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There are two conditions of being possible, either of which must constitute our character — rove and self. Love seeks its life outside itself: self seeks its life in itself. Love, in order to possess, sacrifices selfishness; while self, in order to possess, keeps itself and sacrifices love. An unloving soul is —

I. WITHOUT GOD IN THE WORLD. God's love toward us is certain; but of what avail is that if our hearts are closed against Him. "He that loveth not knoweth not God." He may be, as He is, everywhere present; but unless the heart receives His love and returns it, it is the same to us as if God did not exist. The world is without the sun at noon-day to the blind man.

II. WITHOUT CHRIST. Jesus is one with the Father in Being and in love to man. He came not merely to atone for sin, but to impart His life of love. He represents Himself accordingly, as knocking, etc., the symbol of fellowship of brotherly love. But how can such fellowship be realized if self bars the door? Jesus may be as near to us as He was to Satan in the wilderness, and yet between us the same moral gulf. Judas was as far from Him when he sat by His side as when he went forth to his own place. So we may be near Christ when He saves others, but abide "alone." He cannot dwell in the selfish heart.

III. WITHOUT THE SPIRIT. The Spirit sheds abroad the love of God. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ," etc. "The fruit of the Spirit is love." But if we quench Him, whatever His love may be, it may be said of us "not having the Spirit."

IV. WITHOUT COMMUNION WITH SAINTS. There is but one family in heaven and earth, and one Spirit pervades the whole — love. Prisons, loss, and bereavement cannot shut Christians out from this. The unloving soul is not rejected: he is invited, "Come thou with us and we will do thee good"; but he responds, "I desire only myself."

V. What is to become of such a man? He has rejected God, etc. As years advance the conviction steals over him that his companions are falling away. Old age comes, and the world becomes like a cell where he must suffer solitary confinement. The deathbed at last is reached, and he must go forth "alone" into the unknown. How sad and dreary. He has lived alone and now finds himself WITHOUT HEAVEN.

(J. T. Pitcher.)

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KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

WEB: Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.