THE RESPONSIBLE POSITION OF THE CALLED-0UT ASSEMBLY OF YEHOVAH

The lord Messiah Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall anything be salted? It is therefore good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under the foot of men.” [Matthew 5:13]

In Palestine salt was the universal antidote to decay and putrefaction. It had to be used freely in everything, or the food for man and beast would quickly become unfit to eat. Thus salt became the word for sincerity, fidelity, and corruption. Hence to be that salt is to do everything in our power, by word, by persuasion, by influence, and by example to make those around us more like the Messiah than they would have been without us. Thus the believer must if he is the salt, exercise those qualities represented by the virtue of salt; and he may be a mild temper, courtesy, kindness, meekness show forth a loving spirit that will illuminate his life and the lives of those around him with perpetual love, sunshine, and joy. There is nothing that tends more to preserve faith in the called-out Assembly of God than humility, consistency, brotherly kindness, love, and honesty.

In Matthew 5:14, Jesus said to his disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.”

In the English Scriptures “city” denotes a hamlet or village, as well as a town. When we consider that many of the houses were built of chalky limestone or whitewashed we realize they could be seen a long way off. Our Savior’s illustration is very expressive to those living in a hill country, where many summits were adorned with a village. Jesus had placed his apostles at the summit of the called-out Assembly of God and had given them vision so they could see their field of labor plainly. He had given them the light of the gospel and expected they would shed its effulgent brilliant rays, not only in and around Jerusalem but to the remotest bounds of the earth.

However, suppose they had put their light under a bushel, what would have been the result? The nations would have remained long in darkness and ignorance of the gospel. The Messiah Jesus commanded them to let their light shine. It is one thing to have a lamp and another to keep it burning. So also profession is the badge or outward sign of the called-out Assembly of God, but the practice is that which radiates from within and translates from a mere notion to real action, from an idea in the mind into practical life. One of the great aims of the called-out Assembly of God is to proclaim the sovereignty of Yehovah Elohim - God. When one lives a believing life every hour is one of reverence to our God and Father Yehovah, bringing glory to His holy name Yehovah.

The called-out Assembly of God is organically a light-bearing body, a city set on a hill. This was said of a little company of obscure men, fishermen, small farmers, here and there a publican, a few women in humble life, the poor and despised of a subjected race. Of them, it was not said they were a light to themselves or to their country, but the light to the world. How wondrously has that declaration been fulfilled in the labors of Matthew, Mark, John, Peter, and Janies, who have given to the world more of the light of truth and holiness than all the wisdom the ancient writers were able to produce! Even to-day the light of God’s knowledge, truth, and virtue shines brightly in the writings of those primitive disciples. They have become the transparencies through which shine the glory and image of the lord Messiah.

An Assembly that is made up of living, active disciples, true to the faith, true to the lord Messiah Jesus, true to their stewardship in their Father’s house, true to the commission to proclaim the gospel to the nations, an Assembly of renewed, praying, active men and women, is “a light to the world.” ” It is the light as it receives and manifests the life of Messiah, for the members of it ‘‘shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life.” [Philippians 2:15, 16]

Jesus said: ‘‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” [Matthew 5:16]

The Messiah and his apostles never failed to do good when an opportunity was given to them. They were known and read of all men by the good works which they did; they practiced what they preached; they taught both by precept and example. Good works arc a silent language that all men can read, whether illiterate or learned. May our God and Father Yehovah enable us to go forth as a light in this world bringing the message of salvation and deliverance to a sin-sick world.