Order and Cleanliness
[
The Review and Herald, June 10, 1902
.]
Order is heaven’s first law, and the Lord desires His people to give
in their homes a representation of the order and harmony that pervade
the heavenly courts. Truth never places her delicate feet in a path of
uncleanness or impurity. Truth does not make men and women coarse
or rough and untidy. It raises all who accept it to a high level. Under
Christ’s influence, a work of constant refinement goes on.
Special direction was given to the armies of Israel that everything in
and around their tents should be clean and orderly, lest the angel of the
Lord, passing through the encampment, should see their uncleanness.
Would the Lord be particular to notice these things? He would; for the
fact is stated, lest in seeing their uncleanness, He could not go forward
with their armies to battle.
He who was so particular that the children of Israel should cherish
habits of cleanliness, will not sanction any impurity in the homes of
His people today. God looks with disfavor on uncleanness of any kind.
How can we invite Him into our homes unless all is neat and clean and
pure?
An Outward Sign of Purity Within
Believers should be taught that even though they may be poor, they
need not be uncleanly or untidy in their persons or in their homes.
Help must be given in this line to those who seem to have no sense
of the meaning and importance of cleanliness. They are to be taught
that those who are to represent the high and holy God must keep their
souls pure and clean, and that this purity must extend to their dress,
and to everything in the home, so that the ministering angels will have
[102]
evidence that the truth has wrought a change in the life, purifying
the soul and refining the tastes. Those who, after receiving the truth,
make no change in word or deportment, in dress or surroundings, are
117