UNBELIEF is a system of uncertainty and, where the future is in question, “I know not” is written upon the gateways of its wisdom. Were it possible for unbelief to banish the Bible from off the earth, all the accumulated learning of men could only state of what follows this life, “I know not what it is, or if it be.” It is a very poor thing, say what men will, to be in ignorance of one’s own future, and indeed not to know whether there be an eternity.
The simplest believer has, as his first privilege, the right to say, with absolute certainty; “I know,” and this personal knowledge is worth more than the wisdom of a thousand philosophers. “I know” ―I my own self know. And how is it that the believer does know? Because God has told him. And why is it the unbeliever does not know? Because he does not listen to what God says. “I know” is no presumption, for if a king take one of his subjects into his confidence, and tell him his secrets, it is the king who imparts the knowledge, and all that the man does is to receive it, and there is no presumption in receiving; but there is presumption in declining to receive. There are those who are far too proud to believe God’s word, and upon their own heads lie the weight and the woe of this their folly.
“Surely I know,”
said the wise man, “that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before Him: but it shall not be well with the wicked.” (Eccl. 8:12, 1312Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God. (Ecclesiastes 8:12‑13).) Herein is no mere human opinion, but wisdom divinely given. “Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged,” still in the end “it shall not be well with the wicked;” and, though all go against the believer in this lifetime, “it shall be well with” him. God has so declared, and the believer responds, “Surely I know” this! There is not a true Christian on the face of the earth who does not in his own soul say, “I know” it; it is the testimony of everyone who has faith. Now this knowledge is worth more than all the world’s wisdom, and may each reader of this page possess it.
“Now I know,”
said a man, who in his day was great, but who only a few hours previously had, in the pride of his heart, despised and refused the wisdom about himself brought to him by the servant of God. The man who said, “Now I know,” had been a leper, whom no power or skill in that kingdom wherein he was “a great man and an honorable” could avail to recover. But when he said, “Now I know,” his leprosy was healed, and he was clean. This Naaman, the Syrian, is a picture of the sinner, who, though he be ever so great and honorable, is afflicted with the disease of sin, which no power of this world can heal.
The leper, of whom we speak, had a kingdom’s might and wealth at his back, and in his king’s name he had come to a prophet of God just as he was―a leper. A captain, and a great man was he before his king—but a leper. Thus he came in his wealth and with his servants to the prophet, but he came as he was—a leper. And whether men be kings, or princes, or beggars, when they come to the servants of God about their sins, they must needs come as they are and what they are―sinners.
When this leper came to the prophet, God sent him a message: “Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.” But the leper was proud, he had his own thoughts of the reverence due to his position, and the propriety which befitted his dignity, and the message, “Wash and be clean,” was to him too simple, and the means too humble for his acceptance, “so he turned and went away in a rage.” “I do not know” how to be cleansed was his position, though he had heard the way of mercy. A type is he of thousands who recognize themselves as sinners, but who despise the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, which cleanseth us from all sin—who have never been washed and made white in the blood of the Lamb. The gospel to them is too simple, too truly adapted to unworthy and helpless souls, to meet their sense of their own greatness.
Being lovingly appealed to by his servants, and persuaded by them, this leper at last consented to the simplicity of the means upon which he had turned his back. He returned, went to the river, dipped himself in its waters, as he had been bidden, and lo! in a moment, even as God had said, “he was clean.” Then it was he knew, then in his own person he was a witness to the divinely-granted cleansing, and he came and stood before the prophet’s door once more, and made his confession, “Now I know.”
“Now I know!” “Now”— being cleansed — “I,” once the leper, “know in myself, and for myself, the truth of the word of God, for I am a witness thereto.” Was this presumption? “Now,” being cleansed, “I,” once a sinner in my sins, “know” for myself that the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin. Now “I know.” May God grant each reader to have in his heart this personal knowledge.
“I know”
are the words of one who knew Him, of whom he spake, intimately. “I know whom I have believed.” It is a great knowledge that it shall be well with the righteous, and that it shall not be well with the wicked; it is a greater to know one’s own soul saved and one’s own sins washed away. Most precious knowledge is this! Yes! to know this of oneself for oneself is of value unutterable. But there is yet sweeter knowledge than that of one’s own sins being cleansed by the blood of Jesus, even the knowledge of Christ Himself. Paul knew Him, whom he had trusted. The Lord was to Paul Friend as well as Saviour. Death in its terrible form of martyrdom was before the path of the apostle, his body was about to be cast by the heathen he knew not where, but he knew Whom he trusted, the Lord was his Friend, and Almighty is His Name. “I ... am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.” (2 Tim. 1:1212For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (2 Timothy 1:12).)
The day of the first resurrection is not so far distant; at any hour the trump may sound, awaking the righteous who sleep—at any hour the voice may be heard calling up the living to the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. How blessed, then, in that prospect is it to look up to heaven, where Jesus is, and to say, “I know whom I have believed;” “I know” Him through His word and by His love; “I know” Him in whom I trust.
“We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:1616And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16).) Come away from the dark, dark night of unbelief—enter into the home of love.
Reader, may it be yours to say―
“Surely I know” it shall be well with the righteous.
“Now I know” I am clean through the cleansing blood of Christ.
“I know” Him Himself, Jesus the Lord, my Saviour and my Friend.