By G.D. Watson
There is a wonderful propensity in fallen human nature to be superficial. This disposition is manifest in every form of life-work and character. It is stimulated in every branch of life by an inordinate desire for speedy results and external show, instead of abiding reality. Thoroughness is a fruit of industry, but sin has so paralyzed man's nature as to produce idleness and inertia. While this statement will apply to every branch of life and achievement, yet it is pre-eminently true in the matter of religion. The religion of the Bible deals with the deepest part of our nature, the conscience, the will and heart. It deals with realities of the unseen and eternal world, it involves the profoundest facts, truths and experiences in the universe. In the very nature of things it is the most real and enduring fact in the creation, compared to which all other interests in time are as morning mists. If mere surface work is destructive in other branches of life, then anything that resembles superficiality in religion is fatal and ruinous in the extreme. And yet in this work of personal salvation, where we need the utmost thoroughness and reality, is where the great majority are flattering their souls that a shallow and ordinary work is sufficient. Instead of seeking how well we can be prepared for eternity, how holy can I be, how much of the love of God can I possess and manifest, the secret whisper of many hearts is, How little may I lean on for safety? Untold thousands have "healed their hurt slightly, saying, peace, peace, when there was no peace" (Jer. 8:11). We sometimes hear the expression, " If I can just barely get into heaven, I shall be satisfied." But such an expression reveals something terribly sad in the heart. It shows unbelief in the promises; it shows a lack of earnestness and thoroughness, in other words, it manifests the presence of the carnal mind. All such half-hearted expressions from the mouth, spring from a half-heartedness within.
One cause for so much superficiality in religion comes from regarding the mere external actions of life more than the inward state of the heart. In the Word of God we find that all conduct and action is traced back to the state of the heart, and reduced to its true character. Every act is measured by the character of the fountain far more than the outward appearance of the act. True religion has, as vehicles, such things as doctrines, the church, the ministry, ordinances, duties, vows, but all these put together do not make religion, that is something that is a life, a warm, real, conscious life in the soul, it is behind action and produces it; it is superior to duty, for it imposes duty, and, larger than ordinances, for it creates them.
Human beings look only at the external. They are disposed to think that there is no sin except in the outward act, overlooking the fact of the "body of sin" in the soul; they also look upon goodness merely in the outward act, consisting of certain church duties and not in the conscious, thorough loving of God and loving our neighbor. This is why there are so many Catholics, high churchmen, ecclesiastical zealots, formalists and moralists in the world who have no salvation.
Another reason for superficial religion is in not viewing it in its spiritual and immortal nature, but looking at it as a temporal and earthly advantage. Failing to look at salvation in its great spiritual and eternal nature, produces an infinite amount of vacillation and inconstancy in pursuing it. It is true that the life of Christ in the heart, has its incalculable advantages in this life. There is not a single good thing or blessing or advantage connected with the body, the intellect, the domestic life, civil government, business, -- commerce, education, science, discovery, or any form of earthly well-being, which is not purified, elevated, strengthened and adorned by the life of Christ in the soul. These are legitimate effects of salvation, but Christ did not institute His religion for the purpose of producing these temporal advantages. The true sphere of religion is in the spiritual nature and its true end is eternal well being. Time is too short and earth is too narrow for the religion of Jesus to fully reveal itself. It scatters innumerable blessings in its flight through time, but its true destiny is eternal communion with God; and to judge of it by a few temporal and physical things is to utterly misunderstand it.
So many half-hearted seekers after God, expect religion to bring them ease, comfort, wealth, friends, honor, office or some other emolument from a temporal standpoint; and if it fails they peevishly doubt its true power. This is why so few ministers and Christian people can enter full sanctification; they cannot relinquish the preferment, the friendships, the temporal advantages, which they suppose belong to religion. Could they see the salvation of God in its purely spiritual and eternal nature, they would gladly count all things loss for its excellency.
A miniature rainbow may be found in a dew drop, but what is that compared to the full sized flowery arch that spans the heavens? In like manner, religion will show its benefits in the dew drop blessings of time, but to see and enjoy it in its highest state it must be seen in the magnificent form of eternity.
It is a singular fact that the more we look into the depths of eternity, the more we will be led to look into the depths of ourselves.
