Look to it, my dear friends, that none of you be found Christless at your appearance before him. Those that continue Christless now, will be left speechless then. God forbid that you that have heard so much of Christ, and you that have professed so much of Christ, should at last fall into a worse condition than those that never heard the name of Christ.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of having faith in Christ before facing judgment.
John Flavel's quote serves as a solemn reminder to individuals about the necessity of embracing faith in Christ. It stresses that those who neglect this essential commitment may find themselves in a dire situation at the time of judgment, facing eternal consequences. The speaker urges believers to take their faith seriously and warns against being complacent, highlighting that mere knowledge of Christ is insufficient without genuine faith.
In practice
In a sermon, a pastor might use this quote to urge the congregation to strengthen their relationship with Christ.
All the tears of a penitent sinner, should he shed as many as there have fallen drops of rain, since the creation, to this day, cannot wash away one sin. The everLasting burnings in hell, cannot purify the flaming conscience, from the least sin.
All the dark, intricate, puzzling providences at which we were sometimes so offended...we shall [one day] see to be to us, as the difficult passage through the wilderness was to Israel, "the right way to the city of habitation".
Providence is like a curious piece of tapestry made of a thousand shreds, which, single, appear useless, but put together, they represent a beautiful history to the eye.
The carnal person fears man, not God. The strong Christian fears God, not man. The weak Christian fears man too much, and God too little.
Whatsoever we have over-loved, idolized, and leaned upon, God has from time to time broken it, and made us to see the vanity of it; so that we find the readiest course to be rid of our comforts is to set our hearts inordinately upon them.
It is the duty of the saints, especially in times of straights, to reflect upon the performances of Providence for them in all the states and through all the stages of their lives.
Your hand opens and closes, opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you would be paralysed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as birds' wings.
It's very hard to live with yourself if you don't stick with your moral code.
When sitting in meditation, say, "That's not my business!" with every thought that comes by.
One can no more have a private religion than one can have a private sun or a private moon.
The lowest and vilest alleys of London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.
Humanity is exalted not because we are so far above other living creatures, but because knowing them well elevates the very concept of life.
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