Do You Want to Be Along?

Do You Want to Be Along?

Godfred Hansen, the Danish first lieutenant who was second-in-command under Roald Amundsen when the Gjoas sailed the Northwest Passage, recently wrote:

“Roald Amundsen succeeded in reaching the South Pole and returning again, but one must not ignorantly refer to it as heroic. Everyone should know that Amundsen spent years examining and studying his equipment down to the minutest detail. He put all footwear and ski bindings through long and severe testing. Provisions were thoroughly researched and tested in every way possible, and all packaging carefully planned. He made sure he did not take too little of anything, but also not too much . . . .”

Roald Amundsen did not underestimate the powerful elements he would be contending with. He conscientiously prepared himself, and then set out. He reached his goal and came back safely.

Our life with Christ is a life of detail. When we conscientiously take heed to every single Word to do it, we will also reach our goal of attaining great spiritual victories. “For strong is the One who executes His word.” Joel 2:11.

A reprehensible theory has become prominent in our day that says that Jesus has done everything so we do not have to do anything. Roald Amundsen went to the Pole himself. He showed us the way and the means by which we could get there. But if we want to reach the Pole, we ourselves have to go the way. Jesus made the way and He attained the glory. If we want to attain to His glory, we must follow after Him. The teaching that says that Jesus has gone the way and therefore we do not have to has the devil as its father. One of the last things Jesus instructed His disciples to do while He was still on earth was, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you . . . .” Matt. 28:18-20.

Believers and unbelievers alike feel that evangelists can provide everything they need. People live so close to the world that the invitation to come to Jesus and have their sins forgiven is ample nourishment for those who call themselves Christians. God has also placed prophets, shepherds and teachers in the church, but people have no use for them. Yet these are the ones who equip the saints for the work of the ministry. Eph. 4:11.

What is needed now is this sound teaching: obey everything that Jesus has commanded. There is a need for instruction about the details. The first thing that is needed, however, is for people to wake up to the fact that they need instruction.

Some will defend themselves saying, “We have the Spirit who will teach us all things, so we do not need anyone to teach us.” John wrote this verse concerning those who misled the disciples. 1 John 2:26. God has never placed prophets, shepherds and teachers in the church to lead people astray!

The knowledge of God is resisted virtually everywhere. People gather together for spiritual amusement. They sit down to eat and rise up to play. God allows children to play, but not forever. He wants us to be trained. “As He gives instruction in righteousness, so He will faithfully send rain.” Joel 2:23. (Norw.). The intention is that we learn something from this Teacher, but not everyone has understood to pay attention to what is being said. People have gone astray. Their thoughts race here and there. That is why God has appointed people in the church who can take such wild human thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. This is a great grace from God. Once a person has come to the place where they’re able to hear, there is a possibility for him to begin to do. Without that, it is out of the question to even consider victory or achieving any genuine result in the spiritual world.

A number of believers have already had their understanding enlightened to the fact that there is a great lack of teaching. They have sincerely received the Word and made a new start by cleansing out the old teachings and leaven. We have faith that many others will follow their example. You who do not believe this, you who do not have confidence in the knowledge of God, put it to the test. Test your strength. Are you, with all your elation and rejoicing, able to stand up under the scrutiny of those who have wholeheartedly given themselves to understand these things? I believe you will be sorely shamed, because God wants us to receive instruction. To take up a battle against one of His disciples (against a person who is genuinely interested in being instructed) will be like fighting against God Himself. In such a battle you will most certainly suffer defeat. You are not fit to go to the spiritual “poles” until you have diligently searched out the commandments of the Lord and determined in your heart to keep them exactly. Will you use your strength to resist this, or will you humbly bow under the will of the Lord?