1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

cold, the love for truth thus received grows cold with it. But lovefor our brethren in Christ, and special love for those who serve usmost, will never overthrow the faith of those who receive the truthin the love of it.Should controversy arise because the way of truth is evil spoken ofeven among those through whom the blessed Gospel has beenreceived, and who have been greatly loved for their work's sake, itwill only impel those who are wholly the Lord's, to a more diligentsearching of the Scriptures, and thus more earnest inquiring of theLord to make very plain the way.Peter reminds us that there were false prophets in Israel, even asthere should be false teachers among us; (2 Peter 2:1) and Mosesdeclares that it was permitted to prove Israel. If faithful to God, noconsideration of a personal character, should lead them to turnaway from God's truth after these false teachers. When weremember that these things happened to Israel as types for ourinstruction, the words of Moses become very significant:--"If thybrother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or thewife of thy bosom, or thy friend which is as thine own soul, enticethee secretly, saying, Let us go andR768 : page 8serve other gods...thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken untohim, neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare,neither shalt thou conceal him. But thou shalt surely kill him; thinehand shall be first upon him to put him to death and afterwards thehand of all the people." (Deut. 13:6-9.)Thus the Lord proved Israel's determination to obey him at thesacrifice of any earthly friendship if need be. And in this Israel wasa type of both the world in the age to come, and also of the churchin the present time. Temptations even from dearest friends todepart from the living God and serve idols, whether those idols beself-exaltation, or any other thing, must be resolutely met with afixed purpose to follow the Lord wholly. Such suggestions may notbe harbored nor consented to by those fully consecrated to God,even though they come in the most deceptive disguise, and bydearest friends. And not only so, but deceptive errors andinfluences must be put to death; they must be pelted to death by thestones of truth. Our weapons are not like those of fleshly Israel--not carnal but spiritual, and mighty in pulling down the strongholdsof error. 2 Cor. 10:4.Ever bearing in mind that the Lord your God doth prove you, toknow whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart andwith all your soul, and whether your love to him is paramount toevery other love, however strong, we may meet the trials ofsevering friendships and dissolving earthly ties, with firmunflinching confidence in God, who will crown with everlastingjoy, the faithful overcomer who has fought to the end the good fightof faith.