A Fitness for the Kingdom.
By Dr. G.
WITHOUT holiness, no man can see the Lord. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. The road that leads to death is broad, and many walk therein; while the road to life is straight and narrow, and few find it. When one said unto our Saviour, "Are there few that be saved?" he said unto them, "Strive to enter in at the straight gate, for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are; then shall ye begin to say, we have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But ye shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity." If there is any belief that will search the heart of man, and penetrate the inmost recesses of his soul, it must be a conviction that we are soon to enter the presence of the Lord—that the Judge standeth at the door. "He that hath this hope in him," says the Apostle, "purifieth himself even as he is pure." God is too holy a being to regard sin but with displeasure; and none can hope to enter his pure presence, who are in any wise defiled with it. How important it is, then, that we who hope soon to see our Saviour, should see to it, that we do not deceive ourselves. We cannot serve two masters; neither can we gain a better world, while we set our affections on the things of this. We must feel to renounce all things for Christ, who left his Father's glory, and died for us. If there is any tie which leads us to earth, it may retain us here, when our Lord shall come. We therefore need to make a free and full surrender of our all into the hands of God, who alone can sustain us, who is our Creator, Preserver, and most bountiful Benefactor. God will accept no half-way devotion, no divided affections; but if we will be accepted of him, we must be entirely and unreservedly devoted to him and his service. Doubtless, many who are looking for the Lord, will find in that day, that they had idols in their hearts, that they had trusted more to their own righteousness than to the righteousness of Christ, and that they have come short at last of entering his everlasting kingdom: If we would be saved, we must love the Lord our God with all our heart, and soul and mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves; we must walk soberly, and godly, righteously in this present evil world; looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; and trusting entirely to the righteousness of Christ, as our only hope of safety. We are to be washed in the blood of Christ, and cleansed from all sin. We are to forsake our sins by righteousness, and our iniquities by turning to the Lord. We are to cease to do evil, and learn to do well. We must be purified, and made white and tried; and we have the promise of the Lord, that if we will repent, though our sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. We should set our standard of Christian character high, and should avoid even the appearance of evil.—If we are truly sanctified, we shall be found sitting at the feet of Jesus, willing that his will should be done in all things. If our righteousness does not exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we can in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.—How important it is, then, that we should examine ourselves in the light of God's word, and see to it that we possess that holiness without which no man can see the Lord, but which will be to us a wedding garment.