Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. The scripture says that man in
his natural state is dead in trespasses and sins, and apart
from being given spiritual life, he shall perish in his ignorance.
This has been true from the earliest days of men and is demonstrated
in Adam's disobedience in the midst of a veritable paradise
in which he was placed. Not only is man in total spiritual
darkness, but he loves to have it that way. It is not that he
does not like religion, or even that he does not maintain some
belief in a higher power, but as Paul says, because when they
knew God, they glorified him not as God. Neither were thankful,
but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. The sad fact
is that the greatest malady that has come upon men is not that
they do not know of God at all, but that they love their own
way more and delight in their own philosophies and theories.
All men, without exception, are born into this state and will
continue on in it unless the privilege of hearing and seeing
their folly and His utter glory and dominion is given unto them.
The Lord Jesus rejoiced when he said, I thank thee, O Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from
the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even
so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things
are delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but
the Father. Neither knoweth any man the Father,
save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. It is
sheer folly for men to think that they can somehow establish
some form of righteousness that will make them acceptable in
the sight of God or that they should, by searching and practicing
their own religious ways, ever discover Him. As long as they
think that they have the ability to know Him or come to Him in
their own power or by an act of their own free will, they
demonstrate that they are yet in darkness and cannot see the
glory which is hid in Jesus Christ, even though they may mouth His
name or say unto Him, Lord, Lord. It is pleased the Lord to hide
his glory in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Though he
openly walked among men, taught true doctrine, performed many
miracles, went about doing good, and healed the lame and the blind,
yet no man could know him, except that he opened their eyes to
behold his true identity. Therefore he said to Peter, after
Peter's confession of his lordship, blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah,
for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my
Father which is in heaven. We live in one of the most religious
societies on earth, much like the Jews in the day when Christ
walked upon the earth. There are multitudes of so-called
Christians today, just as there were multitudes of Jews in Israel
in that day. Most claim to believe the Bible.
Yet just as Christ said to the Pharisees, search the Scriptures,
for in them ye think ye have eternal life, and they are they
which testify of me. So we believe that he would say
the same thing to the established religions of our day. All of
the treasures of God are hidden in Christ. The woman at the well
thought the religion of her father's fathers was sufficient. But Christ
said, But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth. For the Father
seeketh such to worship him. The dogmas and practices of men
are but dumb compared to the revelation of the person of Jesus
Christ as the true God and glorious Redeemer of sinners. All of the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Christ
is indeed the treasure of his people. Unto you, therefore,
which believe, he is precious. His name is that ointment poured
forth, yea, even that sweet balm of Gilead that soothes the hurt
of the sin-sick soul who has fled to him for refuge. He is
that crown of glory and diadem of beauty unto the residue of
his people. He is more precious than the
gold of Ophir, and his price is above rubies. There is no
end to his perfections. My beloved is white and ruddy,
the chiefest among ten thousand. His mouth is most sweet, yea,
he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this
is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. All the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in him. All knowledge that is
imparted by the Holy Ghost is for the purpose of Christ's exaltation. To preach any message which does
not center itself on Jesus Christ and Him crucified cannot be true
wisdom or true knowledge. If any man would behold the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge which God has hidden, he must be given
eyes to see the utter glory and dominion of Christ, for he is
the fullness of the Godhead bodily and the repository of all wisdom
and knowledge. Is he your delight and fullness
of joy? If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.