23 Counsel Given
Counsel Given
"I counsel you to buy from me . . .
gold refined in the fire — so you can become rich;
and white clothes to wear — so you can cover your shameful nakedness;
and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see!" Revelation 3:18
Many people are under the power of deception. They imagine their state and character to be very different to what they really are. They fall into this mistake, though they have the word of God in their hands, and the glorious gospel sounding in their ears. Take heed that you are not deceived, for multitudes are! This was the case with many at Laodicea. They imagined because they had professed Christ, were in the Church of God, and had the privileges of the gospel in abundance — that all was well. But they were sadly mistaken! They thought they were rich — that they were made for eternity. But they were not rich toward God. Perhaps they had wealth, learning, and gifts; but they had no saving grace, which constitutes the true riches. They considered their condition so good, that they had need of nothing. They thought if they were not saved — then who could be? They were not harrassed with doubts and fears, as many true believers are. They had no painful sense of need. No discovery of the imperfection of all that they did. They thought all was right. Alas! how many do so now. Death alone, it is to be feared, will undeceive many!
They knew not, that they were . . .
wretched — being under the sentence and curse of God’s righteous law; miserable — exposed to numerous, fearful, and never-ending torments; poor — destitute of the riches of grace, and strangers to the work of God’s Holy Spirit;
blind — not able to see the spirituality and demands of the law, the glorious provision of the gospel, and their own true state and condition;
and naked — stripped of original righteousness, destitute of any covering for the soul, and in a state that would uncover their shame before the throne of God. Nothing can be more fearful, than having to stand naked before the eye of a holy God — to be exposed and put to shame before glorified saints, and holy angels. Reader, what if you should be found naked at last! What if you should be exposed and put to shame, before assembled worlds! Examine yourself. Compare yourself with God’s word. Listen to, and receive the counsel which the Savior gives you.
You are POOR — for you cannot meet God’s requirements; you have nothing which will procure comfort for your soul in the sorrows of life and death; and you will find yourself poor when called to leave this world, and give an account of yourself before God’s bar.
You are NAKED — for sin has stripped you and left you bare, so that you have nothing to screen you, nothing to adorn you in the sight of God.
You are BLIND — and therefore do not see . . .
the danger to which you are exposed;
the remedy provided for sinners in the gospel;
the hatefulness of sin; or the beauty of the Savior.
You are therefoie by nature WRETCHED and MISERABLE — for if a man is poor, naked, and blind — then how can he be otherwise than wretched and miserable. He has nothing to enjoy. He has nothing to expect. All at present is painful — all in the future is distressing. This is just the sinner’s condition. He has nothing suited to the nature, or that can satisfy the desires of his soul. He can expect nothing while in his present state, either in in time or eternity. He is a poor, blind, naked creature. What a wretched case! What a miserable condition! But Jesus comes forward to counsel us. He knows our misery. He pities us. He remembers us in our low estate, for his mercy endures forever. He is the wonderful Counselor — the Friend that loves at all times — the Brother born for adversity.
He says, "I counsel you to buy from me." No one sells upon such terms as his — "without money and without price." Only feel that you need the blessings. Heartily desire to possess them. Come to him for them, and they are yours. "He fills the hungry with good things," but the rich and the self-righteous, are sent empty away. But what has he to dispose of? Just what you need! All that you need! You need not go anywhere else. Come to him for all.
He counsels you to buy from him "gold refined in the fire" — the best, the purest, the most valuable gold. This figure may set forth God’s grace. The grace that sanctifies our nature. The grace that brings us into possession of the unsearchable riches of Christ. The grace by which we believe — and believing, claim all the promises of God, the privileges of the saints, and the glories of eternity. The grace by which we love — and loving enter into the enjoyment of present happiness, while we adorn the doctrine of God our Savior, in all things. The grace by which we hope — and hoping, are saved from despondency and gloom, and look forward with holy anticipation to the glory which shall be revealed. The grace which brings salvation — and is the root of every spiritual grace and moral virtue.
He counsels you to buy of him "white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness." This is Christ’s glorious righteousness — his obedience unto death. It is called "the best robe." It hides every defect. It entitles to every blessing. It preserves from condemnation and eternal death. It fits us to appear before God with acceptance and pleasure. It gives present peace and joy to the wearer of it. When one in the days of old obtained it, and began to wear it — he broke out in the strains of joy and gladness, and sung, "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels!" Isaiah 61:10.
He also offers us eye salve, or the enlightening and healing influences of his Holy Spirit; which will purify the understanding, and enable us to perceive . . .
the glory of God,
the beauty of the Savior,
the way of salvation,
the path of peace,
the prospect of the saints,
our natural condition, and
the complete remedy which God has provided for sin and sinners! In a word, Jesus counsels us to come and obtain from him, all that is necessary to make us rich, beauteous, and happy! He would have us really wealthy, suitably adorned, and fit for the enjoyment of God. My friend, Jesus has these things in abundance. He is ready to bestow them. To bestow them upon such as are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. But application is necessary. He will have you apply to him. He will have you come to him, as the housekeeper goes to the market to obtain a supply for the famishing family. You must go with a determination to obtain. Not as one goes for that which is not valued, or which is not immediately necessary; but as one goes to get sight restored, the person clothed, and the promise of money made good. Thus going — success is certain. There can be no disappointment. His resources are infinite. His word is true. He is immutably faithful. He is in one mind, and none can turn him. He has supplied millions — but he has never refused one yet, nor will he do so in your case. Will you receive his counsel? It is wise, for it just meets your case. It is kind, for it flows from his heart, which is love. It is benevolent, for he only wishes you well; yes, no one so heartily wishes you well as he does. It is unselfish, for you will derive all the benefit. It is for your sake that he counsels you, for your receiving can add nothing to him.
Let me then beseech you to receive his counsel, to buy his blessings; and to plead before him in earnest prayer — the advice which he has given you. There are many who make light of it, as if unworthy of their attention and regard, of this he complains, "But since you rejected me when I called and no one gave heed when I stretched out my hand, since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you — when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you!" Proverbs 1:24-28.
How fearful this will he! Unutterably fearful! O let us flee to Jesus. Let us seek and find a shelter in him. Let nothing short of a present pardon, and eternal salvation satisfy us. They may be had. We may have them now. Let us seek — and we shall find. Let us knock — and the door of mercy will be opened to us. Let us copy the example of the inspired psalmist, so shall we enjoy the same blessing which he did. He says, speaking to his God, "Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said: ’I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’ — and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him!" Psalms 32:5-6. O may the language of your heart be —
Savior, I take your kind advice,
While without money, without price,
I come your grace to buy;
Faith as the golden bullion pure, Which can the fiery test endure,
And all my wants supply.
I come to buy that richest dress,
Your glorious spotless righteousness, The covering from above;
To hide my sinful shame from view,
And justify my person too,
And fill my heart with love. That I may all things clearly see,
The Spirit which proceeds from thee,
The unction I implore:
O might I now the blessing gain, The sight of you my Lord obtain.
And never lose it more;
Jesus, your Spirit now impart,
To cure the blindness of my heart, My unbelief to chase,
That I your unveiled face may see.
And spend a blessed eternity,
In ecstasies of praise.