He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Matt. 12:30.

In the great controversy between Christ and Satan, between truth and error, there can be no neutrality. We cannot belong to both sides. We might be tempted to believe we do not have to take open sides with Jesus against sin and Satan, that one can still be friendly to the other side. But neutrality in such issues amounts to opposition. The gospel is of such a nature in its claims upon us that it cannot tolerate indifference and lukewarmness. If Christ is indeed what He claims to be, then He deserves our entire and unreserved acceptance and commitment. Neutrality cannot generate the conviction that makes genuine Christians. The martyrs of the early church did not go to the stake because they remained neutral. The significant thing was their total allegiance to Christ, even to the dungeon and the fiery flame.

In issues that concern the welfare of our souls, our friends, the church, and the cause of God, there is no room for sitting on the fence. So long as you ask, "What harm can there be if I refuse to commit myself when God has made clear the issue?"; so long as you say, "I am not prepared to take a stand; I am no worse than a lot of other professed Christians," you are taking a stand against Christ. Unless you are heartily on the Lord's side and on the side of truth, it is mere pretense to say that you are a follower of Christ. Sacrifices must be made.

On the three-hundredth anniversary of their university, a group of students carried a banner bearing the inscription "This university has waited 300 years for us." They considered themselves keepers and champions of the lofty purpose of that institution.

Well, God has been waiting two thousand years for us. We are that important. This is no time to strike our colors, but to join the ranks of those "who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, . . . out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens" (Heb. 11:33, 34).