ALL OF "GRACE GEMS" FROM JUNE 2004 IN ONE FILE
They cherish the viper, though
it stings them to death!
(Thomas Reade, "Christian Experience")
True happiness cannot possibly be found in any
of those earthly things which so much occupy the
time, and captivate the hearts of dying mortals.
Pleasures may fascinate.
Riches may dazzle.
Honors may inflate.
But what can these sources of supposed comfort
yield in the hour of death and judgment?
Unconverted men hug their chain, though they sigh
under its weight. They cherish the viper, though
it stings them to death!
The largest slice of the well-sugared cake
(J. C. Philpot)
"They confessed that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth." Hebrews 11:13
Many profess that they are strangers and pilgrims here
below. But they take care to have as much of this world's
comforts as they can scrape together by hook and by crook.
They talk about being 'strangers', yet can be in close
friendship with men of the world. And could you see them
at the exchange, at the market, behind the counter, or at
home with their families—you would not find one mark
to distinguish them from the ungodly!
Yet they come to chapel—and if called upon to pray, they
will tell the people they are "poor strangers and pilgrims in
a valley of tears"—while all the time their hearts are in the
world—and their eyes stand out with fatness—and they are
as light and trifling as a comic actor—and have no concerns
except to get the largest slice of the well-sugared cake
that the world sets before them!
It is not the 'mere profession of the lips'—but 'grace in
the heart', that makes a man a stranger and a pilgrim.
God's people are strangers and sojourners—the world is not
their home—nor can they take pleasure in it. Sin is often a
burden to them—guilt often lies as a heavy weight upon
their conscience—a thousand troubles harass their minds
—a thousand perplexities oppress their souls. They cannot
bury their minds in business and derive all their happiness
from their successes, for they feel that this earth is not their
home. They are often cast down and exercised, because they
have to live with such an ungodly heart in such an ungodly
world.
"They confessed that they were strangers
and pilgrims on the earth." Hebrews 11:13
In whose hand?
(Octavius Winslow, "Divine Realities" 1860)
"My times are in Your hand." Psalm 31:15
In whose hand are the believer's times?
In a Father's hand!
Be those times what they may . . .
times of trial,
times of temptation,
times of suffering,
times of peril,
times of sunshine,
times of gloom,
times of life,
times of death,
—they are in a heavenly Parent's hand!
Is your present path lonely and dreary?
Has the Lord seen fit . . .
to recall some fond blessing,
to deny some earnest request,
to painfully discipline your heart?
All this springs from a Father's love as fully
as though He had unlocked His treasury, and
poured its costliest gifts at your feet!
In a Redeemer's hand, also, are our times!
That same Redeemer who carried . . .
our sorrows in His heart,
our curse and transgressions on His soul,
our cross on His shoulder,
who died—who rose again—and who lives
and intercedes for us—and who will gather
all His ransomed around Him in glory—is
your guardian and your guide!
Can you not cheerfully confide all your earthly
concerns—all your spiritual interests to His
keeping and control?
"My times are in Your hand." Psalm 31:15
The things which men despise
(J. C. Philpot, "The Lord's Thoughts" 1847)
"The things which are highly esteemed among men
are an abomination in the sight of God!" Luke 16:15
The pride, ambition, pleasures, and amusements, in
which we see thousands and tens of thousands engaged
—and sailing down the stream into a dreadful gulf of
eternity—are all an abomination in the sight of God!
Whereas the things which men despise, such as . . .
faith,
hope,
love,
humility,
brokenness of heart,
tenderness of conscience,
contrition of spirit,
sorrow for sin,
self-loathing,
self-abasement,
looking to Jesus,
taking up the cross,
denying one's self,
walking in the narrow path that leads to eternal life,
—are despised by all—and by none so much as mere heady
religious professors—who have a name to live, while dead.
"The things which are highly esteemed among men
are an abomination in the sight of God." Luke 16:15
Can they beat back this monster to his filthy den?
(J. C. Philpot, "The Savior of Israel" 1847)
"Hold me up, and I shall be safe!" Psalm 119:117
The Lord's people are a tempted people. Satan is ever
waiting at their gate, constantly suggesting every hateful
and improper thought—perpetually inflaming the rebellion
and enmity of their carnal mind—and continually plaguing,
harassing, and besieging them in a thousand ways!
Can they repel him?
Can they beat back this monster to his filthy den?
Can they beat back this leviathan? They cannot—they feel
they cannot. They know that nothing but the voice of Jesus,
inwardly speaking with power to their souls, can beat back
the lion of the bottomless pit! One whisper, one soft word
from the lips of His gracious Majesty, can and will put every
temptation to flight!
"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called
you by name—you are Mine! When you go through deep
waters and great trouble—I will be with you! When you
go through rivers of difficulty—you will not drown! When
you walk through the fire of oppression—you will not be
burned up—the flames will not consume you. For I am
the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel—your Savior!"
Isaiah 43:1-3
When it comes in the guise of a friend
(J. C. Philpot, "Peace, Tribulation, Victory" 1847)
"Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Does not this show that the world is an enemy to
the Lord, and to the Lord's people? and never so
much an enemy—never to be so much dreaded—as
when it comes in the guise of a friend. When it . . .
steals upon your heart,
engrosses your thoughts,
wins your affections,
draws away your mind from God,
—then it is to be dreaded.
When the world smites us as an enemy—its
blows are not to be feared. It is when it smiles
upon us as a friend—it is most to be dreaded.
When our eyes begin to drink it in,
when our ears begin to listen to its voice,
when our hearts become entangled in its fascinations,
when our minds get filled with its anxieties,
when our affections depart from the Lord
and cleave to the things of time and sense,
—then the world is to be dreaded.
Canaanitish idols and heathenish abominations
(J. C. Philpot, "The Mighty Watcher" 1847)
"You shall destroy their altars, and break down
their images, and cut down their groves, and burn
their engraved images with fire!" Deuteronomy 7:5
Our hearts are by nature full of Canaanitish idols and
heathenish abominations, which must be destroyed!
Lusts after evil things,
adulterous images,
idolatrous desires,
strong hankerings after sin—
along with evils which have the impudence
to wear a religious garb—such as . . .
towering thoughts of our own ability,
pleasing dreams of creature holiness,
swellings up of pride—dressed out and painted
in all the tawdy colors of Satanic delusion—how
can these abominations be allowed to run rampant
in the human heart?
The altars and religious rites of Canaanites were to be
destroyed as much as their idols! And thus we may say