Lukewarmness — Zeal

'''Back to [[The Footsteps of Jesus]]''' ---- "Dear Lord, and shall we ever live  At this poor dying rate?  Our love so faint, so cold to You,  And Yours to us so great?" "For you are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1 Corinthians 6:20. "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold — I am going to vomit you out of My mouth!" Revelation 3:15, 16. It is an undoubted — but mournful truth, that God is not served with diligence and zeal, by the great mass of His professing people. There are many who are at ease in Zion; they are settled on their lees, like Moab of old. What if such were to keep a diary of their doings — what if they were to write down every day what they have done for God and His cause! What a record, we have reason to fear, would it be! What solemn blanks would be presented on one page after another! Concerning how many days would there have to be written, "Nothing done for Jesus!" Concerning how many weeks, "Nothing done for Jesus!" Concerning how many months, "Nothing done for Jesus!" And alas! in instances which are far from being rare, concerning how many years, "Nothing done for Jesus!" Nothing to any purpose, nothing done with full resolvedness and devotedness of heart. O how solemn the thought! And it is still more solemn to think that such a register is kept — and that by One who knows our negligence's and shortcomings far better than we do ourselves! There are many considerations which should constrain us to devote ourselves unreservedly to the service of God; but the chief is the obligations we are under for redeeming love and mercy. "You are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's!" "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich." "He who spared not His own Son — but delivered Him up for us all; how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" With equal propriety, the apostle might have drawn another inference — an inference to which the Christian, when his heart is in a right state, cannot fail to respond. If He spared not His own Son — but delivered Him up for us all; then how should we not for Him also, freely give Him all things — wealth, labour, talents, yes, life itself? While we turn aside to see that great sight — while gazing, in the exercise of faith, on that spectacle of matchless love and grace which was exhibited on Calvary — has not our language been — "See, from His head, His hands, His feet,  Sorrow and love flow mingled down!  Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,  Or thorns compose so rich a crown!" And then, moved and melted by the amazing scene, have we not been compelled to add — "Were the whole realm of nature mine,  That were a present far too small;  Love so amazing, so divine,  Demands my soul, my life, my all." Our reasonable service it is, truly, to make such a surrender; but while we are ready to acknowledge our obligations, how feebly in general do we fulfil them! In the apostles and early Christians, we have a striking specimen of the manner in which we ought to serve the Lord Christ. O what labours were theirs! What sacrifices! What sleepless vigilance! What overwhelming, all-consuming zeal! And has the Saviour done less for us — than He did for them? Were the sufferings He bore for us less ignominious, His pangs let piercing, His blood of less value? Are the blessings He bestows upon us less precious — the salvation He offers us less glorious? Is the heaven He opens to our view less attractive, its restless sweet, its joys less ravishing, its music less melodious? All that He did for them — He has done for us; the blessings He bestowed upon them — He is willing to bestow upon us. The love He bears towards us and the blissful prospects He sets before us — are the same. Must there not be then the same obligations in both cases; and should there not therefore be a similar consecration? And how powerful an argument for devotedness to the service of God, does the brevity of life supply! Should not the words of the great Master be ever sounding in our ears, "Work while it is day — for the night comes when no man can work." Should not the exhortation of the wise man be practically exemplified in our whole course and conduct, "Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom — in the grave where you are going." That was a noble reply that was once made by a Mohammedan hero on the field of battle. Although greatly fatigued by over-exertion, and well near fainting from loss of blood, occasioned by the wounds he had received, he was yet about securing other means for rushing into the thickest of the fight. A friend who stood by, perceiving the state he was in, earnestly entreated him to retire, and permit someone else to occupy his post. The veteran stood for a moment, and, pointing with his sword to the ground, he exclaimed, "This is the place for labour;" then lifting up his hand towards his imaginary paradise above, he added, "And there is the place for rest!" How sublime a sentiment! Reader, adopt the words as your motto. Ever remember that this is the place for labour — and that there is the place for rest. Be assured that as you live for God here, so will you secure, not on the ground of personal merit — but on that of His free and gracious promise — endless repose hereafter. It has been remarked, and the assertion is doubtless true, although it sounds somewhat startling, that there is one privilege enjoyed by the people of God on earth — that the saints in heaven do not possess. It is that of being instrumental in doing good to their fellow-creatures. The mighty warriors of the cross, who have reached their everlasting home, will not be favoured anymore in this way. Luther cannot now lift up his voice against the abominations of Popery. Whitefield cannot cross the Atlantic to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. Howard cannot dive into the depths of dungeons, nor plunge into the infection of hospitals. All the ranks of the glorified rest from their labours; their work is done. It is true that they serve God in His temple; but the service in which they are engaged appears to be that of worship, adoration, and praise. Does not this consideration loudly call upon us to make the most diligent use of all the opportunities we enjoy of doing good while we possess them. In a short time they will be gone forever! "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord!" ---- '''Back to [[The Footsteps of Jesus]]'''

Lukewarmness — Zeal

Listen to this Study

Your Notes are Empty