WHO SHALL ABIDE

WHO SHALL ABIDE?

Psalms 15:1 LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

The Psalmist asks a question, and gives the answer to it right away. Notice, he is NOT asking who will finally make it to Heaven. All Christians have that privilege. Rather, he asked about ABIDING IN GOD'S TABERNACLE, and DWELLING IN HIS HOLY HILL.

These are OVER AND ABOVE MERELY BEING A CHILD OF GOD. They are rewards for ACHIEVEMENTS IN GODLINESS, and not all Christians will attain to it. Many of us are perfectly content to know that our sins are forgiven, and our souls are saved from hell, and we are on our way to heaven.

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THIS, EXCEPT THAT WE ROB OURSELVES OF ENJOYMENTS AND PLEASURES THAT ONLY THE MATURE ONES CAN EXPERIENCE! IT ADDS QUALITY TO LIFE.
ALSO, ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, WHEN THE MATURE AND THE IMMATURE ARE MADE MANIFEST, THE DIFFERENCE WILL BE VERY APPARENT. THE REWARDS WILL BE DEFINITE.

WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ARGUE THE POINT OF FAIRNESS WITH THE LORD. HE KNOWS OUR LIVES BETTER THAN WE DO. EVEN THE HIDDEN MOTIVES OF OUR HEARTS ARE AN OPEN BOOK TO HIM.

The Graces of the Christian walk are NOT AUTOMATIC. One glance at the writings of Paul will show us that we ARE SUPPOSED TO PUT OFF certain activities, AND TO PUT ON others. IF WE DO, we mature, IF NOT, we remain as babes. BABES WILL GET TO HEAVEN, EVENTUALLY.

Jesus did not make us perfect when He gave us Salvation. What He did do was to break the shackles of sin which had separated us from Himself, and paid the price of our freedom from the mortgage satan held on us. We are His, redeemed by His blood, which is better than that of Abel. Thank God for the Virgin Birth of Jesus!
NEITHER DOES THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY GHOST MAKE US AUTOMATICALLY MATURE. IT IS JUST THE BEGINNING OF AN ON-GOING PROCESS WHICH WILL ONLY END ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT, OR AT OUR DEATH, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST.

If we are to be in line for the Salvation "ready to be revealed", we must "take hold of ourselves", and by the power of the Spirit, begin to incorporate certain traits into our lives. This is called "maturing."

Let's look at the rest of the Psalm.

Psalms 15:2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. [He that] backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned;
but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. [He that] sweareth to [his own] hurt, and changeth not. [He that] putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these [things] shall never be moved.

There is enough here to keep us all busy until Jesus comes. It will not really be necessary for us to be watching the progress, or lack of it, in others of our Christian society. "O, wretched man that I am"

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3:3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as
gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Joel 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp [is] very great: for [he is] strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD [is] great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

Nahum 1:6 Who can stand before his indignation? And who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.