| HIGHLIGHTS OF DAWN | June 1999 |
“Be Ye Clean”
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“Be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.” |
IN THE PRESENT EVIL world (Gal. 1:4) wherein we live, there are varying standards of morality. These are influenced mainly by religious beliefs. There are many religions in the world, and these fashion their congregations according to laws and precepts adopted as part of their creeds. Then there are those who have no religious background and who may be atheists or agnostics, patterning their conduct after the 18th century German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, whose “Categorical Imperative” says that whatever is good or benefits society is moral. Sad to say, there are also those who have no moral principles of any kind.
MORALITY IN THE PRESENT EVIL WORLD
In this present evil world, the heads of nations, or leaders of the people, because of their high visibility are often scrutinized for their espousal of moral principles. Again, as in religiously-based morals, there is a wide variation among the leaders in holding high moral standards. Islamic leaders have very strict standards of conduct but are not prevented by these in approving acts of terrorism. It should not be surprising, therefore, that the news media reported an announcement by Islamic fundamentalists of a feeling of justification for terrorism against the United States, branding it Satan’s Empire because of questionable moral leadership. They are unaware that Satan is the prince and god of a world which includes them.—John 12:31; II Cor. 4:4; Eph. 2:2
The rank and file members of a nation can be influenced by their leaders. If the leadership is good, the people may do well also. If the leadership is bad, or immoral, a bad example is set for the people, and they may adopt wrong principles. The Apostle Paul said, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” (Gal. 6:7) Judgment by God awaits every individual as it does their leaders.—Acts 17:31
An article from a New Jersey newspaper, Newark Star Ledger (May 1998), told of moral decay in America. A report had issued from a twenty-four member nonpartisan Council on Civil Society (taking two years to draft, and 30 pages long). The panel issuing the report was composed of politicians, clergy, academics, and activists, and these “urged religious institutions to reassert themselves into American life, and cited the Supreme Court for trying to create a society sanitized of public religious influence.”
Christians know that the basis for individual and national morality is the Bible. The Bible contains the laws and precepts of God. If all people were to apply these principles in their lives successfully, we would approach a perfect society. As a nation, we would profit by observing proper moral codes. As the Bible plainly says: “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34) The nation that is God-fearing and worshiping—worshiping the Jehovah of the Bible—is blessed. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”—Ps. 33:12
BLESSED IS THE NATION
Throughout history, there have been few nations who could qualify for this blessing. Originally only Israel could satisfy the requirements because they alone were known by God “of all the families of the earth.” (Amos 3:2) With the advent of Christianity, the gentile nations that espoused Christianity came under an influence eventually that did not stress God’s precepts. After the reformation began, religious freedom was found in the newly-formed nation, the United States of America. This nation was blessed as they sought God’s leadership, and opened their doors to the oppressed.
As we review our history, we can see that the Lord’s blessing was upon this nation, and it was an appropriate place for the harvest work of the Gospel Age to begin. Thus, ‘the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance’ also were blessed as the message of truth went forth from here to all parts of the world.
What a blessing there would be for this nation if they would practice the precepts of God. The ‘chosen’ found within its borders and in other parts of the world are given specific instructions to be ‘clean’ if they are to be used of the Lord. At the end of this age, a separating work takes place as expected in the harvest. When the enemy sowed seeds of tares (imitation wheat) in the wheat field to grow alongside the true wheat, or children of the kingdom, God let them grow together, both true and imitation Christians. As explained in the parable of the wheat and the tares (Matt. 13:24-30,36-43) they were to “grow together until the harvest” (vs. 30), and then a separation would take place.
SEPARATE THE UNCLEAN
This is the separation prophesied by Isaiah when God said through him to this wheat class, “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her.” (Isa. 52:11) We are approaching rapidly the time when imitation Christians will not be able to deceive the world into thinking that they are true Christians. In Matthew 13, they—as tares—are separated and destroyed, losing their identity as imitation wheat. The true wheat class is told by the Lord in Isaiah’s prophecy ‘to be clean’ if they are to have the privilege of bearing the vessels of the Lord—the truths concerning his plan of salvation. They are to leave behind false religious concepts.
In another sense, this prophecy relates to those who are first called and then chosen. (Matt. 20:16) Those ‘called’ have accepted Jesus as their redeemer, and if they are willing to leave the world and its uncleanliness by consecrating their lives to God, they become ‘the chosen’ who are admonished to be clean. (Ps. 33:12; Isa. 52:11) God will not have it be otherwise. He says to the wicked, “What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.”—Ps. 50:16,17
The privilege of understanding and publishing God’s Word requires that those so privileged be clean; but being clean does not mean being perfect. By accepting Jesus as our Redeemer and making a consecration to God, we are covered with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. (Isa. 61:10; Rom. 3:22-24) If successful, we shall be blessed of the Lord. As it is written: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Ps. 24:3-5) What a blessing that will be!
HELPS ALONG THE WAY
In our journey on earth toward God’s kingdom, the Lord has provided faithful leaders who, as “apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers” are to be used for “the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11,12) How fortunate we are to have leaders who are clean and examples of the believers. What a tragedy it is to have the wrong leaders doing the directing. Soon the dark night of sin will be over, and joy, in God’s kingdom, will come in the morning of the new day.
How wonderful it will be to see those ancient, faithful men and women who endured difficult trials come back from the dead and have positions of responsibility in that kingdom. (Heb. 11; Ps. 116) These will be respected for their characters and understanding. They will be guided and directed by the Christ—Jesus, the head; and the church, his body—lifting them up to perfection. By faithful obedience to the Bible’s moral standards, the world of mankind will demonstrate their worthiness of everlasting life. What a grand and righteous administration will direct the affairs of men.
Praise be to God for his marvelous plan!