Called to Faithfulness
I have chosen the way of
truth; Your judgments I have laid before me.
I cling to Your testimonies, O Lord; do not put me to
shame.—Ps.119:30
Faithfulness demonstrates the reality of the Life of Christ within a man. Adverse conditions, unfavorable external factors, and an hostile society cannot alter its course.
The Rechabites beautifully evince this truth. They were a tribe in pre-exilic Israel whose faithfulness attracted the God of heaven.
Something was different about the Rechabites. Though unsought and unknown with no human support to propel their actions, they patiently and consistently demonstrated an attitude that was not influenced by the evils of their day.
Israel at this time was at its zenith of wickedness. So great was the surge of corruption that priests and prophets alike were swept away by its mighty torrents.
Sin spread rapidly like a bush fire consuming every moral principle once held sacred. Waywardness became a culture second to none as lawlessness prevailed in both old and young.
Prophets sent from God to reverse this trend with their words of admonitions, were scorned, vilified, and maliciously silenced.
Days turned to weeks and merged into years as God patiently bore with them anticipating that they would at least heed His voice.
Rather, the contrary was true. Grace was taken for granted and liberty was abused in a shameless hatred and irreverence for God.
Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah saying, Go to the house of the Rechabites….. and give them wine to drink—Jer.35:2.
Something about the Rechabites pleased God. It is encouraging to know that even without their knowledge God took note of and acknowledged their disposition. Indeed the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through out the whole earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him—2Chr.16:9.
Many times believers in Christ become discouraged. Though we are grieved at the prevalent ills and moral decadence of the society, we may easily lose sight of the fact that God observes us.
Instead, it may appear that the perpetrators of evil are “blessed” and devoid of calamities[Ps.73:1—9]. Something within us entertains the thought that we are really missing out on “The good life.”
At such times, we do not discern the gains of righteousness. We become dangerously unaware of being surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses—Heb.12:1.
Such reasoning is whole--heartedly supported by fellow men and encourages us to lower our standards. After all, we are holier than those other Christians basking in self-will, we try to assure ourselves.
The actions and convictions of the Rechabites were a sharp contrast to the abyss of sin that the people of God had plunged into.
Thus, at the word of the Lord, Jeremiah went and set bowls of wine before them and said to them, Drink wine—Jer.35:5.
Their response to the prophet’s invitation depicts their unmitigated resolve to remain faithful. Not even the anointing or pronouncements of a renowned man of God were sufficient to dictate to their faith.
They were not the type to be tossed to and fro and carried about by every wind of doctrine—Eph.4:14. All that mattered to them were the commandments received from their father. No addendum by any man, irrespective of his religious prowess, was relevant.
Similarly, God has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness—2Pt.1:3. But unlike the Rechabites, we earnestly covet the declarations of men, even if it is at the expense of what is written. We still desire that the messenger endorse our word or even go so far as to revise the message of God Itself.
It should be noted that it would have been no sin before God if they had actually drank from the cup, neither would it have offended any man since it was the norm of the day.
The appeal made to them was to lessen their rugged approach to life. Such appeals are not uncommon today.
C’mon, you are not the only one going to heaven, and certainly you can’t be more righteous than all those other Christians! Have a rethink, spirituality is no cause for an extreme separation from all that is good in life. After all, don’t we have liberty? Such is the wisdom from below.
No such reasoning could change the stance of the Rechabites. They knew that all things are lawful…but all things are not helpful—1Cor.6:12. Instead, they clung to the wishes of their father which was the goal of their lifestyle throughout their generations. Our father commanded us saying “You shall drink no wine….you shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard nor have any of these…all your days you shall dwell in tents.”—Jer.35:6-7.
No wine, no house, and no vineyards were the items of their ancestor’s command.
Hence, for the joy of undeviating adherence to the word of their father, they willingly took up a nomadic way of life.
Amazingly, their forefather, Jonadab was little more than fiction to them; he had lived centuries before them. They knew practically nothing about his appearance or day to day activities.
All they knew was his name and his commandments. Yet this was sufficient enough to earn their unreserved loyalty and be pledged to his cause.
God’s professed people were of a different spirit. Though prophets spoke to them repeatedly in the Name of the Lord, they stubbornly despised His Name, clearly abhorred his commandments, and out-rightly rejected the Prophets.
A closer look at the words of Jonadab, the father of the Rechabites, reveals much instruction for us today.
First, wine was prohibited to them. This reminds us of the Nazarite vow. Wine, as mentioned in Jd. 9:13 represents the joy of man, that sweetness from below. The commandment to abstain from it, is to encourage them to look to the only true Joy giver . Earthly pleasures were out-rightly forbidden for them, because, as the Scriptures says, she who lives in pleasure is dead while she lives—1Tim.5:6.
Secondly, tents, not houses, were to be their abode. Their residing in tents serve as a continuous reminder that they had no permanent dwelling here on earth.
They were pilgrims, citizens of another country, transiting the wild routes of this world. All such pilgrims cry out, I am a stranger in the earth, do not hide Your commandments from me—Ps.119:19.
Thirdly, they were not to plant vineyards or fields. All their treasure was to be in heaven. Do not lay up treasures for yourself on the earth…but lay up for your-- selves treasures in heaven—Mtt.6:19—20.
The amassing of earthly wealth would only serve to trap their hearts in evil desires for a world devoted to destruction. Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness—2Pt.3:11.
Pleasure, acquisition of wealth, and compromise describes the spirit of our age. None of these things are to be tolerated in our lives. The effect of such is to turn away our affections from God.
Customs, public opinion, and material gain should not be the “gospels” that govern our lives. These things have kept many in bondage up until today.
So great is their influence in our lives that we attempt to merge these things with Christianity. But God calls us from a world of care, unnecessary pursuits, and self-indulgence into the fellowship of His presence.
The Rechabites stand as a rebuke to modern Christianity. The voice of Jonadab, though faint as it was continues as an evidence against our wayward generation.
God, however, is not unfaithful to overlook our love for Him. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; “Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever.”—Jer.35:19.
Ministering in the presence of the Lord, I know of no greater joy than this. All who are faithful in spirit would always enjoy unhindered fellowship with Him. And for those who would choose to be otherwise, only one other option exists, destruction and doom.
Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith—Heb.12:2
Written by Ade--Peters
http://gospelfromtheheartofafrica.com
Brother Peters near the village of Rotaprr in Sierra Leone, West Africa.
A Bible teacher and Gospel preacher, Temitope Adewole (Peters) desires to help make disciples for the Lord Jesus.