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Quo Vadis...? (Where Are You Going?)

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Quo Vadis...? (Where Are You Going?)

6 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Mr. A. Karens, Barneveld, the Netherlands

(This article has been adapted slightly in accordance with our educational system.—Ed.)

Every person has questions: questions about life, questions upon life’s pathway, and questions about our goals in life. What am I going to do? What type of job should I choose? Where should I go? There are questions which we may have when in high school. What do I want to be? What type of occupation do I want to go into? What subjects should I take for such an occupation? Where will I be able to find work in this field? Some have questions in middle age, especially in times of an economic downturn. Will I be able to keep my job? Will we be able to continue to live here? If we have to move, where will we go? Others have questions as they become older. Shouldn’t we be looking for a smaller home? Where will we then go? Finally, there are questions concerning the end of our lives. What is our destination, our final destination?

The same in all aspects ...?

It is already quite a few years ago that we were handing out diplomas to graduates from our high school. In a way of speaking, they were standing at the exit from our school to either further their education or to join the workforce. Then, the question was also asked, “Quo Vadis? Where are you going?” For the last time we opened the Bible with these students to consider and compare the life’s pathway of two people from Scripture. We considered Balaam and Saul who became Paul (Numbers 22 and Acts 9). They both had only one goal; they sought riches, honor, and a good report among the people. The one is encouraged to curse the Lord’s people, and the other wants to imprison God’s people. Why is that? Then the question is not, “Where are you going?” but “From where do you come?”

In our sinful state, we do not wish to do anything but hate God and our neighbor. How terrible, how grievous! Balaam and Saul, both enemies of God—we follow these two men. Both of them are probably riding on an animal. Both of them are met and stopped by the Lord. Balaam called out, “I have sinned ...” while Saul asked the question, “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” When the eyes were opened, Balaam said, “The son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said ...” (Numbers 24:3). We also know that Saul’s eyes were opened when he was in Damascus.

What remarkable similarities and parallels. In all things they appeared to be the same. Both were on a journey with a clear destination and purpose. Outwardly, there was no difference, yet?

The difference

How does the Lord’s speaking and dealing with you in your life affect you? What are the results of the Lord’s dealings and callings in your life? We can see that in the lives of Balaam and Saul. There we can see by whom it worked in a saving manner. Then the differences become visible. One would say, Balaam was so powerfully and visibly stopped by the Lord, and what does he do? He gives wicked advice to the Moabites and Midianites. The people of Israel must be drawn away from the Lord. Organize a feast and ask Israel to participate. How clearly Balaam reveals himself as an enemy of God. In Revelation, the Apostle John places him as an example for the congregation of Pergamos.

What about Saul? How does he follow on his way? By the grace of God, he may completely subordinate himself to the Lord’s will. His heart is broken by the love of God, and his prayer rises up as a continued sighing unto the Lord. What are the consequences for Paul when he is an apostle to the heathen? He remains low to the ground. “O wretched man that I am He confesses to Timothy that he is the greatest of sinners. There the differences clearly become visible.

Two ways

I was led to consider the above title and subject when we received a card in the mail on which was written, “Where are you going? Choose the right direction.” It showed two direction signs, heaven and hell. It is a card which set me to thinking. It is a card with a question regarding our eternal destination. It is a question which requires an answer. On the back side of the card there are several pictures and a number of texts.

It is a publication from the Organization for Evangelism and Mission Work in the Netherlands. Because the message has a strong evangelical thrust, I wrote a note to the organization stating that it is not possible that a person has a free will. On the card is written, “You must accept Jesus’ offer ... you must decide yourself to continue to follow the Way.” With various texts it would appear that man would himself go to God. Very convincingly it is stated, “Draw near to God ... He that comes unto Me ... Come everyone that thirsteth ... I shall arise and go ...”

Let me share just a short paragraph from this mailing: “God forbids a clinging to an individual church group where each group maintains its own doctrine. As of today you no longer have an excuse whether you are going to heaven or hell. You have, just like Adam and Eve, a free will. That is Let me share just a short paragraph from this mailing: “God forbids a clinging to an individual church group where each group maintains its own doctrine. As of today you no longer have an excuse whether you are going to heaven or hell. You have, just like Adam and Eve, a free will. That is

How diametrically opposed this is to what we may hear Sunday after Sunday in our churches. There we hear what is founded upon Scripture and the Confessions. For all of us, whether we are graduating seniors or members of the Organization for Evangelism and Mission Work, and for each of us personally, the question remains, “Quo Vadis? Where are you going?”

Are you a Balaam or a Saul?

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Quo Vadis...? (Where Are You Going?)

Bekijk de hele uitgave van vrijdag 1 juni 2012

The Banner of Truth | 24 Pagina's