Beware of Splitting Upon This Rock!!

If Christ is truly precious to us, we shall be ready to deny ourselves for Him. "If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me." (Luke 9:23) 

Jesus Himself has been pleased to give us a safe and proper rule of judgment in this case: "If you love Me keep My commandments." (John 14:15) "He who has My commandments and keeps them he it is that loves Me." (John 14:21)

His Word and will have a prevailing, governing influence on the hearts and lives of those to whom He is precious. A steady desire and endeavor to avoid those things which are displeasing in His sight is a practical proof that He is dear to us. To deny ourselves is to give up our own supposed wisdom, that we may be entirely under the guidance of God; to resign our own wills that we may be subject to His will; and to yield our passions to His government. To deny ourselves is to forego everything sinful to which self is inclined; to practice every holy thing to which self is averse; and to be ready to give up everything dear to ourselves at the call of God as our ease, our friends, our goods, our health, or even our life. It is a disowning or renouncing ourselves for Christ; making us nothing that He may be all. 

This cannot be sincerely done unless Jesus is truly precious to us; or which is the same thing unless He is the object of our supreme affection. But if this is the case, we shall give up ourselves, with all that we have, to Him, without making any reserve. We shall, on a deliberate counting of the cost, choose the religion of Jesus, with all its difficulties just as Moses chose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin which are but for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt. 

This is what our Lord means by the strong figurative expressions of plucking out the right eye and cutting off the right hand. That is parting with everything dear to us when it stands in competition with Him or is opposed to His service or His honor. For He justly reminds us, that "no man can serve two masters; either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to the one and despise the other." (Matthew 6:24)

He constantly teaches us the necessity of preferring Him and His interest and service to the dearest objects on earth. "For he who loves father or mother, son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me." (Matthew 10:37-38)

When matters come to such a crisis that a man must either break with his nearest and dearest relations and friends or break with Christ he who prefers their favor and friendship to Christ's, and will not give up temporal endearments for His sake is not worthy to be owned as one of Christ's real disciples, nor can he partake of the spiritual and eternal blessings which belong to such. He who prefers his own ease and safety in this world to the truths and the service of Christ, cannot be justly deemed one who sincerely loves Him, or one to whom He is precious. 

The same lesson has taught us by the parable of the treasure hidden in a field, which, when a man has found it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. And likewise, by that of a merchantman, seeking fine pearls, who having found one pearl of great price he goes and parts with all, that he may possess that pearl. He is willing to give up the riches, the honors and pleasures of this world for the enjoyment of that inestimable treasure which he has discovered. Self-denial, in respect to things in themselves sinful, should be universal; otherwise, we do not give proper evidence of the sincerity of our love for Christ. 

Many go very far in a profession of religion and yet live in the habitual indulgence of some sin either great or small, secret or open. O reader, examine yourself, and beware of splitting upon this rock! Let us labor then, to mortify corrupt passions, inclinations and affections; and not willfully indulge ourselves in any sinful habit, custom, or practice!

[John Fawcett] 

1 Peter 2:7... Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,

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True Faith

True faith transforms the temper and frame of our souls into another image, even the image of Christ. This is done, in some degree, in the first saving discovery which we have of Him; so that he who truly believes in Jesus, is a new creature. 

We hence infer, that to be a real believer, is to be a new creature. Our very tempers are changed into Christ's holy likeness. The meek and lowly, the devout and heavenly mind, which was in Christ Jesus in some degree, takes place in us.

Such is the efficacy of saving faith that it is the vigorous root to all holy obedience.
it bears up the soul amidst the severest trials; it strengthens it for the most arduous services; enables it to overcome the world, and to lay hold upon eternal life.

Faith genuinely influences all the powers of the soul, and all the actions of the life, according to the degree of its vigor, strength, and liveliness. The more we live by faith in Jesus, the more steadily we look to him, the more we shall be transformed into His likeness.

True faith sets all things in a different light before the eyes of the soul. It alters the view and appearance of all the great and mirthful things of this world. The treasures, the splendors and the entertainments of this world were once the most inviting objects upon which we could look. But now we look on the world, with all its most glittering and the richest scenes as trifling, poor, and despicable things. We are crucified to the world, by the cross of Christ. 

We seek the things which are above, where our Redeemer sits; and when the world begins to flatter us again, and to appear great and tempting in our eyes renewed discoveries of Christ's glory, who is the chief among ten thousand, and altogether lovely eclipse the splendor of all below the skies. 

 [John Fawcett]

2 Corinthians 5:17 ...  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Galatians 6:14 ...  But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

1 John 5:4 ...  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ❤

O, Eternity!!

Who do I see in those dark regions, stung incessantly with the ruthless fangs of the never-dying worm? A numerous crowd, who once despised the gospel of God and turned a deaf ear to the messages of salvation. In neglect and contempt of Christ, and the things of His kingdom, they went away: one to his farm, another to his business; preferring, either the pleasures of sense, or the paltry concerns of this transitory world to the treasures of the everlasting gospel, and the momentous affairs of eternity. 

Woe unto them! it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah than for them! Who, let me repeat the inquiry, Who do I behold in those infernal flames? The rich man, Dives! For eighteen hundred years he has been crying out in vain for one drop of water to cool his scorched tongue. But are his miseries any nearer to a close? Ah, no! The smoke of their torment ascends up forever and ever! Their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched!  Should the ablest arithmetician try to number the ages of eternity, he would be forever baffled. 

O, eternity! eternity! immense, unfathomable depth! Millions of millions of ages, and ten thousand times ten thousand millions more, would diminish nothing from the account of eternity! Is it possible for dying mortals to push the thought of eternity from their minds? Is it possible for them to be as thoughtless about it, as if it were no more than an idle dream? What can exceed what can equal the stupidity, the insensibility, the madness of sinful man! Lost sinner! where are you? Just on the verge of the burning lake! Should the feeble thread of life be cut, should you die in your present state then inevitable eternal damnation awaits you! 

Ask yourself seriously, "Can you dwell with devouring fire? Can you dwell with everlasting burnings?" If you can, go on and add iniquity to sin; still treasure up more wrath against the day of wrath; and, for the sordid, the short-lived pleasures of sin, reap eternal ages of woe and horror! You are purchasing your carnal delights at a dear rate indeed. Such is the horrid nature of sin, that its proper wages, its just desert is everlasting damnation, an eternal Hell of misery! 

[John Fawcett]

Jude 11: Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.

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His Example!

When you are tempted to any vanity, set the blessed Redeemer before you, consider His example, and ask yourself, "How would Jesus, my Lord and Master, have acted in such a case? Would He have spent His time upon such trifles? Would He have spoken such and such; or done this or the other thing, which I am solicited to do? And shall I give way to that which would be a manifest deviation from His holy example? God forbid!

[John Fawcett]

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2 John 1:6 ... And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Ephesians 4:17 ... This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

1 Timothy 4:12 ... Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.❤

Ready Or Not

This is a journey which may be near at hand. "I am this day going the way of all the earth." For anything we know, the journey may be just before us there may be but a step between us and death! We have perpetual admonitions respecting the shortness and uncertainty of life. The Word and the ministers of God unitedly call our attention to those subjects, and we ought earnestly to pray that the Lord would teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Our days are but a span, a hand-breadth, an inch or two of time. Life is but a vapor that appears for a little season, and then vanishes away. Life is but like a flower of the field, which quickly fades, withers and dies away. Our breath is in our nostrils, ever ready to depart, and any motion of our lungs may be the last. 

While the man is vainly dreaming of years of felicity on earth, God says unto him, "You foolish mortal, this night shall your soul be required of you!" Thus the words of inspiration are verified: "In an hour when you think not, the Son of man will come." The living know that they must die. All men are sensible that they must go on this journey sooner or later, but the general part of mankind consider it as at a considerable distance. What numbers do we hear of who are cut off by sudden death! Many are called to set out on this journey at a moment's warning. The darksome messenger comes, and they must go, whether they are prepared or not. Ready or not, the summons must be obeyed; whether they are busy or indolent, active or negligent, they must immediately set out on this important journey. The call is often given at an unexpected moment. 

You must soon leave all the pleasures, endearments, and advantages of your present state and launch forth into an unknown eternity! Oh that every one in this assembly may leave here under a deep conviction that his journey of death may be very near! Then he will begin to be seriously attentive to everlasting things, and will no longer trifle with God and with the eternal interests of his own soul. If we are the children of God then it is a journey to Heaven, to the regions of immortal light and felicity; to "a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." But if we are the children of the wicked one then it is a journey to Hell, to the abodes of darkness, horror, and black despair, "prepared for the devil, and his angels." The broad way of self-indulgence, folly and wickedness most certainly leads to eternal damnation. Can we conceive anything more dreadful than the doom of a dying sinner? To be driven from the presence of Christ as accursed, and to be consigned to everlasting misery who can for one moment bear the thought! If a man knows himself to be in danger of this, in danger every hour, every moment should he not eagerly and earnestly cry out, "What must I do to be saved!" 

Oh what a solemn journey is that which we have before us! A journey to eternity, a journey which will bring us where we must be, not for an age only, but for millions of ages, more millions of ages than there are sands on the sea shore; more millions of ages than there are blades of grass on the surface of the earth; more millions of ages than there are atoms in the universe! May our hearts be dead to all earthly good. May our affections be set on things above, and our thoughts be in Heaven that better country to which we are going, and where we will dwell forever. 

 [John Fawcett]

Psalm 39:4 ... Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.

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My Unstable Soul

If men have no inward grief on account of their ingratitude to a dying Savior it indicates a lack of love to Him, and that they have not a just sense of the evil and malignity of their sin.

To think of the love of Jesus to my poor soul manifested in His sorrows, His sufferings, His agonies, and  the shedding of His precious blood pierces my heart, and makes me loathe myself in my own sight.  While I look to Him upon the cross whom I have pierced by my sins, surely I ought to mourn and be in bitterness, as one who mourns for the death of his  firstborn. 

Shall not I shed tears of grief for those sins, for which my Redeemer shed His precious blood?

[John Fawcett]

Psalm 25:11 ...  For thy name's sake, O Lord, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great.

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Absolute Need

The sense we have of our continual and absolute need of Christ, has a tendency to engage our affections to Him. At our first conversion, when we were turned from darkness to light,  we saw ourselves lost, and that none but Christ could save us;  we felt the wounds of a guilty conscience, and we knew that He alone could heal them;  we trembled before the offended Majesty of God, and we were persuaded that He alone could deliver us from the wrath to come;  we saw that there was no remission of sin, no reconciliation with God, no salvation but through Jesus.

Hence He became, at that period all in all to us.

[John Fawcett]

Colossians 3:11 ... Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

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Christ Precious

We see, in our Divine Leader, the several precepts of God's Word drawn out in living characters. We behold them reduced to practice, and represented to the life in the whole of His conduct towards God and man. We see one in our nature, amidst all the assaults of temptation, amidst all the opposition which malignity could invent, and all the allurements of this glittering world--behaving in a manner exactly agreeable to the dictates of the Divine law, and leaving us an example that we should follow His steps.

Surely it must be delightful, not only to contemplate His character but to the utmost of our power to imitate the most perfect pattern which was ever exhibited. It must be desirable, by constant and strenuous exertions, according to our measure, to endeavor to trace the steps of His lovely feet.

[John Fawcett]

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1 Peter 2:21 ...  For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

1 John 2:6 ... He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Ephesians 5:2 ...  And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.❤

For Our Own Good

All the afflictions of God's people are designed, under His gracious management to test, to make manifest, and to exercise, those graces and virtues which He has implanted in them. Though afflictions in themselves are not joyous but grievous, nevertheless they yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness in those who are exercised thereby.

Afflictions serve to quicken the spirit of devotion in us, and to rouse us from that formality and indifference which frequently attend a long course of ease and prosperity. We are constrained to seek God with sincerity and fervor when His chastening hand is upon us, since we then feel our absolute need of that help and deliverance which He alone can give us.

Afflictions serve most effectually to convince us of the vanity of all that this world can afford, to remind us that this poor world is not our rest, and to stir up desires and hopes for our everlasting home.

Afflictions produce in us a spirit of sympathy towards our companions in tribulation.

Afflictions give occasion for the exercise of patience, meekness, submission, and resignation. Were it not for the wholesome and necessary discipline of affliction, these excellent virtues would lie dormant.

Afflictions serve to convince us more deeply of our own weakness and insufficiency, and to endear the person, the grace, the promises, and the salvation of our Redeemer, more and more to our hearts. Thus we are taught to esteem His very chastisements as precious on account of the benefits we derive from them.

Afflictions are not to punish, but to purify the believing soul.  They are not sent in wrath, but in mercy.

Amidst the distresses and miseries of life it is a felicity to belong to Christ, without whose appointment, no evil can befall us! He always sends afflictions for our good; and knows by experience, what it is to suffer them. His kind hand will speedily put an end to all the pains we feel, when we have derived from them all the good which He intends to do for us, by them.

[John Fawcett]

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Romans 5:3-4 … And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

2 Corinthians 4:17 … For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Hebrews 12:10 …  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.❤