Half-Hearted Christians Strengthen the Hands of the Ungodly

Half-Hearted Christians Strengthen the Hands of the Ungodly

“And the children of Israel veiled the Lord their God with words that were not just, and they built for themselves high places in all their habitations.” 2 Kings 17:9.

This turned out to be to be Israel’s misfortune, with the result that they were driven out of their land. The priests did not keep God’s commandments pure, and they veiled God with words that were not just. They interpreted the commandments in such a way that it pleased the people. This is how they hid God’s true nature so that Israel did not fear God. They built their high places wherever it suited them and raised up wooden images. They were told that they could do this freely; however, they could not escape God’s punishment.

It is the same story today. God is veiled with words that are not just, with the result that many people live according to their desires and still believe that God’s pleasure is over their lives.

Jesus came full of grace and truth. Grace is spoken of most often, because it is known that people like to hear about it rather than the truth. Jesus’ true nature, namely, that He loved righteousness and hated iniquity, is hidden with words that are not just. Many people receive the understanding that Jesus is not so particular. He simply covers us with His grace so that God sees us as if we had never sinned.

“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7.

This is God’s true nature, but it is hidden by taking away the condition: if we walk in the light! All they have left is that Jesus’ blood cleanses us from all sin. Then people ask ever so boldly: “How much sin is left if the blood has cleansed us from all sin?” Then the large multitudes rejoice, because if the Word says it, then it has to be true. They go home comforted and continue to live the old life, singing, “Under the blood, under the blood.”

However, Peter was not in this frivolous spirit when he wrote, “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Pet. 1:17-19.

Jesus’ blood is not something with which you can afford to be frivolous, thinking that it is not so dangerous. You should know that Jesus’ blood is more precious than things that perish, which is why we must walk in fear. It has cost Jesus His life to redeem us from sin; therefore we must hate sin and fear to fall in it.

Jesus says, “Without Me you can do nothing.” This is being interpreted to mean that Jesus has done everything, and we shall do nothing. Thus they hide God’s true nature, which is to give us grace and light so that we can be holy in all our conduct, just as He is holy. They do not keep the commandment pure, for then they feel that they are in bondage. They veil God with words that are not just so they can feel free to worship their idols, which will lead them to destruction.

And the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of plunderers, until He had cast them from His sight. And the king of Assyria brought people from Babylon and let them dwell in the places of Samaria. But the Lord sent lions among them who killed many of them. Then they said to the king of Assyria, “The nations whom you have removed and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the rituals of the God of the land; therefore He has sent lions among them, and indeed, they are killing them because they do not know the rituals of the God of the land.” Then one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came and dwelt in Bethel, and he taught them how they should fear the Lord. “So these [heathen] nations feared the Lord, yet served their carved images; also their children and their children’s children have continued doing as their fathers did, even to this day.” 2 Kings 17:20-41.

This tells us that the people will follow the priest. They were not able to teach their own people to fear the Lord with an undivided heart, therefore they could not teach the heathen either.

This is also the case with many missionaries in these days in both foreign lands and at home. They cannot lead the people any further than to become Samaritans. They believe that there is a God, but they also worship their idols. And if they come into need, they call out to God and ask Him to be with them so that everything they want can succeed for them. They want to go to heaven when they die, but they do not want to be redeemed from the earth while they are alive. They cannot be along in being built up to be a spiritual house, a holy priesthood. 1 Pet. 2:4-5.

When Ezra was building the temple, these Samaritans were his worst enemies. They discouraged many of the people. Ezra 4:1-4.

It is the same today. When those whose hearts are circumcised serve God and are built up to be a spiritual house, these half-hearted Samaritans become envious and do all they can to hinder the work. They try to discourage the hearts of the upright with nice words and beautiful phrases. If they do not succeed, they curse them and condemn them to hell. However, it is now as it was then. The truth will find a way through many tribulations and much resistance, and God’s work will be completed.

Therefore, you who have seen God’s true nature and have turned away from idols to serve the living God, be bold and strong. Receive the light and the grace God gives you so you can be redeemed from the earth and from among men to be a firstfruit for God and the Lamb.