June 13

Who is on the LORD’S side? - Exodus 32:26.

THERE is no neutrality in religion. There are cases in which neutrality is possible, and in which it maybe excused, if not admired and commended. In family disputes, the quarrels of neighbours, it may be well to keep neutral. Two nations may wage war against each other, and waste their resources, and a third nation, however urged, may remain neutral, securing its subjects and husbanding its wealth. Some have thought it to be an excellence in a senator to belong to no party. But a man must take a part with one side or the other, for he can do nothing as a neutral, whether in politics or in religion; or otherwise he will have no influence with either party, but be disowned of both. But even if it were not so in these cases, there can be no neutrality here; and this cannot be repeated too often- “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” “Whosoever will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God.” “If any man love the world, the love of the father is not in him.”

But there are some, blessed be God, who are with him, and on his side. This is their glory, and this should be their joy. They are with him, and on his side now, and they shall be with him for ever. They are now suffering with him, and they shall “also reign with him.” They now are bearing the “reproach of the cross.” They shall soon share with him in the glory of the crown. They are now on his side engaged in the toils of the fight; and they shall soon be with him in the triumphs of victory. And he will fulfil his own words: “Him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me on my throne.” “Ye are they,” says he, “who have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”

If we are on the Lord’s side, we are on the right side, on the safe side, on the rising side. We are on the side which, by-and-bye, will annihilate the opposite side, and become a universality. We are with him-are advancing with him. Here is the Saviour-here are his people; they are weak, he is Almighty -He is at their head. Therefore we need not be afraid to go forward. Let us therefore come to a decision, seeing there can be no medium between loving Christ and hating him; and that when the dispute is between God and Baal, there is to be no “halting between two opinions.”

Let us also remember that we are not only required to “cease to do evil,” but “to learn to do well;” and that every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, though it bring forth no bad fruit, is “hewn down and cast into the fire.”