The True Israel of God by Clarence Santee

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 10, 1915

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 42, No. 31.

The True Israel of God

By Clarence Santee

Personal Heart Work—The Great Temptations When Alone—The Invisible Companions

By CLARENCE SANTEE

The true Israel embraces all true Christians. The names “Israel” and “Christian” distinguish one class from all others. Men may call themselves either name, or both; but the fact, the experience, remains alone with the ones whom God has cleansed. This brings us to the heart experience as the basis of all Christian attainments. Church duties may become formal, and the family altar may lose its significance; but personal seeking of God alone can never be a form. As long as it lives in the experience, it is genuine. The child who, though angry and passionate through the day, turns on his pillow at night, as taught by a religious parent, and says a simple prayer, if he keeps up that custom through the short sixty or seventy years of his life, will see his sun set in a cloudless sky.

Many years ago, I covenanted with a friend to repeat a verse of Scripture and repeat a prayer every day. I saw that person five years ago, and he told me that, though he had forgotten at times, the custom or habit had held him to the truth he believed. Without personal communion with God, no person can be kept from the plague spots of formalism, if he outwardly bears the name of a Christian.

WHEN ALONE WITH GOD

The experience when alone with God, is the experience written in the books of heaven. A recognition of His companionship, and a proper appreciation of it, will hold a man or a woman in the true course of obedience under all circumstances. That which we may not notice, the little things that we may not mark in our own experience, will form the basis for acceptance or rejection. The righteous will ask in surprise, When did we do these good things? Matt. 25:37, 38. On the other hand, the wicked will point to their deeds that were apparent to the world—great things—as reasons why they should command the favor of God. Matt. 7:22.

ANGELS AS COMPANIONS

He who recognizes and appreciates the presence of the angels of God as constant companions, will have such an exalted association that contact with fellow men will not change his outward life. It has been conformed to that of his angel companions, and the weaker contact cannot break the self-chosen chain that binds him. This companionship is the experience of every true Christian.

“Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? . . . If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; . . . the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. . . . When I awake, I am still with Thee.” Ps. 139:7, 11, 12, 18.

There is strong assurance to the Christian in these verses, but they bring no encouragement to the one who changes his conduct according to the visible company that surrounds him. “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them.” Ps. 34:7. “Thou God seest me,” is the strength of the Christian. It will hold his steps wherever he may go.

SEVERE TEMPTATIONS WHEN ALONE

Christ endured His most severe temptations when alone. He was firm to principle, and gained eternal victory. To-day, some of the most subtle, and for this reason, the most overpowering temptations, come to men when they consider themselves alone, or where they will be free from detection. Satan presents a process of reasoning that seems plausible; and instead of gaining the victory, they allow the sophistry to take the place of calm judgment, and fall into the snare that they would not think of considering for a moment if some true, loyal church member were present. The decisions of conduct when swerved by no human influence, when entered into by the personal will and choice, will form the basis of the Judgment that all must meet.