03.04. Locked Gates, and the Key to Open Them

4. Locked Gates, and the Key to Open Them

Around a bright and pleasant home in the Lake District, there are many acres of wooded parks intersected by walks from which you can gain many a fair prospect of the surrounding scenery. To preserve the privacy of the estate, there are several gates along the walks, and these are usually kept locked. But in the hall hangs the key, which the visitor at the house can always take, and thus at his pleasure range through the whole property.

It seems to me that there are many locked gates in life, and sometimes rightly and sometimes wrongly, the key is often found to open them. For instance, occasionally a silver or a golden key is used to obtain a position of trust and influence. Money is given to purchase a preferment in politics, unlimited and systematic bribery is resorted to in the hope of gaining a seat in Parliament, and in many other directions unfair practices of the kind are not infrequent. In another way, I fear, a golden key is often used in a way that does great harm. It is used sometimes to open a young lady’s heart; at least, it apparently does so. It may be true that the bridegroom is twenty or thirty years older than the bride; it may be true that there is very little congeniality of disposition, and perhaps even the barrier of moral unfitness; but there are plenty of means and everything which wealth and position can give; so the young lady hopes for the best, and the gate flies open, and friends smile and congratulate, though perchance it is the blighting of a young life, and a weary heart carries its secret burden even to the grave.

Another thought may be added here on the same matter. If you have the love of Christ in your heart, I trust you will follow His will as to any marital engagement. He has set a limit for His followers. "Only in the Lord" is a plain precept that ought never to be transgressed. If you are Christ’s, never marry any one with whom you cannot have real fellowship in Him. If you do, you will be drawn back into the world, or will have constant cause for sorrow in the barrier that separates you. Do not deceive yourself with the idea that the one you care for will one day become a Christian. If you grieve the Savior by your disregard of His will — then how can you expect that He will afterwards fulfill your desire and turn the heart of the one you marry? But if you are faithful to Him, and refuse to link your life to one who is a stranger to His grace, you will never regret it. He knows how to recompense your fidelity in some way.

Nearly forty years ago a Christian girl engaged herself rather hastily to a young man to whom she was deeply attached. But the thought came to her that she had not consulted God’s will in the matter. She knelt down and prayed most earnestly that if it were not His will, He would put a hindrance in the way. Soon after this, her father desired to break off the engagement — circumstances occurred which made him feel it was best. The young lady saw in it the hand of God. She took off the pearl ring and enclosed it in a paper with these words, "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." Thirty-five years after she discovered this paper in an old pocket-book of her father’s, and could thank God with all her heart for the grace that had enabled her to make the decision.

There is another key of a different kind, though I fear the evil it brings is no less extensive and widespread than that to which I have just referred. The key of an assumed priestly authority is exercised to draw out the secrets that ought never to be laid bare except to the great High Priest. In the confessional a young lady tells in the ear of a priest that which she would not divulge even to a mother. And very great is the evil that results. It leads to far too much dependence upon man. It hinders the penitent going straight to the throne of grace. It makes a veil and a barrier between the soul and the Savior. It puts the minister of Christ in a wrong position, and fetters the conscience of Christ’s disciple. It utterly destroys the liberty which is our most precious heritage, and sadly misinterprets the royal invitation of the King, "Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

"Never was I so far from my Lord," said a young lady who had escaped from this snare, "as when I tried to come to Him through another." But while I trust you will never yield to either of these temptations, there are three keys I should like you to use. I will name them in the order of their relative value. The first key is Patience. In many ways, this is found to open locked gates. For instance, take some difficulty in Scripture. There is no doubt that if men wish to find them, they may find many knots they cannot untie, many apparent discords and contradictions, things which at first sight may seem contrary to God’s love or justice or truth. Science, too, has its objections, and the great truths of atonement, divine renewal, and eternal judgment have many adversaries. But let patience have its perfect work. Go deeper in the study of the Word. Lay firmer hold on the great foundation evidences, such as the existence of the Christian Church, the manifold proofs of Christ’s resurrection, the moral fitness and marvelous effects of Christian truth; and as to the rest, wait patiently for light and it will surely arise. The difficulties and objections of past ages have in most cases utterly vanished — and those of the present day will do so likewise. Only be patient, and God will reward you by stronger faith, and by making you helpful to others also in saving them from the dark pit of unbelief. But with this key of patience we must also use another, that of Prayer. Faithful, humble prayer will prevail, both as to doubts with respect to Scripture and also in the ordinary difficulties of daily life which often cross the Christian’s path.

You have given yourself to Christ, and wish to follow Him, but there is a "locked gate." There is a something in the way. Perhaps you are in a house of business, and practices are carried on which are not thoroughly honest. You are expected to say that which is not true, or at least that which has a spice of deceit about it. Or in your own home the trouble comes. You feel unjustly treated. You are put into the shade, and duties thrust upon you which others ought to do. You have to stop at home while others go out and have a pleasant evening. All this frets and disturbs you, and hinders you from acting as a Christian ought. Or perhaps the difficulty assumes quite a different form. Parents, brothers, and sisters do not look at amusements as you do. The theater and the ball-room seem to them perfectly harmless, though to you they are a hindrance and a stumbling-block. They . . .
make spiritual things less real,
dampen your love to the Savior, and
are a waste of time and money which ought to be better employed.

Under such circumstances, you need much wisdom and grace. Be courteous and considerate, but hold fast that which you know is right. And take the key! Make it a matter of constant prayer. Go and tell Jesus. Ask for plain guidance and direction, and it will not be withheld. A few years ago an incident occurred which bears on this point. A ticket had been given to a young lady by a favorite brother that she might go with him to a public ball, and she was quite willing to go. But, meanwhile, a mission was held in the town, and she threw herself very heartily into the good work, and both received profit herself and persuaded others to go with her. She gained quite a new view of life and its responsibilities. She gave her heart to the Savior, and much that she before cared for, had now no attraction for her. But what was to be done? She had the ticket, but she neither wished to go nor to wound her brother’s feelings. But she prayed about it, and left the matter in the Lord’s hands. For some days, "that ticket" was her constant burden, but it was soon rolled away. Her brother saw she was in trouble about something and soon found out the cause. He only joked her about the Evangelistic fever, and then gave the ticket to a cousin who had no scruples in the matter.

I am sure this is the best way to get rid of a burden, whatever kind it may be. Roll it on the Lord. Commit it to Him. Ask Him to undertake for you. And in the end He will make all plain. For a time, the gate may resist all attempts to open it, but some day it will fly open, and the long trouble or anxiety pass away.

I cannot see the path
Which I must take,
But You can see, and You
Will not forsake. So when the path is rough,
I will be still;
And feel content to know
It is Your will.

Until in the Father’s Home,
Where all is light,
I shall confess with joy
Your ways were right! But there is another key still more precious. You remember the story of Christian and Hopeful in Doubting Castle. On Saturday night they began to pray, and a little before daybreak Christian remembered that he had the Key of Promise in his pocket, and he was persuaded that it would open any lock in the way of their escape. So Christian pulled it out of his bosom and began to try at the dungeon door, whose bolt gave back and the door flew open with ease. Then he went to the Castle Yard, and the iron gate, and though the lock of the latter went hard, the key did open it. But, though the creaking of the gate waked up Giant Despair — yet he could not follow them, and they reached the King’s highway in safety and went on their way rejoicing.

Well, we have the key of Promise still, and there is no lock it cannot open. Take the whole range of human needs, reckon up every need of things temporal, or whatever you lack of faith, or love, or any other grace — why should you question the goodness of our God? Have you not the key, "He who spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

Add together every accusation which conscience and the memory of past days can bring against you. Think of the sins of your childhood, and the faults and failures of the last few months or years. Sins of omission and of commission, sins in secret and such as have been seen by others, sins against God or against your fellow-creatures — acknowledge them all and hide nothing. But have you not the key? Is it not written, "Who is a God like unto You, who pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy" (Micah 7:18). And again, "The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses from all sin!" (1 John 1:7). Or look at life’s troubles and all the sorrows that may befall you. Fears and cares may harass and distress you, and the clouds may gather thick over your head. But what of that? Have you not the key? Hearken to the word of promise, "The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, and He knows those who trust in Him" (Nehemiah 1:7). "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you" (John 14:18). "As your days — so shall your strength be" (Deuteronomy 33:25).

I thank You for this promise, Lord;
I praise You for Your gracious word,
It falls like music on the ear,
Dispelling doubt and stilling fear;
And soothing pain and calming grief.
Giving true solace and relief. No sweeter voice from Heaven for me
Than, "As your days — your strength shall be."
For as I think how coming years
May bring sharp troubles, bitter tears;
How strong temptations may assail,
And faith and hope alike may fail.
While duty seems beyond our power,
And grace is needed hour by hour;
This from dark bondage sets me free,
"E’en as your days your strength shall be."
Each cloud shall have its line of light,
Each storm be arched with rainbow bright.
Fresh wells of comfort at our feet
Shall send forth streams as pure as sweet.
And in our very darkest time,
Like silver bells, will sound this chime,
Sweeter than earthly minstrelsy,
"E’en as your days — your strength shall be."
And when upon the brink I stand
Of the unknown and silent land,
And the last dreaded hour draws near,
From which the heart recoils with fear,
Along the spirit’s trembling chords
With melody shall ring the words,
Causing all doubt and dread to flee,
"E’en as your days — your strength shall be."