| CHRISTIAN LIFE AND DOCTRINE | September 1998 |
Consecration
IT WILL BE generally agreed that a full consecration, a wholehearted devotion to doing the will of God, and carrying it out even unto death, is a necessary part of the Christian life. The follower of Jesus must make his “calling and election sure” (II Pet. 1:10) to obtain a place in the glorified church, the body of Christ. (Col. 1:18,24; Rom. 12:5) This company, under the headship of the Lord Jesus, is the “seed” of Abraham through whom all the families of the earth are to be blessed. (Gal. 3:29) It is also the seed of the woman which is to bruise the serpent’s head—destroy Satan and all his works.—Gen. 3:15; Rom. 16:20; I John 3:8
The Scriptures make it clear that the Adversary’s main activity in this age is to prevent the development of this seed—God’s instrument for his destruction. Hence, Satan has deceived many and hindered them from making a consecration to God. Various temptations are presented by him with a view to obstructing the consecrated from carrying out that consecration, drawing them away from the Lord’s service, or causing them to become “weary in well doing.”—Gal. 6:9
THE EXAMPLE OF ISRAEL
A typical example of this is seen in the varied trials and adversities placed in the way of the Israelites when they returned from Babylon under Nehemiah for the purpose of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah replied to Israel’s enemies who would hinder their activity, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” (Neh. 6:3,4) May not this be our reply to those who would take us away from the work of the Lord, or cause us to waste time over things of less importance? Suggestions of this character may be safely regarded as coming from the Adversary to interfere with our consecration to do the will of God.
THE EXAMPLE OF SLAVERY
Other endeavors on the part of the Adversary to prevent the development of the ‘seed’, consist of drawing the Lord’s consecrated servants from the work they have covenanted to do. The ancient custom referred to by Paul in Galatians 6:17 concerning slaves, illustrates how we can cope with the Adversary in this matter. Paul says, “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.”
In Paul’s many references to himself as a servant of God, the Greek word he always uses means ‘bond servant’ or ‘slave’. It was a frequent custom in his day for the owners of slaves, if opportunity occurred, to make use of slaves other than their own. For instance, a slave might be sent on an errand by his master. On his way it would be possible for him to be commandeered to render some temporary assistance on a job another master might have in hand. The consequences could be unfortunate when the poor slave returned to his real owner who would demand an explanation for his long absence.
The slaves of great rulers, however, such as the Roman Emperor, enjoyed special privileges. If, when on the Emperor’s business, a slave was commandeered to do something for another master, he could say, “Don’t trouble me, don’t hinder me,” and he would show the emperor’s brand mark, a safeguard from any such molestation. So a Christian, consecrated to the Lord, yet having sympathy for all good works, is sometimes persuaded to leave the Lord’s work to assist in benevolences carried on by those that are “without” (Mark 4:11) i.e., the world.
Bond servants of the great King are privileged to say with Paul, “One thing I do.” (Phil. 3:13) The terms of their consecration mean a full devotion to the will of God and to the work of developing the ‘seed’—the work he now wishes to have done. Therefore we must say with Paul, “Let no man trouble [hinder] me”—I am a servant of the great King, “I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” (Gal. 6:17) He has called me to do a great work; do not interfere with me. The Master emphasized the same point on one occasion, saying, “Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”—Luke 9:60
In spite of all the Adversary’s obstacles and deceptions, the promised ‘seed’ will ere long be complete. Satan will be bound, his works destroyed, and mankind, so long held in bondage, will be liberated and blessed with a full opportunity for obtaining everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.