Have I Pursued the Eternal with as Much Zeal as I have Pursued the Vile?

Chapter Focus: Have you ever walked in front of someone as they expected you to lead them toward a destination to which they’ve already journeyed? In other words, your Leader is following you and yet guiding you? They, having already been at the campsite, might say, “Let’s try this path, that path is overgrown with poison ivy,” or “No, don’t go that way, I’ve been down that trail…there’s nothing there,” or, “There’s skunks and snakes that way, better take this longer path…and run!”

Chapter 4 is like that: Jesus tells us to walk before Him in Truth and Humility because He knows the Way. But we have to learn the path ourselves and pay attention to the signs, the obstacles, the potholes. In that way, we confront the Truth.

Along the path, Jesus asks tough questions about our favorite sins and our secret depravities. Oh, how we cling to these faults: “The poison ivy isn’t that bad,” we say, “and the way is much shorter.” Or we secretly relish our sins, don’t we? “That way isn’t too bad. Climbing over rocks is good extra training,” we rationalize.

Our Lord tells us to run from our sins: Using our natural sense of fear to avoid sins that may stick to us as stink sticks to a skunk. Better yet, we should denounce the sin – especially this type. Jesus asks us to pursue purity and eternity with as much zeal as we pursue vanity and lust and gossip and … you get the picture. So, lace up your hiking shoes, go where He leads you, run if need be!

Chapter 4, In Short.

1. Walk before Christ in truth, and seek Him continually in the simplicity of your heart.
2. Let the truth free me from all evil and inordinate affection, and I will walk before Christ in great freedom of heart.
3. Jesus will teach you the things which are right and pleasing to Him.
4. We should fear, denounce, and flee from our own faults and sins.
5. We should have a sound fear of God’s judgments.

Scripture Memory Prayer: “If the Son of Man frees you, you shall be free indeed.” (Jn 8:36)
Key Quote: Let the eternal truth please you above all things..
Question: Have I abandoned my own sins, especially my favorites, to God’s Truth? Have I pursued the eternal with as much zeal as I have pursued the vile?

The Text of Chapter 4: How We Must Walk in Truth and Humility Before God.

The Voice of Christ:
“My Child! walk before Me in truth, and seek Me continually in the simplicity of your heart. The disciple who walks before Me in truth shall be safe from evil assaults, and the truth shall deliver him from the wiles and slanders of the wicked. If the truth shall make you free, you shall be free indeed (Jn 8:36), and you shall not care for the vain words of others.”

The Disciple:
2. Lord, this is true: Just as You say it let it be so with me, I pray. Let Your truth teach me, let it keep me and preserve me safe until the end (Ps 24:5). Let the truth free me from all evil and inordinate affection, and I will walk before You in great freedom of heart.

The Voice of Christ:
3. “I will teach you,” says the Truth, “the things which are right and pleasing before Me. Think upon your sins with great displeasure and sorrow, and never think highly of yourself because of your good works. Truly you are a sinner, liable to many passions; and yes, tied and bound with them. By yourself, you always tend to nothing. You will quickly fall, quickly be conquered, quickly disturbed, and quickly undone. You have nothing in which to glory, but many reasons why you should believe yourself to be depraved, for you are far weaker than you are able to comprehend.

4. “Therefore, let, nothing you do seem great. Let nothing be grand, nothing of value or beauty, nothing worthy of honor, nothing lofty, nothing praiseworthy or desirable, except that which is eternal. Let the eternal truth please you above all things. Let your own great depravity displease you continually.

“Fear, denounce, and flee your own faults and sins. These ought to be more displeasing to you than any loss of goods. There are some who do not walk before Me sincerely, but being led by curiosity and pride, they desire to know My secrets and to understand the deep intimacies of God, while they neglect themselves and their salvation. They often fall into great temptations and sins because of their pride and curiosity, for I am against them.

5. “Fear the judgments of God, especially the wrath of the Almighty. Shrink from debating upon the works of the Most High, but search narrowly your own iniquities into what great sins you have fallen. Oh, how many good things you have neglected. There are some who carry their devotion only in books, some in pictures, some in outward signs and figures. Many have Me in their mouths, and on their lips, but little in their hearts (Matt 15:18).

There are others who, being enlightened in their understanding and purged in their affections, continually long after eternal things, hear of earthly things with unwillingness, and obey the necessities of nature with sorrow. They understand what the Spirit of Truth speaks in them. He teaches them to despise earthly things and to love heavenly things; to neglect the world and to desire heaven all the day and night.”