NO ROOT

Part I

The things of eternity should at all times lie upon our heart and continually fill our heart and mind.

We are all created for eternity, and each moment our journey through this time to eternity may be terminated. Death comes as a thief in the night, and in the grave there is no device nor knowledge.

But ah, how it becomes manifest from day to day that we have denied the God of truth and have subjected ourselves to the devil, who is the father of lies. Yea, we have yielded ourselves entirely to him. We are of the earth earthy and are dead to death. Although we know it with our mind, as long as it does not touch our heart, we live on unconcerned, and the salvation of our soul does not press us. In everything it becomes apparent that the poor man has lost God.

If we still live under the truth, we confess that we have a soul, but we do not realize it. We only do that when God’s Spirit begins to operate within us, and that during our lifetime, it becomes eternity for us. Only then do we realize that we have a soul which was created for eternity; that our soul is leprous on account of sin, that we cannot stand before God, and that we are subject to the righteous judgments of God. Then we realize that no one cares for our soul. But then, through the Holy Spirit, the need is born within us, “Deliver Thou my soul, O Lord.”

Then it is realized what it means to carry about an unsaved soul, and to be liable to be called any day, yea any moment, before God. Then we become aware of that which Solomon mentions in Ecclesiastes, “The living know that they shall die, but the dead know not anything.” And the quickening of the dead sinner is solely the work of the Holy Spirit. The living will lay it to their heart. They get in contact with God and learn to know Him as holy and just, Who by virtue of His Being will eternally vindicate Himself. God will not do wickedly, neither will the Almighty pervert judgment. Then they realize something of the reality. It is an awful thing if we must meet God and are not able to do so. Although that may be experienced, it can never be expressed in words. Such souls, while being wrought upon by God the Holy Spirit, flee by faith to the city of refuge, and can find no rest before the gates of the city of refuge are opened unto them, and that they also have received a place for protection in that city. And then they look forward to the death of the High Priest, so that they may freely go in and out again. On the way to that city there are no couches, but alas, our rest-seeking flesh prepares itself couches. Our soul can only find true rest where God Himself has found rest, and that is only in Christ, in His blood and righteousness. In that finished and perfect work of the complete Mediator, the heat of God’s fury has been quenched, and God is satisfied with His people. Concerning ourselves, it is only, “Thou art weighed in the balance, and art found wanting.” The work of Christ is perfect because it is the work of the beloved Son in Whom the Father was well pleased. He was very God and perfectly righteous Man in one Person. And lo, that is the great value of His entire Mediatorial work. The words of our text you will find in Mark 4:17a, “And have no root in themselves, and endure but for a time.”

That word is a small section from the parable of the sower spoken by Christ on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, in the close vicinity of the city of Capernaum.

When the Lord Jesus spoke this parable of the kingdom of heaven, He was in a very charming place. Seated in a ship not far from the shore, He had the multitude in wide rows before Him, while everything around Him lauded and praised the work of the Creator.

First, Christ spoke of the seed that fell by the wayside, that was devoured by the birds of the air. Then we read of the seed which fell upon stony ground. In Palestine, the sowing was usually done in the month of November when the so-called early rain was to be expected. In that warm climate but few months were needed to bring the seed to its full development. In the latter part of April it was harvest time already. The seed of which Christ now speaks fell upon such a field where the soil was stony, and the surface was only a thin layer of earth.

This was often found in mountainous regions. In Palestine and in Syria, the top soil was in many places so shallow that they were afraid to plow there for fear that they would cause the fruit to wither sooner. Then the ground was loosened somewhat with a hoe so that it could receive the seed. Upon such a shallow piece of ground the second part of the seed fell of which the parable speaks.

It soon began to germinate and to grow up luxuriantly, not only because the soil on stony places was usually very barren, but especially because the kernel could not develop in the root, but only in the stem. We read that immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. At first glance, the germinated grain which had come up, promised much. Great expectations were cherished because of the fast growth. But, alas, appearances are deceptive, and that proved to be the case here. When after the rainy season the sun shone again from heaven to warm the earth, and to ripen the grain in the fields, that which was growing up so fast upon stony places was not able to endure the blessed operations of the sun. The root was sick, and therefore, it could not attain its full growth to blossom and mature.

It was scorched by the sun, and it withered because it could draw no moisture out of the stony subsoil. It has promised much, but on the contrary, it produced nothing. And thus it was when Christ appeared in public. The superficial multitude received with joy the first preaching of Christ. O, how they wondered in the synagogue of Nazareth at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth.

Alas, it did not last long. They said, “Is not this the son of Joseph?” The result was that the enmity manifested itself so strong that they thrust Him out of the city to put an end to Christ’s life.

Later on we read that at other places thousands followed Him, but in the end it was, “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him.” When Christ called their attention to the necessity of a personal union with Him, they said, “This is a hard saying, who can hear it?” and the same multitude who cried, “Hosannah, Hosannah,” cried some days later, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” To be sure, there is nothing as changeable as man. And throughout God’s Word, we are warned against trusting in man. Yea, in Psalm 146:3, we are told, “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” And concerning what we see in the church of God of the children of men, it is advisable to act very prudently. The apostle Paul warned not to be hasty to lay hands upon anyone. Our fathers said, “Let summer and winter pass over it first.” Surely, he who catches souls is wise, but how much Divine light and understanding are necessary to guide souls. God alone knows the heart and tries the reins, and we constantly become aware that we only look on the outward appearance. Whenever we see or hear something, especially whenever it is, as it is said, a fruit of our preaching, or of our reading, then we are so inclined to fly away with it immediately. If it has happened among others, then we shrug the shoulders about it, at times, or we doubt it, but among us, then we are so inclined to put a stamp of approval upon it. O, how often we have been smitten for that already during our lifetime. And if we only learned with it, but ah, — Divine light is needed to try the spirits whether they be of God.

We also need Divine-enabling grace that we do not break down where God builds, and do not build, where there is no foundation.

We are such fleshly, blind, and foolish creatures who in our own strength, do nothing but spoil and corrupt things. For that reason, the guidance and the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit is so necessary; above all necessary for ourselves, but also in the treatment of our fellowmen. Never enough can the things of eternity impress our soul and take possession of our life. At times it is expressed, and rightly so, that we are traveling to an all-decisive and neverending eternity. We have but one soul. If we had two, then we could venture one on it — but that is not so. The full weight of eternity hangs for every creature upon that one immortal soul. O, may it be a constant hastening for our life’s sake. A constant seeking of peace for our soul, which is only to be found in the blood of the Lamb, a panting desire, that our soul may be hid in Christ, that our soul may be adorned again with God’s image.

Then, yea then, when death comes, we will carry our soul as a prey and be satisfied forever with God’s likeness. There may be much in our life which is nothing, and there may be little, but it constitutes all. It all depends upon the genuineness of God’s work: whether we have been known of God from eternity, beloved and chosen in Christ, whether the saving work of God’s Spirit has been begun in us, whether God has shed abroad His love within our heart, and whether we have by true faith, been cut off from Adam, and united with Christ, and have become partakers of all His benefits.

Here Christ deals with temporary faith, and with all that they do have, they lack the true principle which is of God.

To be sure, the difference is great between historical and temporary faith. Historical faith affects the understanding of man, but it goes no farther. It leaves man cold and feelingless, and without a true concern, such as we notice in Agrippa (Acts 26).

Temporary faith goes deeper; conscience is stirred up. They have an impression of the truth; they accept the truth with some outward delight. They enter into it; they relish God’s Word somewhat.

They often make a big stir. When they are under the truth, they are visibly affected. They visit God’s people and are not ashamed. The upright are also touched under the truth, but they seek to hide it. And to visit God’s people? They are so afraid that they shall deceive themselves, and that they do not belong there. At times they had hold of the doorknob, but from fear, they turned back again. But the temporary believers soon speak with a certain boldness about their experiences. They are not timid to speak about it to friend or foe. At times the reformation is visible in their life and home, especially when before, they lived in the world and in sin. At times they go to work like Jehu, the son of Nimshi. It all moves so fast with them that they can relate one benefit after another. It often happens with them that in a very short time, according to their testimony, they have taken all the steps of grace. They do not talk about strife and unbelief. The Gospel is so wide, lovely, and pleasant to them. It fills them with joy and gladness. They appropriate one promise after another; they speak about the blessings of the covenant of grace. As to mountains of difficulties, depths of impossibilities — no, they know nothing about them. To them, everything is easy. In that manner they travel to heaven, they fly ahead of God’s people. But, alas, they look like a frog, but they have nothing of a snail.

A frog jumps over everything; he can do nothing else than jump, a snail crawls so slow that one can hardly notice whether he advances; but yet everywhere he has been, he leaves a silver line behind him.

To be sure, the Lord is free in the leadings of His people here upon earth. It does not become us to limit God. God is sovereign, also in bestowing His Divine grace. There are those who are slain with the sword, but there are many who die of starvation. It is not God’s usual way to teach His people everything in one day. There are usually shorter or longer periods in between, and there are many who only at death come into full possession.

Temporary faith has no root, and it is only for a season. With all that has taken place during their life, they have never been cut off from Adam, and were never grafted into Christ as that true Vine, or, as He is called elsewhere, the Olive tree, Rom. 11:17. And where the first thing has not taken place, the second cannot follow. They were never truly made alive. They never learned to know a sorrow after God. They never truly mourned about the want of God and the violation of His virtues. However much commotion they made, it was only superficial. They never truly learned to bow under God’s justice, and never had their lost condition discovered unto them, nor the separation between God and their soul. They never really stood outside, nor have they ever been put outside.

They were happy immediately without having known true sorrow for their sins or the want of God’s image. They immediately appropriated everything to themselves, but never learned that man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. They never experienced true humiliation and breaking of heart, and therefore, they never knew that inward and cordial rejoicing in the Gospel of which Christ is the chief substance; and because the love of God and also the true saving faith are lacking in the heart of the temporary believer, for that reason the evangelical repentance and evangelical joy is not to be found there. There are no real fruits of faith and conversion. The true life is lacking and Christ does not dwell within their heart, and therefore, the true vitality cannot be found there, and it withers.

Although temporary faith affects the emotions, it never touches the heart. Some continue thus to the brink of death without ever manifesting true fruits of life and then awaken in eternity and hear, “I never knew you.” O, how terrible it shall be to be disappointed and deceived for ever; to have talked about a great faith while never possessing faith as a mustard seed. How terrible, how terrible it shall be to have expected to enter heaven and to land in hell.

Having had an elated but a groundless joy here and then to arrive in that place of eternal woe. Here they sang louder than God’s people, and there they curse God forever, because of pain and sorrow. The hope of God’s poor people was often shaken and tossed to and fro, but those tossings were foreign to them. Everything that was told them, and what they had to experience at times, did not bring them into straits. They were assured that it was well with them for eternity — and behold, when it became eternity, only then did they realize that theirs had been a false peace, and their hope was unfounded.

Yet most of those who have a temporary faith fall away, and with the dog they return to their own vomit again, and with the sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the mire. Then there are cases that they begin to live in sin worse than ever before. Orpah came as far as the border; she wept, but still she bade farewell to Naomi and returned to her people because she had never had a true longing for, nor a union with, God and His people. We read of Demas that he loved the present world and forsook Paul.

Yea, beloved, it requires a close examination of every soul on the way to that great eternity.

And the main question is whether there is truth in the inward parts. It if is true, then in His own time God shall make it true and confirm it. But if it is not true, then the end shall be terrible.

Christ spoke of affliction and persecution. Certainly according to Paul’s word, it may happen that without true Divine love we may give our bodies to be burned. How many there are, also in our days, who stand fast like a rock in their imaginary faith, and without fear or anxiety, enter the Jordan of death. Like a tree that is dead, they never move, no matter how hard it storms. But during the time of persecution, many fall away and choose the side of the enemy.

But also in the hour of temptation, they do not remain standing. Then it becomes known that their faith was not genuine. The object is not God, nor the honor and glorification of His Name. Their faith was not out of love, nor through love, and was not active in love. The true renewal through God the Holy Spirit was not present, and for that reason, there was no self-denial, and no power to follow Christ. They do not want to sacrifice themselves. They cannot bear a cross. Their ardent zeal fades away and nothing is left of it. The fire went out because the oil of the Holy Spirit was lacking. They only warmed themselves at the sparks of their own fire. They only leaned upon their own strength, and that perished. They apprehended Christ, but they never experienced that which Paul in Phil. 3:13 could say of himself, “For which I am also apprehended of Christ Jesus,” and everything which we ourselves take, we must let go. It falls away in the hour of distress and death.

It is all only temporary and comes to an end. There is no endurance. They supposed, and they declared it explicitly, that they would never turn back.

Many times they shrugged their shoulders at the people who continually fear, and privately or publicly scoffed at it. They overrated themselves, and how sad their end is. It even happens that they burst out in enmity against God’s people and servants when they earnestly reminded them of their former life, and pointed out to them the seriousness of eternity.

They even stopped their ears to the admonitions and the warnings which were directed to them. Before they shed many tears, but now they are abandoned to the sentence of hardening. O, how dreadful to be before the gates of eternity in the evening of our life, and to be like the mountains of Gilboa on which no more rain or dew falls.

Yea, beloved, God’s work will remain, and He shall crown it. He that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved. God’s children are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation. They are included in the intercession of Christ. They are engraven in the palms of God’s hands, and no one — thus spake Christ — shall pluck them out of My hand. God loved His people with an everlasting love, and Christ loves them unto the end. He leads them unto death, but also through death into Canaan above.

“As when one awaking forgetteth his dream,
So God will despise them, though great they may seem;
My envy was senseless, my grief was for nought,
Because I was faithless, and foolish my thought.”

Psalter 201:7

[to be continued]

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