You ask a person to do something for you, or to come on such a day to see you, or to give you a subscription towards some charitable object...but you can get no clear answer.
They will think it over. They are not quite sure.
They must wait a few days before giving an answer; and when the few days are passed, you have still to wait on, for no answer comes.
Thus you are left all in uncertainty.
If your friend would only just make up his mind and say "Yes" or "No," you would be content, and know what steps to take;
But indecision leaves everything unsettled and makes everyone uncomfortable.
But I want to speak of indecision in the highest matters.
If it is bad in temporal things it is far worse in our dealings with Christ and His salvation.
So many are always halting between two opinions: they never take a firm stand on the right side.
Today you think they are true followers of Christ, but tomorrow they are all for the world.
They can be very serious at times, and express a great desire for the hope of the Gospel; but when thrown with worldly people, their religion seems all gone to the winds.
I suppose the reason is because of the two-sidedness of Christ's Gospel.
On the one side we have glorious hopes and blessed privileges: deliverance from guilt and condemnation, free remission of the past debt of sin, a garment of perfect righteousness, peace with God, a place in His family, the comforts of His love, citizenship in the heavenly Zion, everlasting life, and a crown of glory that never fades away.
Here is one side; but there is another.
Those who believe in Christ, have day by day to take up the cross, to deny themselves, and to walk in the Master's footsteps.
The way is often narrow, and the gate is strait.
Reproach and persecution must be endured.
Earthly idols must be cast away, and even life itself must be sacrificed-if our allegiance to Christ requires it.
The Lord requires that His people should, when He calls for it, withhold nothing.
A willing heart, all we are and all we have, must be laid at His feet.
He who forsakes not all that he has, cannot be My disciple.
Hence comes a wavering, hesitating spirit.
People would have the one side, but not the other.
Mere professors wish for the privileges of the Gospel but shrink from its precepts.
They want the joys of God's people but have no heart to bear the cross and confess Christ's name in the world.
They dare not cast off the profession of the Gospel, lest they should be shut out of Heaven; but again and again they turn aside from the King's highway, and walk in "by-path meadow."
Lack of thorough decision is the root of great evil.
Take a young person who delights to listen to the truth, and to a certain extent has a love for it, but there is no real earnestness or determined purpose of heart.
The salvation of the soul has never been the first thing.
There has been no fixed choice.
There has been no hearty dedication to the Savior's service.
The result comes out before long.
There is no real peace and no strength to meet temptation; and when some suitable snare is presented, there is no power to overcome.
Or if a sudden danger comes and death approaches, all is alarm and confusion.
A short time ago a young girl was taken from her earthly home after four days' illness.
She was the daughter of Christian parents, and she had often been told the story of her Savior's love.
She was naturally amiable and pleasing; but those who lived with her could not tell how far she felt the power of God'sWord.
The hour of danger told the truth.
When told that probably she might not recover, she exclaimed, "I cannot die! I have not loved the Savior!" and from that moment every thought was centered in that one care.
Her parched lips continually pleaded, "Oh, Jesus, teach me! Help me to love You!"
She would not be comforted by false peace, and it was only at the very last that the clouds seemed to burst, and that she could see the Savior to be her own.
Another case I remember, the very reverse of this, one that shows the blessedness of decision for God.
A young girl of seventeen was sent from home to a school where she had many privileges.
She worked hard at her lessons, doing in one year more than many girls in three.
At this time her heart was touched by God's Holy Spirit.
After weeks of prayer and earnest inquiry she gave herself unreservedly to the Savior, and found great peace.
The next year she was laid low with an attack on the brain.
Her life, so full of promise, seemed ebbing away but the danger passed.
Health was gradually restored.
But what was the cause?
It was due, under God, to the quiet, deep, calm peace which possessed her heart.
Her medical adviser stated that had there been the slightest mental struggle or fear, it must have been fatal to life or reason.
She had given herself unreservedly to Christ, and she had a blessed reward.
She had "perfect peace" in the hour of danger; and this, in God's hand, was the means of her recovery.
I can scarcely think of any little bit of advice I would more earnestly give to any who are anxious to be the disciples of Christ, than this:
Be out and out Christians! Don't be both hot and cold.
Don't veer round from north to south, and from south to north.
Be one thing, and one thing always...in all places and in all companies.
Christ has no room in His kingdom for those who keep back half the heart.
He has no room for almost Christians.
He has no room for those who would call Him, "Lord, Lord," and yet chime in with the evil practices of those who will not have Him to reign over them.
He has said it plainly: "No man can serve two masters."
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who gathers not with Me, scatters abroad." (Matthew 6:24; 12:30.)
Away with all empty, hollow profession!
Away with all half-heartedness and Laodicean lukewarmness.
Away with all double-mindedness, expecting to taste the fruits of Paradise-and yet never to toil or labor in His vineyard!
All such religion is a delusion and a sham!
Be decided for God.
Leaning on Christ, relying upon the heavenly assistance of the Holy Spirit, be a fearless and faithful follower of the Lamb.
Be an altogether Christian! Not a Christian on Sunday-and a worldling on Monday!
Not a Christian in lip-and a worldling in life!
Not following Christ in fair weather-and forsaking Him in foul.
But hold fast your profession at all times and in all circumstances.
Be decided.
Think of the example of your great Master.
He walked straight on through good report and ill, through toil and through suffering, through contempt and reproach, to do His Father's will.
He set His face like a flint.
He steadfastly went forward to die a malefactor's death for our sake.
He did all that was needful for our salvation, and then was received back to His glory.
Even so let it be with you. You must walk in His footsteps.
You must stand fast in faith and hope.
You must suffer with Christ if you would reign with Him.
You must bear the cross if you would wear the crown.
Be decided.
It is the only safe course.
To be almost a Christian will never save you.
If you were living in a village near a volcano, and there were signs of danger, it would not profit to think of leaving your home, or even being almost persuaded to do so.
When the burning lava stream overwhelmed the village, you would perish after all.
But if you left the spot and took up your abode in a place of safety, then the peril could not touch you.
So must you act in the matter of your salvation.
You must forsake the evil that is in the world.
You must fly from sin and judgment, to Christ the only Refuge.
You must give yourself up altogether to Him, and then you are safe.
No harm can then come near you.
You have a shelter which no storm of wrath can ever invade.
Be decided.
To be so makes the path of life plain and clear.
To act like Balaam to long for the gold and silver, and go as far as you dare to obtain it, and yet profess to obey God ah, this is a wretched, miserable course!
In acting in this spirit, a man is drawn hither and thither, and knows not which way to take.
There is a constant battle between conscience and character.
But let a man take God's standard, and abide by it;
Let him desire only to do God's will as far as he sees it;
Let him put God first and everything else second, and he will have peace; his path will usually lie clear before him:
He may have opposition to encounter and loss to suffer, but he will have God on his side, and his conscience will be at rest.
Be decided.
You will thus honor God and be a blessing in the world.
You will be a pillar of strength in the Church of Christ.
Waverers and faint-hearted disciples will see you, and be reproved.
Those who yet are strangers to Divine peace will see that there is a power in true religion.
Men will know where to find you, and what you mean.
There will be no doubt on which side you are.
And you will leave a mark behind.
When your work is done, you will be missed by your fellow-Christians, and your name and memory will be blessed.
The remembrance of your example will allure others to walk in the way of life.
Just as the example and last words of Joshua were blessed to the whole generation who had seen and known him, so your fixed and steadfast purpose to serve the Lord will not be forgotten when you are in the grave.
Be decided.
A bright and glorious crown shall be yours.
Take the words of promise: "Those who honor Me, I will honor." "If any serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be. If any man serves Me, him will my Father honor." (John 12:26.)
Who are these, like stars appearing These before God's throne who stand?
Each a golden crown is bearing, Who are all this glorious band?
Alleluia! hark they sing, Praising loud their Heavenly King.
Who are these in dazzling brightness, Clothed in God's own righteousness:
These, whose robes of purest whiteness Shall their luster still possess?
Still untouched by time's rude hand; Whence come all this glorious band?
These are they who have contended For their Savior's honor long,
Wrestling on until life was ended, Following not the sinful throng:
These, who well the fight sustained, Triumph by the Lamb have gained.
These are they who watched and waited, Offering up to Christ their will, Soul and body consecrated.
Day and night to serve Him still.
Now in God's most holy place, Blessed they stand before His face!
~George Everard~
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