Some Irishmen had caught a large turtle and cut off his head. Then they waited for him to die, but the turtle scrambled6 about for some hours. Desiring an explanation of such a phenomenon, they accosted7 an Irishman who was passing by. After watching the turtle for a moment, he remarked, "He is dead, but he doesn't know it." This is the condition of the lukewarm professors. They are spiritually dead, but are not aware of it. The professors of Christianity at Laodicea were lukewarm, but they thought themselves rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing.
Diseases of the human body are attended with certain feelings and symptoms by which the physician can tell the nature of the affection in a particular case. The diseases of the human soul are also attended with certain symptoms by which the nature of the malady8 in a given case may be known. I will now tell you of a few of the symptoms of lukewarmness, so you may know whether such is your state.
First. A kind of doubtful or uncertain feeling as to whether you are right with God, together with an unwillingness9 to examine yourself closely for fear you are wanting. Being filled with the Spirit gives us fulness of assurance.
Second. If when you testify to being saved, sanctified, and ready for the coming of Jesus, your heart fails to say amen and you wish down in your soul you had a little better assurance that what your lips say were true, you are not as spiritual as you should be. When we are filled with the Spirit, our souls are assured and satisfied.
Third. Going along day after day in the same routine of life, taking it for granted that you are at the work the Lord wants you to do, and not earnestly seeking to <i>know</i> his will. Those who are spiritual can not be contented10 without a definite knowledge of the will of God. If you are going along without any real and positive knowledge of the will of God and are not seeking to know it, surely you are lukewarm.
Fourth. If when your routine of life is in some way interrupted, you are dissatisfied and complain; if you do not enjoy being moved out of your old channel, but you wish to be let alone, it is evident that you have chosen your own way and that God is not ordering your steps.
Fifth. If when you are called to the assistance of a neighbor or the sick or even an enemy, you find a reluctancy to go and an often returning of your own mind to your own concerns and a desire to hurry back to them, you are, it appears, looking upon your own things, and not on the things of others. The Bible tells us to look upon the things of others. If you see your own needs, and see and care but little about the things of others, you are selfish. Those who are spiritual have time to help others and do it willingly.
Sixth. If when called upon to go to the assistance of some unfortunate one and you can not possibly go, if you do not have a deep heart-regret and if you do not ofttimes during the day think of the poor unfortunate man and be pained at heart because of your inability to help him, you must be more concerned about yourself than about others. You look on your own things and do not see nor feel the needs of others. If such is true in you, you are in a lukewarm state.
Seventh. If you were to be asked whether you are doing the work you are now doing, solely11 and purposely for the glory of God, and you should be obliged to answer that you had taken no particular thought about it, but supposed it mattered little to the Lord, just so you were doing something, this would surely show neglect, indifference12, lukewarmness.
Eighth. If you are indifferent and unconcerned about making spiritual progress; if you are not desiring and earnestly seeking for more of God; if you are not earnestly striving to be more meek13 and humble14, to be more kind and patient; if you are carelessly tolerating acts of selfishness, of impatience15, unkindness, harshness, and lightness, you are certainly lukewarm.
Ninth. Neglect to read the Bible and to pray in secret; greater fervency16 in public prayer than in secret prayer; more outward manifestation17 than real inward piety18; testifying or preaching beyond the true standard of living—these too are evidences of lukewarmness. A man may become enthusiastic in prayer, testimony19, or sermon, and think he is making great advancement20; but if he does not live up to every word he speaks, he is losing instead of gaining, because he is not walking in light.
Lukewarmness is very loathsome21 to God. It reproaches him. To make no profession of love to God at all is not such a reproach to him as to profess4 love and be lukewarm. God wants all your heart. If he can not have it all, he will have none. He desires warm, fervent love. To love him only partially22, and not supremely23, makes it appear as if he were worthy24 of only half-hearted love. It makes other things equal with God.
After the physician learns the symptoms and pronounces the disease, he then prescribes the remedy. Thank God, there is an unfailing remedy for lukewarmness. Of course, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." "Repent25 and do the first works." Come to God and buy of him gold tried in the fire. Exercise yourself in spiritual things if there yet be any love in your heart. Shake off everything that is stupefying. Press your way through to God in spite of dryness and deadness. Stir up your soul. Give yourself to deep meditation26 upon the great love of God to you. Pray in fervency and faith. Consecrate27 to the whole will of God. If your case is not hopeless—and it is not—this will effect a cure.
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1
fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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illustrates
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的第三人称单数 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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profess
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| v.声称，冒称，以...为业，正式接受入教，表明信仰 | |
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justifiable
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| adj.有理由的，无可非议的 | |
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scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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accosted
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| v.走过去跟…讲话( accost的过去式和过去分词 )；跟…搭讪；（乞丐等）上前向…乞讨；（妓女等）勾搭 | |
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8
malady
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| n.病，疾病(通常做比喻) | |
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9
unwillingness
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| n. 不愿意，不情愿 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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impatience
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| n.不耐烦，急躁 | |
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fervency
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| n.热情的；强烈的；热烈 | |
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manifestation
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| n.表现形式；表明；现象 | |
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piety
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| n.虔诚，虔敬 | |
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testimony
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| n.证词；见证，证明 | |
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advancement
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| n.前进，促进，提升 | |
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loathsome
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| adj.讨厌的，令人厌恶的 | |
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partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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supremely
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| adv.无上地，崇高地 | |
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worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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meditation
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| n.熟虑，（尤指宗教的）默想，沉思，（pl.）冥想录 | |
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consecrate
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| v.使圣化，奉…为神圣；尊崇；奉献 | |
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