THE gold coinage of Great Britain is accepted throughout the world, because experience has proved that it is reliable. Great care is exercised with regard to each individual piece of gold issued from the Mint. The Bank of England, being the chief medium whence the coinage is distributed to the public, takes very special precaution that every separate gold coin is of standard weight and fineness before it allows the coin to pass into circulation. To assist in this work the Bank possesses a machine which is so remarkably sensitive that if any coin passes over it, which is in the slightest degree deficient in weight, the coin is at once cast aside, and falls into a receptacle specially reserved for the purpose. This weighing machine— for such it is—needs little, if any, attention from man. It is automatically supplied with coins, and being set in motion it proceeds silently but surely to do its work of separating the good coins from the bad.
Let us change the scene, and cast our minds back to a period some 2,500 years ago. The universal empire of Babylon was then exercising its mighty sway. Nebuchadnezzar, in spite of warning, had been boasting of his own power and glory, instead of rendering unto God the glory due to His holy name.
In a moment judgment fell upon Nebuchadnezzar, and for a time he lost his throne, and was driven from amongst men to wander amidst wild beasts, and there learn the great truth that “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.” (Dan. 4:2525That they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field, and they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and they shall wet thee with the dew of heaven, and seven times shall pass over thee, till thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. (Daniel 4:25).) After a while, in his extremity he cried to God to deliver him, and he was restored to his position, and was enabled to “praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and His ways judgment.” (Dan. 4:3737Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. (Daniel 4:37).)
Years passed by. His grandson came to the throne. But this grandson refused to learn that lesson which God had taught Nebuchadnezzar at so great a cost. This grandson—the deputy ruler in his father’s absence—determined, as many people do in the present day, to show his freedom of will to choose evil. He was not going to be bound down by any religious scruples. Why should he? What was the good of having so much power and authority if he could not use it for his own enjoyment? Who was the God of Israel? Had not his ancestors taken Israel captive? Why then should he regard their God?
He would order a great feast, such an one as should be talked about, and he would bring out from the Treasury all the golden vessels that once had been used in the service of the God of Israel. They should be placed upon His table to beautify it. The bowls and ewers should be filled with wine, and he and his worldly companions—male and female—should openly show their contempt for the faith of Israel. Bold words these. No quiver of fear or nervousness about them!
The feast commenced. There was evidently as much boisterous mirth as was permitted in the presence of such a royal personage, when suddenly the king was seen to turn deadly pale. What could be the matter? What could have alarmed that bold spirit, who did not hesitate to blaspheme the God of Israel? Why does he gaze with such intentness at the wall?
Oh! what a sight! What is that dreadful hand? What is it doing? May not hundreds of voices have thus cried out as they saw the bodiless hand of a man writing upon the wall? When men’s brains are excited by wine they are apt to be uncontrollable, and such may have been the case at this feast. The appalling sight horrified them.
But, remember, the day is coming when all those who reject the Lord Jesus now will see a more terrible sight, and hear more terrible words than those which appeared upon the banqueting wall. When the Lord Himself says, “Depart, ye cursed,” there will be awful wailing and groaning.
The lonely hand traced words upon the wall, but none could read them till Daniel, the servant of God, appeared in answer to a summons for his presence. God’s word and God’s servants are often neglected until it is too late, and thus it was in this case. Daniel could do no more than interpret the message, and pronounce the sentence that God had justly passed.
There is solemn warning in the message to everyone to whom the Word comes. As these words are being written, and when they are being read, God is weighing both writer and reader. To each one it is said, “Thou art weighed in the balances,” and then follows either “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)) or thou “art found wanting.” (Dan. 5:2727TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. (Daniel 5:27).)
God sends His Word now to men to tell them what they are—sinners, and what He has provided—a SAVIOUR, and to bid them come to the Lord Jesus that they may be saved. Those who believe God’s Word and acknowledge themselves to be real sinners (not complimentary ones) do in reality weigh themselves (see 1 Cor. 11:3131For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. (1 Corinthians 11:31)), and seeing how deficient they are they turn to the Lord Jesus, and never rest until they know He has borne their sins away, and that His righteousness is imputed to them (see 2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)), so that in HIM they are found of full weight. God does make Him to be their Wisdom, their Righteousness, their Sanctification, and their Redemption. (See 1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30).) They are found in Him who is their Righteousness (see Phil. 3:99And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9)), and they are complete in Him. (See Col. 2 DD.) All others are base metal (see Jer. 6:3030Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the Lord hath rejected them. (Jeremiah 6:30)— “reprobate silver”), and the Lord will reject them even as the machine at the Bank of England rejects light coins.
Reader, have you been accepted by God through faith in Christ Jesus, or will you be rejected when the test comes? Assuredly the latter, if you pass out of this world without a saving knowledge of a personal Saviour. Make sure, then, of God’s blessing, I beseech you.
P. I. B.