1886

May 1886

“‘Written for Our Learning’” Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, 1, 5, 74.

ATJ 

THE apostle says that “whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning.” We may draw a very useful lesson from the case of the Rechabites, who were commendably tenacious of the commandments of their fathers. BEST May 1886, page 74.1

There is always a disposition in man to do as his ancestors do, without ever inquiring whether it is right or wrong. If among professed Christians there was the readiness to obey strictly what the word of God commands that there is to be content with barely doing what our fathers did, or what is enjoined by tradition and the precepts of men, it would be only a little while till the earth would be full of the glory of God. God commands that we shall be baptized, but the majority of professed Christians are willing to do almost anything in the world but to render faithful obedience to the word. The Lord commands that men shall do no work on the seventh day, but the great majority of professed Christians are willing to do anything at all but to obey the plain commandment of God in this matter. In honor of a wholly man-made institution, they are willing to do all that would be required by the Lord in honor of His own heaven-born institution. This choice has been made, and is being made by thousands as the days go by. If there were about this man-made institution the merit of the precept of Jonadab, there might be some shadow of excuse, but about this there is not one redeeming quality; it is wholly iniquitous, erected in defiance of the commandment of God. And the children of Jonadab, the son of Rechab, will arise in the judgment with this generation and condemn it because they obeyed the commandment of their father, and these will not obey the plain commandment of God. BEST May 1886, page 74.2

The Lord has given his commandments, precept upon precept, and line upon line; he now sends a message to all nations, saying with a loud voice: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.... Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:9-12. BEST May 1886, page 74.3

How many of the people of our day are going to be condemned by “faithful Rechabites,” as were the people of God? How many will still refuse to obey the commandments of God? And upon how many in our day will come all the evil that the Lord has pronounced, “because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered”? “Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith.” BEST May 1886, page 74.4

A. T. JONES.