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TOPIC: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: Day 4
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"Say to the righteous, that it shall be well with him." Isa_3:10.
The human family is divided into a great variety of social and artificial distinctions. The various grades of which society is at present composed are, doubtless, necessary; it is evident that they are of divine appointment, and flow from the circumstances and relations in which mankind are now placed. But, in the sight of God—there are but two classes, into which the multifarious elements of universal humanity can be resolved. There are only the righteous and the wicked; those who serve God, and those who serve Him not. Concerning one of these classes the voice from heaven proclaims that it shall be well with them; while above the other it pronounces a solemn woe, and they are assured that recompense shall be given to them.
That it shall be well with the righteous appears from many considerations. He is reconciled to God, and has peace with Him, through our Lord Jesus Christ. In their natural state—all men are God's enemies; the carnal mind is enmity against God; with such, therefore, it must bode dreadful. What makes the condition of a wicked man to be so fearful, is the solemn fact that God is against him! And what makes that of the righteous to be so blessed, is that God is for him! "If God is for us, who can be against us." All the divine attributes are arrayed against the impenitent sinner—but when he becomes a saint, they all join to take his part. Such being the case, having the eternal Jehovah in all his boundless perfections on his side, it cannot be otherwise than well with him.
It shall be well with the righteous, not merely in life—but in death. It is appointed, by the irrevocable decree of heaven—that all men must die. There is no discharge in that war, no release from that mortal struggle. Wealth has no bribe which death will receive; wisdom has no art by which it can be avoided; power has no defense, and even religion has no security from its stroke. Beauty has no charm to its eye; the voice of eloquence is lost to its ear. Here the mightiest conqueror is vanquished, and the proudest of monarchs finds himself a slave. From its ruthless grasp—no age, no condition can escape. Those who are in the bloom and freshness of youth cannot, for "man, at his best estate, is altogether vanity." The great and prosperous cannot, for "the rich man also died and was buried." The wicked cannot; he is driven, yes, dragged away in his wickedness; the most fearful of all deaths is his—that of dying in his sins. Neither can the righteous escape; he must go the way of all the earth, and become a tenant of the silent grave.
But, at that solemn season, it shall be well with him. When the last sands of the numbered hour will be running out; when his earthly friends will be compelled to leave him; when the cold dews of death will be standing in large drops upon his pallid brow; when every nerve and vein may be racked and wrenched in fearful agonies by the irresistible power of the grim tyrant; even then it shall be well with him. The dying strife will soon be over, and through death's gloomy portals, he will enter upon that blessed state where all is peace and assurance forever.
O, my soul, seriously ask yourself the question, what is my spiritual state and character? Am I one of the righteous, who is reconciled to God by the death of His Son, and who seek to walk before him in all well-pleasing? Do I know of the blessedness of the man whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered?
"If sin be pardoned, I'm secure,
Death has no sting beside;
The law gives sin its damning power,
But Christ, my ransom, died!"
Very soon will the solemn summons be issued; even now the Judge stands at the door; and when the midnight cry is heard, "Behold the bridegroom comes, go out to meet him!" shall I be found among those who are ready to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb? Of one thing let us be well assured—that it is only as we are clothed in that righteousness which is unto all and upon all those who believe; that it is only as we are covered with the wedding garment—that spotless, stainless, seamless robe, which alone can hide our spiritual deformity—that we shall be acknowledged as those who are worthy to have an inheritance among them that are sanctified.
"Blessed Jesus! this is my petition and this is my request, that I may be found in You, not having my own righteousness, which at best is only filthy rags. Make me righteous through Your righteousness, and lovely through Your loveliness. Being found by You in peace, without spot and blameless, I shall be able to lift up my head amid the groans of dissolving nature, and, leaving a weltering world on fire, I shall mount aloft, shouting with all your saints—Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."
The human family is divided into a great variety of social and artificial distinctions. The various grades of which society is at present composed are, doubtless, necessary; it is evident that they are of divine appointment, and flow from the circumstances and relations in which mankind are now placed. But, in the sight of God—there are but two classes, into which the multifarious elements of universal humanity can be resolved. There are only the righteous and the wicked; those who serve God, and those who serve Him not. Concerning one of these classes the voice from heaven proclaims that it shall be well with them; while above the other it pronounces a solemn woe, and they are assured that recompense shall be given to them.
That it shall be well with the righteous appears from many considerations. He is reconciled to God, and has peace with Him, through our Lord Jesus Christ. In their natural state—all men are God's enemies; the carnal mind is enmity against God; with such, therefore, it must bode dreadful. What makes the condition of a wicked man to be so fearful, is the solemn fact that God is against him! And what makes that of the righteous to be so blessed, is that God is for him! "If God is for us, who can be against us." All the divine attributes are arrayed against the impenitent sinner—but when he becomes a saint, they all join to take his part. Such being the case, having the eternal Jehovah in all his boundless perfections on his side, it cannot be otherwise than well with him.
It shall be well with the righteous, not merely in life—but in death. It is appointed, by the irrevocable decree of heaven—that all men must die. There is no discharge in that war, no release from that mortal struggle. Wealth has no bribe which death will receive; wisdom has no art by which it can be avoided; power has no defense, and even religion has no security from its stroke. Beauty has no charm to its eye; the voice of eloquence is lost to its ear. Here the mightiest conqueror is vanquished, and the proudest of monarchs finds himself a slave. From its ruthless grasp—no age, no condition can escape. Those who are in the bloom and freshness of youth cannot, for "man, at his best estate, is altogether vanity." The great and prosperous cannot, for "the rich man also died and was buried." The wicked cannot; he is driven, yes, dragged away in his wickedness; the most fearful of all deaths is his—that of dying in his sins. Neither can the righteous escape; he must go the way of all the earth, and become a tenant of the silent grave.
But, at that solemn season, it shall be well with him. When the last sands of the numbered hour will be running out; when his earthly friends will be compelled to leave him; when the cold dews of death will be standing in large drops upon his pallid brow; when every nerve and vein may be racked and wrenched in fearful agonies by the irresistible power of the grim tyrant; even then it shall be well with him. The dying strife will soon be over, and through death's gloomy portals, he will enter upon that blessed state where all is peace and assurance forever.
O, my soul, seriously ask yourself the question, what is my spiritual state and character? Am I one of the righteous, who is reconciled to God by the death of His Son, and who seek to walk before him in all well-pleasing? Do I know of the blessedness of the man whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sins are covered?
"If sin be pardoned, I'm secure,
Death has no sting beside;
The law gives sin its damning power,
But Christ, my ransom, died!"
Very soon will the solemn summons be issued; even now the Judge stands at the door; and when the midnight cry is heard, "Behold the bridegroom comes, go out to meet him!" shall I be found among those who are ready to enter into the marriage supper of the Lamb? Of one thing let us be well assured—that it is only as we are clothed in that righteousness which is unto all and upon all those who believe; that it is only as we are covered with the wedding garment—that spotless, stainless, seamless robe, which alone can hide our spiritual deformity—that we shall be acknowledged as those who are worthy to have an inheritance among them that are sanctified.
"Blessed Jesus! this is my petition and this is my request, that I may be found in You, not having my own righteousness, which at best is only filthy rags. Make me righteous through Your righteousness, and lovely through Your loveliness. Being found by You in peace, without spot and blameless, I shall be able to lift up my head amid the groans of dissolving nature, and, leaving a weltering world on fire, I shall mount aloft, shouting with all your saints—Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."