December 27

Scripture commands us to bring examples to the Word for testing. Are people constantly quoting opinions? "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them" (Isaiah 8:20). We follow a man for the light in his lamp; but if that goes out we leave him. And this Scripture certifies that the person cannot have any light at all unless his opinion has been established in the Word. If he does not know where he is going, how can we know where he might lead us?

Examples are precepts, not warrants. "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Exodus 23:2). An example will not bring acquittal just because you have a precedent to sin. Adam tried that when he said the woman gave him the fruit; yet it did no excuse him from paying the price with her. She was the leader in sin but punishment followed them both. Would you be willing to et poison if another person offered to taste it first? Does this example make it any less deadly?

The Word warns that dedicated saints can sin. When Paul called others after him, he counseled them to keep their eyes open to see whether he followed Christ: "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corintians 11:1). The holy life of the best saint on earth is only an imperfect translation of the perfect standard in God's holy Word and therefore must be tried by it. It is the character of sincerity to look to the way rather than to the crowd. "The highway of the upright is to depart from evil" (Proverbs 16:17).

I am showing you how this sword of the Word-- like the one in the cherubim's hand-- maybe turned every way to protect the Christian from venturing into sin, no matter how right it seems.

This was David's refuge: "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11). It was not the Bible in his hand, the word on his tongue or in his mind, but the hidden Word in his heart, which kept him from sin.

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