Articles
Just A Tiny Step
Just take a tiny little step away from God is the message that Satan has for the child of God. Satan knows that a Christian is not likely to take a large step away from God and so his endeavor is to get us to move just slightly in his direction. Once he gets us to loosen our feet and shift them in his direction then the next step is much easier and generally a larger step than the last.
This small step to larger step can be seen in the church of our Lord today. In the early fifties had Satan tried to get the children of God to accept women elders and preachers, his plea would have been flatly rejected. If he had tried to get brethren to build recreation centers or gyms, sponsor ball teams, or have banquets where admission is charged, all of these most likely would have been rejected. Yet by working gradually and by getting brethren to accept small departures from God's word, he has been successful in moving the people of God a long way from God. The steps these erring brethren are taking in the nineties seem much larger than the steps taken in the fifties. From an orphan home to a sponsoring church arrangement seems small when compared with steps to women elders and instrumental music.
These small steps must not be taken. We must study God's will and strictly adhere to every principle that God has revealed (Matt. 4:4; 2 Jn. 9). God's word is complete and all that we need to be pleasing to God is contained within its pages (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Heaven will be filled with souls who were happy to follow God's will on this earth and those who are not content to obey God in this realm will not have heaven as their home (2 Thess. 1:8-9).
We must have authority for all that we do in religion and we must firmly ground ourselves as well as our children in the faith of our Lord (Gal. 3:17). A "thus saith the Lord" must be a way of life for the child of God and this trust in God must be passed on to future generations (2 Tim. 2:2). The first step away from the will of God must be opposed by faithful Christians. Paul did not overlook the sin that Peter committed in Antioch (Gal. 2:11-14). Had those Judaizing teachers been left unopposed, no one knows how much harm could have been brought to the church in Antioch. Not only could Peter and others have lost their souls for committing sin, but many others would probably followed in their footsteps.
Jesus came to do the will of his Father and we are to follow in his steps (John 6:38). Let us watch our steps and be careful always to have a "thus saith the lord" for all that we do.
