Are You Regenerate? # 4

Are You Regenerate? # 4

Surely you must be aware that the vast majority of people in the world see nothing, feel nothing, and know nothing in religion as they ought. How and why is this, is not the present question. I only put it to your conscience - is that not the fact?

Tell them of the sinfulness of many things which they are doing continually - and what is generally the reply? "They see no harm."

Tell them of the awful peril in which their souls are - of the shortness of time - the nearness of eternity - the uncertainty of life - the reality of judgment. "They feel no danger."

Tell them of their need of a Saviour - mighty, loving, and divine, and of the impossibility of being saved from hell, except by faith in Him. It all falls flat and dead on their ears. "They see no such great barrier between themselves and heaven."

Tell them of holiness, and the high standard of living which the Bible requires. They cannot comprehend the need of such strictness. "They see no use in being so very good."

There are thousands and tens of thousands of such people on every side of us. They will hear these things all their lives. They will even attend the ministry of the most striking preachers, and listen to the most powerful appeals to their consciences. And yet, when you come to visit them on their deathbeds, they are like men and women who never heard these things at all. They know nothing of the leading doctrines of the Gospel by experience. They can render no reason whatever of their own hope.

And why is all this? What is the explanation - what is the cause of such a state of things? It all comes from this - that man naturally has no sense of spiritual things. In vain the sun of righteousness shines before him - the eyes of his soul are blind, and cannot see. In vain the music of Christ's invitations sounds around him - the ears of his soul are deaf and cannot hear it. In vain the wrath of God against sin is set forth - the perceptions of his soul are stopped up - like the sleeping traveler, he does not perceive the coming storm. In vain the bread and water of life are offered to him - his soul is neither hungry for the one, nor thirsty for the other. In vain he is advised to flee to the Great Physician - his soul is unconscious of its disease - why should he go? In vain you put a price into his hand to buy wisdom - the mind of his soul wanders; he is like the lunatic who calls straws a crown, and dust diamonds - he says, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." Ah, reader, there is nothing so sad as the utter corruption of our nature! There is nothing so painful as the anatomy of a dead soul!

Now what does such a man need? He needs to be born again, and made a new creature. He needs a complete putting off the old man, and a complete putting on the new. We do not live our natural life until we are born into the world; and we do not live our spiritual life until we are born of the Spirit.

But, reader, you must furthermore be aware that the vast majority of people are utterly unfit to enjoy heaven in their present state. I lay it before you as a great fact. Is it not so?

Look at the masses of men and women gathered together in our cities and towns, and observe them well. They are all dying creatures - all immortal beings - all going to the judgment seat of Christ - all certain to live forever in heaven or hell. But where is the slightest evidence that most of them are in the least degree fit and ready for heaven?

Look at the greater part of those who are called Christians, in every part throughout the land. Take any parish you please in town or country. Take that which you know best. What are the tastes and pleasures of the majority of people who live there? What do they like best, when they have a choice? What do they enjoy most, when they have their own way? Observe the manner in which they spend their Sundays. Mark how little delight they seem to feel in the Bible and prayer. Take notice of the low and earthly notions of pleasure and happiness, which everywhere prevail, among young and old, among rich and poor. Mark well these things, and then think quietly over this question - What would these people do in heaven?"

You and I, it may be said, know little about heaven. Our notions of heaven may be very dim and indistinct. But at all events, I suppose we are agreed in thinking that heaven is a very holy place - that God is there - and Christ is there - and saints and angels are there - that sin is not there in any shape - and that nothing is said, thought, or done, which God does not like. Only let this be granted, and then I think there can be no doubt the great majority of professing Christians are as little fit for heaven as a bird swimming beneath the sea, or a fish for living upon dry land.

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 5)