1163. Leprosy in the Lives of Saints

Leprosy in the Lives of Saints

"That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts" (Eph_4:22).

We want to stop a little while for a practical hunt for the signs of leprosy in our own lives.

We read the other day that it is fatal to neglect the dread disease of cancer in its first manifestations. It needs to be discovered before it is virulent; it needs to be treated in its inception. Then a cure is certain.

We know that saints may never become so far gone in their backslidings, that they will themselves be lost. Nor, will they ever go so far that they cannot be reclaimed. But, nevertheless, we need to watch the beginnings of the wayward track. We need to discern the first drift from God.

Wherein does sin most attack us? Where is our weak point? Perhaps, in answer, we might put it this way: Sin is threefold in its attack–

1. There is the lust of the eye.

2. There is the lust of the flesh.

3. There is the pride of life.

Christians need to know that they are carrying about with them a "body of death;" that they have still that "old man which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts."

God gives positive warnings as to the "flesh." He tells us that in it there dwells no good thing. He says its works are manifest. Truly the "flesh" is a cage of unclean birds; in it we can have no confidence. We surely should reckon the old man, as dead; we should put him off! we are to crucify him. We surely should mortify our members which are upon the earth. Once we walked in lusts, now we are to walk in light.

Leprosy has its hold in the flesh–the physical man. Sin has its hold in the flesh–the carnal man. The "flesh" is "self"–flesh, spelled backwards, with the "h" dropped off. The flesh is the ego. Paul said: "I know that in me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing." Fleshism, then, is meism.

The believer needs, to watch for every manifestation of this old self life. He must hate even the garment spotted by the flesh.

The believer needs to examine his business life. Does the flesh reign there? Does self dominate his trade? His contracts? His methods? His aims?

The believer needs to watch his pleasure life. Does the flesh reign there? Does self seek to beauti-fy the flesh and satisfy the flesh and feed the flesh and glorify the flesh?

The believer needs to take stock in his home life. Does self reign there? At home we are more our selves than anywhere else. At home we are not under restraint. It is just "us." Which is seen the most at home? Is it the old man, or the new? Is it carnal nature, or the Divine nature?

What do the ones at home think of us? It is there that the real mark of real life will shine out.

Let us call white, white. Let us call black, black. Are we leprous?

There may be some who will demur. They will say that a Christian has no sin, no sign of leprosy. That when we are saved the old nature is gone. That the Christian if he sins, is lost. They may say this and much more. But the fact remains, that saints are not always saintly; that sons are not always sinless.

We readily grant that God says "Little children, I write unto you that ye sin not;" but He also says, "But, if any man sin."

We readily grant that there is a difference between the sins of saints and the sins of sinners; that there must follow in the sins of saints the chastening of God; that saints, when they sin, may lose their rewards, but yet there are many saints who sin. And the story of their leprosy is a dark page in God's Book.

Because the believer's sin is under the Blood, it does not follow that a believer never sins.

Because a believer's sin is under the Blood, neither does it follow that he has excuse to sin.

God save us from being moral lepers.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR