ARE WE LOVED OF JESUS?
By H. M. Kenyon
Says Jesus, "As many as I love I rebuke and chasten." Rev. iii, 19. The question may arise after reading this testimony of Jesus, Of what does this rebuking and chastening consist? for if we can understand by what we are chastened, and we feel its effect on our hearts, we may take it as an evidence that we are loved of Jesus. It is generally understood that chapters ii and iii of the book of Revelation cover the entire ground of the Christian age, and that this is divided into seven distinct periods, or states of the Christian church. We find that to each church there is a particular message, either of reproof or encouragement. For instance, to the church of Ephesus the message is, "I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love." Therefore there is a call for them to repent. Rev. ii, 3, 4. With the church in Smyrna there is no fault found, but the testimony is, "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life." When we come to the seventh or last state of the church, what testimony do we find? "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 spue thee out of my mouth." As the last state of the church will reach down to the coming of Christ, it will be expected of those that compose that state of the church, that they will be striving to live in conformity to all the teachings of God's word, and seeking for holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Heb. xii, 14. For this we supposed we were seeking, and rejoicing in the truth that God in his mercy had caused to shine on our pathway, and saying we were rich and increased in goods (having all the truth), and having need of nothing, and expecting that in a few years Jesus would come to take his tempted followers home, when, lo! the pointed rebuke comes to us that we are lukewarm, and nauseous to the Lord. And now as the testimony [Rev. iii, 14] is addressed to that people which compose the seventh or last state of the church, of course it applies to us. Now says Jesus, "As many as I love I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore and repent." What are we to repent of? Certainly of the very thing for which we are found fault with. What is that? Answer, lukewarmness. Therefore the rebuking and chastening consists in acquainting us with the fact that we are in a condition that unless we are zealous and repent we shall be spued out of the mouth of God. Dear brethren and sisters, do we feel the force of this testimony, "As many as I love I rebuke and chasten?" Do we feel rebuked by this testimony? Do we feel like humbling ourselves before God, and with godly sorrow confessing our sins? or have we settled down into a careless, indifferent state, our love for God and his truth grown cold, and instead of believing the coming of our Lord near, even at the doors, putting it years in the future? Four years are already in the past, since we understood that this testimony applied to us. When the testimony first came we were aroused and acknowledged its truthfulness, by striving to get nearer to God. But because we were disappointed in our expectations we lost our zeal in a measure, but the truth is the same. Still the testimony to us is, "Be zealous and repent." May the Lord help us to realize the importance of this time. O, that this testimony might have its designed effect on our hearts. "No chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous. Nevertheless, afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby." O that we might be exercised by the testimony to the Laodiceans. Says Jesus, "If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with me." May the Lord help us, one and all, that we may unbar the door of our hearts, that Jesus can have an admittance there.