OBEYING ORDERS by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 14, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 28.

OBEYING ORDERS.

By T.

ONE of the first and most essential duties of the soldier is that he obey orders. He can not be a good soldier without it. Military leaders insist upon this and are severe in their punishments when orders are not obeyed.

Now in this age when wars and rumors of wars are all over the world, are there not to be found true Christian soldiers that will implicitly obey their Commander? If they are good soldiers of the cross of Christ, they surely will. Listen to one of the clear commands of the divine Master, “Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Matt. 26:52.

Then it is evident from this scripture that there is to be no carnal sword in the Christian’s armor. Peter had drawn his sword, and “smote off” the ear of a servant of the high priest. But no sooner had he done this than the startled apostle hears the command, “Put up thy sword,” and in astonishment he beholds the Saviour with sympathetic and tender touch exercising His wonderful power in restoring the ear that had been smitten off.

That was wonderful courage manifested by Peter. No doubt he felt like a hero as he drew his, one of the only two swords that the apostles had with them. Some of those looking on would doubtless say, “What a wonderful deed of valor; just see that man, single-handed, drawing his sword against all the company of armed men that have been sent out to take his Lord!” Then how immeasurably deep must have been the opposite impression when the Son of God calmly said, “Put up again thy sword into his place; for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword!”

The disciples, in common with the rest of the Jewish people, were possessed with the idea that the Messiah was to establish a temporal throne, overthrow the Romans, and reign supreme in this present world. None of the words of the Master, nor all that he did to the contrary, had completely dispelled this delusion. Even after Christ was crucified and resurrected, the disciples were still expecting him to establish a temporal throne. Coming right down to the very day on which the Saviour made His ascension to the Father’s throne, we find the disciples still asking, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6.

Jesus affirmed, in Pilate’s judgment-hall, “My kingdom is not of this world.” John 18:36. He had told the disciples again and again that He was to be crucified, buried, and to be resurrected, and ascend to the Father, and not until His second coming would He establish His kingdom. Even then this earth will have to be melted over, and its sin destroyed by the great fires of the last days before it can become the kingdom of the Lord and His Christ.

These things in various ways had been taught the disciples, but their minds had cherished very different and erroneous ideas, and they were loath to give them up. They still kept thinking that in some way the Lord was to march at their head as king, and by sword and spear they would conquer the world and establish His kingdom. With what an intense tenacity do preconceived opinions hold to one’s mind! And how hard it is for wrong ideas to be driven out before divine truth!

We look back upon the disciples and wonder at their failure to understand and heed the words of the Saviour. But if common ordinary attention had been given to what the Lord had said, there would have been no difficulty. His words were plain. And we can see it so far as they were concerned. But how about ourselves now? Can we not see those plain words still? Are they not there in the divine Book just as emphatically clear as when the voice of the Son of man first uttered them?

To bring the matter a little closer and if possible make it more impressive, what would you do if you were a soldier in one of the armies of this world when your general would give the command, “Put up thy sword”? Would you not promptly and almost instinctively obey? You know you would. It would mean death to do otherwise.

Now ask yourself the question, if you profess to be a soldier under the Lord Jesus Christ, what right have you to explain away your Commander’s words. He says, “Put up thy sword.” Then how can I be a true follower of Him and still refuse to promptly obey His commands. If we are going to be Christians indeed, we must obey the voice of the Christian Commander. Are you doing it? If not, will you obey Him, not in one point only, but study His Word closely so as to know how to obey Him in everything? T.