35 The Appeal

The Appeal "How can you say, ’I love you,’ — when your heart is not with me?" Judges 16:15

Here is a good man in a bad place. A saint sanctioning a sinner in her crimes. A Nazarite of God, united to a harlot. The deliverer of Israel, taken captive by one of Israel’s foes. Bad company is always dangerous. Samson suffered severely for it. What is here recorded is for our warning. It cries, "Beware of tampering with temptation! Be watchful — or you will be overcome! Never trust your own strength. See the strongest man taken captive by the weaker vessel." But we are not going to dwell upon Samson’s folly, or upon Delilah’s treachery. We take the words apart from their connection. They contain an important truth, and would befit better lips than hers who first uttered them. Let us consider them as addressed to us — as addressed to us by the Lord Jesus. Surely, in the present day, there is much cause for Him to say to many of us, "How can you say, ’I love you,’ — when your heart is not with me?" The words suppose —

First, aprofession — a profession to love the Savior. This implies that we have heard of him. Yes, the blessed gospel has proclaimed the glad tidings of a Savior to us. We have heard . . .
of Jesus,
of the glory of his person,
of the greatness of his love,
of the riches of his grace,
of the depth of his sympathy,
of the perfection of his work,
of the constancy of his care, and
of his readiness to save all that come unto him.

It implies, also, that we have thought about him. And who has not, that has often heard the gospel? Hear the gospel — and not think of Christ! Impossible! We have thought of him. We do think of him. Oh, that we may ever think of him, and do so with reverence, satisfaction, and joy!

It implies that we have felt interested in him. That is to say, that our minds have been affected, and our spirits engaged, with what we have heard and read of Jesus. There are too many uninterested hearers; but those who say, "I love you," must have felt some interest in what they have heard of his person, work, and love.

Also, that we have decided to profess him. Many hear of him, think of him, feel some interest in him, who do not decide to profess him; they stop short of this mark. It is an important thing to profess Christ: some do so too hastily, and some are too backward in doing so.

It implies, also, that we have spoken to him, and of him. We speak to him in prayer. We speak of him to his friends and foes. We speak of him to recommend him to others, or in order to be recognized as one of his friends ourselves. He who calls upon Jesus in the closet, should speak of Jesus to the church — for every praying soul should confess him. If we really love him, we ought to profess him. But too many say, "I love you," as Judas did — with their mouths they confess him — but by their works they deny him. Therefore,

Secondly, aproofis required, even that the heart is with him. He who has the heart — has the man, notwithstanding his profession.

If the heart is with Jesus — then the thoughts will be with him. We shall think of him frequently, with interest and with affection. Our thoughts will be often gathering round his person, and be feeding themselves on his word. We shall think of him,
as the child does of its play,
as the school-boy of his holidays,
as the lover of nature of beautiful scenery,
as the hungry man of his food, and
as the poor, way-worn traveler of his home.

If the heart is with Jesus — then our desires will be with him. We shall desire to know him more, enjoy him more, honor him more. We shall desire . . .
to possess him,
to be like him, and
to be with him. Our desires will be like wings to the soul, to carry us to him. With one of old we shall say, "With my soul have I desired you in the night, and with my spirit within me will I seek you early."

If the heart is with Jesus — then our affections will be with him. We shall prefer him to all others. We shall fear to offend him, and seek to please him. He will stand out from all our friends, relations, and beloved objects, with bold prominence, and we shall say, "Whom have I in Heaven but you, and there is none upon earth that I desire beside you!"

If the heart is with Jesus — then our confidence is with him. It is of this Delilah complains; she was not trusted. If our heart is with Jesus, we shall trust him with all our secrets — we shall place confidence in his word. To him we shall repair in our troubles, and spread them before him. To him we shall look in our difficulties, and expect him to deliver us out of them.

If the heart is with Jesus — then our all is with him; for all follows the heart.

If, therefore, our hearts are with him — we shall yield to his will. He will be our Lord. His word will be our law. Our hearts will often say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.

If the heart is with Jesus — then we shall work for his glory. Our motives will not be legal — but evangelical. We shall not be idle or indifferent. To honor him will be a pleasure, and to bring glory to his name, will be a sufficient recompense for the severest trial.

If the heart is with Jesus — then we shall give to his cause. We shall feed his poor, and support his ordinances. Love him — and not give to him! Can we say that the heart is with him — and withhold the purse from him! Strange delusion this!

If the heart is with Jesus — then we shall speak to defend him. We cannot hear him reviled — and not be wounded; nor hear his foes, speak against him — and not say a word for him. Where is the affectionate wife who would have her husband reproached — and not stand up in his defense? And shall nature do more than grace? Shall we vindicate a worm, and not have a word to say in defense of God incarnate? Shall we defend an earthly friend — and not stand up for our glorious Savior?

If the heart is with Jesus — then we shall habitually seek to please him. This will he our main object, our principal business. The one question will be: Will this please my Savior? Oh, my reader, if we did this more, how different would our conduct be!

If the heart is with Jesus — then we shall enjoy the beloved object. Love is always a source of happiness, if it fixes on a worthy object. Our happiness below is to know and love Jesus — and our happiness in Heaven will be to see and love him forever. The more we love him — the happier we are. If we do not enjoy him — we cannot be happy. Let us now —

Thirdly, present theappeal. "How can you say, ’I love you’ — when your heart is not with me?" This may be urged against many hearers of the gospel, who would wish to be thought lovers of Jesus. The undecided, who are ashamed or afraid to confess him — who have never given up the world and questionable customs — with what force it applies to them! The worldly-minded professor — how pointedly it applies to him! The self-seeker and lukewarm church-member — how applicable to them! The backslider — what a sting it carries for him! My dear reader, is it applicable to you? Do you say to Jesus, "I love you?" If so, is your heart with him? Are your thoughts, your desires, your affections, your confidence with him? Do you . . .
yield to his will?
work for his glory?
give to his cause?
speak to defend or recommend him?
seek to please him?
enjoy him as the object of your love?

Examine your heart. Search into your life. Let the appeal sink down into your soul.

Lost sinner, yield your heart to Jesus! He asks it. He deserves it. He will sanctify it. He will fill it with grace, and fit it for glory.

Waverer, fix your heart on Jesus! He only is worthy of your highest love. Think of him. Call upon him. Surrender to him. Make this your prayer, "Unite my heart to fear your name."

Christian, keep your heart with Jesus! By frequent meditation. By constant fellowship. By steady faith. By determined conflict. "Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life."

Savior, fill each of our hearts with your love! Manifest your love to us: shed abroad your love in our hearts, and then shall we love you, because you have first loved us. Oh, to love Jesus supremely, constantly, increasingly! May we never have reason to question our love to him, or give others occasion to do so! Reader, do you love the Savior? Did you ever seriously use these words —

"And have I, Christ, no love for thee,
No passion for your charms?
No wish my Savior’s face to see,
And dwell within his arms! Is there no spark of gratitude
In this cold heart of mine,
To Him whose gen’rous bosom glowed
With friendship all divine! Can I pronounce his charming name,
His acts of kindness tell;
And while I dwell upon the theme,
No sweet emotion feel?

Such base ingratitude as this,
What heart but must detest!
Sure Christ deserves the noblest place
In every human breast! A very wretch, Lord, I should prove,
Had I no love for thee;
Rather than not my Savior love,
O may I cease to be!"