The minister’s stock-taking

‘And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not.’ Acts 28:24

Suggested Further Reading: John 3:16–18

There has never been a cross-breed between a believer and an unbeliever. A man must be either dead or alive. There is no neutral ground. You must either be on one side with those who are alive, or on the other side with those who are dead and need to be quickened. Think not to halt between two opinions. For the most part those who are said to be halting between two opinions are really of one opinion; they do not intend to serve the Lord, and they say in their hearts, ‘Who is the Lord that I should serve him?’ Now will you do me this favour? I asked it once, and it was blessed to the conversion of several. Will you take a little time alone, perhaps this evening; take a paper and pencil, and after you have honestly and fairly thought on your own state, and weighed your own condition before the Lord, will you write down one of two words: if you feel that you are not a believer write down this word—‘Condemned,’ and if you are a believer in Jesus, and put your trust in him alone, write down the word ‘Forgiven.’ Do it, even though you have to write down the word ‘Condemned.’ We lately received into church-fellowship a young man, who said, ‘Sir, I wrote down the word ‘Condemned’, and I looked at it; there it was; I had written it myself—‘Condemned’.’ As he looked the tears began to flow, and the heart began to break; and before long he fled to Christ, put the paper in the fire, and wrote down ‘Forgiven.’ This young man was about the sixth who had been brought to the Lord in the same way. So I pray you try it, and God may bless it to you.

For meditation: What is suggested is not a little game, but a matter of spiritual life and death. Are you prepared to examine yourself in this way (2 Corinthians 13:5) and to let God examine you and show you your real spiritual position (Psalm 26:2)?

Sermon no. 516
20 June (Undated Sermon)