The Path of Duty. 5
Back to Arthur Pink
This lovely grace, like all others, appears in its full perfection in the Lord Jesus. Seen in His readiness to be the Covenant-head of His people, in His willingness to assume our nature, in His being subject to His parents during the days of His childhood, in His submitting to the ordinance of baptism, in His entire subjection to the Father’s will, in the whole course of His obedience. Seen when He was "led [not ‘dragged’ ‘or driven,’ but ‘led’ unresistingly] as a lamb to the slaughter" (Isa 53:7).
Thus, it should be evident that there is a real difference between true humility and meekness. Not only are they distinct—but they are not always operative in the same person. One may be humble and yet far from being meek. One may have a real sense of his own ignorance and stupidity, pray to God for light and wisdom, search His Word for the needed direction, and then when those directions are received, disregard them because unacceptable. Unless our wills be truly yielded to God’s, when His will crosses ours—then we shall decline to heed the same.
It appears to the writer, that what has just been pointed out serves to expose the sophistry of those who imagine that it is a more difficult matter to ascertain their duty, than to perform the same once it is perceived. Both experience and observation reveal the contrary. God’s Word is not ambiguous—but written in simple language for simple souls. True, it treats of the profoundest mysteries, which transcend the grasp of every finite intelligence; nevertheless, where it describes the way of holiness and defines what God requires from us—it uses terms so plain that misunderstanding is excuseless. Nor is it because our Guidebook is inadequate: it furnishes full directions and presents a sufficient solution to every practical problem, which may occasion us difficulty.
It is the obedience, which is difficult to flesh and blood, because our Rule so often demands that which is contrary to our natural inclinations. It is because so many fear that to follow the right course would involve them in unpleasant consequences, that they so often turn from it. That is why the Savior said, "If you know these things, happy are you if you do them" (John 13:17). We all know various things, which should be done—but are slow to perform, because the flesh in us finds them distasteful. "The way of the righteous is made plain" (Prov 15:19).
The "righteous" man is he whose heart is right with God and whose conduct is regulated by the "Word of Righteousness." And since his heart is right toward God, he heeds those rules given him for the ordering of his steps—see Proverbs 4:23, 27. Do not expect God to reveal to you the whole path of duty in a moment—rather does He make known one step at a time. As the first step is taken in obedience to His will, He indicates the next one, and the more we yield ourselves to His governance, the clearer light shall we have both within and without. "A good understanding have all those who do His commandments" (Psalm 111:10) because obedience to God delivers from the deceptions of the flesh, and the delusions of Satan. That "good understanding" enables us to apply the general rules of Scripture to the varied details of our complex lives. That "good understanding" preserves us from making foolish mistakes. Because that "good understanding" is formed by obedience to the Divine commandments, it keeps us from acting according to selfish, worldly and carnal motives. And thus, it is that He "leads us in the way of righteousness" (Prov 8:20).
One question, and we must conclude. Suppose I failed at a certain point to render obedience unto the clearly-revealed will of God, and instead in pursuing the path of duty, turned aside into the way of self-pleasing, and now I am eating the fruit of my own folly. Suppose I find that my way has become "hedged up with thorns" (Hos 2:6), so that I know not how to extricate myself. What am I to do? What steps must the backslider take in order to recovery? Why, humbly confess the sin to God—and go back to the very point where you forsook the path of obedience.
Abraham was called to sojourn in the land of Canaan—but when a famine arose, he forsook it and "went down into Egypt to sojourn there" (Gen 12:10), where he got into serious trouble. But later, he went "unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning. . . Unto the place of the altar which he had made there at the first" (Gen 13:3, 4). Do likewise, "Remember therefore from whence you are fallen, and repent, and do the firstworks" (Rev 2:5).
Back to Arthur Pink