In The Master's Service

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BE STILL

Elder T. L. Webb, Sr. (deceased)  From the book, Little Things

"Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm xlvi. 10.

The above text not only portrays wisdom, power, sovereignty, the omnipresence and immutability of God, but also sets forth a wonderful lesson to be observed by His poor, afflicted saints here in this life. There is a time to be still and a time to run. There are some things over which we have no control and there are some things over which we do have control, with the power that God has given us. The Bible not only says, "Be still," but it also says, "Let us run." If the faith on which we stand is not in line with both of these expressions then there is something wrong with our faith (doctrine). The text at the head of this article does not imply that God's people should be like sticks and stones and inactive in the service of God. But it does teach that they should recognize and acknowledge God and His work; that they should not be restless and impatient concerning His work, but be quiet and easy. Paul expressed the same thought when he said, "Be ye reconciled to God." That is, be satisfied with God and with what He has said and done. We are not commanded to reconcile God, or make an atonement for sin, but to be reconciled to Him - be satisfied with the atonement that is already made by the Lord Jesus Christ. If we are satisfied with the atonement that Christ made by His death on the cross, prove it by "being still" about the work of salvation for those for whom the atonement was made; prove it by working at something that will acknowledge God as a sovereign over all things; prove it by contending for the faith of God, which says, "If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." - Rom. v. 10. How could I prove that I am satisfied with the above statement of Paul if I were trying to accomplish that work myself? In other words, how can anyone be satisfied with Paul's plain statement in Rom. v. 10 and believe in a conditional plan of salvation, or the possibility of any being lost that were reconciled to God by the death of Christ? The salvation is just as sure and just as broad as the reconciliation. If Christ, by His death, made reconciliation for the entire human family, then the entire human family will be saved, or else Paul did not know what he was talking about. But how many people are satisfied with what Paul said about it? How many are uneasy about the outcome of the matter afraid it will be a failure if certain things are not done by us? How many are complying with the command, "Be still and know that I am God?"

If people do not know when to be still and when to run, they are liable to run at the wrong time, and they are liable to be still at the wrong time. Here is where teaching should come in. The gospel explains these things. But the great trouble is so few of God's people ever hear the gospel. Hence only a few of them know when to be still and when to run. If all of God's dear people could just learn to be still and know that He is God how happy they would be. But many, on account of having wrong teaching, are worrying their lives out trying to do something that they cannot do, and something that they have never been commanded to do, that is, cause God to be exalted among the heathen; or in other words, cause Him to save people among the heathen. Some people wonder why Primitive Baptists are not worried over the salvation of people in heathen lands and why we do not fall in line with the big drives for money to save the heathen. Well, that is easy to explain. God tells them to be still and let that alone. “Be still and know that I am God; I will (not may) be exalted among the heathen.” Be still and know that He is an omnipresent God - He is in heathen lands just as well as elsewhere. Hence the question is asked in the Bible, “Am I a God at hand, and not a God that is far off?” Be still and know that He has power over all flesh. Be still and know that He is a God, as described by Isaiah, that “shall not fail nor be discouraged till He hath set judgment in the earth and the isles shall wait for His law." Yet, remember that you are under lasting obligation to this wonderful God to “run,” with patience, the race set before you, looking unto Jesus, who is the author and finisher of your faith. If we know how to be still about God's work, then we are better prepared to run the Christian race and be happy in His delightful service.

To understand the greatness of God is the secret of our joy and peace in this life, for if we have a mind capacitated to comprehend His greatness we are in possession of a witness within, which corroborates with the written word of God, and this is what brings the joy. So if we ever have, even for one moment, been in an attitude of mind to truly, confidently and experimentally, be still and know that He is God, as the Bible describes Him, we are wonderfully blessed. It certainly does mean something to be still when the Bible says be still; and it also means something to know He is God. One thing, though, I would impress on the mind of the reader is, that life always precedes knowledge; however, knowledge precedes the joys and comforts of life. On this one point some have made the mistake of their religious lives. Any system of salvation that would put knowledge before life, or, in other words, say that one must be taught to know God in order to obtain life, is a system without any foundation. Such a theory is a complete reversal of the way the Bible has it. The Bible says life comes first, and that is why we should be still about that. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." - John xvii. 3. If we are given eternal life that we MIGHT know Him, then it is an evident fact that we could not know Him without that life. So those who are working at that job are trying to do something that they never can do, that is, teach people, who are destitute of spiritual life, to know God. Should they not be still, on that proposition, and know that He is God? It is all right to teach, if we teach the truth, but there are some things that do not come to us through teaching, and one of these things that does not come to us through teaching is life. If the religious world could just realize that one fact, and acknowledge it, it would bring about one of the greatest changes in religious matters that was ever heard tell of.

Not only should we be still on the heathen proposition and know that God will be exalted among the heathen, whether we get there and teach them or not, as I showed in my last article, but we should be still and know that He will be exalted here at home and will save people here at home, just like He does in heathen lands, without our teaching. To base the salvation of sinners on teaching denies every principle of grace and makes it a systern of works. If preaching the gospel is not a work what is it? It is not only a work but also a good work. Paul says, "He that desireth the office of a bishop desireth a good work." But when he refers to the way sinners are saved he excludes the preacher's good works, coworkers, evangelists, exhorters, pastors, singers, helpers and all other human workers. Here is the way he puts it: "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He hath saved us, by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost." - Titus iii. 5. Again he says, "If it be of grace, then it is no more of works." So, it has very little weight with me to hear a preacher say he believes in salvation by grace if he is at the same time trying to make people believe that the salvation of lost souls is based on his preaching. He does not believe in salvation by grace at all. If he did, he would be still and let that alone.

How sweet to trust in God for salvation, also for protection and care as we face the trials and battles of life. There are so many occasions of life when it seems that we are so poor and helpless that there is nothing else that we can do but be still and know that He is God. When the death angel comes and our little homes are broken up - a vacancy left that never in this world can be filled - our friends may come, with beautiful flowers and tokens of love, yet, after all, there is but one voice that can bring reconciliation and peace to our aching hearts. It says, "Be still, and know that I am God."

Since I began this article the sad news has come to dear Sister Peterson that her son, who lived in California, was dead, and would be shipped here for burial. She and all the little family are now waiting, in sorrow, for his arrival and then say farewell to her precious child, who will return no more. Dear sister, may I dedicate this little article to you, in this your hour of sorrowful waiting, with the crowning words of Him who will finally give you a place with your loved ones in that home that knows no parting - "Be still and know that I am God."