Get links to my best stuff in your inbox

 

Home

The Greatest War

The following discourse was penned by one of the greatest preachers of the 20th century, Brother Robertson L. Whiteside (1869-1951). Although he has been dead for 60 years, he still speaks to us today through the written word (Hebrews 11:4).

Brother Whiteside’s declaration that the greatest of all wars is the war between right and wrong (see article), is just as true today as it was when he penned these words. We would be well-advised to heed what Brother Whiteside has written, for as he states: “Your part in this war will decide the destiny of your soul.”

The greatest of all wars is the war between right and wrong. It is greatest in point of numbers engaged and involved. Every responsible person is on one side or the other. There are no neutrals; neither can there be any.

Jesus settled that when He said: “He that is not for me is against me.” If you are not fighting for the right, your very example, no matter what your desires may be, is helping the wrong. Even the helpless infant suffers as a result of sin in the world.

This is the greatest war, if measured only in dollars and cents. Think of all the government machinery engaged in protecting the good citizens and in apprehending, trying and punishing the criminals. To that must be added the loss of good citizens murdered and also the vast amount of property criminally destroyed; also we must add the cost of every lock, every safety-deposit vault, etc.

And, above all, it is greatest because of what is involved. Some wars decide the destiny of nations; your part in this war will decide the destiny of your soul.

This is a war of conquest — the conquest of hearts. You may surrender to either side. God is leading the forces of righteousness; the devil, the forces of evil. So far as you are concerned, you decide the issue.

“Know ye not, that to whom ye present yourselves as servants unto obedience, his servants ye are whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Romans 6:16).

The devil has gained a point every time he induces you to do wrong, and he has gained a victory when he induces a person to make no effort to obey God. Be sure that he is using everything possible to keep people from obeying God.

He uses religious theories with great effect, such as universalism, unconditional salvation, “one way is as good as another,” and so on through the whole catalogue of false theories.

Let this statement find permanent lodgment in your heart: Anything, whether it be doctrine preached from the pulpit, or business affairs, or social relations, or anything else, that keeps you from doing God’s will or makes you feel at all comfortable in disobedience, is of the devil.

But people who earnestly desire to do right will not be led astray.

“Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

This means that they will attain to what they desire. Every one who sincerely and earnestly desires to do right, will find the right. That promise of Jesus is as plain and definite as:

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16 KJV).

I cannot doubt either promise. Hence, I believe that every honest person comes to know the truth.

But many people who are honest with their fellow men are not honest with God. What is honesty? It is to render to the other person everything that rightfully belongs to him. If I take or withhold from my neighbor that which rightfully belongs to him, I am not honest with him. If I am indifferent about my obligations to him, I am not honest with him. If I withhold from God that which rightfully belongs to Him or am careless or indifferent about my obligations to Him, I am not honest with Him.

I owe it to God, as I do to my fellow man, to treat His word fairly. Also, I have been bought with a price; by right, I belong to God. Honesty requires that I deliver to Him in full that which belongs to Him, to be used by him as he pleases.

To act on the principle that one way is as good as another, is dishonest. In business affairs, we have certain standards of values, weights, and measures. To deviate from these carelessly or intentionally is dishonest. God’s word is the standard by which our conduct is to be regulated.

By it we are evaluated, weighed, and measured. Let us be honest with Him in making a determined effort to abide by that standard. The devil is a skillful warrior; be not deceived.

Source: Whiteside, Inys. Doctrinal Discourses. Denton, TX: 1955, pp. 61-63.