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    December 11, 1899

    “Christian Patriotism” The Bible Echo 14, 50, pp. 402, 403.

    ATJ

    PATRIOTISM is the love of one’s country—the country of one’s birth—because it is the land of his fathers.BEST December 11, 1899, page 402.1

    Christian patriotism, then, is the love if the country of the Christian’s birth, because it is the land of his Christian Fathers.BEST December 11, 1899, page 402.2

    What country, then, is the land of the Christian’s fathers? People are Christians only because they are Christ’s people. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29.BEST December 11, 1899, page 402.3

    Abraham was once a Gentile, was of the nations; but he was born again, was born from above. He was once an alien; but he was naturalised into the kingdom of God, and became a fellow citizen with the saints.BEST December 11, 1899, page 402.4

    In becoming naturalised into the kingdom of God, on being admitted into the heavenly citizenship, Abraham was required to get out of his country. Genesis 12:1.This requirement he at once accepted, and he “then did absolutely and forever renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty whatsoever.” He obeyed and went out, “not knowing whither he went:” only knowing that be went with God, which was enough for him; and so he became the father of all them that believe.BEST December 11, 1899, page 402.5

    When God called Abram out of that country, be also called him into another country, a better, even a heavenly. At that time also God promised to show to Abram that country which he had espoused, and which was henceforth his: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house unto a land that I will show thee.”BEST December 11, 1899, page 402.6

    Abram at once left his former country, but there went with him his father and his kindred. They came into the land of Haran, and dwelt there, and there Abram’s father died. Now he was separated from his “country” and from his “father’s house;” but Lot, his nephew, was yet with him, and so he was not yet separated from his “kindred.”BEST December 11, 1899, page 402.7

    With Lot, his kindred, Abram came into the land of Canaan. But still the Lord could not show to Abram the land that he bad promised to show him; because he was not yet separated from all. God could not show Abram the land until Abram had fulfilled all the word of the Lord: Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee.”BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.1

    Finally, however, their substance became so great that “the land was not able to bear them, that they might dwell together.” Abram said to Lot, “Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go the [sic.] to left.... Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.”BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.2

    And just then God showed to Abram the land that he had promised him. “And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to they seed forever.” Genesis 13:14, 15. That land which was then shown to Abram was the whole world of the new earth; for it is written, “The promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:13.BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.3

    Ever after that day, Abraham looked to that country. That is Abraham’s country. Wherever be was in this world, he was “in a strange country;” and in this strange count he dwelt “in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” And “these all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen then afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is AN HEAVENLY: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for be hath prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:9-16.BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.4

    We “are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” “And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” As Abraham is the father of all them that believe, and as that heavenly country is Abraham’s country, then that heavenly country is the Christian’s country. As Christian patriotism is love of the Christian’s country, the country of the Christian’s fathers; and as that country alone is the Christian’s country, the I country of the Christian’s fathers; so Christian patriotism is love of the country of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and CHRIST,—the heavenly country, “the world” of the new earth, the country which God gave in faithful promise to our father.BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.5

    Are you, now, a true Christian patriot? Is that truly your country? Do you love that country above all other countries that can ever be named or thought of?BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.6

    And what a country! The wilderness like Eden, and the desert as the garden of the Lord: with only joy and gladness found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. A country in which the inhabitants shall never say, I am sick; for the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity. A country where the people shall all be righteous; and where the wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose. A country where the eyes of the blind are opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; where the lame man shall leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing; where in the wilderness, waters break out, and streams in the desert, A country so quiet and so secure that the people can dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods. A country where the very land itself shall rejoice even with joy and singing; where for very joy the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. A country in which the tabernacle of God shall he with men, and “He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and their shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.” A country where “we shall ever feel the freshness of the morning, and shall ever be far from its close.”BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.7

    That is the Christian’s country. That is the country of our Christian fathers. Christian patriotism is love of that country.BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.8

    Who would not be a Christian patriot?BEST December 11, 1899, page 403.9

    A. T. JONES.

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