KISSING AND CLEAVING by Evangelist

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 4, 1878

KISSING AND CLEAVING.

By Evangelist

“Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clave unto her.” The kiss was good, but the cleaving was better. Orpah had enough affection for the old mother of her dead husband to give her a kiss; but she had not enough to quit her native land, and go with her to the land of God’s people. She could give what was cheap and easy; she was not ready to make the sacrifice that cost something.

In this pathetic little touch of human history, pictured to us in the matchless story of the Moabitish woman, we see a parable that illustrates thousands of experiences in our own days. To “salute” Christ by an act of public profession at his table is easy. It usually costs but little; for in these times it requires no great self-denial to join a Christian church. It may even be a popular step, and give one credit and currency in society. No “spoiling of goods,” no dungeon awaits a profession of Christianity in America, as it once did in Asia Minor and in Rome.

To the stereotyped question, “Do you love Jesus?” there are glib and ready answers often rendered that cost no more than Orpah’s kiss. They are about as worthless. A friend tells us that he lately visited a young man who had attempted to commit suicide, and he was shocked to hear the youth affirm with the most careless presumption that “he loved Jesus Christ.” The same exhibitions of hollow sentimentalism are often made in prayer-meetings, or before examining boards of churches. The “kiss” of profession is so easily given—it is so grateful to self-esteem—that the shallow-hearted indulge in it without a scruple or a blush. In a little while these Orpahs are missed from the prayer-room and the communion table; they are off to their old companionship and “their own gods.” They go out from Christ, because they were never of him, for if they had been of him they would have continued with him.

It cost something for Ruth to cleave unto Naomi. We always feel glad that she could not have foreseen the handsome estate and the rich kinsman that were waiting for her at Bethlehem; for that would have subjected her to the suspicion of selfish motives in her choice. She acted from principle, and with no hope of earthly reward. “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God shall be my God,” was a noble confession of faith. The beauty of it lay in the fact that she carried it out, and took the decisive steps that showed her heart and conscience were in what she said.

The glowing excitements of a revival commonly fill up our church memberships with not a few Orpahs among the genuine godly-minded Ruths. In a little while the Orpahs are back in the world again, to their own sin and the church’s sorrow. Profession is easy; then comes the test of performance. Revivals cover the threshing floor with sheaves. The duller and more monotonous seasons that come afterwards winnow out the wheat from the chaff. In this solemn and significant fact lies the reason why, with all the occasional large ingatherings, the actual working force of Christians increases so slowly.

The enlistments, the dress-parades, have no hardships in them. The bivouacs and battles are the real test of the mettle. An equally good one is to be willing to lie wounded in the hospital without complaining. Christ puts his professed disciples to the test very soon. Those cleave to him, and those only, who have a vital union to him by faith and the regenerating Spirit. Cleaving costs the sacrifice of pride in one, and the sacrifice of ease and comfort in another, of stubborn self-will in a third. It often costs a sharp battle with unruly appetites and lusts. It was of this persistent hold to him, this patient continuance in right doing, that Jesus spake when he said, “Abide in me.” The branches that cleave unto the vine bear the rich clusters. Godly living depends upon this one thing—heart-cleaving unto Christ.

Holiness means the daily doing of his will, the daily keeping of his commandments. The religion we want nowadays is the religion that is fast-anchored enough to stand the strain of strong temptations in the counting-room, the shop, the political meeting, the social circle, as well as in the church and the closet. Cleaving to Jesus holds a man anywhere. Of such the dear Master says, “None shall be able to pluck them out of my hands.” Jesus was once betrayed with a kiss. But Jesus will never betray the humblest follower who cleaves to him in simple faith, and the daily doing of his commandments.—Evangelist.