03.41. Naaman's Passport

Naaman’s Passport

Naaman commenced his journey under the patronage and with the passport of his lord; which at every stage would secure him an uninterrupted passage, and the greatest attentions. For our comfort we possess a similar safe conduct, though of infinitely greater value, and of a more exalted description. It is the same that was given to the sick man in the gospel, to whom Jesus said, "Go in peace." And of which the disciples were the subjects in the request made by Jesus to his enemies, "Let these go their way."

We too, brethren, are set out upon a journey; we are continually and rapidly advancing in it. Whether we know and wish it or not, our progress is without intermission or pause. This journey commences with our life, and the hour of our death is the last stage of it. We do not, it is true, recline in a carriage, neither do we perform it on horseback or in a ship; but the wings of time, on which we repose, move with a far more vigorous and rapid speed. Every stroke of the clock warns us of our progress. Every movement of the pendulum proclaims with a solemn sound, "Ye travel onwards!" How lately did our road lie through the smiling fields of spring! It seems but as yesterday. Now, the roses have faded; and soon the leaves will wither, and fall rustling to the earth. Then snow succeeds, and before we are aware the lovely flowers of spring will again shoot forth: thus time rolls on. And how long will it be, before we fade like the leaves, for all flesh is as grass! The grass withereth, the flower fadeth, and whither are we travelling but towards that eternity, into which all the streams of life are successively discharged. But eternity is distinguished by two provinces of very different natures, separated by an impassable gulf; the one a lake of fire, the other a paradise of bliss; the one, heaven, the other, hell. In the one, or in the other, all will be landed. The last wave of time casts us upon the shores of the one province or the other.

Now, it may fare ill with us on our pilgrimage. We may fall into the hands of formidable enemies; we are liable to be attacked and subdued, and to suffer imprisonments, whose horrors are not to be described. For do not thousands daily become entangled with the delusion of sin, and are they not more and more encompassed by its fatal snares, till in its horrible embraces they are overtaken by eternal perdition and death? Remember Ahab, Judas, and Herod. How many of the same spirit do we everywhere behold! How many who willingly take upon them the yoke of Satan, and become quite involved in self-deception and falsehood, as if they had sold themselves to do evil, as if they had voluntarily consigned themselves to that everlasting torment which is prepared for the devil and his angels! Think of the wretched beings over whom Jesus so pathetically pronounced, "Woe! woe!" Thousands fall into the hands of Moses, by whom they are accused: the accusation is heard before the highest tribunal; each delinquent is condemned, and his name written in the book of cursing. Thousands are cast by an alarmed conscience into the furnace of despair, and despair is the stigma of the reprobate. Thousands, at the command of the Judge, are dragged by the last enemy, the king of terrors, to eternal desolation; alas, who can conceive to what misery and torment! and thousands in their last extremity will cry, "Lord, Lord, open unto us!" but will be doomed to hear the answer, "I know you not: depart from me, ye workers of iniquity!"

These are dreadful miseries, horrible events. What are all the afflictions of earth compared with them? What is loss of fortune? what the loss of health, or of the world’s esteem? to languish in bodily pain, what is it, when compared with such spiritual evils? They are all too insignificant to be mentioned in comparison. Job, Lazarus, and Bartimeus, in their misery, were a thousand times more enviable than the rich man clothed in purple, or than Saul, Herod, and many others in their robes of state. But it may be anxiously inquired, Is there no escape from these horrors? Yes, my brethren, many escape them. In what way? They possess a passport. He who travels without one, will doubtless one day be arrested as a vagabond or criminal. A passport, if it be genuine, is a great protection on a journey, but false ones here are of no avail, they lead to certain and greater disgrace and ruin. Yet many, alas! make use of them, and many, it is to be feared, even among ourselves. Some make out their own passports, which contain much self-applause. "We are," they say, "not bad people; we give to the poor, we do what is right!" and there is no end to their self-deceptions. Others obtain their passports from the world, in which they are described as excellent people, held in general estimation. But where did the world obtain its authority for furnishing passports? Its seal is neither legal nor valid. And even though you should possess a passport written by the children of God, testifying of you that you are members of the same kingdom; place no dependence on it. How often have they been mistaken in their testimony, and through shortsightedness or ignorance given false certificates! Your credentials must come from far higher authority, even from Him who once said to the hostile multitude, "Let these go their way;" and to the woman, "Go in peace." Yes, this woman received the true passport, the only one that is valid under all circumstances, and in all contingencies; and it is possessed by the very least of those who belong to Christ.

Nothing of the kind could have been granted as a matter of course, to any one of our fallen race; for we are all by nature children of wrath. But the Son of God had compassion on us, he became our Surety, having undertaken to save that which was lost, and to present us holy and unblameable and unreprovable in the sight of God. He "hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Thus "by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous;" He having not only rendered it possible for Grace and Mercy to sign their passport, but for the Divine Holiness and Justice to subscribe it with a firm, unwavering hand. For Mercy alone would never have signed it. God then, and God alone, issues the passport, even the God of mercy and truth; and he does so on the ground of the meritorious obedience of our atoning Mediator. From having thus alluded to the Christian’s spiritual passport, it may be further worth while to glance at a few of its contents. It describes the name of any one who is its owner, to be such as no man knoweth, save he that hath it; and his age, as not comprehensible within the chronicles of this world. It speaks of God as our Father, and of Jerusalem above as the mother of us all. It speaks of some wilderness of Mount Sinai as the place of our natural birth, and of Zion as our spiritual residence; of our rank as priestly and royal; and of our profession as that of spiritual combatants, benefactors, healers, and children of song. It speaks of our fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ, by our having been made partakers of the Holy Ghost. It speaks of the object of our pilgrimage, as the enjoyment of things which God hath prepared for those that love him; of our being borne occasionally as on an eagle’s wings, and clothed with the garments of salvation; of our speaking the language of Canaan, and of our being fair and comely in the sight of God; of our having the eyes of our understanding enlightened, of our ear as opened daily to Divine discipline; and of our tongue as loosed to confess the name of Jesus, and to praise the Lord. If we inspect it once more, in order to notice how far it is valid, we find it is valid to the heavenly city, where there is no night, and where there is no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to enlighten it; where every tear is wiped from all eyes, and men hunger no more, neither thirst any more. Better is it that our right hand should forget its cunning, than that we should forget this city of God. Our passport thither implies also a command given to ourselves to go forward in seeking it; and a command to all creatures, and all events, to co-operate for our advancement thither; a command to the angels to take charge concerning us; and a command to all adverse powers in the world to "let these go their way." To every bearer of this important document, it is expressly enjoined, "Be of good courage, fear not; go in peace." The angels obey its commands with delight; and the powers of the adversary from necessity. Foolish then, indeed, is that person who can possess it, and yet not anoint his head and wash his face, and leave worldly anxiety and sorrow behind him.

Many a one is, indeed, provided with this document of heavenly credentials, though hardly at present aware of it. Or, he carries it about with him sealed, and thus is but little acquainted with the pleasant nature of its contents. Such are bidden to "give all diligence to make their calling and election sure:" which if they do, then, however their passport may be for the present concealed from themselves, its value is not impaired, but it will still secure to them a safe conduct. Nevertheless, the consciousness of its possession, and the ability to decipher it, are invaluable blessings, which we should daily aspire to attain.