“LET me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity,” said one of old (Job 31:6); and what that one of old said, many more say today. It is the language of self-righteous people— of those who compare themselves with their neighbors. They use their own balances, which they think are even, and so form a good opinion of themselves as compared with others. How different it is when God weighs us in His balances! God’s scales are exact; His weights are just. He Himself is the standard measure. It is easy to say in one’s ignorance, “Let me be weighed in an even balance,” but how startling when the soul finds itself in God’s scales, and “lighter than vanity.”
“Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting,” was God’s word to one of earth’s greatest ones (Dan. 5:27); and that very night the man found himself in eternity. What an awful awakening! In the midst of revelry at night, impiously profaning God’s holy vessels, in outer darkness ‘ere morning, found wanting— lost forever.
Reader, God has poised the balances, and put all into His scales. “Found wanting,” is the verdict. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:23.) There is no escape from this conclusion for any, be he high or low, rich or poor, educated or ignorant, king or peasant, religious or profane; “All have sinned”; all have been weighed; all are found wanting. Can you gainsay it? Men may refuse to believe, may murmur and rebel against the verdict, but there it stands. The even balance has been used, the just weights have been put in the scale, and man has been found wanting. What a terrible truth! What is to be done?
God laid help on One that is “mighty to save”; One who could take all our guilt, and endure its penalty―Jesus, the Son of His love. Blessed be His name! He has dons all―borne our sins, endured the judgment; met the claims of God fully―and now every believing soul goes free. Yes, God saves the believer, and every believer is “complete in Him” ―in Christ. (Col. 2:10.) In this way alone can any be saved.
Reader, have you acknowledged your guilt, and trusted the Saviour? for thus it is God saves the soul. W. E.