" The person
who listens to every new opinion and covets the newest religious novelties is
walking dangerously close to error. The "itching ears" Paul warns
about commonly form a nasty scab of error, 2 Timothy 4:3. Tamar lost her
virginity by being naive-- and chastity of mind is its soundness in the faith.
Thus people compromise this soundness if they give themselves to every doctrine,
which is preached.
We must first be
hearers and then disciples. Curiosity concerning many sects and persuasions can
make a person skeptical of settling on the truth. Augustine, for example,
confessed that he had gone through so many delusions that the errors made him
afraid of truth itself. If a person has too many experiences with quacks he
will have a hard time trusting the skilled physician.
Humbly seek an
established judgment of God. A traveler who is so sure he knows the way that he
will not ask directions may be the first one to get lost. Watch out for pride--
no matter how confidently it soars now, you will later find it wrecked in the
ditch of error. This is the destination God has made for pride, and it must
keep His appointment.
Pride can make you
a stranger to the throne of grace and turn humble praying for truth into ambitious
arguments. So it is necessary for prideful men to be left to shame so when
their understanding does return-- if God's mercy allows it-- they may
"bless the Most High" the way Nebuchadnezzar did Daniel 4:34.
Guard this
judgment deeply in your heart-- the God who gives an eye to see truth also
gives a hand to hold it. What we have from God we cannot keep without Him.
Cherish your closeness with Him or truth will not keep her intimacy with you
very long. God is light, but you head for darkness as soon as pride suggests
that you turn your back on Him.
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete
Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell.
http://www.moodypublishers.com/pub_productDetail.aspx?id=41823&pid=53617
No comments:
Post a Comment