Abide in Me

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4,5.

Truly to be a Christian, one must be abiding in Christ. This means that Christ comes first in every part of our lives. We have no life apart from Christ. Some like to have two lives, one that is lived among fellow Christians while at church, and another one while mingling with worldly associates during the week. This will never be acceptable to God.

In Ancient Israel, several of the ceremonial laws were given in order to remind the person of the need to have Christ living within their heart. We must be living all for Christ, or then we are none of His. Every small detail of life is to be directed to Christ. “Whether therefore we eat, or drink, or whatsoever we do, do all to the glory of God.” I Cor. 10:31.

Back in Ancient Israel God directed every detail of life. They were told, what to eat, what to drink, what kind of clothing to wear, what to plant. Even building, buying and selling were directed by the Law of Moses. After He died on the cross, Jesus said He will give us a new covenant. “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” Heb.lO:16. Today, we do not have all these required details of the Ceremonial Law, however this statement in the Bible does not nullify the need for the moral law of the Ten Commandments. It is just that these minute directions were no longer needed.

To the careless reader some of these laws may seem unimportant, however, even if they are no longer binding today, we can still study the Ceremonial Law and see the golden thread of truth God has in it for us.

CLOTHING

“Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen or linen together.” Deut.22:l 1. This may sound a little strange at first. What would it matter of you mixed these two fibres to make your clothing? The first thing that God did for Adam and Eve after they sinned was to make them clothing. Garments are a symbol of righteousness.

We have two choices of garments that we can wear.
1) “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags:” Isaiah 64:6. These garments are a favourite choice of many people today, including Christians.

2) “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in
my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10. These garments are given to every Christian who repents and turns to the Lord with the fullness of his heart.

Before man sinned, his garments consisted of a robe of light. He lost that robe and attempted to make fig leaf garments for himself. This was not sufficient so the Lord made them temporary clothing that was acceptable for the time being. These clothes were made of animal skins. These clothes were to remind man that something must die in order for their salvation to be obtained.

In the Old Testament God intended that man’s clothing would remind him of the heavenly garments that will finally clothe the redeemed. “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment;” Rev. 3:5. “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.” Rev. 19:8.

So why did God require Israel to not mix the two types of cloth? Their clothing was to be a constant reminder of the clothing that the redeemed would wear. It is impossible to wear our own garments of “filthy rags” and the pure, spotless, “garments of righteousness” at the same time. We must either wear one or the other. The requirement to not mix the fabrics kept in their minds the fact that they cannot mix even one small thread of the love of the world into their garment of righteousness. We cannot serve God and mammon in our daily life, at work, at school or among friends.
While this was a physical reminder of the garments of righteousness not being mixed with the filthy rags of our selfrighteousness, some try to mix the two spiritually. Or they see the holes in their filthy rags and try to patch them up. It will never work.

Jesus said, “No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.” Luke 5:36.

The person who tries to mix the old and the new will end up in disaster. His cloth will be ruined and when he appears before the Judge of the universe he will not be covered with the robe of Christ’s righteousness.

From the clothing that Ancient Israel was counselled to wear, they were reminded daily of the need of wearing the robe of Christ’s righteousness – the need to have Christ as a very real part of their lives.

THE OX

Another law that was given in Ancient Israel to point out a person’s connection with the Lord was that of: “Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together.” Deut22:10.

Not only were they unequal in size, but the ox was a clean animal and the donkey an unclean animal. Although both were useful animals, they were never to be yoked together.

Before Jesus went to heaven, He prayed to His Father, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from evil.” John 17:15.

If we compare the unclean ass to the world we can understand what God is trying to tell us. He did not pray that His disciples be separated and live the life of a hermit, rather He prayed that they would be preserved from the evil surrounding them. So also, God does not ask us to separate ourselves from the world. We may use the world, however we are not to yoke up with the world. I have heard of some independent Christians who want to “opt out of
the system.” Meaning they want to have no connection with the world in things like driver’s licences, Medicare numbers, credit cards and various other legal documents which they avoid obtaining. This is not God’s will. We can use these tools that the world uses, we are just not to yoke up with the world.

“Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their Godr and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” 2 Cor. 6:14-17.

We often understand these verses to mean that marriage with unbelievers is forbidden in the Bible. While this is true it also goes further to mean that in all areas of life we are not to hold close ties with unbelievers, whether in confidential friends, or business partners. Worldly businessmen are governed by worldly principles, which may be contrary to Godly principles, and unconverted friends cannot understand the struggles with sin that the child of God experiences every day. The only one we are to yoke up with is Christ. He says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Mat. 11:28-30. If we want Christ to help us through the trials and perplexities of life, we must be yoked up to Him. He is a much more reliable helper than anyone on this earth.

PLANTING

Even in planting their seeds there was a lesson to show their dependence on Christ. “Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds; lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of the vineyard, be defiled.” Deut. 11:9. This law had a temporal advantage as well as a spiritual lesson. First of all this would preserve the seed quality by preventing inferior varieties resulting from cross breeding. Also, if you plant wheat and oats together, the oats become ruined and the wheat injured.

The spiritual lesson is very similar to the ox and the donkey law. To associate with evil companions will have a damaging effect on the Christian. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Cor. 15:33. Just as the wheat, which we need for our daily bread, is damaged by mixing it with other seeds in the field, so true Christians, however faithful, may lose their way by these “evil communications” which will mingle with the good, producing an inferior form, or a corruption of, the original true Christianity. Evil companions led King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, astray.
He thought he was wise and strong enough to stand faithful, but he was not.

This counsel of avoiding “evil communications” means not only avoiding unchristian friends who will lead us in the wrong way, but also it includes any communication that we allow to enter the avenues of our mind.

Corrupting influences today surround us everywhere. It is difficult to walk in a shopping mall without having music played for our subconscious minds to pick up and more often than not it is not Christian music. There is the TV, newspapers, magazines, novels etc., but the truth is still the same that they corrupt good minds.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Cor. 3:18. The only safety is to try to avoid these evil communications as much as we can, and allow Jesus to fill our hearts and minds. Whatever we behold the most, that is what we will become “whether of sin until death, or of obedience unto righteousness.” Rom. 6:16. If we constantly behold evil, we become evil and today TV is one of the most corrupt things through which sin can enter our minds if not carefully controlled. However we must make sure that we do not allow newspapers and magazines to draw our minds away from Christ either. One of the greatest dangers is in doctor’s offices or other offices waiting for appointments as they often have all sorts of magazines lying on the table waiting to waste your time. Sister White counsels us to “Keep your Bible with you. As you have opportunity, read it; fix the texts in your memory. Even while you are walking the streets, you may read a passage, and meditate upon it, thus fixing it in the mind.” Steps to Christ, p. 90. We can pray, as did King David, “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.” Ps. 119:37.

It would be good to make a budget of our time – see how much time we spend in serving self, and see how much time we spend serving the Lord and filling our minds with the things of eternity. Hopefully, our scale is not unbalanced.

JUDGMENT

We are living in the Judgment Hour of this earth’s history. While this may cause alarm to those who are not ready to meet Jesus; those who have not made Him a part of themselves and who insist on continuing to wear their own filthy garments, his truth can be a cause of rejoicing to God’s true believers.
It is a solemn and serious time in which we live, but we know that the end of all things is at hand and soon we will go home to meet our Saviour. We will meet Jesus, with whom we have yoked up to on this earth – through whom we have found a sure Help, Counsellor and Guide in time of need. We have filled our minds so much with Him and His love that we can’t wait to meet Him.

The more often that something is mentioned in the Bible, the more important it is and Judgment is mentioned over 1000 times in the Bible. It is more serious than death itself. Death may separate friends for a brief period of time until the resurrection, but judgment separates friends and family forever. No one can escape it. People may try to ignore it and put the thought out of their minds, but this will not be a solution, they will still have to face it, whether they like it or not. The decisions of earthly courts may be corrupt, as some judges have been known to make their decisions according to bribes.

The more money a person has, the more opportunity for them to obtain the best of lawyers who can win the case for them and sometimes the guilty have been able to go free this way. In the heavenly court there is no chance for the guilty to walk free. No amount of money can buy their freedom. “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:12.

Jesus does not want anyone to be lost and He has made ample provision for the salvation of anyone who comes to him. In earthly courts, often parents have sacrificed all their worldly possessions and finances to secure the freedom of their children. Do you think that God would allow all of the earth to perish under Satan’s rule without also making an effort to save them? No, Jesus gave up everything; He put it all on the line for you and me – will you not accept His way today?

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. Not one person can face their life record in the books of heaven, unless belief in Christ and a love for His service is a part of that book. Christ, the heavenly advocate will plead the cause of anyone who surrenders his or her life to Him. He says, “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Isaiah 43:25.

Who can reject such infinite love? Our scarlet robe, all torn and filthy, He has promised to take away and cover us with the robe of His righteousness so that when the great Judge looks down on us He will only see the sacrifice of His beloved son. What more could heaven have done for the salvation of man? It is a serious time in which we live. It is time to separate our affections from the things of this world and to abide in Christ. We must allow Him to put on us His robe of righteousness and take away our filthy rags – not just cover or patch our filthy rags, but take them away. Then we must yoke up with Christ only and not allow evil communications to detract us from our service to the Lord and once we have truly surrendered to Christ, we will be ready in the judgment. It will not be a time of fear but a time of rejoicing because we will not have to face the Judge in our own garments. May God help us each to be ready so we can meet on the sea of glass and together sing the song of Moses and the Lamb.
Amen.

W. Eaton