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Testimonies for the Church Volume 3
and have no inclination to stand in defense of right. If they do not take
a determined course on the wrong side, it is not because they have a
clear sense of the right, but because they dare not.
God will not be trifled with. It is in the time of conflict that the true
colors should be flung to the breeze. It is then that the standard-bearers
need to be firm and let their true position be known. It is then that the
skill of every true soldier for the right is tested. Shirkers can never wear
the laurels of victory. Those who are true and loyal will not conceal
the fact, but will put heart and might into the work, and venture their
all in the struggle, let the battle turn as it will. God is a sin-hating God.
And those who encourage the sinner, saying, It is well with thee, God
will curse.
Confessions of sin made at the right time to relieve the people of
God will be accepted of Him. But there are those among us who will
make confessions, as did Achan, too late to save themselves. God may
prove them and give them another trial, for the sake of evidencing to
His people that they will not endure one test, one proving of God. They
are not in harmony with right. They despise the straight testimony
that reaches the heart, and would rejoice to see everyone silenced who
gives reproof.
[273]
Elijah Reproves Ahab
The people of Israel had gradually lost their fear and reverence
for God until His word through Joshua had no weight with them.
“In his [Ahab’s] days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho: he laid
the foundation thereof in Abiram his first-born, and set up the gates
thereof in his youngest son Segub, according to the word of the Lord,
which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun.”
While Israel was apostatizing, Elijah remained a loyal and true
prophet of God. His faithful soul was greatly distressed as he saw that
unbelief and infidelity were fast separating the children of Israel from
God, and he prayed that God would save His people. He entreated that
the Lord would not wholly cast away His sinning people, but that He
would by judgments if necessary arouse them to repentance and not
permit them to go to still greater lengths in sin and thus provoke Him
to destroy them as a nation.