Faithful—Unfaithful

Faithful—Unfaithful

Faithful is a glorious word when it is united with obedience to all of God’s Word. Jesus’ name is Faithful and True, and He is also called The Word of God. Rev. 19:11-14. The armies that followed Him on white horses, those who are clothed in fine linen, white and clean, are the same ones who have faithfully followed Him in this life.

The bride is the faithful one; the harlot is the unfaithful one. God has constantly looked and searched for the faithful ones, but they have always been more rare than gold from Ophir. They are therefore exceedingly valuable in His eyes. On one occasion God sought for a man who would make a wall and stand in the gap before His face on behalf of the land, but He found no one. Ezek. 22:30. There is also a great lack of such spiritual wall builders in our days, and as a result, worldliness and the pride of life are seeping into the assemblies.

In Malachi 1:10 we read, “‘Who is there even among you who would shut the doors of the temple, so that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘nor will I accept an offering from your hands.’” They were to bring animals without a defect or a blemish to the altar. But they did not have it in their hearts to do that and said, “Oh, what a weariness!” V. 13. They brought animals that were stolen, lame, and sick as offerings to the Lord. “‘Should I accept this from your hand?’ says the Lord. ‘But cursed be the deceiver . . . .’” Vs. 13-14.

God is pleased with those who can put a stop to all religious hypocrisy. God hates all religiosity with its ceremonies, forms, and customs, but He loves Christianity that is alive and true. Religiosity is death—Christianity is life and abundance of life. Religious people glorify God with their lips, but Christians honor Him with sincere hearts.

“Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts . . . .” Ps. 51:6. God’s wisdom can only proceed from a heart that is faithful through and through; otherwise the result will only be religious folly, which can be found nearly everywhere God’s name is mentioned. People bear the cross on their coat sleeves, but not in the innermost recesses of their hearts. God does not dwell in houses made with hands, but in faithful hearts.

Whenever the Scriptures speak of false prophets and false teachers, they speak of them in connection with earthly gain and glory. They have gone astray, and they lead others astray. God Himself will see to it that those who do not love the truth in the depths of their hearts will be deceived in the last days. 2 Thess. 2:10.

God will cause His light to shine on the way of the faithful and upright, and He will be sure to lead them on the right way. In these days, darkness is greater than ever before, and with this darkness as a background, the faithful ones are shining brightly. God loves them as the apple of His eye. All the promises are fulfilled in their lives, even the greatest and most precious promises of partaking of divine nature. 2 Pet. 1:4.

Israel was led away captive because of their unfaithfulness. 1 Chron. 9:1. Even today all those who are unfaithful end up in the bondage of darkness. They call the Lord’s commandments a burden and say, “Oh, what a weariness!” They do not want to obey Jesus’ commandments and laws—which alone lead to true liberty, eternal life, and glory—and they end up in a false liberty that does not give them true redemption from the bondage of sin. Jesus says that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. They rejoice and praise God even as they bear a grudge against someone, or are angry and conceited, or seek honor and gain. Iniquity together with the sacred meeting is an abomination in God’s eyes.

Wherever unfaithfulness rules, a wall has not been built against the spirit of the times and the spirit of the world; thus all kinds of evil and impure spirits enter in and gain control, even on the speaker’s platform. This is not difficult to see and hear in today’s religious assemblies.

God found that Abraham’s heart was faithful; therefore He was going to bless him and multiply him as the number of the stars and grains of sand. God found Joseph to be faithful in all things, and He made him a prince in Egypt and blessed him with warehouses full of grain in the midst of times of drought.

Moses was faithful in all His house, as Jesus was faithful in His own house. Heb. 3:1-6. Paul was faithful in all his preaching. He kept back nothing, but proclaimed all God’s counsel for salvation. If you stand before the face of men in order to please them, you will take away one thing and add another because of your unfaithfulness. Such people can gather large religious assemblies, but the elect and faithful hear and follow only the shepherd’s voice that leads them into Jesus’ steps in obedience to His Word.

Epaphras was a faithful servant of Christ. Col. 1:7. Tychicus was also a beloved and faithful servant. Eph. 6:21. Paul exhorts the women to be reverent, not slanderers, to be temperate and faithful in all things. 1 Tim. 3:11. Such women are extremely precious in God’s eyes and shine brightly in the night sky of our days.

Paul had no one as like-minded as Timothy, who sincerely cared for the saints. All the others sought their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. Phil. 2:19-21. Only those who are called and faithful fight together with the Lamb and gain the victory against the beast and its spirit in the last days!

Let us choose the way of faithfulness, because it brings with it a great reward for time and eternity. God says, “My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me . . . .” Ps. 101:6. The faithful will also hear these glorious words: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matt. 25:21. “Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Rev. 2:10.

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” 1 Cor. 1:9. It is impossible to have fellowship with the Father and the Son without faithfulness. Brotherhood can never be established through unfaithfulness. Genuine, unfailing brotherhood is often totally unknown. It can only come into being and be maintained through obedience and faithfulness to the laws of the Spirit of life in the body of Christ. But then the result will also be genuine brotherhood, in peace and joy and great blessing.

The times in which we are now living are very serious, and what shall we do? Quite simply, let us be faithful at home or wherever we are in the light God has given us, and let us hunger and thirst for more of what God has to give us—and that is much! Then we will be ready when the trumpet sounds.