01 A Call to Consideration

A Call to Consideration "Thus says the Lord Almighty: Consider your ways!" Haggai 1:5

Times of affliction — are seasons for consideration. In health we are apt to he thoughtless and careless — and then the Lord sends some affliction, and says to it, "Go, call that person to consideration!" The Lord is now speaking to you. You have in health neglected your soul. You have trifled with divine things. You have disregarded the Lord’s word. He has borne long with you — but he has now adopted another course. Hear the rod — for it speaks! It speaks as the voice of God. Let this thought sink into your minds. "God is now speaking to me. He speaks to me in mercy. He speaks for my good. He speaks to me in time — that he may not punish me through eternity. He speaks to me in the land of hope — that he may not banish me to never-ending despair!" How kind! How gracious is this! Will you attend to the voice of God? He says, "Consider Your Ways!" Look back upon the past. Review the road you have traveled — the course which you have chosen. Have you made God’s word your guide? Has his glory been the end you have kept in view?

How did you spend your time?

How did you treat the bible?

What have you done for your soul? Have you been living to God — or to yourself? Your ways are represented in God’s word. . .
as crooked, because not regulated by his law;
as wicked, because opposed to his commands;
as a hedge of thorns, because lined with disappointments and vexations;
as the way to Hell, being sinful and perverse.

They were your own ways, for you . . .
chose them,
persevered in them, and
preferred them to God’s ways.

They led you away from God. They only gratified the evil dispositions of your heart. They will only cause you pain and sorrow now, if you reflect rightly upon them.

Think of the past very seriously. Search over the past, and see what there is in it, that you can now approve of and commend. Try your ways by God’s holy law. Ponder the paths which your feet have trodden!

You have omitted prayer.

You have slighted the gospel.

You have disregarded the authority of God.

You have treated his mercy with contempt.

You deserve his wrath.

He would be just if he was to punish you forever!

But, "consider your ways!"

Mercy invites you to do so; and invites you with the best intention. It calls upon you now because "there is forgiveness with our God."

Justice bids you to consider, and threatens — that it may not punish. But if you refuse to attend now, if you allow your conscience to be hardened, if you close your ear to the voice of warning — then that justice will shine forth conspicuously in your eternal punishment! If now you consider, repent, and receive God’s merciful invitation, and flee to him for mercy — then he will be just in pardoning all your sins, and in saving your soul. For Jesus died, to satisfy the claims of divine justice, for all who come to God and seek mercy through him. And in the gospel, God is proclaimed as "a just God, and a Savior." "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Compassion entreats you to consider. God is slow to anger. He is full of compassion. He is plenteous in mercy. He knows all your sins. He sees the exact state of your heart at this moment. He alone knows what an eternity of suffering means. He could hurl you down to Hell in one moment! But he delights in mercy. He is ready to forgive. He says, "Consider your ways, and come and let us reason together, for though your sins be as scarlet — they shall be as white as snow; and though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Dear friend, now consider your ways, for God bids you. He bids you at this moment. Do not put it off. You may become more insensible. Death may spring upon you suddenly. Do not delay for one moment. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation!"

Consider your ways for reason urges you. It is most unreasonable to neglect or delay — for your danger is imminent. You have neglected too long. You need the consolations of religion, to cheer and comfort you in your present affliction. Seek them at once, and remember, "that every one who seeks, finds."

Consider your ways, for eternity exhorts you. It is just at hand. It is surrounded by all that is solemn and serious. Consider then at once. Consider as in the sight of God. Consider and give your heart to the work. Consider your ways, and carefully compare them with God’s holy word. Consider and prepare for the result. Go on as thoughtlessly as you have done — and guilt, fear, disappointment, and despair are your portion — your eternal portion! "Consider this, you who forget God, lest he tears you in pieces, and there are none to deliver."

There is a deliverer now, one who is both able and willing to deliver You; but the time is coming, when the deliverer will be the judge — and then deliverance will be impossible. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation!" God is speaking to you, he would speak with you. Go to his throne of grace. Approach him in prayer. Confess your sins. Seek immediate salvation. Rest not until you find grace with God, and rest in Christ. It may he obtained now. "Seek — and you shall find! Knock — and it shall be opened unto you."