Many Christians think they have nearness to the Lord and spiritual happiness who very little, if at all, understand the one or the other. It is quite possible for a soul to rest satisfied with a certain degree of happiness (let us call it), and to know a certain quietude, and be in a degree devoted and devotional, who is not near the Lord. I believe the conscience is its referee, and not the Lord. Now, we know that it is quite possible to go on in great darkness with a good conscience. I now speak of Christians; their good works, and more frequently their good reputation, stand them in good stead, and they go on without much distress, save now and again when they feel they have fallen below their own standard.
I dare say Peter did not feel any disturbance in his conscience when he went a-fishing, nor Paul when he went into the Temple at the instigation of James; but I need hardly say that if either had been walking very near the Lord he had not done so. The conscience is no criterion unless I am daily enlightening it by the Word of God; the wonders and power of God never touch you like the still, small voice. Your feet are washed by Christ’s words to your soul, and the soul that trembleth at His word is the one that is really near Him: walking in the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom. You will always find that there is more reverence and fear of the Lord from the soul that is walking near Him than the one who feels less evil within, and therefore concludes, and with some grounds, assumes that he is happy and in a place of nearness to the Lord, which in truth he is not. The reverence and value for the Word of God would be the external test to me, and I believe one by which I should be seldom mistaken in any one. One Christian knows in a moment how much the other reveres the Word of God, not merely as a marvelous revelation, hut in relation individually to himself; not a word quoted of it but sends a “ring” (if I am before the Lord) to my soul of its quality and metal.
But there is another test of the soul’s standing which is its internal test, if I may so say. If you tell me what your soul is occupied with, I could tell your standing, and of course in the same way you could tell your own. I believe a soul is often very well satisfied with itself for a good long prayer. Again, for visiting some needy one; and again, because one has acquitted oneself to the approbation of others. Still more insidious, and, because so specious, is the state of souls when they are occupied with their own failures. How often does the soul think very well of itself because it has raked up all its evil—only the kind it feels most. True—most true—it must see its evil, when entering into the light; but it is not enjoying the Lord until the clouds of failure have been removed by His word declaring His grace to the confessing soul. I believe the godly devotional souls one regrets so to see in a false position are like the worshippers in Israel, who were greatly, and deeply it may be, occupied with the offering of the victim, but had not their souls carried on to the full end of the offering.
I have noticed what would prove a soul was not near the Lord. I would add now that the one great expressive mark that a soul is near the Lord is, that such a one is surely receiving light and instruction from Him. Such a one could never be in stung quo; or even only improved, or good, as men say. You may find souls very good and proper, but they are really losing ground in light and truth, and probably, if you knew them well, you would find that they are in some shape or form thinking more of themselves than of the Lord.