Landmarks
The importance of the landmark in Bible times can be traced back to that time when God set the boundaries for the children of Israel as they entered into the promised land. Landmarks existed before this time to serve as both reminders of special events and as physical reminders of the boundary lines of properties. They took on special meaning to those inheritors of God’s promise in this new land. Removal of a landmark was a crime punishable by death, since it not only sought to defraud man, but also to undermine the authority of God. As time passed, these landmarks took on a secondary meaning as well. In Proverbs 22:28 it reads: “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.”
These landmarks became associated with the spiritual boundaries that God had proscribed for His people. Just as God had set both spiritual and physical boundaries for His people then, He has set them for us today. “Don’t touch those landmarks!” is the cry that must go up today. In a time when Satan has gazed intently upon our landmarks and has sought to remove as many as possible, it is time that Christians wake up and realize the importance associated with these landmarks.
ILL. When my brother-in-law was landscaping the home in which my parents now live (they have since purchased it from him), he decided to plant some fast-growing, tall trees to help break the wind. He was very meticulous (as always) and planted the trees along the boundary line of the neighbor’s property. When the trees were planted, nourished, and well on their way to becoming healthy, the neighbor informed him that some of those trees were on his property, and since they were on his property he considered them to be his trees. Years later when a dispute arose regarding a pond that lay on both properties, this same neighbor hired a fencing contractor to put up fence directly through the pond. This man knew his boundaries quite well. He knew exactly where his property ended and where his neighbor’s began. While his responses might be unorthodox, his determination to keep his landmarks established is worthy of note. He did not want to lose anything to another by allowing the landmarks to be obscured or moved.
ILL. Some of our landmarks have already been moved. Take for instance the landmark that has been moved in our own time in the protection of the unborn. In 1970 (the year I graduated from high school) the two most hotly debated subjects were euthanasia (the killing of the elderly) and abortion. Little would I have dreamed that just three short years from that time, it would be lawful in our country to commit infanticide. Now the totals of this slaughter reach high into the millions with no seeming end in sight. We watched in disbelief at Nazi Germany as the internment death camps were uncovered by the Allied troops as the war ended. We wondered how the good people of Germany could have closed their eyes to this holocaust, yet we have done the same today with our own American Holocaust. This nation will not stand before God innocent someday, but shall stand shoulder to shoulder with all the barbaric murderers of history. Our landmark was moved and we realized it only too late. Now we live with the horror of our inaction. Because our landmark has been moved, we are forced to live with a boundary that has been moved. That movement has left a society searching for the right answers, for without the landmark to guide them, the world can only grope.
It is time for Christians to stand up and recognize that our landmarks are in danger of being moved, and it is high time that we take action to prevent that from occurring. What are those landmarks?
Scriptures—FOREVER SETTLED.
Psalm 119:89 teaches us that God’s Word is forever settled in Heaven. I do not know what language that He has chosen to preserve His Word in, but I do know that it is preserved. I do not know if it is in Hebrew or Greek or Aramaic or whatever, but I do know that it is settled—forever. There are to be no doubts about it or foolish questions regarding it. It is God’s Word and it is settled. He has settle it without the help of man or his scholarship. It was complete before the foundation of the world and will be complete when those foundations crumble. The Scriptures are one landmark which must never be allowed to be moved, yet it is the one area where Satan would have his greatest victory among Christians if we would let him. Throughout time (from Eve in the garden to Jesus’ temptation to this present day) Satan has sought to misquote and misrepresent God’s Word. By it we are established in our faith and grounded in our doctrine. Is it any wonder that Satan wishes to attack this important landmark? How is he doing this today—by attacking the veracity of the Scriptures by demeaning its importance in our lives. What better way to get man to question God’s Word than to confuse men with God’s Word. He has done this by attacking the Scriptures through man’s intellect. He has given us improved versions of the Word of God when we have only needed to improve our knowledge of the one we have already. When the Scriptures were translated into English, God took his settled Word and preserved it for us so that He might begin the revivals of our forefathers. Since the early 17th century we have had the Word of God in our own language and revival has broken out in such a way as to help fulfill the command of Christ in going forth into the whole world to preach the Gospel. I must choose the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures for three reasons: 1)Because of its Origin—the Received Texts, the Textus Receptus. I will leave for its critics the responsibility of higher criticism and scholasticism, but I would urge those who seek to be enlightened to consider that learning apart from God’s revealed Word has been at enmity with God since time immemorial. 2) Because of its History. The King James Version of God’s Holy Word has been the greatest tool for revival since Pentecost. D. L. Moody preached to his congregation from the King James Version and he straddled two continents with the revival fires that followed. C. H. Spurgeon preached to those great London crowds in that mighty Tabernacle from the King James Version, and an entire continent was affected by this non-Anglican, non-conformist Baptist preacher. The revivals of Sunday, Rice, and Norris all found the King James Version having the central focus of their meetings. Every great revival has started and ended with the King James Version of Scripture. It has a heritage like no other book. It has a place like no other writings. Though man pen his novels, and count his literary creations as masterpieces, there is no handiwork like God’s Word direct from the Master’s Hand. 3) Because of its association. There is no measuring stick like that of association. When I see those who align themselves with the King James Version of the Bible, I notice a pattern of common beliefs. I see separatists and soul-winners, holders of truth and bastions of faith. I see a mighty army that believes in right and wrong, black and white, goodness and sin—with never any admixture of these polar opposites. I do not find in its detractors these same attributes. I find scholarship to be a god, and knowledge to be worshipped. I see higher criticism as an attribute and faith as a detriment. I do not, nor will I, align myself with those who see fit to spread disunity among the brethren by removing our common denominator—the Holy Scriptures in one translation. Nor do I find John 3:16 to hold the same beauty in another version as it does in the King James Version. The verses that I learned as a child, that I was taught by my grandmother, my mother, my Sunday School teachers, and by my Pastors are not the same in any other version of the Scriptures. I prefer the King James. I promote the King James, and I hold to it as an unmoveable landmark—one to be guarded at all costs. Its removal would be far too devastating to imagine and far too harmful to Christ’s cause.
Salvation—FOREVER SATISFIED
In Hebrews chapter 10 we read the following: Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Notice the terms one sacrifice, for ever and once again in verse 14 for ever. There is no chance here for misunderstanding. God wants us to realize that it was through his own dear Son’s sacrifice and by His sacrifice alone through which we inherit eternal salvation. Not only is His sacrifice sufficient, but it is exclusive. Not only is His sacrifice exclusive, it is forever. Eternal security is not only a doctrine, it is a promise. The doctrine of our salvation is a landmark that we should guard. Satan cannot overthrow it, but he will try to cause it to be moved so as to dim its clarity. The landmark of our salvation is being attacked on two major fronts: 1) the Blood and 2) its Grace.
There are many today who wish to teach the false doctrine of the inadequacy or unimportance of the Blood. This is not only bad doctrine, it is heresy. To say that the Blood of Christ is not important is to belittle the Sacrifice Christ made on Calvary. When Jesus appeared on His Resurrection morning to Mary, He stated, “Touch Me not.” This was because He was on His way to the Heavenly Mercy Seat upon which His Blood was destined to be sprinkled. The Book of Hebrews spells out in dramatic fashion the work of Christ in the Heavenly Holy of Holies. To those who do not see the necessity of stressing the importance the importance of the Blood, I can only suggest that they not try to re-interrupt the Scriptures, but rather obey them. Beware those who do not see fit to express the Blood of Christ as all important. It is at the foundation of our faith, and the focus of our hope. Just as there is no remission for sin without the Blood, there is no place in Christianity for its negligence.
Grace is the other battlefront in the warfare that rages about the landmark of our Salvation. There are only two forms of religion in the world. One is do, and the other is done. One says that man himself must do something to obtain eternal life, or divine forgiveness. The other says that there is nothing man can do in, of, or by himself to gain eternal life. Rather we must rely upon One Who has done the things necessary for our salvation. When you hear the doctrines of others disguised as baptismal regeneration or confessions or holiness (in the sense of perfection), they are only masks on the same face—works. Run from these heresies. Guard against their infiltration, and stand against their propagation. Stand firm with Landmark of the Scriptures—Forever settled. Hold fast the Landmark of Salvation—Forever satisfied. Never let the banner of our faith be dipped when we think of these things.
Separation—FOREVER NECESSITATED
This is the one landmark that some would just as soon see moved. We may rally when we come hear of the battle over the Landmark of the Scriptures, We may say, “Amen” to standing firm with the Landmark of Salvation, but when we get to this landmark, many of us choose to grow suddenly quiet. This landmark will not be moved from its place by the world, but may very well be ever so gently shoved beyond its boundaries by those who name the name of Christ. There are those who call themselves Christian that look at the Landmark of Separation and scream, “Legalism!”. The Word of God teaches us that legalism is adding something to God’s perfect plan of salvation. It never refers to holy, separated living. Perhaps this great schism has come about because of the way we have taught separation for so long. We have warned against ungodly living and impurity for so long, (and rightfully so) that we may have forgotten the true idea of separation. We have taught separation from sin when we should have been teaching separation to Christ. Think with me for a moment. If we constantly teach that we must separate from sin, then we must of necessity have our focus on sin so that we may maintain our separation from sin. There are two major dangers in that teaching. One is that if we separate from sin instead of to Christ, then our focus is on sin and by our human nature that is dangerous. If we constantly monitor sin to separate ourselves from it, then we are welcoming the temptation to sin to be put before us. The second major defect of that approach is that as sin grows more sinful, we can only maintain a distance instead of making a difference. For years the world has grown more wicked. If my focus is on maintaining my distance from sin, then what is to guard me as that sin waxes worse. My focus is in the wrong place. How much better would it be to focus on Christ and separating myself to Him. As I separate myself to Him, I shall be drawn closer to Him. As He reveals more sin in my life as I step closer to His light, I must then choose whether to obey His promptings for obedience. My focus will then be on Christ instead of sin. How much better would the Landmark of Separation be defended if it were seen as something to be desired rather than endured. It is important that we uphold the Landmark of the Scriptures—Forever settled; that we hold high the Landmark of Salvation—Forever satisfied, and that we include with those noble landmarks, the Landmark of Separation—Forever necessitated. That is why when the Scriptures say “Be ye holy; for I am holy”, we should stand at attention and affirm our understanding of this most misunderstood landmark. Hold it firm; hold it long; hold it forever.
Soulwinning—FOREVER COMMANDED
There is no landmark that is more needed in our time than this one. There are those today who would say that soul-winning is a gift that is given only to a select few. That is far from what our Savior said. We are told to witnesses unto the ends of the world. It is a command that He left us before He left this world to re-ascend His throne on High. It is His legacy to us as it was His heart when He was with us. It was His first love. He was always seeking someone. From the woman at the well to the tax collector up the tree, He was after souls. By His own admission, He came to seek and save that which was lost. He was criticized for eating and drinking with sinners, but it was only because He went to where the sinners were—for where the sinner was is where His heart was. To be a soul-winner is to be Christ-like. Today, soul-winning is under attack by the so-called intellectual elite of Christendom. It is mockingly misunderstood. If those who would cast stones at the soul-winners would ever get out into the field (as we are commanded) and ever see a life changed because of a soul-winner’s concern, then perhaps the light that comes with obedience would cause the criticisms to cease. Perhaps, then, we would all see that soul-winning was (and is ) the very heart of Christ. There are those who choose to disobey His command because their disobedience breeds such contemptible doctrines as hyper-Calvinism. Run from such, for they are breeders of heretical teachings. The Landmark of Soul-winning—Forever commanded, deserves its rightful place alongside the Landmark of the Scriptures—Forever settled, the Landmark of Salvation—Forever satisfied, and the Landmark of Separation—Forever necessitated.
Sound Doctrine—FOREVER SUSTAINING
There has never been a generation in Christianity when sound doctrine was more needed, yet seldom found. In Timothy we read the following: 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Our time is the living fulfillment of Paul’s prophecy to young Timothy. Never has there been a time when sound doctrine can not be absorbed. Sound doctrine flies in the face of our culture and condemns our lifestyles. Basic teachings that would have been accepted by all a few years ago, are now seeming questioned by all. The teachings on divorce and re-marriage from Scripture have been substituted for man’s philosophies. We have turned from the preaching of God’s Word to the counseling of man’s ideas. We have fully satisfied ourselves with the chaff and have thrown the wheat away. We have turned from the ‘foolishness of preaching’ to the wisdom of man. The reason God wants the foolishness of preaching is so that the world will be able to see that through it, no man can claim the results brought by it. Never let the thought that the Landmark of Sound Doctrine is too difficult to maintain. If we but maintain the Landmark of the Scriptures—Forever settled; if we hold forth the Landmark of Salvation—Forever satisfied; if we guard the Landmark of Separation—Forever necessitated; if we are guided by the Landmark of Soul-winning—Forever Commanded, then we shall not falter when it comes to the Landmark of Sound Doctrine—Forever sustaining. It shall become our banner and our cause. We shall see them as important in our lives and necessary for our survival. Let us hold them today as faithfully as those who were first entrusted with their care. Let us love them, embrace them, and keep them. Help us never to let them falter, move or fail. Help us to ever realize how they were intended—as God’s reminder to His people that it was He who chose their way, their direction, and their path. Without these landmarks, we would be drifters in a barren waste. With them, we have direction at the Hand of our Father, protection under His wing, and love perfected in His Son. Let us not grow weary in well doing, and having done all—to stand. Lift them high and neglect them not: The Landmark of the Scriptures—Forever Settled, the Landmark of Salvation—Forever Satisfied, the Landmark of Separation—Forever Necessitated, the Landmark of Soul-Winning—Forever Commanded, and the Landmark of Sound Doctrine—Forever Sustaining.
