No believer can possibly remain at a standstill. Day by day he is either growing in grace and becoming, practically, more like Christ, or he is going backwards, and becoming like the world. There are in him two powers at work—one rising upward and Christward, the other dragging downward and worldward. The Word of God exhorts continually, and in the most earnest manner, not to love the world, but to live for Christ.
The most earnest man who ever lived, when he was first converted, counted all things loss for Christ and some thirty years after his conversion he still counted them dung, that he might win Christ (Phil. 3:88Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, (Philippians 3:8)). The secret of spiritual success is a heart set upon Christ. The most instructed assembly of Christians mentioned in the Bible—a company abundant in labor and jealous over doctrine—had in it the germs of spiritual decay, and the Lord thus reveals the secret, “I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” (Rev. 2:44Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:4)). Take from the Christian heart love for Christ, and the keystone is gone from the arch, which neither knowledge of God’s Word nor zeal in labor can preserve from falling. The appearance of strength may be maintained for a while, even intimate Christian friends may fail to detect the weakness, yet wherever the heart’s love for Jesus has cooled, the word has gone forth from the Lord’s lips, “I have somewhat against thee.”
The Lord searches and examines His people. Let us test ourselves, and “call to remembrance the former days.” Was there ever a time in our spiritual life when there was more care for the Lord’s felt presence, and less interest in the things of the world than now? If so, we have gone backwards from what we once were.
As the Christian grows older, he receives many personal evidences of the Lord’s unchanging love and faithfulness, and his faith is confirmed by frequent tokens of the Lord’s grace; and sad it is if, with such goodness surrounding him, the freshness of his early love for Christ departs and the simplicity of his first tenderness of spirit fades.
This departure is spiritual degeneracy and decay, and, when such is the case, the Christian has not been at a standstill—the heart has gone back. Let us beware of this backsliding spirit. A man may go astray with much Bible knowledge in his head, but with Christ filling his heart he cannot go wrong. Doctrinal intelligence may guard the mind from error, but only as Christ dwells in the heart by faith will evil be prevented from entering therein. Employment in the service of “good works” may hinder us from doing that which brings outward discredit upon our profession, but, while busy in religious occupation, the heart may be sluggish in its affection to the person of the Lord.
How important then it is that the Christian should examine himself and note how his heart responds to the heart of his Lord! Sadly this examination is too seldom made. Let us enter then into our closet, and, alone with our Lord, speak to Him concerning ourselves and our true regard for Him.
Am I getting on in the things of God?
The answer shall be found in the state of the soul towards Christ.