MEDITATION

In these days it is not a certainty that everyone goes to church. Many people have given it up. That has developed gradually. First the week services were neglected. Then once per Sunday was sufficient. Later it was once every two weeks and then once in a while. Possibly again on New Years eve and then it was given up completely.

The desires of the flesh have been given the upper hand and people know of no desire for the ways of God. Often it has been maintained for a long time. For many years they have made their way to God’s house but finally have concluded, “It does nothing for me anymore. I leave the church just as I came in. Therefore I am giving it up.”

On the one hand it is never true that we leave the church as we entered. The Word of God always has an effect upon us. If it doesn’t humble, it hardens us. The Word of God never returns void. It is also a wrong practice to begin with the question, “How do I leave the church?” We must begin with the question, “How do I go into the church?” The departure from God’s house is not to be separated from the entering of it. Therefore the question is, “How do I go to church?”

The preacher directs us to the necessity of an inward preparation which is required of those who are wending their way to the sanctuary. He says: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God.” Take care that you do not stumble and that you do not dash your foot against a stone. On the way to church there lay many stones. Be watchful, for the devil also knows that the congregation is gathering together. Therefore upon the way to church he will seek to devour.

First, he will attempt to keep you from going. He will direct your attention to the weather conditions. It would be a shame if your lovely Sunday clothes became wet. And if the entire week you have been up early and worked hard, you certainly are entitled to sleep in one morning, and furthermore there is only a reading service. In this way the feet are already placed in the snare before you are on the way. What a variety of situations can occur early — Sunday morning between husband and wife, parents and children. Yes, especially on Sunday morning! What a lot of stones and holes there are in the way, so that if our foot is not kept, we shall certainly stumble.

Also on the way to church the thoughts and inclinations are often diverted from the purpose for which we are on the way. The conversation is regarding everything and everyone, so that there is no place or time left for directing our thoughts in consideration of the question, “Where are we going?” In this way we place ourselves in the house of God, not having the least impression of God’s greatness and majesty, consequently without a lively desire for power, light, comfort and forgiveness. In this way we sit through the service and also leave the church. We have fulfilled our duty and there it remains. If in so doing we keep not our feet, sin is multiplied and a blessing hindered. Then there is no channel through which the water of the Holy Spirit can flow. The Holy Ghost is grieved and opposed, yes, quenched.

Going to God’s house requires inward preparation. The Lord commands it, “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God.” The commentators say, “Be aware of where you are going. You are not going to a common place, but to a place which is holy.” There one must appear in humility and reverence, as in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and we are upon the earth. We must not speak with that great and exalted God as if dealing with an equal, but must appear before His majesty in all lowliness and humility, realizing that we are worms of the earth. To keep our feet is to abhor ourselves in dust and ashes. Then we realize that we cannot stand before the Lord and we begin to beg Him for the operation of His Holy Spirit. Then we know something of the publican’s walk to the temple, where he cried, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” To keep our feet is the confession that we cannot come before the Lord unless He Himself removes the hindrances. To keep our feet is also to desire salvation. If the Holy Spirit discovers to us our undeserving condition, the Holy Spirit also works a powerful and an upright desire for the fulfillment of our needs. Listen to David as he pleads in Psalm 84, “My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.”

To keep our feet is also to be active with God’s promises regarding the blessings which He has promised to give in His house. Then the knees are first bowed and there is a calling upon the name of the Lord. The soul prays, “Lord, hast Thou not promised that Thou wouldest bless the food of the poor here most abundantly? Lord, hast Thou not promised that there shall be food in Thy house? Wilt Thou fulfill Thy promise unto us by grace for Christ’s sake, so that our hungry souls may be satisfied with the abundance of Thy house. Lord, Thou hast promised that Thou wouldest dwell there, and there shall satisfy Thy poor with bread.”

To keep our feet is also to strive against all the evil lust of the flesh, against all thoughts, doubts and unbelief. To keep our feet is also a looking by faith upon Jesus Christ Who kept His feet when He went into the house of His Father. He took a scourge of small cords and before he entered He drove all buyers and sellers out and overthrew the tables of the money changers.

The Holy Spirit also teaches us to know our impotence in keeping our feet and that we can never keep our heart by our own strength in order that we be worthy to receive God’s blessing. Then our hearts are kept in Christ’s perfect suretyship, by His power, and prepared to receive His blessing. Our hearts are then dependent and receptive, and we may, through the greatness of God’s goodness, enter into God’s house. Then the blessing will be multiplied and the water of the Spirit shall refresh the soul. Then the fragrance of Christ’s love shall compel the soul to love in return. The soul is gladdened and strengthened, comforted and refreshed, and led unto the fountain which is opened for sin and uncleanness. Then the sweetness of His forgiving grace may be tasted and His glorious Name exalted. Then we may sing:

The habitation of Thy house
Is ever my delight;
The place where dwells Thy glory, Lord,
Is lovely in my sight.

Then we leave the church as we have entered it.

Then it is with the Lord to the church, with the Lord in the church, and with the Lord out of the church. The cry then arises, “How blest are they who in Thy temple dwell. They praise Thee continually.” Then the abundance of God’s house is tasted.

We live in such dark times. Unfeelingly, we dare to blame the Lord for our unfruitful church attendance. We walk aimlessly, the one unto Paul, the other to Silas and another to Cephas. Whose heart burns with desire for the courts of the Lord? Oh, take notice of the temptations of the evil one upon the way to church! The murderer of men did not neglect to strive also with Christ as He went upon His way to build the house of His Father. They called unto Him, “Come down from the cross.” Despite the temptation He remained standing. For Him only the will of His Father was sufficient and He has not deviated from that way.

The day of the Lord is again at hand. Then the doors of God’s house are again open. Do not go there without a purpose. Do not keep your foot back for one reason or another. “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God,” so that the Lord may gladden you in His house of prayer.

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