WHO IS YOUR EXAMPLE? by Clinton De W. Sharp

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 23, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 50.

WHO IS YOUR EXAMPLE?

By Clinton De W. Sharp

“HEAR this, all ye people; give ear, all ye inhabitants of the world; both low and high, rich and poor, together” (Ps. 49: 1, 2); “Know ye that the Lord he is God; it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Ps. 100: 3); “He is our God” (Ps. 95: 7); “Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all” (Neh. 9: 6).

God manifested his wonderful creative power in six days, and “spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works” (Heb. 4: 4); “Wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Ex. 20: 11).

God’s power was not to be forgotten. “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered.” Ps. 111: 4. “The Sabbath was made for man” (Mark 2: 27), by which to remember the creative work of God.

“We are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.” Ps. 95: 7. If we are his sheep, he certainly must be our Shepherd.

“I am the Good Shepherd.” John 10: 11. Are the sheep expected to guide the Shepherd? “When he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice.” John 10: 4.

“And the sheep follow him.” They are not leaders, but are being led. The Saviour adds, “A stranger will they not follow” (Id.).

Are you following a stranger, or the “Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep”? Heb. 13: 20. If you are among those addressed as, “Fear not, little flock,” you are safe; for “a stranger will they not follow.”

Christ left you an example, “that ye should follow his steps.” 1 Peter 2: 21. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2: 6. Who is your example? Is Jesus? Are you walking as Jesus walked, following in his steps? If so, you will not keep Sunday, for “as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day.” Luke 4: 16.

“Beware lest any man spoil you, through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Col. 2: 8. Scripture records no command of Christ or apostles to change the observance of the Sabbath; hence such a change must be “after the tradition of men,” “and not after Christ.” “A stranger will they [the sheep] not follow.” Listen not to obey the beguiling words of friends, teachers, pastors, or any one else save God. “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8: 20

If you are a sheep, you will follow in the steps of the Shepherd, Jesus Christ; and he did not observe the first day of the week, nay, or even mention the day in any way. “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matt. 19: 17.

The same plan of salvation has been held through all ages, faith in, and love to, God. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17: 3.

“Why halt ye between two opinions?” “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” “My sheep hear my voice.” “A stranger will they not follow.”

Whose example will you follow?

CLINTON DE W. SHARP.

Rochester, N. Y.