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SEEKING RIGHTEOUSNESS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 1, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 35.

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SEEKING RIGHTEOUSNESS.

By W. N. G.

THE National Citizenship League purports, “in general, to seek the reign of whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report.” That is a good purpose, and the same idea is given in the words of Christ, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.” Matt. 6:33. But we never can find it by seeking for it through a “national citizenship.” That experiment was tried by ancient Israel under the old covenant, and it failed; it failed, even tho the Lord appointed rulers and gave laws direct from heaven. Can the National Citizenship League outdo the Almighty in the matter of electing officers and making laws? “Shall mortal man be more just than God?”
Abraham did not seek it in that way. He came out from his own country and was a “pilgrim and a sojourner” in this world. “He looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:10), but he didn’t look for it in this world. He sought “the reign of whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report;” but he sought it by faith, and had the assurance of it, for he saw it “afar off” (verse 13). Jesus told those Jews who were looking for a reign of righteousness through a “national citizenship” that they would “see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God,” and themselves “thrust out.” Luke 13:28.
Where, then, will Abraham find that reign of righteousness? Let Peter answer. He says the heavens and earth which are now, are “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” “Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Peter 3:7, 13. As yet the “kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20, 21), and righteousness can reign only in the heart in which the reign of sin has been overcome (Rom. 6:12). W. N. G.