Study: - 2
SEVEN THINGS ABOUT SELF-EXAMINATION
By Nelson Thomas, Mumbai
- It is foolishness to judge the minds of others, Matthew 7:1.
For some, it is entertaining! Fallen man finds joy in finding fault with others. We may examine others from a distance, but what about our own lives? By judging all others except ourselves, we are actually deceiving ourselves. We lose the precious opportunity to correct and mend our own ways.
With an arrogant and self-righteous attitude, one will begin to criticise and accuse others unnecessarily. This will hurt many hearts and break many relationships. Ultimately, it will destroy their own life, for they will be counted as critics or even sadists, and many will stay away from them!
The Word of God categorically condemns such a judgmental attitude, John 7:24a; 1Cor. 4:5. Judging someone for their disposition, profession, or attire is utterly foolish. One’s behavioural differences, occupational choices and dress style are the personal preferences of each one, and we have no right to scrutinise them.
Impossible
Moreover, we can never understand the true state of the human heart to pass an accurate judgment. God alone knows the mind of man, Jer. 17:10. When our judgment is based on simply what we see and hear, we only come to a wrong conclusion, 1Samuel 16:7. Not only that, such a judgmental attitude is rebellion against God, who is the only true judge, for we are trying to take His place!
2. Our knowledge is limited and imperfect, 1Corinthians 4:3b, 4.
That is why Apostle Paul writes, “I do not even judge myself”! Solomon says, “All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit”, Pro. 16:2 (ESV). We are always right in our own eyes. Two possible mistakes:
- Too much introspection.
We may lament like Elijah, ‘it is enough’, 1Kings 19:4. Sometimes our heart condemns us – it may not be from God, 1Jn 3:20. The devil can also do it to discourage us. The result is depression and inferiority complex
- Too much self-confidence.
Another possibility is a superiority complex as a result of thinking, ‘I am right in every aspect.’ Remember, even when we feel everything is satisfactory, there may be many failures or even sins ignored.
Why is it so?
Not only because of the limitation of our knowledge, but also due to the deceitfulness of our hearts. Jeremiah writes, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” Jeremiah 17:9. Our heart is very subtle and hard to understand. “Who can understand?” – No one can! So, our conclusion about others or even about ourselves cannot be true.
- God knows exactly and responds accordingly, Jer. 17:10.
Scripture makes it very clear that it is God alone who knows every human heart fully and precisely. Notice the following verses:
1Chro. 28:9: - “the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.”
Job 34:21: - "For his eyes are on the ways of a man, and he sees all his steps.”
Pro. 5:21: - “For a man's ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths.”
Jer. 16:17: - “For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes.”
Jer. 17:10: - “I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Rev. 2:23: - “And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.”
Not only does He know, but the Lord also carefully searches the innermost parts of our being and reacts accordingly.
- We can examine ourselves only with the help of God, 1Cori. 4:4.
In the light of our inadequate knowledge and God’s perfect understanding of our deepest being, the only way to examine ourselves is with God’s own help. That’s why Paul said, “For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” 1Cori 4:4. Job also said in the same manner, Job 9: 15, 20; 31: 6. We cannot depend upon our own assumptions or what others comment.
Since God alone can do it, let us allow the Lord to focus His all-seeing eyes to penetrate our innermost being and scan us. How does it happen practically?
We need to come to the Lord, searching the sacred pages of His Word, pouring out our hearts before Him. No wonder the Word of God has been compared to a reflecting mirror and a two-edged sword that can pierce the depths of our hearts to bring out the hidden things. Jam. 1:23; Heb. 4:12.
- Nothing shall remain hidden or secret forever, 1Cor. 4:5b.
One day, every secret shall be revealed. The Lord Jesus also reminded His listeners, “nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known,” Matthew 10:26.
Not only does God know the entire secret exactly, but He will also make it known, sooner or later. It is impossible to keep something hidden forever.
Today, more than ever, we are aware that someone is watching our movements and activities, whether at home or outside. Then how much more is it known to God Almighty? And He will bring it out at the right time.
Today itself!
Do not think God will reveal only in future! He has the right to expose it at any time, maybe here on earth itself, to fulfil His purposes. Notice some incidents:
Achan thought no one had seen, but God worked in such a wonderful way that he was caught and dealt with severely, Joshua 7.
Sons of Eli, sinned secretly, but the Lord did reveal at the right time and punished them too, 1Sam. 2:22
David too sinned secretly and schemed to cover up, but at the right time God brought it out, 1Sam. 11:2ff
There are many more such examples. God closely monitors the lives of His people and brings out the truth at the right time.
Remember, today the Lord reveals the sins and failures of God’s people to make them repent, confess and find cleansing by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. In any case, the main point is that nothing shall remain secret forever. Sooner or later, we will have to face it; it shall be known. God will do it.
- Sin can never go unpunished, 1Cori. 11:31, 32.
Some consider that once saved, they can live any way! They misunderstand the security of salvation and abuse the grace of God. No doubt the Lord Jesus said, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” John 10: 28, 29. Paul adds, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
Security of salvation is a New Testament doctrine, but that is not a licence for sinful living. Read 1Corinthians 11:31, 32:- “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.”
Yes, no condemnation, for a born-again believer. However, the transgression of believers will have to be dealt with here itself before we die. Sins of unbelievers will be judged in future.
Remember, Christ died for our past, present and future sins, Col. 2:14. In the atoning sacrifice of Christ, any sin, sin of any time has a solution, but one has to come to Christ and confess.
God gives a believer time to judge himself and come to Christ with confession for cleansing, 1John. 1: 7, 10. If he fails to do so, the Lord will intervene.
With various degrees of chastisement, God our Father wants to lead the erring one to the cross, Heb 12: 4ff. It’s not punishment but disciplinary actions by God, our loving Father, to prompt us to repent and return.
Our forgiveness and cleansing are always based on the blood of Jesus Christ, 1John. 1:7, 9. Repentance and confession are the basic requirements for that. We cannot simply hide, forget, and cover up our rebellion and disobedience. That is why it is essential to make sure there is nothing in our lives that is not acceptable to God.
- It is self-deception to be ignorant of our real state, Gal 6:3.
“For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”
We may think everything is alright when it is not true; how sad and terrible that would be. There are plenty of passages that describe the seriousness of this deception.
Matthew 27:22, 23: Some thought Christ knew them because of their works, but He never knew them.
Matthew 25:1–13: Five virgins thought they were ready with the oil, but they were not.
Luke 16:19ff: The rich man thought he was on the right path, but he was not.
All these passages show that simply assuming to be right and never examining life in the light of God’s Word is self-deception
It is high time we examine ourselves, with the help of God, to
correct our lives and amend our ways. Let us settle things before it is too
late and live a true and clean Christian life in God’s perfect will. G&P
