WHY TARRIEST THOU? by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 5, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 23.

“WHY TARRIEST THOU?”

By G.

THERE was no long, drawn-out process in the conversion of Saul, the persecutor of Christians. He was very soon at work for the Master when once he saw the truth. Some of the very characteristics which made him a persecutor made him also a ready worker when they were consecrated to God. He was learned in the Jewish religion and in general knowledge. He had a zeal for God, and was intensely energetic and active. So, when he was smitten down by the Lord, while on his journey to Damascus, and learned that it was indeed the Lord, his first question was, “What shall I do?”

Instantly he had changed masters. Up to that moment he had been doing with all his might the work of his old master, the enemy of Christ; but he begins at once to obey a new Master—One who spake with authority. Obediently he goes into Damascus, and is told what to do by one of the very sect which he had been trying to destroy. By this obedience and humbling himself by fasting and prayer, he was blessed by the restoration of his sight. Then he is told what further work and blessing the new Master has for him.

A man brought face to face with his error—such cruel, tyrannical error—would naturally feel a backwardness about going in among the brethren of the church, feel an unfitness for even baptism, a distrust of self, and a disposition to hold back; and so did Paul. 1 Tim. 1:12-16. And many a pastor would have held Saul back from baptism for a period of probation; he would have been afraid to take him into the company for fear of treachery. In fact, this was Ananias’ feeling when he first heard of Saul’s conviction. And this was the feeling of the disciples at Jerusalem toward Saul even three years later. Acts 9:26.

But the Lord was directing in this case. When Saul was put into Ananias’ hands for instruction, he was there with a humble spirit, a “broken and a contrite heart.” Ananias was led by the Holy Spirit, and he could discern the spirit of the penitent. Under such circumstances there was no risk in urging him forward. The candidate was of mature age, had already many qualifications which needed only to be consecrated, and the Lord had need of him.

The enemy would have advised delay. There might be some mistake about it, and the man might go to persecuting again. But to the spiritual-minded man, one who is “devout” “according to the law,” the Spirit’s guidance is always certain. Ananias had seen the “scales” drop from the convert’s eyes, and knew they had dropped from his heart also. There was danger in delay. There is always more danger in delaying duty, in delaying obedience, than in being prompt when it is presented. Saul had made a good start, but only a start. The Gospel had been preached to him, and he had accepted it; but had he stopped there, he would have been lost just as surely as tho he had not been convicted. So often men are convicted of duty, but obedience is not convenient just at the time. The enemy says, Wait a little while, till this or that work is accomplished; wait till others are ready to obey also; wait till you feel sure that you can hold out; wait, it would be awful if you should go ahead and then fail; wait, till you are in earnest; don’t let Ananias over-persuade you; be “fully persuaded in your own mind.”

But God says, “Now is the day of salvation;” “to-day, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” There is nothing that so hardens the heart as delay. The most urgent duty can be put off until it ceases to be urgent, till it is no longer deemed to be duty, till it seems to have been a delusion, and the Spirit’s call makes no more impression. The man who knows that in his worldly interests delays are dangerous, will delay obedience to the Voice that calls him to duty in seeking the welfare of his soul. If Matthew, the customs collector, had delayed when Jesus said, “Follow Me,” he might not have found the Lord again. Had he waited to “straighten out his business,” or to make arrangements for its conduct in his absence, his mind would have again become so engrossed in his lucrative calling that he would have been loath to leave it. Had Zaccheus not “made haste” to “come down” and receive the Lord when the opportunity was presented, the Saviour would have passed by his house.

So the word to Saul was, “And now, why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling upon the name of the Lord.” Ah! there was point in that; have the sin washed away. Harbor it no longer; it is clinging to that pet sin that clogs the way to freedom in Christ. It is that sin of unbelief that causes all the tarrying in the face of duty; and some petty lust of the flesh hinders the exercise of faith. The water of baptism does not wash away sin, but it is the prescribed public confession of faith in Christ, and thru the obedience of faith He washes away the sin and makes a clean new creature.

The cleansing does not come thru the obedience of form, but thru the obedience of faith. “Thy faith hath made thee whole,” was the blessed assurance of the Saviour to the loathsome leper. But the leper had not neglected the prescribed form for his cleansing. The word had been to ten of them, “Go show yourselves unto the priests,” and “as they went, they were cleansed.” It was not the act of going that cleansed them. God did that because they obeyed, thereby showing their faith in His word. If they had not gone as He said, they would not have been healed.

True faith never tarries when God speaks the word. When the Lord says, “Stand still, and see the salvation of God,” it is only that the salvation may be hastened. When He says, “Go forward,” tarrying means loss to the soul. Has God convicted you of sin? then don’t tarry; but at once put yourself in position to have it washed away. Has God’s Word shown you that “sin is the transgression of the law”? 1 John 3:4. Have you seen that you are living in disobedience of that law? (Remember that practical obedience or disobedience always includes manifest action.) Then, “why tarriest thou” in such a condition? Arise, seek justification thru faith in Christ, then “walk by faith,” fearing God and keeping His commandments, which is “the whole duty of man.” Eccl. 12:13. G.