WAVERING BETWEEN TWO

If Elijah were now preaching among us, would he not still have to deliver many a severe rebuke upon halting, wavering, and instability? Surely he would not long endure to witness the double-mindedness and indecision which prevails among professed christians. Certainly we see some decided characters on the one side, and on the other — on the path of death as well as on that of light and life — and as to the former sort there is a decided sentence against them already pronounced in the word of God. They prefer the golden calf of the lusts and honor of this world to the Lamb of God suffering and dying; they offer incense to Satan, and yield entire obedience to the flesh. These are decided characters, who know what they are doing; they do not halt — no, they walk straightway toward the worm that never dies, and into the fire that is never quenched. And there is a great multitude of such, both old and young, and in all ranks and conditions of life, vessels of wrath, reserved for the manifestation of the justice of God on the great day. But will it eventually fare better with those who may be called borderers, who halt between two opinions, who practically at least doubt which master they shall serve? And oh, that the generation of these halting ones did not constitute the majority amongst us! But, alas! is it not so? Decided living unto God is surely no common thing. Supreme happiness is to enjoy fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. This is the one thing needful. Let the Lord be your treasure; let him be your supreme love. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world:” until it can be demonstrated that these are your supreme good, that these can save and make you happy; that these can redeem and comfort you. Could they indeed do so, then the time you spend on religion would be entirely lost time. Make sure therefore of your choice, and be decided as to how you mean to live and die. Oh woe unto you, halting and lukewarm generation! Think you that your love can be divided between Jesus and Belial? Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. Who is the supreme good? is it the Lord? Why then is he not also your supreme love? What does this accursed hunting after things that perish mean? What this idolatrous desire of vain honor and earthly glory? What this anxious care for riches and comforts and worldly pleasures, this heathenish mourning for temporal losses? If human existence be confined to this present life merely, and if we have nothing beyond it to look for, then “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!” then “walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes;” for why should we then lose time upon an imaginary thing, a nullity? But if this is not our rest; if there is a world to come, an eternity hereafter; What does our loitering upon the way mean, our settling down in the land of our pilgrimage? Be therefore pilgrims and strangers decidedly; lay aside every sin, every thing which would impede your progress; esteem all such things as dross and dung, that you may enter in at the strait gate, and that the word “Eternity” may not at last be a word of thunder to you. Surely it is well worth while to sacrifice all other cares to this one — of escaping eternal punishment and becoming partakers of everlasting happiness. To act half as children of time and half as children of eternity brings with it entire death. If the word of God is true, submit yourselves to it in all things, even in those which are ever so opposed to our corrupt nature and wayward desires. Believe it heartily, both in its promises and its threatenings, both when it speaks of the glad tidings of salvation, and when it says that we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ, and that except a man is born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. But if youare wiser than God, then show it decidedly; only do not halt, for that is irrational and absurd, and do not mix light and darkness together.

Neither attempt to compromise between God and the world. If Christianity is of God, decide for it with body and soul; embrace the cross; be willing to suffer affliction with the despised people of God; forsake the pomps, pleasures, and vanities of the world, and employ all your endeavors to promote the kingdom and glory of Christ. Again, do not halt and waver between the righteousness of Christ and your own. Which of the two will avail you in the judgment? If it be only the righteousness of Christ, then value yourselves no longer on your own supposed virtues, as many do, with whom we cannot be long in company without hearing of the good works they have done and are doing, both of humanity and religion. Neither be undecided as to the choice of your friends and associates: for “he that is not with me,” saith Christ, “is against me; and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.” and the Holy Ghost by his apostle says, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,” 2 Cor. 6:14–18.

“And the people,” it is said, “answered Elijah not a word;” they perceived, no doubt, that his remonstrance was well-founded, and his expostulation just. And does not our remonstrance, made to you upon it, commend itself to your consciences?

Excerpt from Elijah the Tishbite

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