“I Counsel Thee to Buy of Me Gold Tried in the Fire”
By Emma Hildreth Adams
By Emma Hildreth Adams
THE PRESENT SITE OF LAODICEA
THESE grave words, these words of urgency, of warning, of might, are part of a momentous message sent through John the apostle to one of the distinguished “seven churches of Asia,” in anno Domini 96.
They were sent by One whom John saw in a scene divinely portrayed, a scene displaying wonderful power, intense in its actuality. They were sent by One like unto the Son of Man, with face “like the sun shining in its strength;” by One holding in His right hand seven STARS shining in a crystalline sky, but with dark clouds threatening on the horizon.
Further, John beheld the Author of the weighty message walking amid seven golden candlesticks — symbolizing the seven churches — the lights in some of which were waning alarmingly through deeds and doctrines adverse to His perfect life and salutary teachings.
Like vigorous, daring weeds, these doctrines had pushed their way stoutly amid the wholesome growths, fostered in the churches by love of truth, by self-denial, and practise of great patience, and had thrust them aside until they “were ready to die;” until to “watch,” “repent,” and “hold fast” formed the single raft which could possibly convey the imperiled believers into the abounding haven of life.
To a special one of these seven churches, in the province of Asia, churches highly favored by the mighty, effective preaching of Paul, Barnabas, and Silas, was the apostle charged to deliver the thrilling counsel of our subject. The admonition was uttered to the church in greatest peril spiritually, to the one in which He, “who was dead . . . but is alive forevermore,” felt keenest interest, but for which He had no word of commendation.
Reader, notice a part of Christ’s keen, stirring, burning address to the church in Laodicea:
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.” Rev. 3:15-18.4
In the affairs of men to-day, and with most men, gold, or that which represents gold, is the supreme object of desire, the greatest incentive to toil, the most powerful stimulus to self-denial, and in myriads of cases is a mighty spur to a life of crime, opening the way to loss of liberty, to loss of life — to death, sad, repellent, and cruel.
Surely, then, literal coin of gold was not the eminent need of the lukewarm, perishing body of Christians in Laodicea.
Yet, evidently, in the mind of Him who said: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten,” it represented, in their case, the most necessary, most important of all possible possessions. It stood for the single thing which could withhold them from fatal plunge over the precipice they were approaching.
What then was this supreme need, this distinct want of the erring, imperiled, ease-loving Laodiceans? What was Christ’s thought, Christ’s intent, when He urged them to buy of Him gold refined in fire?
Clearly, it was a fervent, fundamental change of heart, of purpose. It was a speedy entrance upon a higher, truer, more upright order of LIFE. It was the attainment of the vital principle, the potent agency which would arrest quickly, absolutely, the process of decay then at work so vigorously, so alarmingly, among them.
Briefly, in fact, it was LIFE that the Lord would have those chilled Laodiceans buy of Him. That was a commodity they could obtain from no other source. “In Him was life.” John 1:4. He had said, during His life in Judea: “I am the bread of life.” “If any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever.” “Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood [by faith] hath eternal life.” “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.”
The gold, then, which He, who walked amid the seven golden candlesticks, counseled those wintry church-members to “buy” of Him, was life. But, with what could human beings drifting to death, buy life of its mighty Author? What could they give Him in exchange for life? What had they that He in the least desired?
The wisest, the most appropriate, the only exchange indeed, which the Laodiceans could make for the life-gold offered them, was to surrender themselves, body, soul, and life-long services, to Him who sent to the seven churches those mighty, wonderful messages.
Doubtless the Laodiceans regarded themselves as “rich and increased in goods,” whereas, in fact, they were miserable, poor, blind, naked. The only return they could possibly make for the priceless wealth the Saviour offered them, was their misery, poverty, blindness, lack of clothing. These were the only commodities in which they dealt. Of the article of righteousness they were destitute.
Fortunately, these things were the very merchandise the Possessor of gold craved. They would meet His desire completely. Hear some of His peerless assertions, His comforting promises:
“I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” “Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live.” “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, . . . I the Lord will hear them.” “I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground.” “I will bring the blind by a way that they know not; . . . I will make darkness light before them.” “Thou shalt know that I am the Lord, . . . when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done.”
But, the gold — the life — the Laodiceans were to attain in exchange for their wretchedness, penury, lack of eyesight, need of dress, was gold refined in most ardent fire; gold that had borne completest test in the personal experience of its omnipotent Possessor — the experience of heartless accusation, of frigid persecution, of utter rejection, even by those He came to save, and finally of DEATH, most painful, merciless, unmerited, wholly voluntary.
But every Laodicean who purchased this exalted, greatly to be desired gold-life could receive it only on condition that he walk in the footsteps of the crucified One. “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.”
Having become a part of the body of Christ — their Head — they must “fill up that which is behind” (lacking) of the afflictions of Christ. Whosoever “will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” “Whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” If we suffer with Him, we shall also reign with Him. Yea, all who will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
So, in us also, is the gold of life refined in intense, purifying fire.
