MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
June 7, 2023
God’s Saving Enmity Part 22
CHRIST’S EXAMPLE OF RIGHTEOUS LIVING IN THE THICK OF ENMITY AGAINST IT
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was there guile found in His mouth: who, when He was reviled, reviled not again, when He suffered He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him [the Father] who judgeth righteously.” 1 Pet. 2:21-23, KJV.
Now, prayerfully ponder upon the profoundly sobering, testing truths contained in the following excerpts from the inspired pen, especially as we near the prophesied “hour of temptation which shall come upon all the WORLD, to TRY THEM that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3:10, KJV. (All emphasis and bracketed words mine):
"Jesus did not present to His followers the HOPE of attaining EARTHLY glory and riches, and having a life free from trial, but He presents to them the PRIVILEGE of walking with their Master in the paths of SELF-DENIAL AND REPROACH.
"He who came to redeem a lost world, was exposed to the UNITED FORCES of the adversaries of God and man. In an UNPITYING CONFEDERACY, evil men and evil angels arrayed themselves against the Prince of Peace. Though His every word and act breathed of divine compassion, HIS UNLIKENESS TO THE WORLD PROVOKED THE BITTEREST HOSTILITY. Because He could give NO LICENSE for the exercise of the evil passions of our [fallen, sinful] nature, He aroused the FIERCEST OPPOSITION AND ENMITY.
"So it is with ALL 'who will live godly in Christ Jesus' [2 Tim. 3:12]. Between righteousness and sin, love and hatred, truth and falsehood, there is an IRREPRESSIBLE CONFLICT. When one presents the love [and life example] and the BEAUTY OF HOLINESS, he is drawing away the subjects of Satan's KINGDOM, and the prince of evil is aroused to RESIST it. “Persecution and reproach await ALL who are IMBUED with the Spirit of Christ [in and through the person and presence of Holy Spirit]. The CHARACTER of persecution CHANGES WITH THE TIMES; but the PRINCIPLE –the spirit that underlies it–IS THE SAME THAT HAS SLAIN the CHOSEN of the Lord ever since the days of ABEL.” E. G. White, Mount of Blessing, pp. 49, 50, Pacific Press Publishing Asso. 1943.
Bear this in mind. Immediately after the fall in Eden God put the new principle of ENMITY that is designed, empowered, and contained in God’s saving grace imparted by the Holy Spirit to the humble suppliant to create and produce “irrepressible conflict” between “righteousness and sin, love and hatred, truth and falsehood.” And what the omniscient and omnipotent God of love and light has separated, for man’s salvation, let no fallen, finite mortal ever dare unite or attempt to excuse, justify, reconcile, compromise, amalgamate, or repurpose against God’s express will and declared purpose.
For “cursed is the man that trusteth in man and maketh flesh his arm.” “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” “For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”
To be continued next week, God willing. Bless all, NMF.