THE greatest evidence God gives to us of His favor is that He manifests Himself to us. He does this more especially when we are suffering for Him. It was when Abraham returned from the slaughter of the kings that God appeared to him.
From Abraham’s history we learn there are two ways in which Satan attacks saints, and two kinds of reward connected with overcoming. Satan seeks to allure the heart with the things of this life and he seeks to crush the soul when in trial.
In Genesis 13:9,9Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. (Genesis 13:9) Abraham gave way to Lot, his relative. Their herdsmen had quarreled and they must separate. Abraham let Lot choose his place for a dwelling “Is not the whole land before thee, if thou wilt take the left hand then I will take the right,” such was his language. Lot chose the plain of Jordan and dwelt in the cities of the plain. He pitched his tent towards Sodom. Abraham could afford to give up all, to refuse the pleasant things of earth. He could say “I have nothing to seek or to choose.” Satan’s first effort is to beguile the saint with the things of this world, things which do not belong to the heavenly calling of the believer. The Apostle exhorts “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3). If Satan succeeds in alluring the heart with the things of earth, he is content. Christ is not pre-eminent in the soul, so He lets the one that is thus allured go on quietly. The path is an easy one, and Little to the glory of Christ.
If Satan fail in his effort to beguile the saint, he will try in another way to bring him under his power. Trial comes in the oath way, and he seeks to crush when the soul is under pressure. He has, as it were, two barrels to his gun―if the saint refuses the beguilement, the next effort is to crush the heart with sorrow. Abram refused the will of Satan, when the king of Sodom met him and laid his goods et his feet. Abraham said, “I will not sake from a thread even to a shoe-latchet, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abraham rich.” He had his reward, for Melchisedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine and blessed him. If you refuse you will get manifold more in this present time. Of this the Lord assured Peter when the apostles said, “Lord we have left all and followed Thee.” Jesus answered, “There is no man that hath left house, or brethren or sisters, or father or mother, or children, or lands, for my sake and the gospel’s, but he shall receive an hundred-fold more in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.” If you give up anything for Christ, you will get much more; not, perhaps, of the actual thing you have given up, but manifold more of that which is of value to you. If you talk of what you have given up, it shows you have not done it yet.
Then comes another thing the saint has to endure. Now is “the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ,” and the apostle says, “ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” The same Lord that enables you to refuse the beguilement of Satan gives power to endure. Keep looking to Him “who endured the cross, despising the shame, and is now set down at the right hand of God. Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Heb. 12:2, 32Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:2‑3)).
In Genesis 14 we find Abraham, who had refused the allurement of Sodom, going forth to the help of Lot, who had not refused. Lot had pitched his tent toward Sodom. He got into trouble. “If we sow to the flesh, we shall of the flesh reap corruption.” His trouble opened the door for Abraham, who had denied himself to come forth in the strength of the Lord to his rescue. He took his three hundred men, and went out by night, and the Lord was with him, Lot was rescued and all his goods.
Abraham risked all to save Lot. He acted as the servant of the Most High God, and if you take your place as a servant of Christ, you must risk everything—power from above will be given you. Be strong in the Lord was the charge to Timothy. Abraham had the known presence of the Lord. After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abraham in a vision, saying, “Fear not, Abraham; I am thy shield and thy exceeding great reward,” as if Jehovah had said, I will come in with Mine own presence to delight your heart. Abraham’s reward was the sense of association with God. He had gone into conflict as the servant of God on Lot’s behalf, and we must be ready to serve, in the day of trial, those who have lagged behind. He endured the trial, and the Lord rewarded him with a fresh manifestation of Himself. 1 Peter 4:14,14If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4:14) presents what is analogous to this. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you.”
Saints complain of lack of joy, but joy follows service and is linked up with suffering and fruit-bearing. In the 14 of John there is no mention of joy. In John 15 there is― “Herein is My Father glorified that ye bear much fruit. If ye keep my commandments ye shall abide in my love. These things have I spoken unto you that my joy might remain in you and that your joy might be full” (John 15:8, 108Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. (John 15:8)
10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10)). Joy is invariably the result of suffering. “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so also our consolations abound by Christ” (2 Cor. 1:55For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:5)). “Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Peter 4:1313But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:13)). There is present reward in suffering for Christ. You receive manifold more in this life if you refuse the allurements of Satan.
Occupation with Christ, who refused and who endured, is what gives motive power now to do as He did. Think of Him who died and surrendered all that you might be blessed. He will be with you if He call upon you to suffer for Him. He will deepen in your soul the sense of the glory in which He is and to which He leads you, whilst by the way you bear His reproach. The thought of all this cheers the heart. The Son Himself is the spring of joy. There is nothing like having His company. Having Him the loss of present things can be easily endured. To judge by circumstances, one would say Lot had the better part, that he was the favorite, but in whom did God express His delight? In Abraham, who only had his tent, which was pitched in the Plain of Mature, which is in Hebron―that spot which was afterwards given to Caleb because he wholly followed the Lord, where also the kings were wont to rendezvous, where David was crowned. Abraham built an altar there and the Lord appeared to him. God found His delight? In him, and Abraham’s condition was such that He could give expression to it. It is only as we walk with God that He can assure our hearts of His pleasure in us. “Enoch walked with God―was translated that he should not see death―before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God.” The way he leads us may be rough and thorny, but if we sow in tears we shall reap in joy. Such was the experience of the remnant of Israel, as they traveled up from Babylon, the land of their captivity, to the House of the Lord at Jerusalem. They wept as they came up, but when the land of their desire was reached they reaped a harvest of blessing. The 126th Psalm speaks of the state of their souls. It is often applied to those who are laboring in the Gospel, and in principle this may be done, but it is not the correct interpretation of Scripture. It is one of the songs of degrees, and gives the record of the passage of the returning remnant on their way to the House of God and shows the spiritual condition which characterized them. “The Lord has done great things for us whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity as the streams in the south, they that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him,” They had wept; but the time of songs had come, and their mouth was filled with laughter. Satan in their case was foiled in his effort to crush the saint when under pressure.
When our Lord was in the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil, these were the two ways in which Satan attacked Him, but Christ resisted the allurement, and defeated Satan’s effort to crush Him. In Gethsemane Christ endured, though His sweat fell as great drops of blood. “Not my will but Thine be done,” was the language of His subject soul. We are exhorted to consider him who endured.
If you refuse the beguilement of Satan, opportunity will be given you to endure―you will receive power, and Satan will be defeated in his effort to crush you. The children of the captivity refused the king’s wine, and they were able to endure the furnace seven times heated―one like unto the Son of Man walked with them in the fire. God sent His angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him. If Satan can beguile you, he will not seek to crush you. He will leave you alone, and not trouble himself farther with you. Christ endured the full enmity of Satan at the moment when the judgment of God on sin culminated on Him. He refused to save Himself, that the will of God might be fully done by Him.
Does anything lie in your path that would interfere with your fully following the Lord? If there is, refuse it. This may involve suffering, but it will bring sure reward. If you have to suffer, the Lord promises you shall reign with him, and enjoy His presence whilst you suffer. It is with the will of the Lord you have to do, and if your eye is on Him, Satan will fail in his desire to dishonor Christ in you, a member of His body.
J. B. S.
Edinburgh, April, 1875.