What doth hinder ?
"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us." (Hebrews 12:1)
Is it some gently-stealing breeze, The wiles of Nature, when at ease,
That bears a poisonous breath;
That slowly draws the heart away From Christ, its Rick, and only stay; Nor dreams, till far away,
How all is stamped with death ?
Is it some loved and kindred heart, From which we cannot bear to part,
Round which we fondly cling ?
We little know the danger here, Till that which to our souls too dear Has weaned us from our proper sphere,
Has clipped our soaring wing.
(pp. 125-128, Footprints for Pilgrims)
Cares are most subtle things, because they enter as necessary duties, and there is no sin in doing one's duty. But if these duties choke the word and a man loses his soul through it, what then ?
"What harm in being rich ? " a person once asked me. If it shuts you out of heaven, is there any harm in that ? "Oh, I did not think of that ! ... " The evil is not in the things themselves, but the love in the heart for them.
It is a terrible thing if we, as Christians, have not this craving, this hungering and thirsting after a greater enjoyment of God: for where this is not, deadness and apathy of soul have come in.
There is no such thing recognized in scripture as a Christian doubting he is saved. And it is all a totally false pretension of humility. If my Father forgives me, and I doubt His forgiveness, I am not trusting Him ... Let a man fear temptation, doubt his own heart -- that is another thing; but not doubt God, or fear God.
There may be a thousand and one things to vex me if self is of importance; they will not vex me at all if self is not there to be vexed ... What rubs we get when not walking with God, and thinking only of self ! There is no such deliverance as that of having no importance in one's own eyes.
When the eye is ... upon God self is forgotten; if not, I am thinking of the slights I receive, and neither faith nor grace are in exercise.
Common duties do not rob us of Him; from these the heart returns with fresh delight into its own centre. It is the heart clinging to vanity that spoils our joy; it is anything which exalts self and lowers Christ -- an idle thought, even, if allowed in the heart.
If a thing is a snare to me I must give it up entirely. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Different things are snares to different people ... It is an individual thing with God. I cannot judge what may be a snare to you. If it is a snare, let it go.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Purity of heart (is) the absence of what would shut out God.
Alas ! feeble is he who even unconsciously leans upon man.
We have to watch, for the enemy always does, and if we are not looking actively to the Lord we lose our safeguard, and when distracted from Him he gets in, and often unconsciously ... and then all the feebleness of walk which flows from the heart not realizing Christ as motive and power, the light of His presence, and the soul in the light before Him.
--- J.N.D.
