Obedience by I. Green

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 23, 1872

Obedience.

By I. Green

My mind has been deeply impressed by the language God addressed to Israel after giving them his holy law and hearing their avowals of obedience. “They have well said all that they have spoken.”

It seems the inferences to be drawn are these: Their words are unobjectionable; they have promised adherence to my commandments; but will they hold sacred their vows, or the responsibilities devolving upon them as my chosen people, to whose keeping I have intrusted my law? Do they realize that it is better not to vow than to vow and not perform? or better to obey than to sacrifice? Did they manifest so much sincerity, or had they previously shown so great a regard for their promises as to gain the confidence of the Lord? It seems not; for in conclusion he says, Oh! that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and their children forever!

Judging from the history given of Israel, and our own personal experience, it is an easy matter to vow, but to perform is quite another view of duty. To obey calls into requisition our will powers, and a heart work, a confidence in what we are about to do. It is said by one of the prophets, “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land;” a conditional promise. We have no reason to anticipate success, unless we engage with a principle of right-doing that emanates from the heart, and seek for a conversion of the entire being.

The conflict between truth and error is a severe one; and those who array themselves against the powers of darkness in defense of truth, have a struggle ever before them, and, as far as numbers are employed, are greatly in the minority. But this is not to be taken into consideration. If God be for us, who can be against us? And as there are but two classes (for “he that is not for me is against me”), it is highly important that we know to which class we belong. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord,” and although much time has intervened, it has lost none of its force.

To obey all God's precepts, not forgetting the one which designates him as the Creator of the universe, and to manifest our faith in his immutable word, by accepting it as given without repealing or arranging to suit our capricious and perverted minds, is to witness that he is God, and there is none else.

We certainly are living in an age when great responsibilities rest upon us; when “God is purifying unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works;” when there is so fearful a declension of morality and piety that “judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter;” an age when few heed the charge to “preach the word;” when “a wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it so; and what shall be done in the end thereof?” Let us heed the entreaty of Paul: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

I. GREEN.

Jeff. Co., N. Y.