“NO, no, I cannot pray; and if I could, I do not think I would. The world has many charms for me; the life you lead has none. I cannot read ten verses of the Bible without yawning. Everything connected with religion is so dry; at least I think so.”
“The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, for they are spiritually discerned.”
“Is that the reason?”
“Yes.”
“I daresay you are right. The Bible is dry to me, because I am not spiritual; because this world is everything to me, and heaven just nothing! because if I am under any spirit at all, it is the ‘spirit which now worketh in the children of disobedience.’”
Sadly and solemnly the answer came, “Yes.”
“Oh, it was cruel, cruel to say that ‘yes ‘yes!’ Am I then so degraded? Is the prince of darkness my ruler? Am I his, body and soul, his forever?”
The shaft had struck home. It had pierced the joints of her harness. It was God’s way of arresting W—. She had all this world could give; she was wealthy, young, talented, beautiful. Her heart had hitherto been absorbed with the world and its things.
A—, a Christian friend, had visited her, and, full of love for her soul, had sought to win her for Christ. Now the awful truth had burst upon her that she was under the devil’s dominion. Has it ever occurred to you, unsaved reader, that your eyes are blinded, your mind and body captive, to an unseen, but malignant foe?
Your body and your mind have lusts (Eph. 2:33Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. (Ephesians 2:3)). On these Satan acts. Do not confound your lusts with the devil who acts upon them. The devil tempted Christ. He found nothing in Him to answer to his temptations. It is not so with you. He baits his hook with the cunning of a serpent. You are fond of pleasure: he says, “Enjoy yourself.” Money perhaps is your snare? he says: “Scrape all you can together.” Perhaps you seek fame: he will aid you to get it. Pandering to, and acting upon your desires, he insensibly draws you under his power. One of the cleverest things he has done is to persuade people that no such person exists as the devil.
We plead with you to ask yourself the question, Is the prince of darkness my ruler? May God, in His mercy, open your eyes as He did those of W—. May the awful conviction be brought home to your soul that if you do not belong to Christ you belong to the devil.
To return to the two friends. A— quoted verse after verse of God’s Word to the poor deceived worldling. Conscience began to accuse, the Spirit of God to work. At last W— said―
“If I could only feel the love of Christ.”
“If, dear?”
“It ought not to be if,’ and yet how can I give all up?”
“All what?”
“My busy idleness, my wild extravagance, my earnest pleasure-seeking, my selfish love of ease—they are my earthly all, can I abandon them? Is it possible that in this life Christ can give far more joy than I have had in the excitement of those pleasures which I must abandon if I follow Him? What is your own experience? are you happy, A—?”
“I am always at rest and sometimes full of joy, far more so than you can imagine.”
“Indeed, and why?”
“Because my head rests on the heart that was pierced for me. Because I am loved and cherished, and the Holy Ghost brings me each day nearer to the Perfect One, whose likeness I long to bear! Because the everlasting arms are always round about me.”
“Oh, A—, is it so? Is Christ real to you? You need not answer. As you speak of Him your face is radiant as if you saw Him face to face, whilst I, to whom He is nothing! nothing! I am wretched! Oh, A—, pray for me.”
A― prayed and read, and read and prayed, quoting all sorts of gospel texts until the day waned and the night fell, and still W—was unsaved and unsatisfied.
She was making the grand mistake of looking inside, of thinking more of what she had to give up, of what she had to do, instead of resting on what Christ has done.
A month rolled away, and still W— had no rest. She sought it in visiting the sick, reading to the blind, in kindness to the poor. She had not yet learned it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”
Her friend remained with her reading the Scriptures to her, and praying for her. At length the light dawned. She came as a poor lost sinner to Christ. Now, that is just how Christ wants you to come. He came not to seek the righteous. God justifies the ungodly. It is him that worketh not but believes who gets the blessing.
Travel on with me for two years. We will enter a sick-room. In that room are the friends who were together two years since; but oh! how changed one of them! W—, the young and beautiful, has been struck down by fatal disease, the hand of death is upon her, listen to what she is saying.
“Yes, A—, I have nothing to do now, nothing to do but die! I can look back on the past two years, and see how faithful God has been to His promise, and never leaves the soul that trusts in Him. Why He is taking me thus early I do not know; but I can trust His love. He doeth all things well. If He should bid me live—I do not think He will—I shall not murmur; but, A—, I would far rather die.”
“I know you would,” said A—, “but I do not wish to lose you. Two years ago I loved you, but not as now; must we part?”
“We must—but not forever. Erelong we shall be united, and for all eternity! ‘Time is short.’ ‘Eternity is long.’”
Midnight came; calmly she waited the call home. The world, which two years since possessed so many attractions for her, had lost its charms. She had exchanged the rule of the prince of darkness for a new Master. She was translated into the kingdom of the Son of God’s love. He had given her the freedom of His Father’s house. Out of grateful love for the free salvation and great deliverance which had reached her, those years had been spent in holy, devoted service. She served because she was saved and satisfied. Now she was about to depart and be with Christ. With a smile on her lips, her ransomed spirit left earth, and entered on the blessedness of being with that Saviour who had loved and given Himself for her.
Reader, “Time is short.” “Eternity is long.” What is the world worth when you come to die? Is the prince of darkness your ruler? H. N.
SOME believers in Jesus are joyless, because they are so little looking to Christ. They are occupied with themselves, their circumstances, their bodies perhaps, something that is not Christ. They have too much of Christ to be able to enjoy the world, and too much of the world to enjoy Christ.
W. T. P. W