Declension and Restoration
Arthur Copeland Brown
Table of Contents
Declension and Restoration
Between these two conditions there are many things involved in the recovery of souls to wholehearted returning to the Lord. In the first place there must be the frank recognition of our departure and that the Lord's hand is upon us. "Hear ye the rod, and Who hath appointed it" (Mic. 6:9). The faultfinder commences not with himself. But we must commence with ourselves in the very presence of God, and be thoroughly striped bare, reserving nothing. We must be brought low to see our own deplorable state so that we can readily confess our part in contributing to the general state. We must realize our own coldness of heart, neglect, carnality, worldliness, living to ourselves, carelessly speaking evil of others and lending ourselves to strife and factions!
O Lord! Help us in this. Help us to seek the good of one another rather than to sow more discord. We know that we ought to blush and mourn and judge ourselves unsparingly in this very matter. Also instead of wanting to hear "smooth things" to gloss over our unlovely ways, may we desire the very truth that cuts and exposes our shame. May we cease that tendency to "soft-pedal" and to taboo as being "legality" if anyone dares to mention the shocking world-conformity of glamorous dress, hairdos, luxurious homes, demoralizing television, popular time-robbing magazines, frivolous pleasures, Christmasing and the many mind-cluttering and heart-distracting devices of Satan.
When we get away from the Lord, the flesh likes for us to do as we please, pursue ambitions and other attractions until we resemble worldlings. We become cold, critical and cliquey. Ill attitudes creep in so that instead of showing grace to do our brother good we set him at naught and make him an object of calumny! We forget that "They're dear to God" and that they are our brethren. Mr. Darby has said, "If I am looking at the people 'from the top of the rock' I shall see them as God sees them, and that is clothed with all the comeliness of Christ -complete in Him, accepted in the Beloved. This is what will enable me to get on with them, to walk with them, to have fellowship with them, to rise above their points and angles, blots and blemishes, failures and infirmities."
How deplorable is the fleshly mind which virtually says, "Not Thy will, but mine be done!" Self with its stubborn will is at the bottom of all our troubles. Whatever eclipses Christ must be gotten rid of, every idol, secret lust, hobby, weight and robber of my time and heart.
"Have I an object, Lord below:
Which would divide my heart with Thee?"
"Search me... and see" (Psa. 139).
"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love."
"Well knowing we should ever be so cold, so negligent of Thee."
"Thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help" (Hos. 13:9).
The deeper we are concerned and ashamed, unfeignedly, until we are broken no longer wanting to have our own born ways, the sooner will the Lord deliver us. He alone can do it. He is our Advocate and the Restorer of our souls. Nevertheless we must learn our lessons and rend our hearts and not merely our garments, and turn to the Lord; for He is gracious and merciful. He wants our hearts, wants to bless us in communion with Himself, in our prayers and enjoyment of word, that He may have His full place our lives.
"O pardon us Lord! that our love to Thy name
Is so faint, with so much our affections to move,
Our coldness might fill us with grief and with shame;
So much to be loved, and so little to love."
"O kindle within us a holy desire,
Like that which was found in Thy people of old,
Who tasted Thy love, and whose hearts were on fire,
While they waited in patience Thy face to behold."
Instead of the Church profiting by Israel's sad history of declension she has plunged into far worse and deplorable unfaithfulness. Sadder still is the lukewarm formal insensibility of those who have had the highest privileges—the most light! "We grope... we stumble at noon-day." We have become Corinthianized (satiated) with prosperity and luxury, "reigning as kings," "conformed to this world." We may boast of being on the right ground of the truth, observing externals, but are we holding fast in our hearts the preciousness of our adorable Lord and treasuring His word with all its special revelations made known to the members of His body, His Bride?
"How has the gold become dim!" "Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk... Their visage is blacker than coal." "The joy of our heart is ceased... For this our heart is faint; for these things our eyes are dim." "He putteth his mouth in the dust; if so be there may be hope" Lam. "Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face... because we have sinned against Thee." "We have no might."
"Make this valley full of ditches" (2 Kings 3:16). "A valley of weeping" will the Lord turn to "a valley of blessing." "Humbled himself," "humbled himself," "humbled himself," "humble thyself" (2 Chron. 32:26; 33:12, 23; 34:27). "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God." "A broken heart; and... a contrite spirit." "A broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." "To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at My word." This is the secret and the first sure step to recovery. Self must be broken.
Accompanying the general departure is the tendency to lose sight of the most precious privilege granted to saints on earth. And that is, in this day of confusion, to be gathered in the unity of the Holy Spirit to the blessed name and person of our Lord Jesus Christ outside the camp and outside of the divisions, for worship and edification of His body.
"Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest and causest to approach unto Thee" (Psa. 65:4). "Come near to Me... come near to My table, to minister unto Me" (Ezek. 44:15, 16). "There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee" (Ex. 25:22). "Be not now negligent: for the Lord hath chosen you to stand before Him... that ye should minister unto Him" (2 Chron. 29:11). "The Father seeketh such to worship Him."
Keep us Lord, in spite of weakness
Gathered to Thy precious name,
With the loaf and cup before us,
Thinking of Thy cross and shame.
The Lord loves our company, our presence in His presence. He loves intimacy. John leaned upon His breast. He has shed His precious blood to bring us nigh. Joseph (as type of Christ) said, "Come near to me." "Let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice." He wants us to see His blessed face. "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to thee." "Jesus Himself drew near." Why are we so slow of heart, so distant? He wants us to abide in Him and abide in His love. "I will come to him, and will sup with him and he with Me."
Yet sure, if in Thy presence
My soul still constant were,
Mine eye, would more familiar,
Its brighter glories bear.
O keep my soul, then,
Jesus, Abiding still with Thee,
And if I wander, teach me
Soon back to Thee to flee.
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