The Lord says, "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and
increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest
not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried
in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment,
that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy
nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with
eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Rev. 3:17, 18. The gold
tried in the fire is faith that works by love. Only this can
bring us into harmony with God. We may be active, we
may do much work; but without love, such love as dwelt in
the heart of Christ, we can never be numbered with the
family of heaven.
No man can of himself understand his errors. "The
heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked;
who can know it?" Jer. 17:9. The lips may express a
poverty of soul that the heart does not acknowledge. While
speaking to God of poverty of spirit, the heart may be
swelling with the conceit of its own superior humility and
exalted righteousness. In one way only can a true knowledge
of self be obtained. We must behold Christ. It is
ignorance of Him that makes men so uplifted in their own
righteousness. When we contemplate His purity and excellence,
we shall see our own weakness and poverty and
defects as they really are. We shall see ourselves lost and
hopeless, clad in garments of self-righteousness, like every
other sinner. We shall see that if we are ever saved, it
will not be through our own goodness, but through God's
infinite grace.
The prayer of the publican was heard because it showed
dependence reaching forth to lay hold upon Omnipotence.
Self to the publican appeared nothing but shame. Thus it
must be seen by all who seek God. By faith--faith that
renounces all self-trust--the needy suppliant is to lay hold
upon infinite power.
No outward observances can take the place of simple
faith and entire renunciation of self. But no man can empty
himself of self. We can only consent for Christ to accomplish
the work. Then the language of the soul will be,
Lord, take my heart; for I cannot give it. It is Thy
property. Keep it pure, for I cannot keep it for Thee.
Save me in spite of myself, my weak, unchristlike self.
Mold me, fashion me, raise me into a pure and holy
atmosphere, where the rich current of Thy love can flow through
my soul.
It is not only at the beginning of the Christian life that
this renunciation of self is to be made. At every advance step heavenward it is to be renewed. All our good works
are dependent on a power outside of ourselves. Therefore
there needs to be a continual reaching out of the heart after
God, a continual, earnest, heartbreaking confession of sin
and humbling of the soul before Him. Only by constant
renunciation of self and dependence on Christ can we walk
safely.
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