"‘Now Ehud died’ (Judges 4:1) – it was then Israel ‘again did what was evil.’ This is a sample of what
(Judges) 2:19 was talking about. Take away the external restraint
(Ehud) and Israel displays her
true character. There is something wrong with religion when its degree of fidelity depends solely on outside pressures, influences, and leadership.
Then we are ‘Christian’ only
because of our surroundings, or because of the
expectations of Christian people around us, and
(we) lack a
genuine,
internal work of God.
…Pressure
(such as is found in the Bible College world) makes us such earnest folks.
But take away whatever influence Ehud must have exerted and Israel shows her
real colors again. That is why genuine salvation consists
not of giving
glowing testimonies but in
departing from evil (2Tim 2:19),
not in relating
glorious experiences with God but in
living a consistent life (1Jn 2:3-5, 3:9)."
Dale Ralph Davis, "Judges" (ephasis and clarifying notes added)[I cannot say this any louder, ephasize this any more or write it any better than Mr. Davis did, but I would like to further connect his comments to you and me in our daily walk.] When I read this I couldn't help but think of my dear friends in the wild world of bible colleges
(or really any in a place where there is much pressure to appear spiritual). It is a surreal place where you feel isolated and disconnected from the real world. It seems that in that funky little place, if someone were to drop a bomb on the rest of the world around your school you would hardly even notice. You can get so caught up in the happenings of your school that you forget there is a massive world out loaded with folks who don't care about what the people on your campus are saying. You are in a "bubble" all by itself.
You might call bible college a spiritually
pressurized environment*. Which was not unlike the state Israel found itself in every time a new Judge came on the scene
. But where were the spiritual people before the Judge came? And where did they go after he left?
My friends, beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them (Matt 6). Make sure you are the real deal and not among the faulty soils (Mark 3). Be certain that if you call Jesus LORD that He
knows you (Matt 7). Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. Be sure that you are His and that you live for His praise, His reward and His magnification. Joy unspeakable, blessings aboundng, and honor eternal will follow you as you do.
Much love,
*The author quoted, Dale Davis, said this very thing of Israel in the sentance before the quote I used
