By careless Christians, we mean those who are not habitually prayerful, and diligent in searching the Scriptures, and therefore not watchful as to their walk and conversation, ―not much exercised as to whether they are walking faithfully or unfaithfully, where they go, with whom they associate, what they listen to, or whether Christ be honored or dishonored by their conduct and conversation. Yet they are Christians. They love the Lord Jesus. They have taken shelter in His precious blood, and have a measure of peace in the assurance that He made a just atonement for all their sins by His own death upon the tree. But unsound instruction, and bad examples of practical Christianity, may have greatly helped them into this careless state, and, until they find themselves in some grievous mental or bodily distress, they seldom think of the Saviour’s words, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be zealous therefore, and repent.” Oh! how many thousands are inwardly saying at the present moment,
“Where is the blessedness I felt
When first I knew the Lord.”
Carnal reason has, alas! come in, and loosened the heart from subjection to God’s word. “We must not be so particular,” said one. “We can go to quiet worldly parties,” said another, “like many other Christians.” “What’s the harm of singing a song,” said a third, provided it is not immoral?” “Why not go to concerts,” said a fourth? “I do not like the Scripture readings” was heard also after a while; for the spiritual desires are soon blunted, and the appetite for God’s truth taken away with such carnal pleasures. At last the meetings became dull, the faults of God’s people were prominently talked of, the world’s religion preferred, and then the world’s pleasures of sin. Alas I alas! how many have in this day trodden this downward path.
“How is it,” one lately asked, “that the work in young Christians seems so superficial to what it used to be?” The answer given was perhaps the true one. There has been the greatest pains taken to show them the true ground of peace by the blood of the cross, and there the instruction has stopped with many; so that their souls have not got into the truth of life in Christ risen. They have, therefore, not a just estimate of the world as under God’s judgment; or of the flesh, as so incorrigibly bad, as fit only for judgment and death, and therefore not to be trusted, but that Christ is to be trusted about everything. They know that by the cross they have forgiveness of sin; but they do not see the old man with his affections and lusts crucified there, and that their life now is in a risen Christ. They are therefore living in the old creation instead of in Christ, in whom they are complete, and who is the Head of all principality and power.
There are two ways in which God’s truth is learned; either taking God’s estimate of the world, and the flesh, and Satan; and also of the full rest and highest possible blessings He has given us in Christ from the written word; or, if God’s own revelation be slighted, and that gone into which He warns against, the reality of these things must be proved by a very humbling process.
Conversing lately with a Christian brother on this subject, he said, “I have only today met in the train with another example of the terrible results of careless walk. Speaking,” said he, “to the passengers in my carriage of the blessedness of being in Christ, one of them gave a hearty response as to his personal safety, and after a while related something as follows of his own history.” We insert it, because we believe that such cases are by no means rare, and we hope, too, that this paper may be the means of solemnly arresting any who are beginning in their hearts to let Christ slip as the one object of their affections and desires, and are ready to fall into Satan’s snare that they may be saved, and yet walk, more or less with the world, and like the world. May God use these lines to deliver such, that they may escape the bitter reaping of sowing to the flesh!
“At the age of eighteen I knew what it was to have the forgiveness of sins; but I did not openly confess Christ. Soon after I went to London as an assistant in one of the largest houses of business. My advancement was so rapid, that I was about to be taken into partnership. There were many young men there, all infidels but one, who was a Unitarian. They were fond of argument, and I often got into discussion with them, yet I can truly say that I never for a moment doubted the existence of the Creator. I early indulged in habits of intemperance, and gradually went into the most fearful lengths of sin, too horrible to relate. I lost my situation of course; and at last I left my wife and children, and gave myself up to drink, selling and pawning everything I could get. For three weeks, at one time, food never entered my lips; nothing but spirits and beer. At length one night I determined to destroy myself by drowning, and went out with that intention. Passing a public-house, a companion saw me in this state of frenzy, and asked me to have something to drink. I can’t stay,’ said I, I’m going to flee.’ ‘Well,’ said he, ‘come in and have some gin, and I’ll flee with you.’ A little persuasion induced me to go in, and after drinking, I asked him if he were ready to flee? ‘No,’ said her I chant flee now.’ While meditating on soon throwing myself over the bridge, a voice seemed to say to me, ‘No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of God.’ This was repeated three times. I was desperate, and ran, I hardly knew whither, until I found myself in my little room, a place about seven feet square. There I flung myself upon my knees, and said something like this, ‘God, I am Thy creature, Thy hands have made me, Thou canst stop my breath in a moment, take away from me the desire for drink.’ There I remained for hours and fell into a calm sleep; the next morning I awoke, and the desire for drink was gone. For days I besought God to keep me from the thirst for drink. The suffering that my wife and children were undergoing through my sin would often stare me in the face, and then I would be tempted again to commit suicide. But God in His mercy kept me. While I was considering how I should like to hear something of my wife and children, who were 100 miles distant, I received a letter asking me to go to them immediately.”
But to be brief, my friend found on inquiring, that he is now laboring fervently to bring souls to Christ, and especially seeks out drunkards; and knows the comfort of walking in God’s ways, with his wife and family under God’s care and blessing. To God be all the praise!
My reader, if you are a careless christian, lay these facts to heart: you do not know where one step in the way of declension may lead you. The world knows not God; it crucified the Lord of Glory; it is under judgment; its very life, falsely so called, is kept going by seeking happiness without God and without Christ. If then, my fellow christian, you are seeking a place in it, or even looking favorably on its ways or fashions, its pleasures of sin, or find in your heart any desire after them, oh confess it to God as your sin, seek grace from Him to be true to Christ, to serve Christ, honor Christ, follow Christ; cry earnestly to Him, and you will assuredly have more than you ask or think.