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 Isaac
Errett, founder and longtime editor of "The Christian
Standard," republished a series of editorials in 1884, as
"Evenings With The Bible." We quote from Vol. l,
p.217-f, "Balaam The Covetous." In this day of
affluence and compromise these lessons are again appropriate.
———————–
"While
God's chosen people dwelt alone, there was "no divination
against Jacob, nor enchantment against Israel." They
were invincible as long as they maintained their separate
character, and were true to their mission as "a
peculiar people" ... Yet the curse came. It came
when Israel was lured from that separateness, by the
blandishments and wiles of the enemy, into a compromise, and
enticed by Moab's deceitful smiles and false courtesies into a
surrender of the sacred trust received from Jehovah. This was
the "doctrine of Balaam" — the doctrine of
compromise. He taught the Moabites that if they could succeed in
luring the Israelites to their idolatrous feasts and revels,
they need do no more — Jehovah himself would curse them. So it
proved.
And
so it proves always. Spiritual Israel has a special mission, the
accomplishment of which depends on maintaining the separate
character received from God as a humble, pure, truthful,
righteous, spiritual people... It is when Israel is enticed into
the company of Moab — when that "friendship of the
world" which is "enmity against God" beguiles and
corrupts the Church — that defeat and disgrace ensue. And
right here is the peril of the Church today. ...
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We
write this late Saturday night (June 11, 1881), just as the
eclipse of the moon is beginning, and find in this revelation of
Nature an impressive lesson. The moon shines with a borrowed
light, as does the Christian. The moon reflects the light of the
invisible sun, and the Christian reflects the light of the
invisible God; and as the soft light of the moon gently but
effectively penetrates the darkness of the night and bathes the
earth in gentle radiance, so is the light of the Church to
reflect the glory of God, in subdued splendor, upon a benighted
world, driving away the darkness of ignorance and sin.
But
when the earth comes between the moon and the sun, the moon
itself is darkness; and when the earth comes between the soul
and God — between the church and the glorious Sun of
Righteousness --the Church, too, is in darkness. Such an eclipse
does not come in a moment. It steals on slowly and quietly, and
there is still a partial, but ever decreasing light, until
finally the obstruction is total. Thus stealthily comes the
eclipse of the soul, and of the Church . . .
Lord,
preserve me from going in the way of Balaam for reward. Keep me
from that root of all kinds of evil — the love of money. Let
me not forget the impressive warnings of Thy word concerning
those who are bent on being rich, and have erred from the faith
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Preserve me, O
my God, from this base idolatry, and fix my affections on the
true riches, and enable me to love Thee with all heart and soul,
and mind and strength."
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