“He brought him to an inn” (Luke 10:24).
Observe, He did not bring him home. This He would do later. But all things in their season. Presently, the Father’s house, its light, its love, its song; but now for a season the inn.
And what is the inn? It is the character the world assumes to us who know the Lord. He is that “certain Samaritan” who by no chance, but of full purpose and design, came our way,—came where we were—and, seeing us in all our misery and ruin, saved us.
He brings us to an inn. ‘Tis but the stopping place for a night. Soon the morning breaks: soon the Lord will return and take us hence. We look for Him. Our expectation lies beyond the stopping place.
No traveler engages himself extensively, or intimately in the affairs of the inn. That business he leaves to those who are vitally connected with it.
Dear young Christian, did you ever chance to spend the night at some such place? Did you spend any leisure moments that were yours in the adorning of the room assigned you? Did you polish the door-knob, or clean the windows? Did you rearrange the furniture? You did not. Your heart was not there. Your interests lay beyond.
And if, in addition, you knew the place to be condemned—if it were soon to be pulled down—soon to be demolished—your interest in it would be still less. If its owners were to attempt to engage you in efforts for its improvement, and were to submit problems to you concerning it, you would think this most odd, and probably would not scruple to say so.
“No,” you would say, “I am only here for the night. I am really not interested. Anyhow I understand the whole building is soon to be pulled down!”
This world, then, is that stopping place. We are only in it for the night.
“A little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry” (Heb. 10:37).
The character of the world is bad. Scripture declares it an “evil world” (Eph. 1:4). It tells us “the whole world lieth in wickedness” (or “in the wicked one” 1 John 5:19). It tells us “the world passeth away, and the lust thereof,” Satan is its prince. The Lord acknowledged this. (John 14:30).
Moreover it is condemned. Sentence has been pronounced. God has done with it. He tested man four thousand years, but He tests him no longer. The cross of Christ brought all to a climax. Hear the verdict from His lips who cannot lie, “Now is the judgment of this world” (John 12:31). We are straitly warned against it.
“Love not the world,” thunders the aged apostle John, “neither the things which are in the world. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him.” Again, James declares “the friendship of the world is enmity against God” (James 4:4).
Shall we participate in the affairs of a scene like this? Do pilgrims cast vote in the countries through which they pass? Do strangers meddle with the governments of lands to which they do not belong? And does not 1 Peter 2:11 tell us that such we are— “pilgrims and strangers”? We are told repeatedly that we are “not of this world” (that is, no part of its system). (See John 15:19; 17:14,16). We are in the world but not of it (John 17:18).
Where is our home land? Of what country are we citizens? Let Philippians 3:20 give us the answer: “Our citizenship is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour.” The saints of God are our fellow-citizens (Eph. 2:19), and like the goodly company of Hebrews 11:13-16, we, confessing that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, seek “a better country.”
We observe also that the Lord Himself, when here in this scene, never interfered in its politics, nor attempted to regulate its government. He never cast a vote. Are we wiser than He?
In His days, Palestine was under the iron heel of Rome. He made no protest, He did not demur, though doubtless agitation against this tyrannical power would have made Him very popular with the masses.
He sanctioned the paying of tribute money to Caesar, though that ruler was both murderer and idolator.
When John the Baptist was slain, Jesus did not lift up His voice against Herod, though this was a crime of the first magnitude. The sorrow-stricken disciples of John come and acquaint Him with the outrage. Jesus makes no protest. He attempts no interference. Again, one asks, are we wiser than He?
What attitude, then, should we take towards the government of the land in which we find ourselves? An attitude of submission, of obedience. We are to submit “to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake” (1 Tim. 2:2).
We are to pay our taxes (Rom. 13:6-7). We are to be respectful to authorities (2 Peter 2:10), and, as far as it lies in us, we are to live peaceably with all men (Rom. 12:18). We are to pray for all men, and particularly for those in authority (1 Tim. 2:2). We should so live that by our “good works” those about us may “glorify God in the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).
So, dear young Christian, our happiest place is one of aloofness from this world’s politics.
“Let the dead bury their dead” (Luke 9:60). The world has never yet found the right man, anyhow. Its candidates always prove disappointing. The one whose praises are sung aloud today, is the reviled office-holder of tomorrow. History repeats itself.
Thank God, we know the right man. At present He is rejected here. Some day (and not very far hence) He will assume office. “A king shall reign in righteousness.” Then creation’s groan will cease, and earth shall enter upon a thousand years of such peace, prosperity, joy and gladness as He alone can give. Let us reserve our votes for Him.