Obedience to God by E. Hilliard

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 24, 1885

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 11, No. 49.

Obedience to God.

By E. Hilliard

It would seem that one who believes the Bible to be the work of inspiration, would need nothing to stimulate him to render obedience to God's requirements, except a knowledge of his demands. Yet there are many who see God's claims upon them, who fully believe his word, but because it involves some cross they hesitate to obey. Some, worldly consideration, the fact that obedience requires the sacrifice of property or loss of position, causes them to decide contrary to what God has commanded. How little such realize the outcome of their selfish course! It would hardly seem that if they would stop and candidly consider the whole matter, and not be biased by circumstances, they would act contrary to their highest interest and eternal good.

Suppose that by refusing to walk in God's commandments we could accumulate an immense fortune; of what real benefit would it be to us? "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" The Saviour has given us an opportunity of making the greatest bargain that it is possible for man to make. Upon condition of obedience to his requirements he has offered us that which reaches the limits of his power,—life without end,—and that, too, free from the least pain or unhappiness. When we consider any sacrifice too great for us to make in order to secure to ourselves this happy, unending life, we prove ourselves unworthy of it; and he who made such a great sacrifice to place, the prize within our reach will never grant it unto us.

God is no respecter of persons. In all ages those who have refused to heed his admonitions, have rejected his counsel, and have set his authority at naught, have alike been under the condemnation of God. We have on record a most remarkable instance of his displeasure toward one who dared to disobey his voice. Let us briefly notice it.

In the thirteenth chapter of 1 Kings we learn that the Lord sent his prophet from Judah to Bethel with a special message. After the message had been faithfully delivered, King Jeroboam invited the prophet home with him, that he might be refreshed and rewarded. The man of God, true to his directions from the Lord, replied, "If thou wilt give me half thine house, I will not go in with thee, neither will I eat bread nor drink water in this place." It is very evident that he understood what the Lord commanded him; for he added: "For so was it charged me by the word of the Lord, saying, Eat no bread, nor drink water, nor turn again by the same way that thou camest." And with these words to his tempter, he took a different route than that by which he came, and started back toward Judah.

It happened that there dwelt in Bethel an old prophet. His sons came to him, and told him all that the man of God had done, and the words that he had spoken to the king. As soon as he learned the route that the prophet from Judah had taken, he ordered his beast saddled, and pursued after him. On overtaking him, he invited him to return with him, and eat bread. The man of God, still firm to what the Lord had ordered him, repeated to his visitor the plain command, forbidding him to eat or drink in that place. Satan then tried his most effectual temptation. Assuming a religious garb, he worked through his agent, the false prophet, with the desired effect. Hear his deceitful words: "He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an angel spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water. But he lied unto him."

This teaches us that we cannot trust the human heart, but that prophets, priests, and ministers may be used by Satan as agents to deceive and mislead. By reading the remaining verses of the chapter, we learn that the man of God forfeited his life because he turned aside from what God commanded him, and listened to the lying words of the false prophet. This shows us, that, irrespective of every influence that is brought to bear upon us, we should cling tenaciously to the word of God. We should give no heed to any minister or teacher who speaks contrary to any of God's commandments. In spite of all the warnings that can be given against Satan's devices, he will so clothe himself in religious apparel that he will be successful in deceiving a great many of those who profess to be Christ's followers. From his very first attack in the garden of Eden, he has effected his foul designs most completely when clothed in the garments of piety. It is strange that he is so successful in this manner of deceiving, when the Bible so plainly points it out as his most effectual way of planning and executing his hellish devices.

He who does not take the word of God as his own individual guide, will at last be most likely to find himself taken in the snare of the great deceiver. It may be well enough to listen to Bible expositors, but these expositors must be brought to the unerring test. The noble Bereans tested the expositions of Scripture given by Paul and Silas by daily searching the word of God. We must have an individual knowledge of God's requirements in order to successfully meet the archdeceiver, with his multiform temptations. The only true barrier against sin is to adopt the plan of the psalmist, who says: "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee."

E. Hilliard.