BLIND, deaf, and dead men are, in varying degrees, insensible to danger.
Professors of the gospel are characterized as blind, deaf, and dead, according to the way they deny the power of God, narrow down their lives to self-serving, and become oblivious to the gospel mandates.
The danger of the salt losing its savor, and the light growing dim and going quite out in darkness, is very great.
One would hardly suppose that the light so brilliantly flashing out in the times of Moses and Joshua, could have been so quenched as it was soon after in the times of the judges, or that the glory of Christ and the early church could have given place to the terrible night of the Dark Ages. Everywhere and always in the sacred word God's people are charged with perpetual backslidings. "My people are bent to backsliding from me."
But he who grieves and quenches the Spirit becomes insensible to the strivings of the Spirit. It requires more than mortal power to move him.
Now the gospel is a living issue, or it is nothing. Its life and its works are in the Spirit of the eternal God, and by his power, and where such life and works are not manifest, there is, of necessity, apostasy. Those who are cut off and "alienated from the life of God" have to carry their own burdens, and continually know sorrow and misery.
Now as the perpetual trend of the ages has been toward darkness and unbelief and final delusion, is it not well for us to anxiously consider, and to know our true state before God?
It is a notorious fact that many amongst God's people to-day are indifferent and careless, and darkness is shutting them in completely. Many whom we love are sealed for destruction. Unless someone puts forth the hand to snatch them from the fire, they will never be saved.
Nothing but a living faith will amount to anything at all, for Christ will not, cannot, bear your burdens unless you give them into his hands. The less we trust, the less can he do for us; the more we trust, the more he carries us and our burdens. All trust makes all things possible. A living faith says, "My Heavenly Father will help me personally, according to his promise." The language of faith is, "I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength." The moment we lose sight of God, strength gives place to weakness, light to darkness, righteousness to sin. Peace has flown. Why?—Because the courage born of the fact that Jehovah is our strength is all gone; we limit our efforts according to our own strength. But we forget that one of two spirits will have to do with us. If the Lord's strength does not give us liberty, we must be bound with the steel manacles of Satan.
"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." Hear, ye deaf, and look, ye blind; let the dead hear the voice of the Son of God, that they may live.
What shall we do?—The only answer is, "Let them take hold of My strength, that they may make peace with Me, and they shall make peace;" for "the fruit of righteousness shall be peace," and God's Spirit and power will give to everybody righteousness. We hear those in the dark say, "Pray for us." Very well, this we will do; but, in the meantime, do not trust to our faith. God would have you to know how to exercise faith, and, unless you do this, and yourself draw from the wells of salvation, you must surely fall.
Let the poor, weak, trembling, fearful soul first settle it that God surely wishes to save him and has strength to do it. Secondly, let him by the aid of the Spirit of God understand his weaknesses, wherein Satan gets advantage of him. Are you lacking in will power? Then take hold of God's strength to strengthen your will.
Never, never say, "I will do what I can and trust the rest to God." (But how commonly we find this sentiment.) Rather say, "I can do all things through the Lord who strengthens me; I can do all things, bear all things." Do not say, "I will trust self as far as I am able, and then leave the rest with God," but trust all to God from the first. Let the Lord do all, and remember the flesh profiteth nothing, but the Spirit is all powerful. Are you feelingless? Ask and take hold upon God to shed abroad his love in your hearts. Are you ignorant? Ask to have God's wisdom given you, and ask in faith, nothing wavering. Have God put his invincible will, his loving and his everlasting strength into you, and you will yourself be invincible through God. Heed the voice of the Spirit and take hold of those things that may be had simply by your taking them, without money.
There is no one who may not be "strong in the Lord and the power of his might."
Resist the wiles of Satan while ye may;
Hear the voice of Jesus, and obey.
Jamaica, Vt.