Decision: Standing Firm for Truth in Last Days
By H. A. St. John
DECISION is necessary in all the walks of life. To be good soldiers of the cross and valiant for divine truth in these last days of peril, requires very great decision of character, more than any will be able to command, excepting those who have given diligence to cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Already commandment-keepers, loyal subjects of the government of Heaven, are spoken of by their enemies as “stubborn, self-willed, and uncharitable.” But there is no medium ground, if we would stand on the truth at all. The chances for skulking, in neutrality, between the two opposing armies, are growing less. The line of demarkation between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not, is daily becoming more clearly defined. My fellow-traveler to the bar of infinite justice, hear ye not the voice of God’s loyal people saying, “Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me”? Ex. 32:26. “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15. “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” 1 Kings 18:21. “No man can serve two masters.” Matt. 6:24. Jesus said, “No man having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62. “He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James. 1:6, 8. In the word of God, we have many worthy examples of noble decision. Said Caleb, “Let us go up at once.” Num. 13:30. Ruth said, “Whither thou goest I will go.” Ruth 1:16. Daniel would “not defile himself with the king’s meat.” Dan. 1:8. Said Daniel’s companions, “We will not serve thy gods.” Dan. 3:18. Peter and John declared, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” Acts 4:20. In overcoming those things that retard or hinder our progress in the divine life, it is necessary to be decided. Says Jesus, “If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee.” Matt. 5:29, 30. In the original it is said to read, chop it off, not saw it off by degrees, but off with it at a blow. Evil traits of character, selfish propensities, and the like, are foes within and about us now, that should engage our earnest attention. Let these be vanquished by watchfulness, prayer, and well-doing. Then, when outward persecution, bitter and unreasonable, shall come from wicked men and devils, with the help of God we will fight manfully, stand stiffly for the truth, and come off victorious.