Loving Watchcare of Jesus
69
will no longer be satisfied with worldly pride and self-love. No longer
will they worship self. God will be the object of their supreme regard.
My heart aches as I am shown how many there are who make self
their idol. Christ has paid the redemption price for them. To Him
belongs the service of all their powers. But their hearts are filled with
self-love, and the desire for self-adorning. They give no thought to
the words, “Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and
take up his cross, and follow me” (
Mark 8:34
). Self-gratification is
hiding Christ from their view. They have no desire to walk before God
in meekness and lowliness. They are not looking to Jesus. They are
not praying that they may be changed into His likeness. Their cases
are represented by the man who came to the king’s banquet clothed
in his common citizen dress. He had refused to make the preparation
required by the king. The garment provided for him at great cost he
disdained to wear. To the king’s demand, “How camest thou in hither
not having a wedding garment?” (
Matthew 22:12
) he could answer
nothing. He was speechless; for he was self-condemned.
Many who profess to be Christians are such only in name. They
are not converted. They keep self prominent. They do not sit at the
feet of Jesus, as Mary did, to learn of Him. They are not ready for
Christ’s coming.
[81]
A Great Surprise
In the night season I was in a company of people whose hearts were
filled with vanity and conceit. Christ was hid from their eyes. Suddenly
in loud, clear accents, the words were heard, “Jesus is coming to take
to Himself those who on this earth have loved and served Him, to be
with Him in His kingdom forever.” Many of those in the company went
forth in their costly apparel to meet Him. They kept looking at their
dress. But when they saw His glory, and realized that their estimation
of one another had been so largely measured by outward appearance,
they knew that they were without the robe of Christ’s righteousness,
and that the blood of souls was on their garments.
When Christ took His chosen ones, they were left; for they were
not ready. In their lives self had been given the first place, and when
the Saviour came, they were not prepared to meet Him.