A young man, who, in the earliest days of his Christian life, was very devoted to the Lord, and diligent in His service, was observed to become all of a sudden very dull and desponding. His voice was never heard in prayer or testimony for the Lord, and we began to fear that some “little fox” was doing its deadly work, down at the roots of his spiritual being. One day I met him on the street and asked him what had gone wrong. With a tear in his eye, he sorrowfully replied,
“I have allowed Satan to close my mouth. I have not spoken to one in the office yet about their souls, and it would be hypocrisy to preach to others, when those around me are yet unwarned.”
Dear boy, how my heart felt for him. There was doubtless much truth in what he said, but the devil was using it to keep in perpetual silence one of the Lord’s witnesses. But it was only for a season. That night, Tom gathered a few of his companions in the office together, and told them what a coward he had been, spoke lovingly to them of Jesus, and his joy was restored.
How Satan seeks to spoil the young thus; and with many he has wonderfully succeeded. They never open their mouths in public; they seem to be ashamed of their Lord. By-and-bye they will lose heart for the things of God—as Tom was doing—and slip down into cold indifference.
Dear young, are you allowing Satan thus to rob you of your joy? to draw you into his net? and to cause you to grieve the Lord? Do you ever speak a word for Jesus? or are you ashamed of Him? It may be true that you have failed in the past to witness for Christ to those around you, but this need not keep you forever in silence. Go to God your Father at once, and confess your sin, and unfaithfulness to Him. Then seek grace to redeem the lost time, and begin to open your mouth in testimony for the Lord among your companions and fellow-workers yet unsaved. Courage will be given you, and God will give you help.
Full well the devil knows what one honest witness for Christ may do, and so he leaves no stone unturned to keep as many as he can in perpetual silence.
Young believer, let not the enemy thus triumph over you. Your lips belong to Jesus, and by them you may speak for His praise. Only a little while and the days of your testimony for Him on earth will be gone forever.