Prove Your Own Selves

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 22, 1902

Prove Your Own Selves

Are you a professor of Christianity? Then the important thing to do is to examine yourself, “whether ye be in the faith.” To profess Christ is one thing, but to be in the faith is the essential thing. Judas professed to believe in Christ, was a personal companion, an outward disciple, but never was “in the faith.” The idea contained in the word “examine” in the text referred to (2 Cor. 13:5) is better expressed in the second clause, “prove your own selves.” The Revised Version uses the word “try” instead of “examine.” It is by continual testing that one becomes purified. While Christ is sitting as a “purifier of silver,” examining every case, it is well for the individual Christian to try or prove himself, lest “when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended;” lest when he be “weighed in the balances” of the Lord’s examination, he be found wanting.

Sinner, “the mercy of the Lord endureth forever.” It is “from everlasting to everlasting.” As long as God exists, mercy sits enthroned; for mercy is essential to the very existence of Deity.

Would you taste of His mercy? “Let the wicked forsake his way [the way of death], and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God; for He will abundantly pardon.” “Whoso confesseth and forsaketh them [his sins] shall have mercy.” These are clear and definite statements of Holy Writ. Why not believe, then?

Do not say, in the light of these quotations, that the fault is on God’s part. He is “merciful.” “He abideth faithful,” “He can not deny Himself.” The fault is with man. The danger lies where the fault lies. The heart that resists God’s mercy finally becomes so hardened by sin that it can not feel God’s presence; the spiritual ear is so dull of hearing that it can not hear Mercy’s sweet voice; the spiritual eye is so dimmed that it can see no beauty in God’s goodness; the spiritual nerves are so paralyzed that they are unresponsive to His touch. What can Infinite Love then do but to say, “Ephraim is joined to his idols; let him alone”? O receive Him now before it is too late.