1543. The Result of the Closed Window

The Result of the Closed Window

"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins" (2Pe_1:9).

There were not many windows in Babylon open towards Jerusalem, even as to-day there are not many. The result of these closed windows is disastrous in the extreme.

1. The closed window results in a circumscribed vision. Peter in his Second Epistle, chapter 1, speaks of certain ones who cannot see afar off; they mind present things.

There are others of whom Peter speaks, who have the Lord's Return always in remembrance. Unto the sure Word of prophecy, they are taking heed.

This distinction is seen in Abraham and Lot. When the time came for them to separate, Abraham gave Lot the first choice of territory. Lot saw that the land lying towards Sodom and Gomorrah was well watered and verdant with grass; thus he pitched his tent towards Sodom.

People would have called Lot a farseeing business man; but, in fact, his vision was circumscribed, even from a business viewpoint.

He made good for a while in a worldly way, but soon everything he had, was in ashes, and he was saved, so as by fire.

Abraham, after Lot had left him, was told of God to lift up his eyes and to look. Everything that Abraham could see was given unto him and to his son for an everlasting inheritance. Abraham believed God. While he recognized himself as a stranger and a pilgrim, and knew that he should never possess his possessions, during his earth life; yet, he had a far-flung vision, and he died knowing that he and his son should some day inherit the land.

Another illustration is that of Jacob and Esau. Esau's vision was circumscribed. He made light of the particular blessing promised to his father, Isaac: a blessing concerning the things to come. He sold the birthright which held the blessing, for a mess of pottage. Jacob, on the other hand, laid hold on coming things. He prized them as dearer than his life. His window was opened toward Jerusalem.

2. The closed window results in a self-centered life. When the vision of the Lord's Return and of Jerusalem's peace is lost, the whole heart begins to build its treasures upon the earth, and to set its affections down here. Paul speaks of loving His appearing, and then he adds, "For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world" (2Ti_4:10).

In the 14th chapter of Luke, we have the story of the marriage supper. This supper anticipates the glorious marriage supper of the Lamb, described so beautifully in Rev_19:8, Rev_19:9. Luke tells us of certain ones who refused to attend the supper. One had married a wife; one had bought a piece of ground; another had bought five yoke of oxen. In each case the one who had refused the supper, had centered his affections on worldly things. Of all of them Christ said: "They shall not eat of My supper."

3. The closed window bespeaks a civic righteousness program. Wherever the church or the believer loses sight of the coming of Christ, he loses sight of the Scriptural mission of the church. The preachers and the churches whose windows are closed to Jerusalem, are giving themselves over to social righteousness schemes, and general civic betterment aims. It is a sad sight to see how many saints have utterly forgotten the importance and the import of the things to come. Their consuming ambition is toward the things which are present.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR