One of the greatest proofs of the nearness of the Lord’s coming is (though with very much to praise and thank our gracious God for) the general low, lukewarm state of things among us — lukewarmness to Christ Himself, manifested in so many ways. And chiefly, I think I may say, this is manifested in the fact that (with exceptions that bring glory to God) most “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (Phil. 2:2121For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. (Philippians 2:21)). That is, He has not His proper place in our hearts.
We seek our own things, and though they are not wrong things in themselves, perhaps, yet the heart is unduly occupied with them; then the Lord Jesus, as the object for which to live and serve, is lost. His presence is slipped away from, and the soul is, unconsciously, at a distance from Him. Spiritual discernment is dimmed and spiritual power is almost gone. There is little caring for the things of Jesus Christ, as there once was. Suffer me, then, dear brethren, to urge upon you, and myself too, the truth that we are “not our own,” but “bought with a price.” And what a price! He gave Himself for us — Himself! We are not left down here merely to live decent, moral and respectable lives, till the Lord comes, but to live unto Him. We are to be witnesses for Him, and in some little way to serve each other and souls around us, presenting our bodies a living sacrifice unto God — an all-day, every-day sacrifice unto Him, which is our reasonable service. “Be not conformed to this world, but ... transformed, by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)).
And what a happy thing this is! How we prove “what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God,” when we heartily and really yield ourselves up unto Him, as those that are alive from the dead! How self is practically gone too, when we give ourselves up “to God” and “for others,” and thus “walk in love” (Eph. 5)! What a sweet savor to God!
How can we have Christ as an object for our hearts as He ought to be? It is in seeing that His heart is always thinking of and caring for us — that we are His treasure. As one has said, “It is as true of Him, as it is of us, that where His treasure is, there His heart is also.”
Yes, dear children of God, to see that He is always thinking of, sympathizing with, watching over, caring for and loving us. Oh, to take it in more!
Let us judge ourselves for this, dear brethren, praying that prayer in Ephesians 3 which ends in asking that we may know the love of Christ towards us, which passeth knowledge, that we may be filled with all the fullness of God.
J. B. Dunlop (adapted)