Thus we have very briefly examined the seven stages of opposition to God’s own work. The grief of the enemy (Neh. 2:10); the laughter of the enemy (Neh. 2:19); his wrath (Neh. 4:1); mocking (Neh. 4:3); fighting (Neh. 4:8); subtlety without (Neh. 5:1-9); subtlety and danger within (Neh. 6:10). And many a reader of this paper will say, “I have seen all seven in the opposition to God’s work in our own day.”
So the wall was finished. No amount of opposition could stay the work of God. It is so again – saints are gathered to Christ, the wall is built; the doors are set up, and God has raised up faithful men to keep the watch. The position has been assailed in sevenfold opposition; but God has preserved the sacred principle of being gathered to Christ. To Him be all praise! Surely we need to put on the whole armor of God. Our Sanballat is not dead, though his power is destroyed. These seven aspects, that is complete opposition, will continue until the coming of our Lord.
Someone now may say, If God has gathered souls to Christ as at the beginning, and if they find that the truth of the church of God being one, excludes every sect of men – yet, if this basis was large enough at the first to receive every obedient child of God – surely, then, it must be as broad, and be large enough now. Is it not a wonderful truth, that all believers form the one body of Christ – all are one? “There is one body.” And then if Christ has His place in the administration of the church, its gifts, and its worship in spirit, as at first, surely this is a large place to dwell in! Is it not large enough for every Christian on earth who desires to walk in the fear of the Lord, and according to His Word? When this truth is known, what need for all the sects that men have made? Surely no need. Then tell me, if the place is so large and so blessed, how is it that there are so few in it? Why, in some towns, there are none gathered thus to Christ, and in others, those thus gathered are in no reputation.
This was the case also at Jerusalem. “Now the city was large and great; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.” Yes, this is the very question of Nehemiah 7. Compared with the largeness of the city, there were but few in it; but the number was known, and left on record, of those who had come up out of the captivity (Neh. 7:6-60). But there were a great number which went up “from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Burner, but they could not show their father’s house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.” Many others also are named: “These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they as polluted put from the priesthood. And the Tirshatha (or governor) said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim” (Neh. 7:61-65).
All this is exceedingly instructive. If mingling with the Gentile world had caused the Israelites to lose the certainty of their nationality, is there any wonder that the effect of the church being mixed with the world should have caused so many to be uncertain, whether they are the saved children of God or not? Even with the most evangelical there is much darkness and perplexity as to this. And this is one cause, if not the chief one, why so few take the happy place of the children of God gathered to Christ. Evidently there were many Israelites who could not show their genealogy; and there are many Christians who cannot show it; they are so confused with the false position they are in, that they cannot tell whether their names are written in heaven or not. Indeed, in human churches this is not an essential point. Until lately, many denied the possibility of any knowing with certainty that they are the children of God.
Is it not also most true, that if we do not know we are saved, we cannot eat of the most holy things? We must know Jesus, the Great High Priest in the presence of God – He who once bore our sins on the cross, but who is now crowned with glory. As our righteousness, raised from the dead, we now see Him, with Urim and Thummim. In His face shine the lights (Urim) and perfections (Thummim) of God. How can you enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus if you are uncertain whether you are saved? O, search the register; never rest, my reader, until this first question is solved.
Reader, ask yourself, Is my name written in heaven? How do I know that my very sins are all forever blotted out? Is it true that God in very deed is my Justifier? What, shall nothing ever separate me from His love in Christ? If I die, am I quite sure it will be to depart and be with Christ? If I live until the Lord comes am I quite certain that He will take me to be forever with Himself? Reader, you will never answer these solemn questions by looking within, at self, at feelings, or experiences. No, it must be the look of faith at the one who has been lifted up, and is now at the right hand of God. And, mark, I rarely ever met a soul yet that enjoyed this blessed certainty – that truly had peace with God – that could comfortably remain in the camp of Christendom away from Christ in rejection. Now is it not so? Do you not feel it far more consistent, if in uncertainty, to remain in the systems of men, rather than take a place outside the camp, bearing, the present reproach of Christ? I have no doubt this will soon be the real condition of the recent converts. Left in the camp, the uncertainty of the camp will fall upon them. The remnant were few in number, and feeble indeed; and so of those gathered to Christ in this day. But the one was the work of God, and so is the other.
(Continued from page 107)
(To be continued).