Holy Living In Preparation of Christ's Return # 2

Holy Living In Preparation of Christ's Return # 2

There is not a single passage bearing on the person, offices, or character of Christ, but has been used by the Holy Spirit to draw souls closer to Him, and so detach them from the world.

There is not a precept but has been employed by the Spirit, to quicken some Christian in the way of God's commandments.

There is not a privilege revealed as the portion of God's children, but has been an instrument for encouraging some of God's saints in running the heavenly race.

There is not a view of God's holiness or justice or character, but has been useful in implanting or nourishing in some soul a godly fear which has been a wholesome restraint in the hour of temptation.

Therefore, in the cultivation of holiness, let the quiet, meditative study of Scripture hold a high place. Consider it as one of Christ's pasture-fields, to which He would daily lead you, and there make you to taste afresh the sweetness of His grace.

Ponder the Scripture until it reaches the very depth of your heart. Do not leave the passage until you have found some kindling of love to Christ, some thoughts to strengthen your faith, some reminder of a precious promise, some aspiration of a holier walk. A few of the practical details of a holy life may be named as requiring continual watchfulness.

The careful use of TIME touches every part of the Christian life. A beautiful illustration has been given of this:

The hours are like a chain of little golden vessels passing before you day and night. You cannot arrest their progress. You can put something into each as it passes. You can put in a good thought or word or deed - or a bad thought or word or deed. Or you can let it go empty. Once past, you cannot recall it. Twenty-four vessels every day! Eight of them pass while we are asleep - one third of them empty. Alas! how many more through our negligence and sloth every day pass empty!

Alas! for the contents of many of them! Golden vessels filled with wood, hay, stubble! Some of them filled with what is worse than worthless - evil thoughts and words and deeds. But they pass on continually until they come before the throne of God. And there account is taken of their contents. Of how many are you satisfied that God should note their contents? "Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time!" (Ephesians 5:15-16). "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom!" (Psalm 90:12).

In order to live a holy life - the CONSCIENCE must be kept tender and sensitive. When the soul is in a healthy condition, the conscience will ever be mindful of the approach of sin, and shrink from it in whatever form it may present itself. Sin may come under the guise of an angel. It may profess a good end, or plead the example of some saint of God. It may hide its deformity or its danger, by calling itself only a natural infirmity. But the eagle eye of the Spirit-taught Christian will discern the cloven foot, will mark the covert disobedience, the evil from which Christ would have turned away, adn will abhor it and detest it as an abominable thing which God hates! You must be in sympathy with God in detecting hidden forms of evil, in trying the things that differ, in that wise and godly fear that will always refuse the persuasion of act or speak amiss, however it may be disguised.

"Ah, give ,e, Lord, the tender heart
That trembles at the approach of sin!
A godly fear of sin impart,
Implant and root it deep within,
That I may fear Your gracious power,
And never dare to offend You more."

In order to live a holy life - the WILL must be yielded up entirely to God.  The chief sin of man is to set up his will against God's will, and to go on his way quite irrespective of that which God has commanded.

But in conversion, the will is given up to God. "Teach me to do Your will," is the believer's prayer. "Lord, what will You have me to do?" is the genuine expression of the heart renewed by the Spirit. And the more this purpose is followed out, the more holy will the Christian be.

What is our will when rebelling against God - but the source of endless trouble and remorse? Is not God's will the truest will, the best will, the will that leads to peace and rest, as well as holiness and Heaven?

When there comes a great temptation to follow our own way through a prospect of gain or passing pleasure, if we hearken to the same, does it not invariably bring its own bitter punishment after it? But if we deny self, and do that which we know to be right, have we not found again and again a great reward? Has not, perchance, the comfort or blessing we desired become our own, without sting of a guilty conscience, which would have marred all its enjoyment? Would that we could ever say, "Your will be done," and cling to Jesus in our grief!

"O earth below, in Heaven above,
There is no rest but in His love;
All else must fail the weary heart,
But His peace that won't depart."

To help us to endure cheerfully whatever may happen to us, let us be firmly persuaded that the hand of Infinite Love is ordering and directing all things for our profit and His glory.

Another important element in a holy life, is the exercise and control over the temper.  Often the temper is like a fiery steed that will rush heedlessly into the fray, or over the side of a precipice. If you wish to follow Christ, you must put on the bridle, and know how to keep in check all hast and passion and irritability. A single outburst of temper may do yourself and others an amount of injury that weeks and months may scarcely undo. To avoid this evil, you must learn to live always in the presence of God. The holy calm of nearness to God, is the very best preservative from yielding to an unruly spirit.  How can I willingly break the charm of this happy fellowship and bring dishonor upon His name? Such will be the thought of the Christian that thus lives in the consciousness of a Father's presence and love.

There is one point I have not yet named, but which answers many questions. By faith you must be sanctified - as well as justified. By faith it is that Christ must ever dwell in your heart, and thus influence your whole life.

~George Everard~

(continued with # 3)