SELF-EXAMINATION by A. S. Hutchins

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 23, 1861

SELF-EXAMINATION.

By A. S. Hutchins

“EXAMINE yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” 2 Cor. xiii, 5. These instructions to the church of God should come home to every heart with awakening and stirring power. A neglect of self-examination leads to self-deception, with its awful and alarming consequences. “Take heed unto thyself,” “Be not deceived,” are exhortations of vital importance in these “perilous times,” when men are “deceiving and being deceived.” “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity.” Matt. vii, 21–23.

“EXAMINE YOURSELVES.” This is an individual work. Each one must act and gain an experience for himself, or walk in darkness here, and fail of reaching the kingdom of God at last. As one cannot eat, drink, nor sleep for another, so one cannot act the part of another in the great and important work of preparation for a home among the pure and the blest.

This work is between ourselves and HIM who “searcheth the reins and hearts;” “for the Lord seeth not as man seeth: for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” He requires the service of a perfect heart and a willing mind. “For the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts; if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.” 1 Chron. xxviii, 9.

It often affords pleasure to form an acquaintance with others; but how few seek for a thorough acquaintance with themselves. How much more rapid would be our progress in the divine life, and how much more useful could we be in the service of our heavenly Master, if we watched ourselves as we should. “Study to show thyself approved unto God,” implies earnestness and deep anxiety in this good cause. For want of this, not unfrequently are our best resolutions of to-day nipped in the bud and die ere the rising of to-morrow’s sun. “Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.”

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.” The object of this examination is here stated: WHETHER YE BE IN THE FAITH. It is a matter of the utmost importance that we know whether our ways please the Lord or not. It is the privilege and duty of the Christian to have a living and satisfying experience in the service of the Lord. Everywhere we see the “form of godliness,” without the power. In all the walks of life may be met “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” Says the apostle, “From such turn away.” 2 Tim. iii, 5. The path of duty lies before the remnant church. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. xiv, 12. Can we heed this message and be left to guess whether we are in the faith?

Of one who walked with God three hundred years, it is said: “And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Gen. v, 24. “Before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” This holy man we believe to be a lively type of those who will be translated to heaven without tasting death, at the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Shall we be found in this highly-favored company without first obtaining the testimony that we please God? Can we obtain this testimony too soon?

“God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth; but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John i, 5–7.

O precious promise! that “the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Blessed hope! “And every man that hath this hope in him, purifieth himself even as he is pure.” “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps. li, 7, 9–13.

“PROVE YOUR OWN SELVES.” This is submitting our hearts and lives to the most thorough and impartial examination; to the closest possible scrutiny; to an untiring and constant investigation. Are our hearts pure? Are our motives right in the sight of God? Is our daily walk and conversation such as it should be? Does it correspond with our high profession?

Mark the broad road to death! 'Tis crowded with fashionable and world-loving professors. Thoughtlessly but hastily they rush on to sure destruction. They consider not the awful end that awaits them.

“Encompassed by a throng, On numbers they depend; They say so many can’t be wrong, And miss a happy end.”

But to come nearer home. Are we brethren and sisters, heeding the above injunction? Is it the greatest concern of our life to know that our ways please God? Have we given the attention to this subject that its importance demands? Time is too short; the liabilities of self-deception too numerous; and the consequences of it too awful, to be found stupid and indifferent on a subject of so great magnitude!

“Then saith the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways.” It is to be feared that many, even among professed Sabbath-keepers, spend but little time in considering their ways. They have a name to live, and with this apparently they rest contented. There are sins yet to be repented of, confessions to be made, crosses to be borne, and victories to be gained, which should long since have been done.

“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. 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.” Rev. iii, 15–17.

How large a number of us as a people will yet be spewed from the mouth of the faithful and true Witness, time will soon decide, and decide forever. It is certain that nothing will save us from being utterly rejected of him but heeding his counsel. “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, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

As we have said, this is an individual work. Let us then examine ourselves by the word of God. Let us try ourselves by the teachings of the Holy Spirit, and see whether we are in the faith. “Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.” Gal. vi, 4. “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.”

“O, may thy counsels, mighty God, My roving feet command; Nor I forsake the happy road, That leads to thy right hand.”