A VERY good desire, a pious wish, most certainly, though uttered by one who was neither good nor pious. A prophet, too, — but a false one, who, while praying to die the death of the righteous, hoped to live on in his sins; for did he not love “the wages of unrighteousness”? Solemn example to all who wish to come to the terminus of the narrow road leading to life and glory, yet remain in the broad road all the time! A serious instance of the truth that no one can be upon the two roads at the same time — be he prophet or anyone else.
As though to mark this for our instruction, the death of Balaam, the man who used the expression given, is recorded in the Scriptures, as the reader will observe in Joshua 13:22: “Balaam also, the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.”
Please remark, “among them.” Yes, among the pronounced enemies of God’s people. We can only be where we are, profession or no profession, pious aspirations or with none at all. In divine things we cannot be neutral — we must be either for or against. The truth may to some appear grim; but soothsayer Balaam lived, and soothsayer he died; and among those he (false prophet as he was) doubtless prophesied “smooth things.” But deceiver and deceived perish together, prophet and people. This is serious, surely!
Those who have “done good” (and the first good thing is to own before God that we are neither good nor have done good) will be in heaven with Jesus Christ, while many who intended to do good will find their way down (and the descent is remarkably easy) to eternal destruction.
It is not to be wondered at that men should desire to die the death of the righteous; but if as many lived the life of the righteous, who desire to die the death of the righteous, what a different place this world would be!
Certainly it is a real and substantial thing thus to die. It is said of Mr. Addison, an accurate reasoner and a clear thinker, that, when near his end, he sent for a near relation of his, a youth, who is said to have been “finely accomplished.” Of course, Mr. Addison was not an Evolutionist nor an Agnostic. Who would pray to die the death of such? Balaam knew better than that, whatever his conduct was.
After waiting some decent length of time, this youth said to the dying man, “Dear sir, you have sent for me; I believe and hope you have some commands; I shall hold them most sacred.”
Mr. Addison, grasping the hand of the youth, gently spoke, saying, “See in what peace a Christian can die!” This was said with difficulty, soon after which the Christian man died, having shown by his previous conduct he believed what he wrote and said.
Let the reader clearly understand, “There is none righteous, no, not one,” in themselves; no human fitness would suit heaven.
“All the fitness He desireth,
Is to feel your need of Him.”
If by works of righteousness done by us we could stand before God, if by our own merits we could be in heaven, why should atonement have been made at all? As the apostle Paul is inspired to say: “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain” (Gal. 2:2121I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2:21)). No; all our own righteousnesses will only prove, to use the words of Scripture, to be as a “bed shorter than that a man can stretch himself upon it, and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it” (Isa. 28:2020For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. (Isaiah 28:20)). A covering of “filthy rags,” too, as the same prophet declares. “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)).
We have, blessed be God, a Substitute for our sins — the Righteous One died for the guilty. Accordingly, through the “redemption which is in Christ Jesus,” God has a righteousness for the believer in His Son, “even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon ALL them that believe: for there is no difference” (Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)). It must be God’s righteousness, or none at all. None other will avail. How could it? Indeed, what need for God to provide a garment for us, if what we could make would suffice for His presence? It is thus clear, that if you have not God’s righteousness upon you, then you have no standing before Him. Half-ready is not ready at all. The scripture says: “Be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh.” Said a Christian mother to her loved child, “Are you ready, should it please God to take you to Himself?” The child remained quiet for a time, and then said, “I think, mamma, that I am only about half-ready.”
To be a Christian, to be born again, is not the gradual process people suppose it to be. You must be a believer or an unbeliever; unless, perchance, you might be what I once heard described as an unbelieving believer. But this must be abnormal! But certain it is, that we must be either on the broad road or the narrow one. On which is the reader of these pages? Which? Oh! do not allow the indifference and the apathy to divine things of this part of the nineteenth century to swamp you, and thus lose your immortal soul! Believe me, Christianity is a real thing, even though its expression by Christians should become feebler still. Turn to Jesus Christ, and then seek to reproduce Him in this world yourself, to His glory. Delay not! Let not procrastination — that kidnapper for the abyss where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched — lull you on to destruction!
“‘Tis a mournful story,
Oft in the ears of pensive eve, to tell
Of morning’s firm resolve the vanish’d glory!
Hope lies withering within its cell;
And plants of mercy dead, that might have bloom’d so well!”
W. R. C.