Camp Meeting Address Boulder, Colorado, September 25, 1881
15
charge to adopt the customs and habits of worldlings. They link the
hands of the students with fashionable, amusement-loving unbelievers,
and carry them an advance step toward the world and away from Christ.
And they do this in the face of warnings from heaven, not only those
given to the people in general, but personal appeals to themselves. The
anger of the Lord is kindled for these things.
God will test the fidelity of His people. Many of the mistakes that
are made by the professed servants of God are in consequence of their
self-love, their desire for approval, their thirst for popularity. Blinded
[13]
in this manner, they do not realize that they are elements of darkness
rather than of light. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate,
saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters,
saith the Lord Almighty.” These are the conditions upon which we may
be acknowledged as the sons of God—separation from the world, and
renunciation of those things which delude, and fascinate, and ensnare.
The apostle Paul declares that it is impossible for the children of
God to unite with worldlings: “Be ye not unequally yoked together
with unbelievers.” This does not refer to marriage alone; any intimate
relation of confidence and copartnership with those who have no love
for God or the truth is a snare.
The apostle continues: “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 God, and
they shall be My people.” In consideration of these facts, he exclaims:
“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate.” “Having
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of
God.”
If we comply with the conditions, the Lord will fulfill to us His
promises. But there is a work for us to do which we should in no wise
neglect. In the strength of Jesus we can perform it aright. We may
press ever onward and upward, constantly growing in grace and in a
knowledge of the truth.