Examine Yourself

“Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith.” 2 Corinthians 13:5. “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” Luke 18:8.

There is much faith concerning the forgiveness of sins. However, the faith that empowers a person to stop sinning and transforms him into the image of Jesus Christ so that he partakes of divine nature is rarely found.

The angel of the church in Ephesus lacked this precious faith so completely that he was given the choice of repenting and doing the first works, or remaining as he was and having his lampstand re­moved.

The angel of the church in Smyrna received the testimony that he was rich; that is, that he was rich in good works. It is faith strengthening to know that it is possible to obtain such a testimony even in these days, and this is what we must pursue.

The angel of the church in Pergamos was reproached because he had some in the church who held the doctrine of Balaam. This is a school of thought whose source is in the realm of the flesh and its lusts.

Matters had gone even further in Thyatira. There, those who were defiled by this school of thought even had some authority in the church. Can we stand the test on this point before Him who has eyes like flames of fire?

The angel of the church in Sardis was reckoned as dead by Jesus. It is possible that a leading brother in the church of the living God can end up in this terrible condition.

Jesus’ words to the angel of the church in Philadelphia are pre­cious. He had fully lived Jesus’ words concerning patience, and translated them into life.

The angel of the church in Laodicea was the seventh to have his condition revealed, and it was terrible. He was told that he was luke­warm. This is so repulsive in Jesus’ eyes that He abhors the whole person.

These seven leaders of the churches had their true condition re­vealed. In the case of those who had received a good testimony, it was blessed. They had walked in the light and applied themselves so that they could stand the test, and it had gone well for them. Those who had received a bad testimony had made the mistake of not examining themselves whether they stood in the faith for which Jesus is looking.

The fact that servants who have been put in God’s church to shepherd the flock He has redeemed for Himself by His precious blood, and who are in the Chief Shepherd’s right hand can fall so low, must instill the proper fear in us. When Jesus told His disciples that one of them would betray Him, every one of them asked Him, “Lord, is it I?”

The angels of the churches with whom it had gone badly lacked this holy fear. Therefore the angel in Ephesus was told to do the first works. He had to be converted to the holy fear and humility which he possessed in the beginning. This had given warmth to his love.

Saul was rejected for the same reason. He forsook the state of be­ing humble in his own eyes, and in his arrogance he feared neither Samuel nor God.

A brother who does the first works is acceptable before God and pleasing to men. God is against us if we lack the love in our life that causes us to be humble in our own eyes. Then it is of no avail if we have works, faith, and patience and have worked much “in the Lord.” We are abominable in God’s eyes as truly as we harbor something in us that is the opposite of being lowly.

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16. Then it will be too late to correct anything; but today there is grace available to put everything in order.