Another heart plague is the great difficulty of maintaining a spiritual savor in the mind and heart of those divine things which the soul really loves. How difficult does the Christian find it is to continually cherish a sweet and sanctifying sense of his privileges in Christ. He may have learned to glory in the righteousness of Christ as his only hope, he may have chosen Christ as the pearl of great price, the portion of his soul, he may delight in the liberty wherewith Christ makes his people free, and love to contemplate with wonder and gratitude the access that he has to God which Jesus has obtained for believing sinners by His shed blood and continual Priesthood. He may marvel at such Love and experienced the heavenly blessedness of placing himself at the disposal of a reconciled Father. And yet, sincerely desiring that these experiences may absolutely mold his character and rule his heart continually, he finds that heart bent on a perpetual backsliding and greatly adverse to the spiritually of ALWAYS LIVING IN THE LOVE OF THINGS DIVINE. To continually "seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the Right Hand of God"--how painfully difficult is it to be rendering habitual obedience to it!! Carnality of the mind continually comes into conflict with it. the soul cleaves to the dust. Heavenly-mindedness and holy meditation are not to be maintained without a continual effort, as of one who is rowing against the stream and fighting the current. All too often, spiritual sluggishness and carelessness to often win the battle and the things that are upon the earth gain the mastery.
These are but a few specimens of heart plagues. These plagues assume many forms in each of us, according to our disposition and history: pride, envy, indolence, self-seeking. There seems to be no end. Even the faculty of the soul which should enable us to diagnose our plaques is affected by the plague. The eye of the soul is blinded. The grey hairs of spiritual declension and unbelief may be upon a man yet he knows it not. The powers of perception are themselves damaged. Whoever then would know the plague of his own heart, let him study the revelations of Christ's heart as these are given in the history of His life and the manifestation of His character in the gospel. And seeing that our spiritual blindness is so great, lett us offer the prayer, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, AND LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING."
AND THAT LEADS US TO CONSIDER THE CURE OF THESE HEART PLAGUES. Remain not at the table of self examination and weariness, but come feast at the table of hope and confidence in Christ Jesus. That will be our next consideration!!!
These are but a few specimens of heart plagues. These plagues assume many forms in each of us, according to our disposition and history: pride, envy, indolence, self-seeking. There seems to be no end. Even the faculty of the soul which should enable us to diagnose our plaques is affected by the plague. The eye of the soul is blinded. The grey hairs of spiritual declension and unbelief may be upon a man yet he knows it not. The powers of perception are themselves damaged. Whoever then would know the plague of his own heart, let him study the revelations of Christ's heart as these are given in the history of His life and the manifestation of His character in the gospel. And seeing that our spiritual blindness is so great, lett us offer the prayer, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts and see if there be any wicked way in me, AND LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING."
AND THAT LEADS US TO CONSIDER THE CURE OF THESE HEART PLAGUES. Remain not at the table of self examination and weariness, but come feast at the table of hope and confidence in Christ Jesus. That will be our next consideration!!!
RSS Feed