You will find that, though man changes his way, he never cures himself This truth has had abundant illustrations in the progress of the world's history, and may be a seasonable warning to us just at this moment.
Israel in the wilderness illustrates this. They made a calf first; afterward they made a captain. The unclean idol was followed by setting up one of themselves, but this was only a change, and not cure.
Israel in the land did the same again. They had the gods of the nations as their gods till Babylon became the place of their captivity and judgment. But when returned to the land, though they did not return to their idols, they became infidel and presumptuous. Read their ways in Ezra and Nehemiah, and very specially in Malachi. Again it was change, and not cure.
The Lord in His teaching contemplates this (see Matt. 12 and Luke 11). It was first the unclean house, and then the swept and garnished house. But this was no cure. Some said the Lord did His works by Beelzebub, and others challenged Him for a sign. They may vary in the form of their enmity, but it is enmity still. Instead of all this change working a cure, the last state is worse than the first. What transpires in the swept house is still worse than what had been practiced in the unclean house.
This serious truth is important for us today. The nations are now proclaiming a change. Men's hearts are beating high, and promising them great things. It is well to remember that man may change his way, but he never can cure himself. The change only ends in something worse. In the "latter times" of Christendom we get certain forms of evil (1 Tim. 4), but when we read of the "last days," we find it is only a change of the former (2 Tim. 3). It is evil still, and no cure.
In the awful disclosures of the Apocalypse we also find that it is change, and not cure. The woman that corrupted the earth is removed, but the beast and his army take the lead and exercise their strength against the Lord (chap. 19). The kings of the earth may hate the whore and put her down, but then this is only to give their power to the beast and put him up (chap. 17).
Many changes occur. One form of evil gives place to another. There is no cure. Judgment must be executed, and that is not cure, but the groundwork for something new. The judgment will displace man and corruption, and make room for Christ and His power and righteousness.
The evil is incurable, and must be displaced by judgment. And just as man's change of his ways did not work a cure, so the Lord's different dealings with him have not worked correction. "Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness." Isa. 26:1010Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. (Isaiah 26:10). Nothing remains but judgment. Isaiah also tells us that, "When Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." Isa. 26:99With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early: for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. (Isaiah 26:9). We also read, "All nations shall come and worship before Thee; for Thy judgments are made manifest." Rev. 15:44Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest. (Revelation 15:4).
The Reformation was a change, but no cure, and judgment still awaits Christendom.