1156. Tempting and Turning Back

Tempting and Turning Back

"Neither let as tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents" (1Co_10:9).

In Psa_78:40-41 we read: "How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert! Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel."

God's cry to the church is that they go forward. On, toward the full-grown man in Christ Jesus; on, toward the mark of the prize of the upward calling.

Paul forever forsook the flesh pots of Egypt. He said, "Forgetting the things behind." He said, "I count all things but loss * *. that I may win Christ and be found in Him."

Paul gave us the warning, "Beware of dogs." The dogs stay on the outside, and eat the scraps; they turn back again to their own vomit. Let us go on into the Master's house and on to the Master's throne.

Beware of satan's compromises. He wants you to worship God, remaining in his land; at least he wants you to worship and not go too far away, so you can turn back to his worldly paths. Let us refuse him; let us swing the Jordan between us and the old life. After we have come to know God, or rather to be known of God, how turn we back again? Let our cry be:–

"I'm pressing on the upward way,

New heights I'm gaining every day;

For faith has caught the joyful sound,

The song of saints on higher ground."

Why should we "turn back" when there are such "riches of grace" lying ahead?

When many turned back from Christ, He said to the disciples: "Will ye also go away?" Peter replied: "To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life."

Turn back? Impossible! We have crossed our Rubicon, and we will stretch the neck toward the high calling in Christ Jesus.

O Beulah land, sweet Beulah land,

As on thy highest mount I stand,

I look away across the sea,

Where mansions are prepared for me,

And view the shining glory shore

My Heaven, my Home for evermore.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR