Your answers this month give the warnings of God’s word not to follow Lot’s course, and they are so express and so solemn that I give them in full as you send them to me, and may you and I have grace to hearken to them: “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent not... My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path.” Prov. 1:10, 1510My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Proverbs 1:10)
15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: (Proverbs 1:15). “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.” Prov. 4:14, 1514Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. (Proverbs 4:14‑15). “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” Prov. 13:2020He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. (Proverbs 13:20). “The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways.” Prov. 14:1414The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself. (Proverbs 14:14). “He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.” Prov. 28:2222He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him. (Proverbs 28:22). “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matt. 6:2424No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24). Jesus Christ said, beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth. Luke 12:1515And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15). Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high minded, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who giveth richly all things to enjoy. 1 Tim. 6:1717Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; (1 Timothy 6:17) “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world enmity with God? Whosoever, therefore will be a friend of the world is the enema of God.” James 4:44Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4). “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:1515Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15).
Abraham’s life of faith may be divided into two parts: The first, his pilgrimage to Canaan and his sojourn there as a stranger; the second, his faith in God concerning his seed, while remaining childless.
This second part of his life of faith we will now consider. And a most important history it is to us, for he is therein declared by God’s Word to be the example and pattern of a sinner being justified by faith, as we are taught in the fourth chapter of the Romans. Abraham’s faith had brought him to God’s land, thus was the end of God’s calling him out of his heathen darkness to know Him as the God of glory fulfilled to him; but without the promised seed how was he to inherit that land? He possessed not an inch of it himself. It was peopled by the wicked Amorites, and he was only a pilgrim and a stranger in it. This is his question in Gen. 15:88And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it? (Genesis 15:8), “Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?” The security lay outside himself. God promised the land to his seed, while Abram remained childless. He is troubled that his servant Eliezer, as born in his house, will be the heir, and that the inheritance will pass away from him. Then “the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, this shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir,” ver. 4. This was God’s good news to Abraham in the hour of trouble. “And He brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and He said unto him So shall thy seed be.” ver. 5. Abraham believed the word that God had spoken and all his trouble was gone. No longer was he in fear of his servant supplanting him in the inheritance. HE believed God, rested on His sure promise, and counted things that were not as though they were; and God reckoned Abram righteous on account of his faith. This beautiful history is recorded for our sakes, that we might by faith be reckoned righteous as Abraham was. He believed God’s word and looked forward to Christ, the seed promised him in God’s covenant; the guilty sinner, who by grace believes now, looks to the same blessed seed, but now no longer as a promised Saviour, but as a Saviour God gave eighteen hundred years ago, when He delivered Him to suffer on the cross for His people’s offenses, and raised Him again for their justification.
Remember, dear young friends, that Abram believing God’s word on that starry night about the promised seed, altered nothing in Abram’s tent. He was still the childless old man, and Eliezer was still in his house. But all was changed in Abram’s heart. He had heard God’s word, and he gives up all his fears and reasonings, and all is peace. He counted on the truth and faithfulness of God, and he saw in those starry heavens the sign of his countless seed. We read this ancient story, and in the day we live, we see its fulfillment. “Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel?” Num. 23:1010Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! (Numbers 23:10). But when Abram believed God, he had no sign in his tent that he should ever have a son. Faith does not rest on feelings or outward evidences. It believes solely because GOD says so, and thus God counts a sinner righteous. If my reader knows, himself a guilty sinner before God, with no righteousness of his own to give him any hope of ever partaking of the inheritance of the saints in light, God sends to, him a word of salvation: “To him that; worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5).
Dear young friends, it is blessed news for everyone who is honest before the God who knows us altogether, that He saves the sinner by Another, even the Lord Jesus Christ, not by our own works.
Which of you wants mercy of God? Which of you wants pardon and salvation? Those who have never believed what God says of sin and of their state before Him as sinners, ungodly, and enemies, (Rom. 5:6, 8, 106For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10),) will not understand God’s good news. The lifeboat is of no personal interest to those who believe the ship they are sailing in is seaworthy, but to the shipwrecked the lifeboat is an unspeakable blessing. To the perishing, God declares that He has found a perfect salvation in His dear Son, and whosoever believeth in Him is justified from all things (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39)); and “To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43).
My dear young friends, do not rest till you can say that you by faith are among that happy company, who are blessed with faithful Abraham.
Your affectionate friend,
UNCLE R.