HOW slow we all are to get at the truth concerning ourselves! The leading proposition of one of the old philosophers was, “Know thyself.” What he may have meant by this, is not precisely stated in his doctrines; but, followed to its full extent, it signifies the knowledge of an inward spring of deception that is really inconceivable.
What could be more condemnatory of our nature as children of a fallen head? And yet, when, under divine teaching, self is known, how absolutely true!
The sentence at the head of this paper was the utterance of a young man who had just told me that he attended the church of a certain preacher, but that he had never become a member. To have done so would have committed him unequivocally to the position of a professing Christian, and candidly he admitted that he was not that. His confessing of Christ went as far as attendance on the preaching, but no further. He would not become a member without being truly a Christian. That sounded well, and no doubt he plumed himself on his very clean-cut attitude, feeling that there was no hypocrisy in him!
He seemed to think that no responsibility attached to him as an attender, whilst much would rest upon him as a member. The distinction was fine. A person who attends regularly the preaching of the Word, and to do so is right, is not outwardly dissimilar from one whose name is enrolled on the list of members. The outward and public difference is very small. And let it be clearly understood that neither the mere hearing, nor the enrollment of the name on the list, constitutes the true Christian. No! The new birth is for all an absolute necessity; but to be a hearer carries respectability, and we all appreciate a good name. That is clear.
To be a thorough out-and-out follower of Christ, involves suffering for His Name. That no one likes naturally. His cross is a reproach. Now, it was to avoid this that my young friend declined becoming a member.
And yet, forsooth, he was no hypocrite! Poor lad, he was utterly deceived! Satan will give you any amount of religion so long as you avoid the path of true confession. He blinds the minds of them that believe not. They know not what they are.
When self is known, as it should be, then you tease to boast of any merit whatever. You have discovered that your heart is capable of any evil―that it can deceive you in a thousand ways; and therefore you admit that you may be false and deceitful and hypocritical―may be and are.
It is an awful discovery is this heart, this self of ours! Nothing more humbling or necessary; but then having got to the bottom and owned total depravity, how unspeakably blessed to see salvation in Christ! He has, in the cross, gone to the depths. He was made sin for us, and is thus the divine and perfect answer to all we had done, and all we were―our sins and our sin; so that as believers we are cleared and made free to serve and follow Him.
Reader, be thoroughly committed to Christ!
J. W. S.