November 8

If we say we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth. - 1 John 1:6.

NOW, persons may say this by profession of it to others, and they may say it to their own souls, persuading themselves that they are real Christians when they have no part or lot in the matter, their hearts not being right in the sight of God. The possibility of this self-delusion is admitted in the very addresses given to guard us against it. Thus, it is said, “Be not deceived: God is not mocked. Let no man deceive himself.” “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own souls.” Thus, it is said of Ephraim, “A deceived heart hath turned him aside, that he cannot deliver his soul, nor say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?” And our Lord addressed a whole church of these deceived ones:-“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased in goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art poor, and blind, and naked.”

So there are thousands in our day who hear the word of God, but do it not; who have the form of godliness, but deny its power; who have a name to live, and are dead. Now, the falsehood of such pretensions to godliness, unaccompanied with a holy walk, is here denounced by the apostle in his usual way. So our Saviour says to the church in Smyrna, “I know thy works, and tribulations, and poverty, (but thou art rich,) and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” He calls it blasphemy, you see.

Congeniality must precede friendship; resemblance must precede fellowship; for “how can two walk together except they be agreed?” And therefore it will follow that a change of heart is necessary before we can enter into the kingdom of heaven; for without this change we can neither enjoy God nor serve him acceptably; therefore saith the Saviour, “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of heaven.” How long this delusion may continue it is impossible to determine. Sometimes the snare has been discerned in due time, and it is a mercy to be enabled to escape from it. In other cases the delusion is kept up, being cherished by the father of lies, till death; but it can continue no longer. According to our Saviour, this confidence may be entertained by the man until he has reached the very door of heaven. “Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house has risen up and has shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us, and he from within shall answer and say unto you, I know ye not whence ye are!” Not know us! Why, “we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I know ye not whence ye are: depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God, and ye yourselves shut out.” How awful will this be! and how awful the discovery then!

It would be bad enough to go to hell from heathen countries; but how awful it will be to go thither from the gospel and the sanctuary of God, from his ordinances and his table! Yet Solomon says, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”