God's promises sometimes absolute, but for the most part contingent on obedience.
"Behold, I send an angel before thee." Here was a positive promise. An angel, a guide, a protector, would go before them throughout their wanderings in the wilderness, and lead them into the promised land—lead, at any rate, some remnant of them, out of which God would make a great nation. Thus much was certain. God's word to give his descendants the land of Canaan was pledged to Abraham, and he would not go back from it. They should reach Canaan, and an angel should lead them; but the rest was all more or less uncertain. If they indeed obeyed God, and did as he commanded, then he would be an enemy to their enemies, and give them full possession of the land of promise. If they truly served Jehovah, and not idols, then he would grant them health and long life, and other temporal blessings. And so it is with Christians. God gives absolutely certain blessings to all whom he accepts into covenant with him; but the greater part of the blessings which he has promised are contingent on their behaviour.
I. BLESSINGS PROMISED TO CHRISTIANS ABSOLUTELY.
1. A Divine guide is promised to all. The Holy Spirit, speaking in men's hearts, directing and enlightening their conscience, tells them continually how they ought to walk, points cut the way, offers his guidance, nay, presses it on them, and seeks to lead them to heaven. The guide is more than an angel—God's holy name is in him. Nor does he guide only. He supports the footsteps, strengthens, sustains, comforts men.
2. Membership in Christ is promised. "I am the vine; ye are the branches." "Abide in me." We are as branches cut out of a wild olive, which have been grafted, contrary to nature, into a good olive-tree, to partake of its root and fatness (Romans 11:17-24). We are "made members of Christ," for the most part, in our infancy, without effort or merit of our own, by God's great mercy.
II. BLESSINGS WHICH ARE CONTINGENT ON OUR OBEDIENCE.
1. The answer of a good conscience towards God—a great blessing can only, by the very nature of the case, belong to those who have striven always to be obedient, and have served the Lord from their youth.
2. Growth in grace is granted only to such as cherish and follow the grace already vouchsafed them.
3. Spiritual wisdom and understanding are attained by none but those who, having "done the will of God, know of the doctrine" (John 7:17).
4. Assistance against spiritual enemies is contingent on our doing our best to resist them.
5. Length of days is attached as a special blessing to obedience to parents (Ephesians 6:2, Ephesians 6:3). Finally, and above all—
6. The eternal bliss which is promised us in another world is conditional upon our "patient continuance in well-doing" in this. We must" so run that we may obtain." Most of those to whom the promises of Exodus 23:1-33. were addressed, forfeited them by their misconduct, and did not enter Canaan. They "lusted," they became "idolaters," they "tempted God," they "committed fornication," they "murmured"—and the result was that they "were overthrown in the wilderness." And "all these things happened unto them for ensamples, and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall" (1 Corinthians 10:11, 1 Corinthians 10:12).
HOMILIES BY J. ORR