How Is It with Thy Soul? by R. V. Lawrence

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 7, 1865

How Is It with Thy Soul?

By R. V. Lawrence

"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 unto 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 will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, ye workers of iniquity." Matt. vii, 21–23.

This is, to me, a very startling passage of Scripture. It takes hold of my inmost soul. It describes a judgment-scene, and everything pertaining to the judgment is startling to me—it may not be to all. * I presume it is not, for many act as though they had never heard any such word; but when you speak to me of the judgment you make an irresistible claim on my attention.

And this text refers to a judgment-scene, in which a condemned minister of the gospel, or at least a very prominent professor of religion, is the central figure. "Prophesied," "cast out devils," "did many wonderful works," and yet condemned! Should not that startle me? It is so, that a man may preach, even be the means of reforming many, do many wonderful works in saving men, pass through life respected as a Christian, and without alarm, and yet be met in the day of judgment, with the dreadful words from Jesus Christ, "Depart from me ye that work iniquity?" Well may my heart be stirred. We are also to consider that there will be many such cases in that great day, not simply a few, not only one here and there, but many will say in that day, "Lord, Lord," and be sternly turned away. Think of the disappointment! Here are souls that will go right up to the gate of Heaven, expecting to enter, and saying, "Lord, here we come; we have been prophesying, been casting out devils in thy name, been doing wonderful works for thee; open the gate Lord, let us enter, that we may receive our reward." But instead of opening the gate the Lord will say, "I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity." O, my soul! art thou to meet with such a disappointment as that, in the day of God, after all my prayers and labors in the church? But,

I. Who are they that will be thus disappointed in this judgment-day?

1. Those who mistake conviction for conversion, and, resting there, never have a change of heart. And is it not to be feared that there are many such, in the churches at this day? Things "must be done decently and in order" now; the "strong crying and tears" of former times, the soul-searching altar-work, of other days, has, in too many instances, disappeared at the bidding of the so-called refinement of the times, which can be boisterous enough on change, in a sociable, or at a ball, but must preserve a death-like silence in the church. The proprieties of the times suffocate many a soul that might be born into the kingdom of God.

In these days of speculation, ill-gotten gains, extravagant building, equipage, and dress, it costs something to get a new heart, more than many are willing to pay. Restitution, self-denial, conformity in all things to the pattern given us in the Bible, many think a heavy sum to pay for a change of heart. Hence, many who are called Christians, know nothing experimentally about conversion. Such will be disappointed in the day of God.

2. Among the disappointed will be those who may have been converted, but afterwards failed to practice the self-denial, and to do the works enjoined by Christ. Let a person be converted, but fail to do the works of Christ, and yet all the while hold on to his profession, and keep his place in the church, and that man's spiritual life will die out of his soul so softly, that neither himself nor any one else will know that death has come. A mother had her child upon her arm, and they both slept sweetly, but in the night the child died, and so softly, that the mother knew it not until in the morning, when she awoke to caress it, she found it lifeless clay. So many a Christian lies down on the bosom of the church to take his ease, and then quietly dies.

May I tell you what is ruining souls very rapidly in these days? It is Religion made easy. Do you know what that is? You have read of "French made easy in six lessons," and "German made easy in six lessons?" Well they have "religion made easy" in one. A man goes to the altar, is converted, joins the church, communes, and pays his money to support the institutions of the gospel; yet never takes up a cross, or does anything unpleasant to the flesh; but imitates the world in eating, drinking, dressing, buying and selling, and seeking amusement. This is religion made easy—the gilded Antinomianism, that fills and curses the church of the present day. "Religion made easy!" My soul, that will not do for thee! A division of our army tried "war made easy" in the west near Shiloh. The soldiers were fatigued with hard marching: they crossed the Tennessee river, marched on two or three miles toward Corinth, and then encamped. The tents were pitched, and the picket line thrown out. Then the officers slept in their tents, the soldiers slept in the ranks, and the pickets slept on their posts. So war was made easy. But with the earliest dawn, the rebels came marching on, the pickets, without giving any alarm, fell into the hands of their enemies; many of the officers were bayoneted in their beds, and 5,000 of the soldiers were taken prisoners at once. This was war made easy—easy for the rebels, but hard for us, for they gained such an advantage in the early morn, that before night, they almost pushed our broken legions into the Tennessee, and it required all the indomitable energy of Grant, to overcome the disadvantage, and wrest victory from their grasp. War made easy will not do for the Union cause, nor will religion made easy do for my soul. Religion made easy will get its eyes open, in the day of judgment, just in time to see the frown of the Judge, as he says "Depart from me ye that work iniquity." Self-denial, cross-bearing, and good works will do better for thee, O my soul, than religion made easy.

3. Among those who are to be disappointed in the day of God, let me number those who take opposite extremes, and run their religion into works, but become void of spiritual life, and of that love without which one is but sounding brass and tinkling cymbal. They are active, they do many wonderful works, preaching the law, lecturing on morals, inducing men to reform, building churches, and devising liberal things for the cause of God, and yet all the time, void of that perfect love which casteth out fear, and which alone can prepare a soul for Heaven. Selfishness, ambition, desire of gain, love of popularity, and I know not how many other impure motives, may concur to impel a man to the performance of these works. I doubt not that there are many ministers, who were considered revivalists, preached eloquently, promoted reformation, did many wonderful things, yet their motive power was pride,—they were determined that their life should be a success,—or love of popularity, the spring of action with so many, and they will be driven away from the throne of God. The performance of all possible good works, can never set aside the absolute necessity of spiritual life and love as the preparation for the heavenly state. Is not the apostle very clear on this subject in the thirteenth of first Corinthians? Prophesying, faith, alms deeds, and good works, are there declared to be but sounding brass and tinkling cymbal, without God-given love. Love to God, and to

all mankind alone will do. And yet how deficient in this chief requisite of salvation, is the church of the present day? What bitterness of spirit, has Satan distributed through almost every society? What political hatred now rankles in thousands of so-called Christian hearts? And hatred toward the negro, is bearing myriads of souls right down to hell, though they are all the time entertaining a hope of Heaven. A minister of the New Jersey Conference, when about to take his missionary collection of last year, stated that increased liberality was demanded, by the fact that many freedmen were coming into our lines, and needed missionary laborers among them. A prominent Methodist, who had been giving fifteen or twenty dollars to missions, thereupon said, "I will not give anything now,—I'll not give to niggers," or words to that effect. And yet that man's Bible says that under the preaching of the gospel, Ethiopia shall stretch out her hands unto God. Does it seem that that man could have felt the first, the very first breathings, of the sweet spirit of Christian love upon his soul? And yet with all these dreadful deficiencies, distributed with Satanic liberality through the church, we call ourselves Christians, and all, apparently, are going on toward the day of general doom, in full expectation of being admitted into Heaven to dwell and sing in bliss forever? Many are to be doomed to sad and eternal disappointment. If you will give the Devil a little help, he will so effectually deceive you, that you will march right up to the mansions of bliss, when you are only fit to be shut up in the caverns of hell. And the very language of assurance, that we Methodists have been taught to use concerning our spiritual state, the Devil makes subservient to the deception of many. You are converted, you feel it all through your soul; you say so in plain language, and that is right, and the Devil is mad enough about it. But now you bear no crosses, do but few if any, of the works of God, or perhaps you perform works, but you indulge in bitterness against some who have injured you. Now you go to another experience meeting; it is your turn to speak, what will you say? that you are still a child of God? But what about your refusal to bear crosses, or denying self, or your bitter spirit? Are not these in the way? "But what," say you, "can these little things deprive me of my sonship? was I not clearly converted? I am a child of God." So though there is but little if any repentance, for your shortcomings, yet you confidently asseverate that you are an heir of God; and all this is done a hundred times over, until you come to fully believe the lie yourself. And at the same time you are brothered here and brothered there. Does not the church and the world too, consider you a Christian? O that old deceiver! How smoothly he carries on the work of destroying souls. You see that "many" are likely to be turned away in disappointment in "that day."

II. But some may ask, is it right, or does it seem right, for God thus to turn these characters away from the gate of Heaven, in the judgment, when it is too late for further preparation, seeing that they did many good works, and were indulged in hopes of eternal bliss? Yes, it must seem right to the thoughtful.

1. Has not God a right to lay down his own conditions for admission into Heaven? And has he not declared that nothing but purity can enter Heaven? And declared it so plainly that the Bible cannot be read without seeing it? And because men comply with a few of these requirements, is God to set others aside and admit them with half a fitness.

2. Can God permit Heaven to be destroyed? And what is essential to the very existence of Heaven? Harmony—the harmony of holiness and love. And would not the admission of one sinful disposition into Heaven, destroy that harmony, and so destroy Heaven? Are these characters referred to in the text, in force their way into that holy place to its destruction, just because they have done some things that the Christian should do?

3. Do you still think it hard that those who may expect to enter Heaven, should at the last be driven away in disappointment? It is hard and sad. But is God to blame? Does he not use most startling words in the Scriptures to arouse this very class and undeceive them before it is too late? Hear him, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven." "I would that ye were cold or hot: so then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." "Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy candle-stick out of his place." What startling words! You also remember the case of the foolish virgins, and the stirring words of the text. Now if men will build hopes of Heaven upon the sand, when God's words are flashing light upon them, revealing most clearly the folly of their course, will they have any right to complain when the baseless fabric falls in ruin to the ground? If you let the Devil deceive you, the blame is your own, God has faithfully warned.

III. But is religion so uncertain as to its nature and evidence, that let one do the best he can, he may be mistaken at the last? No, blessed be God; the way of salvation is so plain that the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err therein.

1. Let no one who is interested about his soul ever cease seeking pardon until he is satisfied in his own heart that he is converted—that he is a child of God, having certainly passed from death unto life, and become a new creature.

2. Then add good works immediately. Take up the crosses as soon as they present themselves. Let no neglected duty cast a shade of condemnation on your soul. Beware, oh, beware of "religion made easy."

3. Give all diligence at once to "go on to perfection." Hear the first command to the newly converted—"Leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ—go on to perfection." Remember that good works without this going on, are in the eyes of God "sounding brass and tinkling cymbal." And is there not a great deal of "sounding" and "tinkling" in the church at this day? God help us.

4. Be careful to keep the conscience tender. Oh, how safely will your conscience guide you if you keep it tender. As quickly as the eye will warn you of the approach of evil, will a tender conscience warn you when on dangerous ground. Like a wise judge will it sit in judgment on your feelings, words and actions, to determine their character. But you may make your conscience a false guide. Omit a Christian duty now and then, give way a little here and there, trying to persuade yourself that no harm is done, and you will, or may get your conscience so blind, so numb, that it will give you no warning, no sign, and never wake up, until down from the throne roll these dreadful words, "Depart from me ye workers of iniquity!" Stimulate your conscience well, with the liniment of prayer, enliven it with the friction of well-doing, gratify it by listening to its faintest calls, and it will be a sleepless guide to your soul.

5. Make the Scriptures your guide in all things. Do not imitate and follow each other. And yet how many do that? Three vessels were sailing along the Jersey coast. The foremost missed her reckoning, and went ashore. The second without reckoning for herself followed the first, and the third in like manner followed the second, and soon all three of them were, within a few yards of each other, stranded, wrecked, ruined, and two of them because they blindly followed. So souls may be seen on every hand, following others down to hell. Blindly follow no man. Make the Bible your guide. Do not imagine that anyone in the church is wise enough, or great enough, or good enough, to alter the Bible here and there.

6. Frequently "examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith." Examine your spirit, for some "know not what manner of spirit they are of;" examine your motives, examine your words, examine your works. Demand of yourself the most exact compliance with the requirements of God's word. Show mercy in judging others, but be rigid with yourself. And if in the process of self-examination, you find the following qualities in your heart and life, you may thank God and take courage: faith, perfect love and good works. These can find no place in hell; but for them Jesus Christ will find a place in Heaven. The man who has these in his heart and life, need not say "Lord, Lord!"

to attract attention in "that day," but the Judge will hail the possessor of these qualities and graces, saying "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."

Reader, Reader, on what ground dost thou stand this day? Should the dead, both small and great, be called this day to stand before God, what words would roll down from the lips of the great Judge to thine ear—"Depart?" or "Come?"—R. V. Lawrence, in Earnest Christian.