REV. xxii. 11.
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is
filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him
be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
THE emphatic word in this text is the word still. We are
conscious of an unfathomable depth in it. It seems to
run along the line of immortality.
These are the words of Christ.
I. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ knows the human
race individually. He knows every man. Such knowledge
is of course beyond all men, beyond all angels and devils,
and can be perfect only in God. We do not know our-
selves. He takes nothing upon testimony or in parts; He
has our life before Him as a perfect whole, and sees all.
Hence He has no suspicions against you. How foolish is
the hypocrite who exerts himself to deceive others when
the eye of God is upon him.
II. Jesus Christ discriminates character to the finest
shades. There are immense varieties in the human con-
stitution and form, and these represent varieties of inner
character—varieties of spiritual constitution and develop-
ment.
Here Jesus classes mankind into four divisions. There
are endless varieties, but none so minute as to escape
Him.
III. At the right time Jesus Christ will seal every
character. The day will come when all remedial dispensa-
tions will cease. The day will come when God’s Spirit
will have fulfilled His mission, and He will not again strive
with man. In that day our Saviour will shut up the evil
to evil and with evil, and pavilion the righteous in His
strong habitation in that sanctuary yonder—the veil of
which has been rent for us. In that holy of holies He will
shut in the righteous to all good, and with all good.
Samuel Martin