that through him who loves us we can be “more than conquerors.”—vs. 37

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