Grace Gems for AUGUST 2025
The Deadly Danger of Moralism!Charles Spurgeon, et al.
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Proverbs 14:12, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death."
One of Satan's most subtle and damning deceptions is "moralism"--the idea that man, by his own supposed goodness, can commend himself to God.
Moralism substitutes external reform, for internal regeneration.
It preaches behavior change, apart from the new birth.
It is content with polished external conduct, while the heart remains unwashed.
And it is leading multitudes to Hell!
Moralism often dresses itself in religious acts.
It promotes virtue, and applauds kindness.
It speaks of honesty, and decency.
But its fatal flaw is this:
It offers these things apart from Christ.
It seeks to be right with God, without the righteousness of God.
It promotes "virtue" without the power of the Holy Spirit.
It promotes morality--but despises the Savior.
The Pharisees of old were moral men. They fasted, prayed, and gave alms. Yet Jesus said to them, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs...outwardly you appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness!" (Matthew 23:27-28).
Moralism is deadly because it convinces the sinner that he needs no Savior. It flatters human pride. It whispers, "You are not that bad! God will surely accept you--look at all your good deeds." It blinds the heart to man's true condition: "dead in trespasses and sins," utterly depraved, and without hope apart from the saving grace of God. No amount of morality can change the leper's spots, or cleanse the defiled soul.What then is the remedy? It is not to be better, but to be born again. It is not to do more, but to despair of doing anything that could be acceptable to God--and to cast oneself wholly upon the mercy of God in Christ. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us " (Titus 3:5). Salvation is not earned by morality--it is a gift from God to undeserving sinners. Salvation is not achieved--but received. Salvation is not by merit--but by grace.
Dear reader, have you been trusting in your morality, instead of Christ? Flee from every false refuge! Cast away your pride. Confess your utter sinfulness. Cling to the Savior who alone can wash away your sin, and robe you in His perfect righteousness. Every form of moralism leads to damnation! Only the Gospel leads to eternal life. "To Him who does not work, but trusts God who justifies the wicked--his faith is credited as righteousness" (Romans 4:5). Hallelujah! What a Savior!
~ ~ ~ ~
One of you is a devil!
(Thomas Watson, "The Christian Soldier" 1669)
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
"Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?" 2 Corinthians 13:5
Self-examination is a necessary--but difficult work.
Self-examination is the setting up a court in conscience and keeping a register there, that by strict scrutiny a man may know how things stand between God and his own soul. By a serious scrutiny of our hearts, we come to know to what prince we belong--whether to the Prince of Peace, or the prince of darkness.
Self-searching is a heart-anatomy. As a surgeon, when he makes a dissection in the body, discovers the inward parts, the heart, liver, and arteries--just so, a Christian anatomizes himself.
Sentimentality and public opinion are false rules to go by. We must judge the state of our souls by the light of Scripture.
Many have foolish, presumptuous hopes. They fancy their state to be good; and while they weigh themselves in the balance of presumption, they pass the test.
Many take their salvation on trust. The foolish virgins thought they had oil in their lamps, the same as the wise. How confident are some of salvation--yet never examine their title to Heaven.
Many rest in the good opinions of others. How vain is this! Alas, one may be gold and pearl in the eye of others--yet God may judge him to be reprobate silver! Others may think him a saint--and God may write him down in His black-book! Judas was looked upon by the rest of the Apostles as a true believer--yet he was a traitor! "Then Jesus replied: Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" John 6:70
Others can but see the outward behavior--but they cannot tell what evil is in the heart. Fair streams may run on the top of a river--but vermin may lay at the bottom!~ ~ ~ ~
Better than wine!
Charles Spurgeon, et al.
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Canticles 1:2, "Your love is better than wine!"
The believer finds his truest joy, not in the fleeting pleasures of this world, but in the enduring and soul-satisfying love of the Lord Jesus Christ. "Your love is better than wine," says the Bride to her Beloved--and the heart of every redeemed soul echoes the same. Earthly joys may sparkle for a moment, but they soon fade. Christ's love is better--it is . . .
purer,
deeper,
richer,
and forever satisfying.
Wine may gladden the heart of man, but it cannot quiet his conscience. It may brighten the face, but it cannot cleanse the soul. But the love of Christ--what comfort, what peace, what delight it brings! One moment in communion with Him, outweighs a lifetime of the world's pleasures. We have tasted His love, and it is like honey from the comb--sweeter than anything earth can offer.
His presence lifts the downcast.
His fellowship strengthens the weary.
His nearness satisfies every longing.
Beloved, consider how Christ has poured out His love for you. Not in word only, but in blood--love proven on the cross; love triumphant over sin, death, and Hell.
He loved you when you were unlovable.
He sought you when you were wandering.
He died for you when you were madly rushing to Hell.
And now He bids you to draw near and drink deeply of His love.
He is the Fountain of living waters, the true Vine from which every drop of heavenly joy flows.
Has the world disappointed you?
Has its wine turned sour in your mouth?
Come again to the Savior. Let His love be your comfort, your song, and your strength. Here is no deceit, no regret, no after-bitterness--only pure delight, joy unspeakable and full of glory.
O believer, dwell often beneath the shadow of the Cross. Sit down under His banner of love, and feast on the riches of His grace. The love of Jesus is the joy of Heaven begun on earth, and the foretaste of eternal bliss! Drink to the full, and be satisfied in Him!~ ~ ~ ~
Splendid sins!
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Charles Spurgeon:Galatians 2:16, "We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but through faith in Jesus Christ!"
See the uselessness of mere morality. Honesty, morality and such things may be very good among men. But all these things put together, without genuine faith, do not please God.
Without saving faith, all moral virtues are but splendid sins!
You will as surely be lost if you trust to your good works, as if you had trusted to your sins!
Trust Jesus, and you are saved.
Trust self, and you are damned.
Unbelief nullifies everything!
It is the dead fly in the ointment!
It is the poison in the pot!
All the moral virtues,
all the benevolence of philanthropy,
all the kindness of unselfish charity,
give no title to Divine acceptance, for "without faith it is impossible to please God." Hebrews 11:6
The cardinal error against which the gospel of Christ has to contend, is the tendency of the human heart to rely on salvation by its works, or morality, or virtues.
The poor sinner trying to be saved by his morality or good works, is like a blind horse going round and round a mill, and never getting a step further, but only being whipped continually.~ ~ ~ ~
"The holiest actions of the holiest saint that ever lived, are all more or less full of defects and imperfections. They are either wrong in their motive, or defective in their performance, and in themselves are nothing better than splendid sins, deserving God's wrath and condemnation. To suppose that such actions can stand the severity of God's judgment, atone for sin, and merit Heaven--is simply absurd! The only righteousness in which we can appear before God, is the righteousness of another--even the perfect righteousness of our Substitute and Representative, Jesus Christ the Lord. His work, and not our work--is our only title to Heaven. This is a truth which we should be ready to die to maintain!"
~ ~ ~ ~
"The Gospel addresses men as guilty, condemned, perishing criminals. It declares that the most chaste moralist is in the same terrible plight as is the most voluptuous profligate; and the zealous professor, with all his religious performances, is no better off than the most profane infidel! The Gospel contemplates every person as a fallen, polluted, Hell-deserving and helpless sinner. Salvation by Christ alone, is the sinner's only hope!"
~ ~ ~ ~
He prays that we may experience it!
Charles Spurgeon, et al.
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
"May you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully!" Ephesians 3:18-19
Paul acknowledges that the love of Jesus is too great to be fully understood, yet he prays that we may experience it! The apostle is not referring to a merely intellectual understanding, but a personal, transformative relationship with the Lord Jesus.
We can only truly experience this love, through the Gospel. Christ's love is most clearly seen in the cross. "God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us!" Romans 5:8
As we meditate on Jesus' wondrous sacrifice for our sins, we are overwhelmed by the vastness of His love. Though we may never fully comprehend it, we can rest in the assurance that His love for us is infinite, and deeper than all of our sins and shame! May His measureless love for us, lead us to a life of . . .
gratitude,
worship,
humility,
and holiness.
We shall never know the depths of Christ's love for us, until we feel the weight of our sin, and the worth of His sin-atoning death, which delivers us from the Hell that we rightly deserve.
This unsearchable love of Jesus . . .
humbles the pride of man,
exalts the grace of God,
and calls us to a life of holiness!~ ~ ~ ~
The whole Christian life is drawn in one line
Charles Spurgeon, "Coming, Always Coming"
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
1 Peter 2:4, "Coming to Him"
This is an apt description of the whole of the Christian life. I consider it to be a complete picture of a saint, drawn with one stroke. In all circumstances and conditions, we are to come to Jesus alone.
The Christian life is begun, continued, and perfected altogether in dependence upon the Lord Jesus. He is both the author and the finisher of our faith.
If we begin aright, we begin with "Christ is all!"
If we live aright, we live with "Christ is all!"
And if we finish aright, we finish with "Christ is all!"
We are to be always coming to Him:
coming to Him for spiritual nourishment;
coming to Him for needed grace;
coming to Him for cleansing, guidance, support and comfort;
coming in fact, for everything.
The whole Christian life is drawn in one line--it is a continuous "coming to Jesus!"
I am persuaded that the only happy, holy, safe way for a Christian to live, is to live in daily dependence upon Jesus and to come to Him at all times, in all respects, under all circumstances, for everything!
May it be the habit of our lives to be incessantly coming to our loving and merciful Savior.
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior!" Isaiah 43:1-3~ ~ ~ ~
Sovereign Selection of Some Sinners to Salvation
Various speakers
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Ephesians 1:4, "For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight."
Sovereign SelectionThe doctrine of election begins and ends with God. Before time began, before a star ever shone, the triune God set His heart upon a people whom He would make His own. This choosing was not prompted by anything outside of Himself. It was not based on foreseen faith, human merit, or moral potential--but upon His sovereign good pleasure alone. "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion," declares the Lord (Romans 9:15).
Election magnifies the absolute supremacy of God's will, and the sovereign liberty of His grace. He is the Potter--we are the clay. That He should choose ANY is astounding. That He should choose multitudes from every tribe, tongue, and nation is cause for eternal praise.
Of Some SinnersGod's electing love is not directed toward the righteous--for none are righteous; but toward undeserving, ill-deserving, Hell-deserving sinners. Not the noble, the wise, or the worthy--but the poor in spirit, the helpless, the ungodly. "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise" (1 Corinthians 1:27). He chose the harlots, the tax collectors, the blasphemers, the rebels--and made them trophies of His grace!
The doctrine of election humbles man to the dust. It strips away all boasting, and casts the sinner entirely upon the mercy of God. That He would look upon vile rebels and say, "You are Mine!" is love beyond all comprehension. God's choice was not done with icy indifference--but with the warmth of eternal affection!
To SalvationElection is not to privilege only--but to salvation. Those whom He chose, He also effectually calls, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies (Romans 8:30). His electing love is effectual--it secures every spiritual blessing in Christ. Election is not an abstract doctrine--it is the fountain of all redemptive grace. Jesus came to save His people from their sins. He laid down His life for His sheep. He loses none of those the Father has chosen and given to Him.
To be one of God's chosen people, is to be . . .
eternally loved by the Father,
effectually redeemed by Christ,
indwelt by the Spirit,
and destined for eternal glory.What began in God's decree of election in eternity past, will culminate in the everlasting joy of the saints.
"In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and willto the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves." Ephesians 1:5-6~ ~ ~ ~
Once Saved, Always Saved?
A Biblical Contrast Between False Security and True Perseverance
Various authors
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
There is a grave and growing error in modern evangelical circles that promises Heaven to those who have once "made a decision for Christ," regardless of how they live afterward. This popular distortion is often labeled as "eternal security," but it is better described as a false security. It teaches that once a person has professed faith in Christ--no matter how worldly, unrepentant, or godless his life may become--he is eternally secure, and will surely enter Heaven when he dies.In contrast, Scripture sets forth a far more sobering and sanctifying doctrine: the Preservation and Perseverance of the saints. This biblical truth teaches that all those whom God truly saves, He also keeps--not in sin, but in faith, repentance, and holiness of life.
1. The Error of False Security: A License for Worldliness
This counterfeit doctrine begins with a superficial view of salvation. It reduces the New Birth to a mere decision or profession, disconnected from true repentance, and entirely devoid of the transforming work of the Holy Spirit. In this view, a person may "pray the sinner's prayer," sign a card, or walk an aisle--and then, no matter how wicked his subsequent life is, he is assured that he will go to Heaven when he dies.
This view severs Justification from Sanctification; and Regeneration from transformation. It denies the fruit that always accompanies saving faith. As James warns, "faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" (James 2:17). The Lord Jesus likewise solemnly declares, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
The problem is not that such people lose their salvation--for they never possessed it. Their profession was false, their faith was spurious, and their hearts remained unchanged.
2. The Scriptural Doctrine: Preservation and Perseverance of the Saints
In contrast to this damning delusion, the Bible teaches that salvation is a sovereign and supernatural work of God from beginning to end. The same God who elects, justifies, and adopts His people--also preserves them by His power and causes them to persevere in the faith and in a holy life.
This is not a doctrine of self-effort, but of divine enablement. True believers are kept "by the power of God through faith" (1 Peter 1:5). God's preserving grace ensures that no true child of God will ever finally fall away.
As the true child of God is preserved by the indwelling Spirit--he is enabled to persevere in a life of ongoing repentance, faith, and obedience.
Jesus said, "My sheep hear My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (John 10:27-28). Note the marks of His true sheep: they hear His voice, and they follow Him. Their lives are characterized by continual submission to Christ as Lord--not perfection, but direction; not sinlessness, but sanctification.
The apostle Paul declared with confidence, "He who began a good work in you, will carry it on to completion" (Philippians 1:6). Salvation is not sustained by the strength of man's will, but by the faithfulness of God's preserving grace. Yet that grace never leaves a man unchanged. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Those whom God has justified, He is sanctifying--and He will glorify (Romans 8:2930).
Conclusion: Security Without Holiness Is a Soul-damning Lie
The so-called "eternal security" that leaves room for a continued life of ungodliness, rebellion, and disobedience; is not the gospel of Scripture--it is a satanic counterfeit that offers false peace to unregenerate souls. God does not save men, only to leave them in their sins. He saves them from their sins, and works in them to will and to act according to His good purpose (Philippians 2:13).
The Scriptural doctrine of the Preservation and Perseverance of the saints magnifies both the sovereign grace of the Father, and the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. It assures the believer, not only of final glory, but of continuing conformity to Jesus. Those whom God saves--He transforms. Those whom He justifies--He sanctifies. And those who truly belong to Him will persevere to the end--not because of their own strength, but because He preserves them in a life of holiness.
~ ~ ~ ~
The workings of grace in the heart
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8
The workings of grace in the heart are utterly mysterious and unsearchable.
We cannot explain why the Word produces effects on one person in a congregation, and not upon another.
We cannot explain why, in some cases; with every possible advantage, and in spite of every entreaty--people reject the Word, and continue dead in trespasses and sins.
We cannot explain why in other cases; with every possible difficulty, and with no encouragement--people are born again, and become decided Christians.
We cannot define the manner in which the Spirit of God conveys life to a soul, and the exact process by which a believer receives a new nature.
All these are hidden things to us.
We see certain results, but we can go no further.
This is deeply instructive. It is humbling no doubt to ministers, and teachers of others.
The highest abilities,
the most powerful preaching,
the most diligent working,
cannot command success.
God alone can give spiritual life!
But it is a truth at the same time, which supplies an admirable antidote to excessive anxiety and despondency. Our principal work is to sow the seed. That done, we may wait with faith and patience for the result. We may leave our work with the Lord. He alone can, if He thinks fit, give success.
Romans 9:15, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."~ ~ ~ ~
The Four Last Things
Various authors
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Death
Judgment
Heaven
Hell
Hebrews 9:27, "It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment."
1. DEATH The Inescapable AppointmentDeath is not a possibility--it is a divine certainty. It is the wages of sin (Romans 6:23), the last enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26), and the doorway to eternity. No one escapes it. The rich and the poor, the righteous and the wicked, the young and the old--all must pass through its shadow. Yet for the believer, death is not the end, but the beginning of glory. Christ has removed the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:55), and to die is now gain (Philippians 1:21). But for the unrepentant, death seals their eternal doom.
"So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12
2. JUDGMENT The Unavoidable ReckoningAfter death comes judgment--not reincarnation, not annihilation, not a second chance. Every soul will stand before the throne of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). The books will be opened (Revelation 20:12), and every thought, word, and deed will be weighed. For the believer, Christ has borne the judgment. For the unbeliever, every sin will be exposed and justly condemned. There will be no appeals, no excuses, no escape.
"For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14
3. HEAVEN The Eternal Home of the RedeemedHeaven is not earned--it is purchased by the blood of Christ. It is the home of righteousness (2 Peter 3:13), the dwelling place of God (Revelation 21:3), and the eternal inheritance of the saints (1 Peter 1:4). There, we shall . . .
see Christ face to face (1 John 3:2),
worship without sin,
and rejoice without sorrow.No more tears.
No more death.
Only unending joy in the presence of the Lamb!"In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11
4. HELL The Eternal Justice of GodHell is real. It is not a metaphor, not a scare tactic, but a terrifying reality. It is the just punishment for sin, under God's righteous wrath (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 14:1011). Jesus spoke more of Hell than anyone else in Scripture.
The Cross of Christ is the only refuge from the Fire of Hell. Those who reject Christ, will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb; the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night.
There are many ways to enter Hell.There is only one way to avoid Hell.
There is no way to escape Hell.
"These will go away into eternal punishment,
but the righteous into eternal life." Matthew 25:46
These Four Last Things are not distant abstractions--they are imminent realities.You will die.
You will be judged.
You will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell.The only hope is Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to save sinners.
Repent and believe the gospel.
Cling to Christ.
Live every moment in light of eternity!
"Prepare to meet your God!" Amos 4:12~ ~ ~ ~
The sheep's coat shall be stripped off the wolf's back!
William Dyer, 1632-1696
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Numbers 23:10, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and may my end be like theirs!"
There is no living a life that is wicked, and then dying a death that is righteous.
Oh, that men would but deal truly with their own souls!
Many talk like a Christian, but few walk like a Christian.
Many know what is to be done, but never do what is to be done.
Many wear Christ's livery, but do the devil's drudgery!
Many have hands as white as snow, whose hearts are as black as Hell!
Many appear righteous, who are only righteous in their appearance. But such as deceive others with a false show of holiness, only deceive themselves with a false hope of happiness!
Remember, sirs, that the sheep's coat shall be stripped off the wolf's back! "They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves!" Matthew 7:15
Oh sirs, that you would consider well these weighty things! Tell me, sir: What did Judas get by all his deceitful dealings? Nothing but a noose, in which his body was hanged; and a fire, in which his soul was burned!~ ~ ~ ~
A feast for the worms!
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
"Like sheep, they are led to the grave,
where death will be their shepherd.
Their bodies will rot in the grave,
far from their grand estates." Psalm 49:14
Do not value yourselves on your BEAUTY, which "rots in the grave." Remember the change which death makes on the fairest face, "You always overpower them, and then they pass from the scene. You disfigure them in death and send them away." Job 14:20
Death makes the greatest beauty so loathsome, that it must be buried out of sight!
And what though the body be gorgeously arrayed? The finest clothes are but badges of our sin and shame; and in a little time will be exchanged for a shroud, when the body will become a feast for the worms!~ ~ ~ ~
I hope the brother will not pray that any more
By Charles Spurgeon, et al.
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Deuteronomy 29:29, "The secret things belong to the Lord our God."
I used to want to know why the Lord does this and that with me. Blessed be His name, I am now resolved not to question Him any more in that fashion.
Somebody prayed the other day, that I might see the reason why the Lord has lately afflicted me. I hope the brother will not pray that any more, for I do not want to know the Lord's reasons. Why should I? I know that He has done all for my good and His glory, and I will not dishonor Him by questioning Him and wanting Him to explain Himself to a poor worm.
This is where the mischief has been with most of us, that we have wanted to know the Lord's reasons for this and that. Why should we? If God conceals a thing, then let us be content to leave it concealed.
A servant was passing through a street with a dish that was fully covered. A fellow met him and said, "I would love to know what your master has in that dish, for he has so carefully covered it." But the servant said, "Seeing that he has so carefully covered it, it is clear that it is no business of yours or mine."
In the same way, whenever a providence puzzles you, then take it as a sign that the Lord does not mean you to understand it, and be content to receive it in faith.
When we are in the furnace of affliction, our hearts ache for answers:
Why this sickness?
Why that loss?
Why this death?
Why this trial?
We long for the "why" and "wherefore" behind God's providential dealings with us, especially when He brings us through a thorny and hurtful path. Yet here God draws a line in the sand: "The secret things belong to the Lord our God."
The "secret things" include the precise purposes of His sovereign plan. His providence is never chaotic or unwise, but He rarely unfolds His reasons. He owes us no explanations for His sovereign workings. To demand them is to demand His throne.
We cannot trace His providential hand in His inscrutable dealings with us; but we can always trust His loving heart to us, His redeemed and adopted children!
The Scriptures clearly declare His unchanging character: that He is good (Psalm 119:68), wise (Romans 11:33), and sovereign over every detail (Matthew 10:29-31).
His Word teaches us that our suffering is never wasted, but used to conform us to His beloved Son (Romans 8:28-29). We can even rejoice in our sufferings, "for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation." (Romans 5:3-4)
Soon we will see that not a single thread in our tangled story was misplaced in His tapestry. Until then, we are to live by faith, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
We must ever realize that God is the divine Potter, and we are simply the clay in His omnipotent hands. His thoughts, His plans, and His ways, are profound--utterly beyond the reach of our childlike comprehension.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
"Oh, the depth of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!" Romans 11:33-34If you care to read it, we have just published a two page summary of "The Secret and Revealed Will of God."
~ ~ ~ ~
God's two loves
Various authors
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
The Scriptures reveal that God's love is not a single, undifferentiated stream. Rather, it flows in two distinct channels: a general love that embraces all mankind; and a special saving love reserved for His chosen, redeemed, and regenerated people. To understand the difference, is to marvel more deeply at His mercy and grace.
Objects of God's GENERAL love: All people.
God's general love is universal in scope. Every heartbeat, every breath, every moment of health and joy, every meal set before sinner or saint alike--is a token of His benevolence. The atheist who denies Him, and the believer who adores Him--are alike sustained by His daily kindness. This love is rooted in His character as Creator, overflowing even toward those who despise Him.
Objects of God's SPECIAL love: Believers only.Yet Scripture reveals a deeper, saving love--one that is particular, electing, and redeeming. This special love is not bestowed upon the world at large, but upon those whom He has chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, for whom Jesus shed His blood, and to whom He gives His Spirit. It is the love of the Shepherd for His sheep, the Bridegroom for His bride, the Father for His adopted children.
Nature of God's GENERAL love: Physical blessings.
God's general love expresses itself in physical mercies: sunshine and rain, food and shelter, beauty and order in creation. These blessings, while precious, are external only--touching the body, but leaving the heart unchanged.
Nature of God's SPECIAL love: Spiritual blessings.God's special love pours out spiritual treasures: the forgiveness of sins, the gift of the Holy Spirit, adoption into His family, the joy of communion with Him, and an inheritance in glory. These blessings transform the soul, conforming the believer into the likeness of Jesus, and securing an everlasting relationship with God.
Duration of God's GENERAL love: Temporal.
The tokens of His general love last only for this life. When the sinner dies, the common mercies cease, and without Christ, there remains only the fearful expectation of judgment.
Duration of God's SPECIAL love: Eternal.But His special love endures forever. It began in eternity past, was displayed at Calvary, is experienced in the believer's daily walk, and will be perfected in the glory of Heaven. It is unchanging, unbreakable, and unstoppable!
O soul, if you have tasted only God's general love, do not rest content. His common mercies are but shadows pointing to the greater reality of His saving grace. Flee to Jesus, and you will know a love that . . .
death cannot end,
sin cannot exhaust,
and eternity cannot measure!
If you care to read them, here are some additional materials:
God's GENERAL love God's SPECIAL love
OBJECTS: All people Believers only
NATURE: Physical blessings Spiritual blessings
DURATION: Temporal Eternal
God's general love consists of physical and temporal blessings to all people.
God's special love consists of spiritual and eternal blessings to His chosen, redeemed, and regenerate people.
God's GENERAL love to all mankind.
Matthew 5:45, "He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
Luke 6:35, "He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked."
Acts 14:17, "He has shown kindness by giving you (heathen) rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; He provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."
God's general love/goodness/kindness is never salvific.
God's SPECIAL love to His people.
God's special/saving love to His people is particularly seen in saving them from sin and Hell, unto eternal glory!
God the Father chose us in eternity past!
God the Son died in our place as our sin-atoning substitute.
God the Holy Spirit regenerates, converts, sanctifies, and preserves all the chosen and redeemed.
God's special love/goodness/kindness is always salvific.
John 10:11, "I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep."
Romans 1:7, "To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints"
Galatians 2:20, "I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself up for us."
Ephesians 5:25, "Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her."
Colossians 3:12, "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved"
1 Thessalonians 1:4, "For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you"
2 Thessalonians 2:13, "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth."
1 John 4:10-11, "This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
1 John 4:19, "We love Him because He first loved us."
Jude 1, "To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ"~ ~ ~ ~
Living in the Light of Christ's Return
J.C. Ryle, et al.
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
"I am afraid that the subject of the second coming of Jesus is not sufficiently thought of and studied by many Christians. I must say that the greater number of believers are not like the early Christians in this matter. The early Christians made it a principal part of their religion to look for the second coming of Jesus. They looked backward to the cross and the atonement, and rejoiced in Christ crucified. But they also looked forward to the coming of Christ, and lived in a state of expectation."
The New Testament continually presses upon believers the certainty and suddenness of the return of Jesus. Again and again we are exhorted: "Keep watch Be ready Be alert!" These are not gentle suggestions, but urgent commands from the lips of our Lord.
1. Keep Watch!
"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." (Matthew 24:42)
To keep watch is to live with eyes lifted heavenward, weighing every choice in the light of eternity. The world lulls souls to sleep with its vanities, but the Christian must remain awake, knowing that at any moment the skies may part and the Son of Man may appear.
"Let us live like men who believe in . . .
the reality of Hell and Heaven,
the near coming of Christ,
the value of the soul,
the vanity of this world,
and the importance of holiness.
Our time is short--our days are numbered.
We are on our way to the final judgment!"
2. Be Ready!
"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." (Luke 12:40)
To be ready is to have our sins forgiven, our hearts cleansed, and our lamps filled with oil. It means walking in daily faith and repentance, clinging to Jesus, and living as pilgrims bound for glory.
"The great question is whether we have saving grace in our hearts--whether we have been born again, and are ready to meet the Bridegroom. The saddest sight in the day of Christ's appearing will be unready professors, with lamps gone out and no oil to be found."
3. Be Alert!
"Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (Mark 13:33)
Alertness is the vigilance of a soldier who knows the enemy is prowling around him. It is to resist sin, redeem the time, and serve faithfully as stewards who long to hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant Come and share your Master's happiness!"
"Nothing is of such importance, as to be found "in Christ" when He comes. Riches, rank, health, honors, pleasures--all will be worthless then. To be a true servant of Christ, ready for His appearing--this will be the only thing that matters."
Keep Watch. Be Ready. Be Alert. Let us live wisely, walk in holiness, and long for His appearing.
"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him." (Matthew 24:44)
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!~ ~ ~ ~
The most loathsome spectacle that ever was set before our eyes!
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Mark 7:20-23, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things proceed from within, and defile the man."
The hearts of natural men are exceedingly full of sin. If they had but one sin in their hearts, it would be sufficient to render their condition dreadful. But they have not only one sin, but all kinds of sin. There is every kind of lust. The heart of man is a cesspool of sin, and a fountain of corruption, from whence proceed all kinds of filthy streams.
There is not one filthy lust in the heart of the devil, that is not in the heart of man! Natural men are in the image of the devil. The image of God is erased out, and the image of the devil is stamped upon them.
God is graciously pleased to restrain the wickedness of men, principally by:
fear of consequences,
respect to their reputation,
and by education.
And if it were not for such restraints as these, there is no kind of wickedness that men would not commit whenever it came in their way.
Men have not only every kind of lust, and wicked and perverse dispositions in their hearts--but they have them to a dreadful degree. There is not only pride, but an astonishing degree of it--pride whereby a man is disposed to set himself even above God! The hearts of natural men are mere sinks of sensuality.
In placing his happiness in sensual enjoyments, man has become like the beasts. The heart is full of the most loathsome lusts. The souls of natural men are more vile and abominable than any reptile.
If God should open a window in the heart, so that we might look into it--it would be the most loathsome spectacle that ever was set before our eyes!
"The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" Jeremiah 17:9~ ~ ~ ~
I will cleanse you from all your filthiness!
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
In an old house perhaps, there is a cellar into which nobody goes. The shutters are nailed closed, so no light ever comes in. You live in the house comfortably enough, not knowing what is down in the cellar; but one day you take a candle, and go down the steps and open that moldy door, and when it is opened, dear me--what a damp, pestilential smell! How foul the floor is! All sorts of ugly creatures scramble away from your feet. There are growths on the very walls--and a heap of roots in the corner, sending out those long yellow tentacles which look like the fingers of death. And there is a spider, and there are a hundred just like him--of such a size as cannot be grown except in such horrible places. You run out of that repulsive cellar as quickly as you can.
Now the candle did not make that cellar detestable. No, the candle only manifested what was already there. And when you bring in the carpenter to take down the shutters which you could not open; and when the daylight comes in, then it is far more horrifying than it appeared by candle-light; and you wonder indeed, how you ever got across it with all those frightening creatures surrounding you!
So it is with the human heart; it is filled with sin, though we hardly realize it. It is a cage of unclean birds, a haunt of every monstrous desire, a den where lusts prowl like wild beasts. Truly, our heart is a dwelling place of corrupt desires--a miniature Hell within.
The Lord showed me my heart years ago--and the sight was appalling. Well does one say, "God spares all eyes but His own, from that fearful sight--a human heart!"
"I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you!" Ezekiel 36:25-26~ ~ ~ ~
Mortification and Vivification
Arthur Pink, et al.
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Ephesians 4:22-24, "You were taught with reference to your former way of life, to lay aside the old man who is being corrupted in accordance with deceitful desires--to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and to put on the new man who has been created in God's image--in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth."
The Christian life is not a playground, but a battlefield. We are called to take up arms against two mighty foes: the indwelling corruption of our flesh; and the sluggishness of our hearts toward God. Scripture speaks of this double duty as mortification of sin, and vivification of grace.
Whenever the Holy Spirit regenerates someone, He implants a holy principle within that person which always manifests itself in the ongoing work of mortification and vivification. That is, the practical putting off of the old man and the putting on of the new man. This mortification and vivification is continued throughout life, and will not end until glorification.
First, the mortification of sin. The flesh is a restless rebel, forever plotting treason against its rightful King. Pride, envy, lust, sloth, anger, impurity--these are no trifles, but serpents whose venom would destroy the soul if left unchecked. Our duty is not to pamper them, but to slay them. The believer must take the sword of the Spirit and pierce through every darling sin, however small it may appear. Yet we cannot mortify any sin by the sheer strength of our will. Only as we walk in the Spirit, will He enable us to mortify sin."Walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh!" (Galatians 5:16)
Second, the vivification of our graces, so that we increase in strength and make further advances in true piety. To mortify sin is to pull up the weeds--but we must also nurture the flowers of holiness. We can do this, only as we vivify our graces: faith must be exercised, love must be kindled, hope must be nourished, prayer must be cultivated. A barren soul is not a safe soul. When our graces are not growing, then our sins will be spreading. But again, here is our weakness: left to ourselves, we can no more make faith flourish than we can make the lilies grow. It is the Spirit who breathes life, waters every grace, and makes the believer fruitful in every good work.
Thus the Christian is ever cast upon the Spirit. Only through Him, can we kill sin and cultivate holiness. Let us then walk by the Spirit, pray in the Spirit, and depend wholly on the Spirit--until that day when sin shall be no more, and grace shall blossom into glory!
"Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires." (Romans 13:14)~ ~ ~ ~
The true secret of spiritual prosperity!
J.C. Ryle, "Thoughts For Young Men"
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
In Christ alone, there is a full supply of all that we require for the needs of our souls. Of ourselves we are all poor, empty creatures . . .
empty of righteousness and peace,
empty of strength and comfort,
empty of courage and patience,
empty of power to persevere in the way of holiness,
or make progress in this evil world.
It is in Christ alone, that all these things are to be found: grace, peace, wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. It is just in proportion as we live upon Him, that we are strong Christians.
It is only when self is nothing and Christ is all our confidence, that are we armed for the battle of life, and shall overcome. Only then are we prepared for the journey of life, and shall move forward.
To live on Christ,
to draw all from Christ,
to do all in the strength of Christ,
to be ever looking to Christ--
this is the true secret of spiritual prosperity!
"I can do everything," says the apostle Paul, "through Him who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13~ ~ ~ ~
What are you doing, groaning through the world beneath a load of fears and cares?
Thomas Guthrie, 1803-1873
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Matthew 10:29-31, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."
There is no such thing as chance. All the reins that guide and govern the world, are gathered into the hands of Jesus. His care of His people extends to the most common, and apparently trivial matters; all are links in the golden chain of providence.
Divine Providence is a comforting doctrine, too precious to be parted with!
Let the thought that Jesus . . .
watches over all your affairs,
and guards your welfare,
and guides all your ways--
banish your every anxious care.
I do not say that you will never be disappointed, but certainly you ought never to be discontented. Many things in your circumstances may occasion anxious thought, but nothing should cause or can excuse sinful repining.
Child of God! He has numbered the hairs of your head, as well as the stars of Heaven!
Believer, what are you doing, groaning through the world beneath a load of fears and cares? What should discourage you? What should disturb your peace? What can ruffle the calm spirit of a man who knows that the hands which were once nailed to the tree for him, now hold the helm of his destiny? The blessed Savior, who by love's golden scepter reigns within his heart, holds sovereign sway over earth and Heaven; and . . .
by both bitter and sweet providences,
by both coffins and cradles,
by both disappointments and joys,
by both losses and gains,
shall cause all things to work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are called according to His purpose.~ ~ ~ ~
What is your life?
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
"My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass." Psalm 102:11
"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while, and then vanishes!" James 4:14
"Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it!" Psalm 39:6
It is of the greatest service to us, to be reminded that our life is but a mist, which appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Through forgetfulness of this obvious truth, worldlings live at ease, and Christians walk carelessly. Unless we consciously live in the light of eternity, worldliness soon eats into our heart like a canker!
If you have this world's riches, believer--then remember that this poor world is not your rest, and do not place an excessive value on its comforts.
If, on the other hand, you are afflicted, and are burdened with poverty--then do not be too much depressed thereby, for these light afflictions are but for a moment, and are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Remember that you are a part of a great procession which is always moving ahead; others are coming and going before your eyes--you see them for a short time, and they disappear into the eternal world. In the same way, you yourself are moving onward to eternity.
It is most wise to contemplate the fact that our life is quickly passing away, and to be prepared to stand before God's great and final tribunal.
"Remember Him, before . . . the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it!" Ecclesiastes 12:6-7
"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:1314~ ~ ~ ~
The great god Entertainment
A.W. Tozer, 1955
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
The great god Entertainment is ardently worshiped by many. For there are millions who cannot live without amusement; life without some form of entertainment, for them is simply intolerable; they look forward to the blessed relief afforded by professional entertainers and other forms of psychological narcotics, as a dope addict looks to his daily shot of heroin.
No one with common human feeling will object to the simple pleasures of life, nor to such harmless forms of entertainment as may help to relax the nerves, and refresh the mind exhausted by toil. Such things, if used with discretion, may be a blessing along the way. However, the all-out devotion to entertainment as a major activity for which and by which men live, is definitely something else.
The abuse of a harmless thing, is the essence of sin. The growth of the amusement phase of human life to such fantastic proportions is a portent, a threat to the souls of modern men. It has been built into a multi-million dollar racket, with greater power over human minds and human character than any other educational influence on earth.
And the ominous thing is that its power is almost exclusively evil, rotting the inner life, crowding out eternal thoughts which would fill the souls of men, if they were but worthy to entertain them. The whole thing has grown into a veritable religion, which holds its devotees with a strange fascination; and a religion, incidentally, against which it is now dangerous to speak. For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was--a device for wasting time, a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience, a scheme to divert attention from moral accountability.
For this, the church got herself abused by the sons of this world. But of late she has become tired of the abuse, and has given up the struggle. She appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god Entertainment, then she may as well join forces with him and make what use she can of his powers.
So, today we have the astonishing spectacle of millions of dollars being poured into the unholy job of providing earthly entertainment for so-called Christians. Religious entertainment is in many churches rapidly crowding out the serious things of God.
Many churches these days have become little more than theaters where fifth-rate "producers" peddle their shoddy wares with the full approval of ministers who can even quote a holy text in defense of their amusements. And hardly a man dares raise his voice against it!
The great god Entertainment amuses his devotees mainly by telling them stories. The love of stories, which is a characteristic of childhood, has taken fast hold of the minds of the retarded saints of our day, so much so that not a few persons manage to make a comfortable living by spinning yarns, and serving them up in various disguises to church people.
What is natural and beautiful in a child, becomes shocking when it persists into adulthood, and more so when it appears in the sanctuary and seeks to pass for true religion.
Is it not a strange thing, that the professed followers of the Lord should be giving themselves up to religious amusements? It is simply astonishing that vast numbers of church-goers should revert to spiritual childhood and clamor for religious toys!~ ~ ~ ~
Rejoicing in the midst of trials and afflictions
Charles Spurgeon, et al.
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Luke 10:20, "Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven!"
To others, you may be insignificant--despised, unknown, unimportant. You may be poor in possessions, sick in body, misunderstood by many, and even dismissed by fellow believers. You may be walking through valleys of pain, battling weakness, enduring loss, or carrying deep burdens that no others could realize. But dear child of God, lift up your eyes and take heart--your name is written in Heaven!
Not scribbled in pencil, not etched in sand, but written in Heaven--secure in the eternal book of God, sealed by the blood of the Lamb. You may be rejected on earth, but you are known and loved in Heaven. Your name, personally inscribed by the omnipotent hand of God, is known in the courts of glory. Angels may not know your name now, but they will when they welcome you Home.
Jesus turns His redeemed children away from both their successes and failures in this poor world, and points them to the everlasting treasure of eternity in Heaven. What happens here on earth may rise and fall, but what is written in Heaven is sure and steadfast.
Beloved, your name is not written in Heaven because of your merit, success, or popularity. It is there, because God sovereignly chose to set His love on you in eternity past. Then, in His infinite mercy, He effectually called you out of darkness, and into His marvelous light!
Though you are despised on earth, Heaven is your eternal Home.Though suffering is your earthly lot, your future is glorious.
Though your life may appear insignificant, your inheritance is vast.
Others may not value you, but Heaven rejoices over you.
So rejoice--not in your temporal circumstances, or in what others think of you, but in what God has promised. You are His, and your name is forever written in Heaven. One day soon, you will hear the Savior call your name to welcome you Home: "Enter into the joy of your Lord!"
Suffering Christian, instead of dwelling on your transient earthly afflictions, "set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things! For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God!" Colossians 3:12
Regardless of earthly poverty, weakness, neglect, or suffering--your name is engraved in Heaven! Let this truth . . .
comfort you,
anchor you,
and fill you with profound, unshakeable joy.
"Rejoice that your names are written in Heaven!"~ ~ ~ ~
Christian wisdom from Don Fortner, part 1
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Salvation is always set before us in the Bible as being God's doing, and God's work alone.
Damnation is always set before us in the Bible as being man's fault, and man's work alone.
Justice is God's righteousness giving us what we deserve--Hell.
Mercy is God's kindness withholding from us what we deserve--Hell.
Grace is God's goodness giving us what we do not deserve--Heaven.
God alone is the absolute sovereign of the universe, determining all things, ruling all things, and disposing of all things as He will.
Either you will be a servant under the dominion of King Jesus, voluntarily giving up all that you are and have to his claims--or you will go to Hell!
God almighty is a King that demands obedience: immediate, unhesitating, unqualified obedience.
There is no place in this vast universe, from the throne of God in the highest glory, to the lowest pit of Hell--where Jesus Christ our Lord does not rule in total, absolute sovereignty!
The Bible is the window through which we see Jesus!
Humility is living in the conscious awareness of who I am: a sinner saved by grace; and whose I am--God's.
Sorrow would never afflict us--if sin did not first infect us.
What a person is in his prayer-closet, alone before the all-seeing God--that he is, and no more.
The natural man cannot be taught spiritual things. He can be taught religion, doctrine, and strict morality--but not the things of God. To learn the things of God, he must be born again. 1 Corinthians 2:14
Providence is but the unfolding of God's eternal purpose. It is God bringing to pass in time, what He purposed to do in eternity. It is God ruling and disposing of all things in the world for the salvation of His elect people.
If we examine our best works, we shall find enough of sin mixed up with them, as might sink us to endless woe!
Religion without Christ, is the most damning thing in the world!
There is no difference between what comes to pass in time--and what was purposed by God in eternity.
No man is ever more like Christ in behavior, than in the exercise of forgiveness.
Nothing exceeds the obstinate stupidity of the unregenerate heart!
Any man who gives himself faithfully to the preaching of the gospel, has very little time for anything else.~ ~ ~ ~
The dust clings to it, and it clings to the dust!
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Psalm 119:25, "My soul clings to the dust! Quicken me according to Your Word."
David's experience is the mirror of the experience of all believers. If the man after God's own heart felt a coldness and deadness frequently stealing over him--then so do we.
We continually need God's quickening power, because of the deadening influence of this world. "My soul clings to the dust."
We are surrounded with dust. And although we have within us a new and higher spiritual life, that has no fraternity with the dust--we still retain our fleshly body, which is brother to the dust--and says to the worm, "You are my sister." "Dust you are, and unto dust you shall return!" is true of every one of us. (Genesis 3:19).
Yet beloved, our new spiritual nature cannot feed on dust, for that is the serpent's food! The new life within us craves for something higher--but the old fleshly nature is contented with dust. The dust clings to it, and it clings to the dust!
We all know how the care, toil, and concerns of a busy day, will often dampen our ardor in prayer, and unfit our thoughts for devout meditation. We cannot think much of our treasure laid up in Heaven, when we are thinking a great deal of this world's goods.
Riches are often a dangerous encumbrance to those who seek after holiness, as they steal the heart away from God. Matthew Henry, in his own racy style, warns us that:
"The care in getting,
the fear in keeping,
the temptation in using,
the guilt in abusing,
the sorrow in losing,
and the responsibility of giving account for gold and silver, large houses and lands--is a heavy burden to bear, for a Christian who desires to live a holy life."
There is nothing in this world to help a Christian--it is all against him. The world clasps us to itself as tightly as it can--it acts like glue to us. When we would mount on the wings of eagles--then there is a chain on our foot, and we cannot rise. Our soul cleaves to the dust!
Our eyes are often fascinated by the glitter and the glare of earthly vanities. The world puts on her beautiful mask; she attires her head and paints her face like Jezebel; and it is not always easy, like Jehu, to detest her, and to say, "Fling her down, and let the dogs consume her!"
As Christians, we are but foreigners and pilgrims in this vain world. How often we need to fall on our knees, and cry, "My soul clings to the dust. Quicken me according to Your Word."~ ~ ~ ~
The biggest loser!
Various authors
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Mark 8:36-37, "What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"
In these piercing questions, our Lord unveils the supreme value of the soul. The allure of temporal gain presses upon every heart--wealth, honor, pleasure, success. Yet all these glittering trifles shrink into nothing in comparison with the eternal realities of Heaven and Hell.
There is no question more sobering, no consideration more urgent, than this:
What will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul?
1. The loss of one's immortal soul is a FOOLISH loss. To pursue momentary pleasures or earthly ambitions, at the expense of our eternal well-being, is utter folly. How absurd to exchange immortal joy, for momentary frivolities!Jesus here lays bare the supreme folly of living for earthly gain, while neglecting eternal realities. To lose one's immortal soul is the most foolish loss a person can suffer. Men barter their eternal souls for fleeting pleasures, temporary riches, or the applause of the world. They trade eternal glory, for perishing trifles. This is sheer madness!
2. The loss of one's immortal soul is a TRAGIC loss, for the soul is man's most precious possession. Those who die without Christ, awake to a hopeless and eternal existence in Hell, under the righteous wrath of God. There is no tragedy greater than this.
3. The loss of one's immortal soul is an IRREVERSIBLE loss. Once the judgment is rendered, the door of mercy closes forever. No tears, no second chances, no bargaining will avail them. "It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this comes judgment" (Hebrews 9:27).
4. The loss of one's immortal soul is an IMMEASURABLE loss. What price could compensate for exclusion from the glories of Heaven? What profit could balance the sorrow of a lost soul? All the combined wealth, pleasure, power, and fame of this world--cannot begin to equal the worth of a single soul. To lose one's soul, is to lose everything.
5. The loss of one's immortal soul is an IRREPLACEABLE loss. A man may lose his health and regain it. He may lose his fortune and rebuild it. But once he loses his soul, there is no recovery, no restoration. The soul is eternal, and once lost, is lost forever. Heaven's glory is inestimable! Hell's anguish is unutterable!
6. The loss of one's immortal soul is an INEXCUSABLE loss. We have been warned by countless voices:
God has spoken through His Word.
He has called through His servants.
He has revealed Himself through conscience and creation.
No excuse will stand in the day of judgment.
Friend, pause and consider: You may gain the world, but if you lose your soul, then you are the biggest loser--for your loss is eternal. Flee to Jesus for salvation while there is time. Nothing matters more than the eternal destiny of your soul.
Sovereign Lord, grant me the grace to see the infinite value of my soul. May I consider everything a loss, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Him!~ ~ ~ ~
The value of Christ!
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Philippians 3:8, "I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ!"
Eternity alone can reveal the value of Christ!
By the miseries of the Hell from which He saves us--let us measure Him!
By the bliss of the Heaven to which He lifts us--let us estimate His worth!
By the depths of ignominy and shame into which He dived--let us appraise Him!
By the glories He relinquished and by the agonies He bore--let us attempt to form some faint idea of His value!
"To you who believe, He is precious!" 1 Peter 2:7~ ~ ~ ~
Does Jesus think on me?
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Jesus of Nazareth, the sinless Son of God--was hated without cause, arrested, beaten, mocked, spat upon, shamed, stripped of His clothes, crowned with thorns, publicly humiliated, nailed to a cross, and died in agony!
What is the first thing He says while hanging upon the cruel tree?Does He ask His Father to send a legion of angels to destroy His persecutors?
Does He condemn His unjust executioners?
Does He call for fire and brimstone to fall on these wicked devils?
That is what we would do, is it not? But He is not like us. He is holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners. His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts!
Instead of words of wrath--we hear words of mercy.
Instead of a consuming fire--we see forgiveness.
Oh what unfathomable grace! His lips are like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
Jesus prays, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
"I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours!" John 17:9. He prayed, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."
Child of God, be of good comfort--you were on the heart of Jesus as He hung upon the cross! You may ask yourself:
Does Jesus think on me?
Does He notice me?
Does He love me?
Oh you of little faith!
You are always on His heart!
You were on His heart in eternity past!
You were on His heart when He was in such anguish in the Garden, that His sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood!
You were on His heart on the cruel cross!
And you are on His heart now in glory!
As He died in bloody agony under the wrath of God, He was thinking of you! "Father, forgive the sin of My poor, ignorant, rebellious child; for he knows not what he does!"~ ~ ~ ~
The most slippery serpent on earth!
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
2 Corinthians 11:13-14, "For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light!"
Did you know that you will not find the wickedest man alive, in a night club--but in a church building.
He is not in prison--but in the pastorate.
The wickedest man alive, does not wear an orange jumpsuit--he wears a three piece suit.
He does not wear handcuffs--but handsome cuff-links.
He doesn't traffic in drugs--he traffics in the souls of men.
He doesn't butcher bodies--he butchers the souls of men and the truth of God.
He does not sit on death row--but on a church platform.
The most violent man alive, is not a terrorist--but a religionist.
He is not a rapist--but an evangelist.
He's not an atheist--but a Baptist.
He's not a gang member--but a church member.
The most dangerous man alive, doesn't even own a gun--he owns a Bible.
The most treacherous man on earth, is not a vulgar man of ill-repute--but respectable, kind and well-polished.
He won't cuss you--he'll bless you.
He will not speak of profane things--but of holy things.
The vilest man on earth, will not talk to you about filth--but about God.
The most deceitful man alive, doesn't spend his time devising acts of terrorism--but preparing sermons.
The most violent criminal in the world, doesn't even break the law--he keeps the law.
The most slippery serpent on earth, will not be found in the gutter--but in the pulpit.
The deadliest man in the world, is not in organized crime--but in organized religion.
The wickedest man alive, is not a pimp--but a Pharisee.
The most perverse man on earth, is not a pornographer--but a theologian.
Mark it down, and never forget it: The wickedest, vilest, most deceptive, most deadly, most treacherous, blood-thirsty villain alive--is not a criminal, a porn addict, a pervert, a pedophile or a pusher--he's a preacher!
The wickedest man alive is a wolf--but he is no ordinary wolf. He is a wolf who looks, smells, talks, walks, and acts just like a sheep! He says he wants to help you, to guide you to the Lord. And therein lies the greatness of his wickedness, the treachery of his speech, and the poison of his sting!
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves!" Matthew 7:15~ ~ ~ ~
Piety and Charity--two loves that cannot be separated
Various authors
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Matthew 22:37-39, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
The Lord Jesus summarized the whole moral law with two commandments: love God--and love neighbor. These two pillars of holy living reveal the essence of piety and charity. Though distinct, they are inseparable, for charity always flows from genuine piety.
Piety is our posture toward God. It is reverent devotion, a life bent Godward in worship, obedience, and holiness. To be pious, is to live with a constant awareness of God's majesty, to honor His Word above all human thinking, and to pursue holiness in the fear of the Lord. It is vertical love--love ascending upward to God.
Charity, by contrast, is love turned towards others. It is the visible fruit, of the invisible root of piety. John writes with piercing clarity: "If anyone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother--he is a liar!" (1 John 4:20). Charity is expressed in mercy, generosity, patience, forgiveness, and tangible care for others, especially the household of faith (Galatians 6:10).
Yet the difference between piety and charity must never be twisted into opposition. Many profess piety towards God, without charity towards others, but Scripture calls this hypocrisy (James 2:14-17). Others practice charity towards others, without piety towards God, but this is mere philanthropy--hollow before God. Genuine Christian charity must spring from true Christian piety, because the God we love, is the fountain of all love.
Therefore, the heart aflame with piety towards God, will overflow in charity towards others. A man who kneels in prayer before the Lord, will rise with hands ready to assist his needy brethren. The woman who delights in Jesus will, by that same delight, pour forth kindness, mercy, and selfless love to those around her.
Let us then pursue both. Let our piety deepen in worship, obedience, and holiness. Let our charity widen in mercy, generosity, and kindness. For the God who commands our devotion, also commands our compassion. He has joined together, what no man should separate: love for God, and love for neighbor.
Matthew Henry: "The law of love is one law, though it runs in two channels. The love of God is the fountain, and the love of our neighbor is the stream that flows from it."
Jonathan Edwards: "True piety in the heart, naturally disposes men to love their fellow men."
Lord, grant me a heart that trembles at Your Word and delights in Your presence. Let my love for You, overflow in love for others. May my piety be genuine, and may my charity be the fruit that proves it--all for the glory of Christ. Amen.
"This commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God (piety) must also love his brother (charity). 1 John 4:21~ ~ ~ ~
Suicide
(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)
Richard Baxter (16151691)"Self-murder is but the devil's work; a flying from God to Satan, from Him who is the giver of life, to him who was a murderer from the beginning. To kill oneself is to shut the door of mercy upon oneself forever."
John Flavel (16271691)
"There is more mercy in Christ, than sin in us. This keeps the tempted soul from laying violent hands upon itself, for why should I hasten into Hell, when I may flee to Christ?"
Richard Greenham (15351594)
"The devil suggests that death is better than life; and that to rid oneself of life, is to be rid of woe. Whereas he who kills himself, does cast both body and soul into everlasting destruction."
John Owen (16161683)
"Despair drives the sinner to destroy himself, thinking thereby to be rid of misery--when indeed he does but cast himself into eternal misery."
William Perkins (15581602)
"To kill a man is murder; to kill oneself is murder against oneself, which is no less a sin before God."
Arthur Pink (18861952)
"Self-destruction is self-damnation. The suicide rushes unbidden and crimson-handed into the presence of his Judge."
"To die in rebellion against God by one's own hand, is to plunge both body and soul into Hell."
Richard Sibbes (15771635)
"The least drop of true grace, is stronger than all the powers of Hell--and is enough to keep the soul from self-destruction."
Charles Spurgeon (18341892)
"Self-murder is a dreadful crime. He who ends his life with his own dagger, does but leap from the fire into the flame."
"Suicide does not end suffering, but begins it. It is not the end of trouble, but the door into ten thousand times more sorrow."
"The result of self-murder is to seal the soul's doom. To die impenitent is fearful, but to die by one's own hands is to enter eternity with crimsoned hands and despairing heart."
"The poor suicide dreams of finding rest, but awakes in everlasting unrest. He sought the grave, but found Hell."
"To attempt to escape affliction by suicide, is to take up the far heavier affliction of eternal anguish."
"Self-murder is that crime of all crimes, the most sure of damnation, if a man commits it willfully and in his sound mind!"
Thomas Watson (16201686)
"Satan tempts to self-murder, persuading the soul that thereby it shall be freed from misery. But it is but to leap out of the frying pan into the fire; from temporal torment, into eternal torment."
"Hope is the helmet that keeps the Christian's head from the bullet of despair and self-murder."
God Almighty
"You know that no murderer has eternal life in him." (1 John 3:15)
"But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars--their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 21:8)
So far as God's view of suicide, we are assured that He is holy, righteous and just in all that He does: "Far be it from You to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Genesis 18:25