COUNTERFEIT coin is not an altogether unknown thing. Frequently has one seen at the ticket office of a railway station a bad, half-crown nailed down on the counter. The object of the ticket clerk, who has been deceived by having the counterfeit coin palmed on him, is clear. He wishes to warn all tenders of bad coin to beware that detection is sure and certain.
It is very unlikely that the reader of this little article will seek to pass on false metal, but doubtless prefers what is genuine, and is wise in his preference. I do not think there is a great amount of counterfeit coin in circulation; but whether the same can be said about professing Christians is another question, Profession of Christ is so general, that it behooves every professor of Christ to honestly ask himself ‘whether he be genuine or counterfeit.
These reflections spring out of a conversation I had with a young lady some years ago. I will tell you how it occurred.
A doctor in the West of England very suddenly had his wife taken from his side after an illness of a few hours. Overwhelmed with grief, he telegraphed for me to come to his side, and, for a while, to look after his practice. This I did, and while going round among his patients one morning, I had to make a final call on a lady who, herself but a visitor to Clifton, was leaving that day for her own home. The professional part of the visit over, a simple remark soon revealed that she was a bright, simple, joyful believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we had a happy little conversation. Bidding her farewell, I went downstairs to the door, but found that my carriage had moved off. It was a cold, bleak, windy day, and the coachman had wisely given the horses, while waiting for me, a little turn on Durdham Down.
The person who kept the apartments in which the patient was staying, a bright intelligent young woman, taking in the state of affairs, begged me to close the door, and to come into another apartment while waiting for the return of the carriage. This offer I thankfully accepted, and then remarked—
“You are losing your lodger today?”
“Yes,” she replied, “and I am very sorry, for she is a very nice lady.”
“And a very nice Christian,” I added.
“Oh yes,” she rejoined, “a very nice Christian,” and her answer was so frank that I took for granted that she herself was a believer also, and therefore said, “And you are a Christian too?”
“Oh yes,” she replied, “of course. We are all Christians here.”
“All Christians here, my dear girl,” I said, “that is very wonderful You are quite sure that you are a Christian?”
“Of course I am,” she replied.
“Why then do you wear this?” I inquired, pointing to a large jet ornamental cross which she was wearing, hung by a ribbon on her neck.
“Oh, I just wear it as an ornament,” she replied. “What’s the harm?”
“I do not think it is the question of good or harm exactly,” I rejoined, “but it never occurred to me that a Christian, one who really knew and loved the Lord Jesus, could wear, as an ornament, the cross, the symbol and sign of His deep and untold agony; the cross on which He died bearing the sins of sinners and the judgment of God, that sinners He might save.”
“I never thought of that,” she ejaculated. “I just wore it as an ornament.”
“Exactly so. And now may I ask you another question? When you receive payment from your lodgers, what is the first thing you do with your money?”
She seemed rather startled at the turn of the conversation from things spiritual to things mundane; but immediately replied — “Oh, I put it past. I put it in a safe place.”
“I think you do something before that usually,” I replied. “Do not you see that it is all correct first?”
“Oh yes, of course I do that.”
“And you see that it is all genuine coin too don’t you?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“Do you know a good sovereign from a bad one?” “I think I do.”
“How could you tell a good sovereign from a counterfeit?”
“I should ring it. I should know by its sound whether it were good or counterfeit.”
“Quite so,” I replied, “that is what I should do also. And there are other things besides sovereigns that are known by their ring.”
“Indeed, what other things?” she asked.
“Well,” I rejoined, “I think the Lord is ringing you this morning, that you may find out whether you are a genuine or a counterfeit Christian. Which is it?” She bowed her head; her eyelids dropped; a deep crimson suffused her face and mantled her brow; her lip was bitten with trembling agitation; a tell-tale tear rolled down her cheek; and after a slight pause, she softly said — “Counterfeit. I see, I am a counterfeit Christian.”
I need not detail the conversation that followed. Her conscience was reached; her eyes were opened; and she saw herself to be what she really was, a sinner in her sins, although professing a Christ she did not know. I pressed upon her the awfulness of her state, and presented the gospel simply to her. Whether she became a genuine Christian, through new birth of the Holy Ghost, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour believed and trusted, God only knows. I know not.
This young person is but a sample of tens of thousands one meets with daily. The profession of religion is the order of the day, and such profession is lightly made by far too many. Confirmation, joining the church, so-called, and partaking of the communion, are lightly entered into; while the necessity of new birth, the reception of the Holy Ghost, the forgiveness of sins, and the possession of eternal life as absolute necessities, and present known realities, have no place in the history of such souls.
My reader, all such must be classed among counterfeit Christians. A Christian in the true sense of the word is indeed a wonderful being. He has a title to glory without a flaw, and a prospect without a cloud. He is born of the Spirit of God, washed in the blood of the Son of God, and indwelt by the Spirit of God. By such indwelling he is made a member of the Body of Christ, and having received the spirit of sonship, knows that he is, and can take his place as, a child of God, an heir of God, a joint-heir with Christ. All this is deep, real, and genuine in his soul. He has peace with God. Christ is his life, his righteousness, his sanctification, his redemption, his all.
Let me ask you, Are you a professing Christian? Probably you will say, “Yes, certainly.” Again, let me ask you, Are you genuine or counterfeit? Depend upon it, as a counterfeit coin is sooner or later detected, and certainly exposed, so will you be detected and exposed, if not in your lifetime, certainly when you meet the Lord by-and-by.
If only hitherto a counterfeit Christian, let me fervently and lovingly beseech you not to sleep this night till you have found the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Saviour. Turn to Him. Own your sin. Confess your guilt. Take your true place as utterly lost and undone in His presence, and you will find He is merciful and gracious, and that His words are true today, as true as when He spake them, “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
W. T. P. W.