02.01. Living Without God
01. Living Without God
How can I live well? and how can I die well? are two of the most important inquiries we can make. I wish every one of my readers was really anxious to have them answered. I wish that every one now taking the Bible in hand felt a real earnest desire to know the way of life, and to walk in it.
Blessed Spirit of God, give us this concern. Awaken in us this longing. Give us now thirsting souls, which only Your truth can satisfy. Bless the writer of this volume — enable him to speak for You. And send none away from the perusal of this book empty and unfed.
’The Christian Life’ is a subject of much importance; and I do trust that it may interest you, and do you much good.
’The Christian Life’ — this is my subject; and my first chapter will be on Living without God.
Paul speaks in his Epistle to the Ephesians of those who have not yet entered on the Christian Life, and have therefore ’no hope, and are without God in the world.’ Who are these? There were many in his day, and there are many now, living just as he describes — without hope and without God. The Gospel had only reached Ephesus about ten years before these words were written. Even these very Christians whom he addresses were, a short time before, in all the misery and darkness of heathenism. There was no one to show them the way of salvation. No one in that famous city knew that there was a Savior, or could give any tidings of that other world to which they were all hastening. But now the light from above had shone upon them: the ’Sun of Righteousness’ had risen upon them with ’healing in His wings.’ That was the happiest day that ever dawned upon Ephesus, when three strangers made their appearance in its streets, proclaiming the glorious news of salvation. These were Paul, and his two friends Aquila and Priscilla — Paul the Preacher, and Aquila and Priscilla his helpers. The Apostle’s preaching was greatly blessed in that city, and numbers were gathered into the fold of Christ. This then was the little Christian Church, or company of Believers, to whom he afterwards wrote his epistle. In the chapter to which I have alluded, he reminds them what their state had once been, and what grace had done for them. ’At that time,’ be says, ’you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world.’
Now, perhaps some will say, ’Thank God, WE were never in that state. The words may suit those blind Ephesians; but we, at all events, were never in so godless and hopeless a condition as this. But in point of fact, we were in a worse condition. Yes, you and I were once even worse than they ever were. They were blind, it is true; but we had eyes — and yet would not see. All was light around us — but was there not darkness, gross darkness, within us? They were ignorant of the way of life — we knew it, but did not walk in it. They had never heard of a Savior — we were baptized in His name. We outwardly belonged to Him — but our hearts were closed against Him. Was not this the case with all of us once? Is it not the case with many of us now? And if the state of the ignorant heathen, and of the unbelieving Jew, is a sad one — oh, sadder still is the state of the heedless professor — ’having no hope, and without God in the world.’
Let us take these two expressions separately; for they are both full of meaning.
’Having no hope!’ How is it with the mere nominal Christian? Has he any hope?
Take the first man you meet, and ask him what his hope is. Perhaps he is one who entirely neglects God, a thoroughly irreligious man. But he does not acknowledge that he is altogether without hope. He will say, ’I know I am not serving the Lord. My conscience often whispers to me that all is not right. But then I hope to be one day different. It must be indeed a long lane that has no turning in it. Others have turned, and I hope I shall before I die.’ Yes, he has a hope. This is his hope — that he will one day come right. The next person you come across is not a downright wicked man; but he is a little thoughtless — rather fond of the world. He will say, ’I have wronged no man. I have defrauded no man. I am no one’s enemy, except perhaps my own. Surely God will not be so strict as He is represented to be. If I do not find mercy, there will be thousands in a worse condition than myself.’ This is his hope.
You see a third, who is upright, honest, regular, and in every respect well conducted. Not a word was ever whispered against him. He is a kind person, a straightforward man of business, a good master, or a faithful servant. He is a church-goer too — punctual in his place in God’s House. His knees are bent in prayer morning and evening. His Bible is read, if not every day, most days at least, when nothing interferes to prevent it. Has not this man a hope? Yes, certainly — and what is it? Why, he hopes that as a matter of course all must be right with him — and that the gate of Heaven will be opened to one so worthy.
Each one of these, you see, has a kind of hope. And yet what is it worth? In point of fact, it is worth nothing. It only deceives. It only gives a false peace. It acts as a soothing lotion to the conscience. It is like untempered mortar, which looks well enough when daubed upon the wall; but when the storm comes, the wall will fall to pieces. In each of these cases which I have mentioned, the hope of the Bible is lacking. None of them has a really Christian hope.
Remember, there is such a thing as a false hope — a hope that will utterly fail us. We read in the Book of Job, that ’the hypocrite’s hope shall perish!’ His ’trust shall be a spider’s web!’ And suppose a man were to trust to a mere spider’s web — suppose a drowning man were to cling to it — would he not be sure to perish? Then, just as surely will those be lost, who lean upon such broken reeds as I have described.
But, thank God, there is a hope, better, stronger, and more true than these — a hope which the Apostle speaks of as ’sure and steadfast,’ like the firmly grounded anchor to which the ship is moored, and then is able to defy the storm. The Christian’s hope is certain. Those are blessed words in our Burial Service — blessed words, when read over the grave of a true Believer, of one who has really died in the Lord, ’We therefore commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust, in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ.’
Yes, the Christian’s hope is certain; for it rests, not on what he himself has done, or upon the promise of a fellow-worm — but upon what Christ has done for him, and on the unchangeable word and promise of his God.
You know, I dare say, that in the very center of the city of London stands the great Cathedral of St. Paul. The last time I passed by it, a few weeks ago, I saw numbers of people in the street with their eyes directed towards something high up on the steeple. I stopped, and looked also; and there, far aloft, almost out of sight, could be seen a man working in a kind of cradle. It seemed as though he was in the utmost peril — but in fact he was secure. It made one giddy to watch him; but he was quite safe. There was a strong rope to which he was slung, which passed upwards, and entered through a trap-door above him; and this rope was fastened to a stout beam within. The wind might whistle around him, but he had nothing to fear. He could look upon the dizzy crowd below, but he felt no alarm; he was safe.
What a picture of the Christian! In the hour of his greatest weakness, he looks up to Heaven and feels that all is secure. There is his Father, seated on His eternal throne! There is his Savior — no longer a suffering, dying Savior — but a living Savior, an Almighty Savior — who has paid the debt, and now rejoices to bless His saved ones. There is his anchor, firmly grounded. There is his hope, firmly fixed, as the Apostle says, ’within the veil.’ And if he clings to this, nothing can ever harm him. Satan may tempt and harass him — but none can pluck him out of his Father’s hands. Trials may come; sickness may come; death may come — but ’underneath are the everlasting arms,’ bearing him up. Who can move him from his strong, firm hold? ’Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us!’
Ah, but there are thousands in Christian England — numbers whom you yourself know — of whom it may be said, They have no hope. But now let us look at the other expression, ’Without God in the world.’ There are very many, who are living in God’s world, but seem to forget that it is His world, and that He is the great Lord of it.
God is not in their thoughts, in their plans, in their homes, or in their hearts.
He is not in their THOUGHTS. They rise in the morning; say a short prayer, it may be; and then set about the business of the day. They eat their food; but forget the hand that feeds them. The very animals about them put them to shame; for ’The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib — but my people, says the Lord, do not consider.’ They receive mercies — but they take them as a matter of course, never lifting up their hearts to Him who is the gracious Giver of them. They have continual needs — but they do not apply to Him who is ever ready to relieve them. Hour after hour passes, without one look, one cry, one desire being raised heavenward.
I ask, Is it not so with some who read this book? Have there not been many days of our lives, when we have lived as if there was no God above us — and no Savior near us? Yes, and even the more serious of us — how often do we forget God! How very few are those moments during the day, when He is foremost and uppermost in our thoughts!
Then, too, God is not in our PLANS. We are always scheming for our happiness — some in one way, and some in another. The merchant embarks in a speculation. He lays out his money in the hope of getting a good return for it. The farmer parcels out his land to the best advantage. He sows his fields, and expects to fill his barns. The servant leaves a situation in the hope of bettering herself. We determine to do this or that tomorrow. We lay our plans for weeks and months to come. But has God nothing to do with all these arrangements? No, perhaps nothing in our view of the matter. We have never consulted Him. We have acted altogether without Him. And yet we cannot move a single step — we cannot succeed in a single instance — without His interference.
It is true, we do succeed oftentimes apparently without His help. He gives us success without our seeking it. But what is that success worth? It is an awful thing to see a godless man prospering — to see him grow richer and richer — to see his flocks and herds increasing — and yet no blessing with it. Better is it to have all our plans fail — better to have our schemes fall to the ground — than to prosper, but ’without God.’
Think of this, my friend. Begin life anew. Rearrange your plans. ’Commit your way unto the Lord — trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.’ It is right, quite right, to provide for the future. It is right to be active in business. But we must also be ’fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.’ Happy the man who takes God into partnership with him; and who desires that every work may be ’begun, continued, and ended in Him.’
Again, there are some of us who must own that God is not in our HOUSES. Friends are welcome. Visitors are admitted. But He, the truest Friend, the best Visitor, is shut out. And yet where God is, there is peace — peace in that home, in that family, in those hearts.
It is very painful to go into a house, and feel that there are comforts there — there is everything there that marks care, and attention, and regularity. Perhaps the master and mistress are kind, and civil, and pleasant in their manner. But there is a deficiency in that house. One thing is lacking, and that the chief of all. God is not there. Many things are thought of, and many things done; but the ’one thing needful’ is neglected. Alas! is not this the case with some houses and cottages where we often enter?
Hear what the Lord Himself says, ’The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked; but He blesses the habitation of the just.’
Now, whether you are rich or poor, see that God is with you, dwelling with you, taking up His abode in the midst of you. And there is one thing that I would earnestly press upon you, and that without delay — if you have not established Family Prayer in your household, do so immediately, from this very day. A blessing will come with it. I know it will. For God has declared, ’Those who honor me, I will honor.’ But there is another place from which God is often, very often, shut out — from our HEARTS.
There it is that He loves to dwell. ’Thus says the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.’ The treasure of the Miser is in his heart. His money may be placed in the bank. It may be hoarded up there, or be put out to interest. But its hateful savor — the taste of it — the miserable love of it — is within him — his heart is full of it. And so, if our treasure is in Heaven, if God is our God, and Christ our Friend — then surely we shall feel His presence in our hearts, comforting us, warming us, filling us with joy and peace and gladness.
Ah, if you are one in whose heart God has no place, you are not happy. I know you cannot be. You may have friends and children to cheer you. You may have bread enough and to spare. The world may smile upon you. But you cannot say, ’I am happy.’ You cannot lift up your heart and say, ’Thank God there is peace, blessed peace, in my soul.’ And now a word or two more before the chapter closes.
Ask yourself: Does Paul’s language describe me? Is it possible that I can have been living hitherto ’without God,’ and that if I die it will be ’without hope?’
Think what it is to LIVE without God — to feel that He is at a distance from you — that you have nothing to do with Him. Oh tremble to live another hour, another moment, without Him. Do not dare to begin another day without asking Him to be with you, to guide, and direct, and keep, and bless you. Do not dare to lay your head upon your pillow another night, without asking Him who is the Keeper of Israel to be your Keeper. Say to yourself, ’From this day I will begin a new life. God shall be my God. I will yield myself up to Him.’ And think also what it is to DIE without hope. In that lonely, solitary hour, when heart and flesh fail — when the world is melting away from under us — when friends cannot help us, and thousands of gold and silver, if we had them, could give us no consolation — when life is ebbing fast, and death draws nearer, and eternity lies outspread before us — then to have no hope, no Father’s arm to support us, no Savior to cling to as our refuge — who can tell the misery of this! Oh that it may not be so with you! Oh that you may ’turn to the stronghold,’ as a ’prisoner of hope!’ Oh that you may flee to Christ today, before the night comes, when He will be shut out from us forever! May the Lord Himself speak to some heart which He has never reached before! May He send His grace into that heart! May He disturb you, if you are asleep! May He prick your conscience, if it is dull! May He never leave you until you have heartily entered upon that new and Christian Life, of which I shall speak to you in the next chapter.