“What have I done?” (Jeremiah 8.6.)
Introduction. God is so attentive to everything that is good, even in the poor sinner’s heart, that to him there is music in a sigh, and beauty in a tear; and in this verse that I have just read, he represents himself as looking upon man’s heart and listening—listening, if possibly he may hear something that is good. And oh! you that are this day seeking a Saviour, remember, that Saviour’s eyes are on your seeking soul today.
(1) Eager Persuasion. “What have I done?” Few men like to take the trouble to review their own biographies. Better, my friend, for you to know the past while there is yet time for repairing it. Search yourself and see if you are a Pharisee or not. Unless Christ be your Christ, you will be weighed in the balances and found wanting, and be cast away for ever. Your disguise will not fool God. I fear that I have baptized many of you that the Lord has never baptized. Some of you have been received into the church fellowship who were never received by God. If Jesus Christ had one hypocrite in his twelve, how many must I have here in nearly twelve hundred? Ah! in this age it is an easy thing to say you’re saved. Do not put off self-examination. Some of you may not see New Year’s Day. Many have thought, “There is time enough yet.” And before the time they have found themselves where time shall be no more.
(2) Answering the Question. Christian, what have you done for Christ’s church? for the salvation of the world? for your own growth in grace? Have you been the means of the salvation of a soul? I ask myself too, “What have I done?” The moralist says, “I have done plenty, attended church, prayed, shared, done my duty, done a great deal.” Quite right, but good works, if done for deserving salvation, are no better than sins. Christ will never go shares with you in the work of salvation. Another character says, “I am not much for talking about eternity. But neither my country, nor my friends, nor my conscience, can say anything against me. I may go too far in some things. But so what? It will be easy to set matters right before the end.” Stop! What is a little too much drink but drunkenness? What is loose talk but filthy conversation? What is joy riding on Sunday but Sabbath breaking? What is a hasty exclamation with the ‘Lord’ in it but swearing? Your sin list is getting long now. And unfair business is stealing. And desiring your neighbor’s prosperity is covetousness, which is idolatry. The list is black now. Whoever you are, remember all your sins of this past year, and be frightened! Ah! you that live in sin, know that one sin is enough to damn you forever! Despise Christ on the cross, and how terrible to be judged by Christ on the throne! And you, whose lifestyle has been copied, you have done your best to damn others! Oh, give me cause to hope that you will be saved!
(3) Loving Caution. It is a solemn thing how the years roll away. I never spent a shorter year in my life than this one, and the older I grow, the shorter the years get. You old men, I dare say, you look back on your sixty and seventy years, and say, “Ah, young men, your years will seem shorter soon!” No doubt they will. “So teach us to number our days, O God, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Another year nearly gone, and yet many of you are unsaved. You are just where you were last year. No, you are nearer death, nearer hell, unless you repent.
Selection from Conclusion. “Methinks, I see a spirit launched upon the sea of eternity. I hear it say, ‘What have I done?’”
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