Spurgeon: July PM
* 07/04/PM
"He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted
up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."
--Psalm 24:4
Outward practical holiness is a very precious mark of grace.
It is to be feared that many professors have perverted the
doctrine of justification by faith in such a way as to treat
good works with contempt; if so, they will receive everlasting
contempt at the last great day. If our hands are not clean, let
us wash them in Jesus' precious blood, and so let us lift up
pure hands unto God. But " clean hands "will not suffice,
unless they are connected with " a pure heart ." True religion
is heart-work. We may wash the outside of the cup and the
platter as long as we please, but if the inward parts be filthy,
we are filthy altogether in the sight of God, for our hearts are
more truly ourselves than our hands are; the very life of our
being lies in the inner nature, and hence the imperative need of
purity within. The pure in heart shall see God, all others are
but blind bats.
The man who is born for heaven " hath not lifted up his soul
unto vanity ." All men have their joys, by which their souls are
lifted up; the worldling lifts up his soul in carnal delights,
which are mere empty vanities; but the saint loves more
substantial things; like Jehoshaphat, he is lifted up in the
ways of the Lord. He who is content with husks, will be reckoned
with the swine. Does the world satisfy thee? Then thou hast thy
reward and portion in this life; make much of it, for thou shalt
know no other joy.
" Nor sworn deceitfully ." The saints are men of honour
still. The Christian man's word is his only oath; but that is as
good as twenty oaths of other men. False speaking will shut any
man out of heaven, for a liar shall not enter into God's house,
whatever may be his professions or doings. Reader, does the text
before us condemn thee, or dost thou hope to ascend into the
hill of the Lord?