p. 284 | JOB, THE PERFECT MAN by Roswell F. Cottrell

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 22, 1868

JOB, THE PERFECT MAN.

By Roswell F. Cottrell

HIS SECOND CONVERSION.

There are some persons who, to vindicate the Bible doctrine of entire consecration, feel called upon, not merely to exemplify it in their lives, but to profess that they have attained to a sinless state, thus exhibiting themselves as an example and illustration of the doctrine, and calling upon others to come up where they are. They see no spiritual pride, egotism, nor boasting in this. All they want is to glorify God and prove to his praise that the doctrine is true, by a practical, living illustration of it.

There is no danger of exalting the standard of holiness and Christian perfection too high; but the question comes up, Is it necessary for me to hold myself up as a perfect pattern of it? What holy men of old have done this? There is Paul, the great apostle. What did he profess? Not that he had already “attained, or were already perfect.” And in his letter to the Hebrews, he exhorts his “holy brethren” to give the more earnest heed to the things they had heard, lest at any time they should let them slip, and to fear lest they should come short of the promised rest, falling by their unbelief. Chaps. ii–iv. But when Paul had finished his course, having kept the faith, henceforth—from that time—there was laid aside a crown for him. 2 Tim. iv, 6–8.

Perhaps Moses, the meek servant of God, shall be my example. But he makes no profession of perfection, and being exceedingly tempted, he sins, and dies before crossing the Jordan.

David, chosen to be king over Israel because he was a man after God’s own heart, by temptation falls into grievous sins, which he acknowledges before God, and pleads for mercy and pardon. Ps. li. And Solomon, his son, comes to the conclusion that “there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Eccl. vii, 20.

But there is Job, the “perfect and upright” man of the land of Uz, one of whom the Lord says that there was “none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man,” who do find him maintaining his integrity, and not only challenging his friends, but invoking the judgments of God upon him, if blots and stains were found on his moral character. See chap. xxvii, 3–6; xxxi, 5–40. In self-justification he was too much in argument for his three friends, and though they condemned him, they could not convict him of sin. Chap. xxxii, 1–3.

But after Elihu had reproved him for saying that he was righteous; that his “wound was incurable without transgression,” making his own “righteousness more than God’s,” who had suffered grievous judgments to come upon him, as he supposed, without cause (see chap. xxxiv, 5, 6; xxxv, 2, 3), and after the Lord had asked him several questions which were too hard for him, he was convinced that God knew his character and what was right in his case better than he did, and confessed that he had uttered what he understood not, things too wonderful for him, which he knew not, and he exclaims, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Chap. xlii.

Here Job had a new conversion, and doubtless, was a better man than before, while he was honestly pleading his own righteousness before God. From his example I am admonished not to make the profession of perfect attainment in holiness too soon; for God may humble me as he did him. I will strive for a perfect and constant consecration to him, and pray that I may be converted, and reconverted, till the image of Christ be fully reflected in me, and he shall say, It is enough, the work is done. Let me humble myself, that he may exalt me in his own time. He requires nothing short of the whole heart. Let me give it, and may the God of peace sanctify me wholly; and I pray God that I may be wholly, spirit and soul and body, preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is able and willing to do this work. “Brethren, pray for us.” 1 Thess. v, 22, 25.

R. F. COTTRELL.