John 6:67-69 Then said Jesus to the twelve, Will you also go away?… 1. Suppose we give up the Christian faith, what shall we have instead? Wise men are bound to look at consequences. If you were asked to leave your house, would you not inquire where yon were to go? And are we to concern ourselves more about shelter for the body than a home for the soul? 2. It is easier to pull down than to build up, to spoil a picture than to paint one, to tempt a man than to save one, to ruin life than to train it for heaven. Infidels are doing this easy work, and to them we must put the practical question, Give up religion, and what then? I. GIVE UP THE IDEA OF GOD, AND WHAT THEN? You would refuse to throw away the poorest covering till you knew what you were to have in return. Will you, then, recklessly give up the idea of the living, loving, personal God at the bidding of any man? Remember that you can put away the mystery of God, and you get in return the greater mystery of godlessness. The wax flower on your table was made, but the roses in your garden grew by chance, forsooth. II. GIVE UP THE IDEA OF THE FUTURE, AND WHAT THEN? If a man asked you to throw away a telescope, would you not inquire what you were to have in return? Will you, then, throw away the faith-glass through which you read the solemn and wondrous future. Christian revelation tells us that death is abolished, and heaven the goal of human spirits. Renounce this, and what can the sceptic give? III. SHUT YOUR BIBLE, AND WHAT THEN? The .Bible says, "The Lord is my Shepherd," etc.; the tempter says, "Be you that shepherd." It says, "He, every one that thirsteth," etc.; he says, "You have no thirst that you cannot slake at the muddy pool at your feet." It says, "God is a present help in time of trouble"; he says, "Dry your tears, and snap your fingers in the face of the universe." It proclaims the forgiveness of sins; he says, "You have never sinned." It says, "In My Father's house are many mansions"; he says "Your mansion is the grave; get into it, and rot away." Conclusion: 1. Keep this question straight before you. 2. Inquire of the tempter his power to provide an alternative. 3. Be sure that the alternative is worth having. And you will find — 4. That if you leave the Divine life and aspect of things, there is nothing but outer darkness. (J. Parker, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?WEB: Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You don't also want to go away, do you?" |
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