KEEPING THE HEART

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." -- 1 Peter 1.13.

     It means much to be patient. There is so much to be done and so many hindrances; the pains are so severe and so persistent that it seems they never will depart; the misunderstandings seem so unreasonable that they are actually vexing; the crosses are so heavy, so bloody, so agonizing, the confinements so galling! If we could only wrench these bars away, lay down these crosses, explain these misunderstandings, relieve these pains or drive through these hindrances, all would be well. But no, the prejudices refuse to depart, the walls are firm.

     Nothing but grace could enable Peter to endure. He must have his liberty. God recognized this fact, and when he was in prison sent an angel to help him out. But this impulsive nature, all right when sanctified, must be curbed or ruin will follow. In this passage Peter is wielding the two-edged sword, it strikes both the reader and the writer. Peter, himself, must learn to patiently hope to the end."

     By the way, did Peter ever take time to sit down and think anything out? Did he ever study out a sermon or a course of action? Read his epistles and see how he sweeps you irresistibly, not by force of argument, but by a strong impulse, from valley to hilltop, from one mountain peak to another, never tarrying at any one place only long enough to drive one sure nail and then on. His inspiration bears the stamp of action, not of study. It savors of the freedom of the seaside, the rolling of the tempest, the sunshine and shadows, the joys of the successes and the sorrows of the failures of a Galilean fisherman, and not of the schools.

     John loved to sit at Jesus' feet or recline on His breast; he must learn to labor in the great harvest field; Peter, already filled with action, must learn to sit at Jesus' feet. How blessed to live constantly in the presence of Jesus, to be ever drinking in of the fullness of the Spirit. Brother Lawrence says, "The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament."

     The Christian man's main work is stated thus by the wise man: "Keep thine heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life." Carefulness, sobriety and hopefulness are three things necessary in keeping the heart, and these three things are mentioned in the passage before us.

     1. Carefulness. "Gird up the loins of your mind." The mind and affections of man, fallen in the general wreck, are inclined to looseness. They love to linger in forbidden fields and ponder over unholy ends, and are loath to give careful attention to solid things, especially the things of God. How easy for the natural man to retain the memory of foolish stories or circumstances, and with difficulty he retains solid matter. This weakness is augmented by the influence of chaffy, sentimental literature, classical or otherwise. Who can prove this allegation untrue?

     What unregenerate man is capable of so controlling his affections that he can say, "My heart is fixed." On the contrary, his affections are continually changing, unstable as water, like the troubled sea when it cannot rest.

     But if the "loins of the mind" are girded up the subjects for thought will be carefully chosen, the affections will be studiously fixed in God and heavenly things, and the whole man will be watchful and at attention.

     The figure of the text represents readiness. When the prophet's lips had been touched with the live coal and his sin purged, he could quickly reply to the call to service, "Here am I, send me." If the mind is dissolutely dragging against the things of time and dabbling into the dirty pool of worldly cares and riches, how can one quickly leave all to answer the call to service? God wants minute men.

     He wants men who sleep on their arms with their coats on, while they are in the enemy's country. He wants men who can never be caught ungirded.

     Then, again, the girded mind is prompt and expeditious. It cares for details, but wastes no time with trifles. Generally, if you want a rush job done employ a busy man, for very often the other man is unoccupied because of his slowness and inefficiency. Talents are given the servants of God to be used, but if any man has not (does not use to profit that which he has), from him shall be taken away even that which he has, and this that is taken away shall be given to the man who already has ten talents, and improves them.

     The girded mind is, as far as possible, disengaged from worldly things and pursuits. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this world, that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier. How any man whose head is full of worldly business and plans can make a successful soul-saver or even private Christian is a question worthy of consideration. A heart that is only partly surrendered to God is all the devil's lukewarmness is an abomination, sickening to the Lord.

     A mind that is girded, by that very fact manifests a determination that is pleasing to God. No man would run a race of any importance hampered with superfluous clothing, but if he enters the lists stripped for action he shows his determination to either win or make the attempt. Determination is half the battle. Many an engagement has been lost because of a lack of purpose.

     We want no cowards in our band Who will their colors fly; We call for valiant-hearted men Who are not afraid to die."

     A girded mind is a strong mind. It rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. Dangers and difficulties, grow insignificant to the one who dares. Such an one "... asks impossibilities, Impossibilities are given."

     Weakness is manifested by languor and inaction; strength produces alertness and activity. Can you not divide the weak Christians of your acquaintance from the strong by this rule?

     Finally, a girded mind is a holy mind. Separation, consecration, devotion, trueness to purpose, purity, all these and all kindred virtues, complete the grand end or purpose of salvation-likeness to God, and power to glorify and enjoy God.

     2. Sobriety. "Be sober!' No intoxicated man, whether his condition is caused by strong drink or a surfeit of the world, is fit for any post that demands vigilance. Constant sobriety is the price of spiritual liberty. A drunken nation is on the verge of ruin. The professed Christian, who is so filled with the world that he says, "I am rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing," is wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, and in such a condition he is on the verge of utter ruin.

     "Let your moderation be known," is the command of the apostle. Radicalism is manifested as much in extreme formality as in extreme notions of religious straightness. A formality void of the Spirit, and a rigidness void of the melting, are abominations; but if formality could be filled with life it would meet on an equal footing with rigidness melted with, love. A zealous, Spirit-filled formalism, coupled with melted, fiery radicalism, so-called, produce moderation.

     Temperance is akin to moderation. The command is, "Be temperate in all things." This command is effective in fasting as well as in eating, in waking or in sleeping, in speaking or remaining silent, in work or play. In case of a doubt it is generally better to choose the side of self-denial, but this is not an infallible rule, and if continually followed would lead to asceticism. In general, in the absence of direct divine revelation, a sanctified judgment is a tolerably safe guide.

     Sobriety demands humility, for the man who thinks of himself soberly is not apt to place too high an estimate on his own worth. It is generally better to err on the side of under- than over-estimation of one's own worth. Take a low seat and then if you are exalted you will have praise of those who behold, but if you take an exalted place and are abased your fall will be great.

     3. Hopefulness. "Hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Matthew Henry paraphrases this passage thus: "Hope perfectly or thoroughly for the grace that is brought to you in, or by, the revelation of Jesus Christ: by the gospel which brings life and immortality to light: hope perfectly, trust without doubting to that grace which is now offered to you by the gospel."

     Hope is the optimistic prophet of the soul. Without hope we not only become pessimistic but gloomy and even melancholy. Hope is an anchor to the soul; it reaches the steadfastness of an unseen divinity. Hope is the lifter up of our heads. Though all around is dismal and unpromising, hope clears the way to victory, and shouts its triumphs even amid defeats.