There are many trials in life, where you will show what you believe, to whom you listen, and by your actions, show to whom you belong. You can say all kinds of things, but when situations arise and you will be tested, you will show whether you truly believe in what you confess. Because your actions show what you believe. Do you believe in the Word of God and do you remain steadfast on the Word of God, despite the consequences, or not?
The faithfulness of the Rechabites to the words of their father
In Jesus Christ, we have become a new creation and live in the New Covenant, which is sealed with the blood of Christ. Therefore, we can’t compare ourselves, with those, who lived in the Old Covenant and were the old creation. However, we can take an example of the attitude of some of them and their obedience, faithfulness, dedication, and steadfastness.
In Jeremiah 35, we read about the Rechabites, who didn’t compromise under any condition but stayed loyal to the voice and words of their father.
The prophet Jeremiah was sent by God to go unto the house of the Rechabites and speak to them and bring them into one of the chambers of the house of the Lord and give them wine to drink.
Jeremiah did according to the words of God and went to the house of the Rechabites and brought the whole house to the house of the Lord and set before them pots of wine and commanded them to drink the wine.
However, the Rechabites refused to drink the wine, since their father Jonadab, the son of Rechab, commanded them and their sons to not drink wine, neither build houses, nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any, but all their days, they would dwell in tents, so that they might live many days in the land where they would be strangers.
The men, their wives, sons, and daughters had stayed loyal and obedient to the voice and words of their father and did according to his commandments. When Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, came up into the land, they decided to go to Jerusalem, for fear of the army of the Chaldeans and for fear of the army of the Syrians. And so the Rechabites dwelled in Jerusalem.
The word of the Lord to Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem
After the Rechabites refused to drink wine and after their testimony, the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah, saying:
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to My words? saith the Lord. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto Me.
I have sent also unto you all My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto Me.
Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto Me: Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.”.
The word of the Lord to the house of the Rechabites
But Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites:
“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before Me for ever.” (Jeremiah 35)
God tested the house of the Rechabites and through their obedience to the commandment of their father, by refusing to drink wine, they showed their fear, love, and faithfulness to the commandment of their father and they became a testimony and an example for God’s people.
Since God’s people didn’t listen to the voice and commandments of God, but were rebellious and disobedient to God and His commandments, despite the warnings of God through His servants, the prophets and the call to repentance.
Because of the fact that they didn’t hearken to the words of God, they brought the mischief upon themselves (Read also: ‘The mischief people bring upon themselves’ and ‘The evil that will come’)
Unfortunately, God’s people in the New Covenant have the same attitude as God’s people in the Old Covenant (Read also: ‘Back to the Old Covenant?‘).
Many believers succumb instead of remain steadfast upon the Word
Instead of believers remain steadfast upon the Word of God and stay faithful and obedient to Jesus Christ and His commandments, which derive from the Father, and just like the Rechabites, will not be moved by situations, nor misled and tempted by anyone, not by the world and not by prophets, preachers and reverends, who preach something contrary to the Word, and don’t compromise and change the words of God, they are tempted and misled and abandon the words and commandments of God and compromise and adjust the words and commandments of God and enter the broad way of the world..
They say they believe and love God and belong to Him, but by their actions, they show the opposite.
Because Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments“ and “He that has My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me: and he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him” (John 14:15, 31)
Many call Jesus Lord, but they don’t submit to Him and don’t do what He says, but adjust His words and live in rebellion against Him (Read also: ‘The difference between the sheep and the goats‘).
The sons of God listen to their Father and believe His words and obey their Father and depart from iniquity
Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, the Lord knows them that are His. And, Let every one that names the Name of Christ depart from iniquity (2 Timothy 2:19)
Many churches have compromised and have become worldlike and walk after the flesh. Instead of departing from iniquity, they have allowed the iniquity and sin under false pretenses, whereby many churches are seated in darkness (Read also: ‘The church seated in darkness‘).
But God wants His children, who belong to Him through regeneration, to walk after the Spirit instead of the flesh and depart from iniquity and remove the sins and return to Him.
He wants His children to trust in Him and obey Him and remain steadfast on the Word of God.
‘Be the salt of the earth’
