The Conviction of Sin

“The lion of the tribe of Judah hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” — Revelation V. 5.

A LION strong enough to open a book! That is surely an anti-climax! We could understand a lion strong enough to rule a forest. We could understand a lion strong enough to rend its prey. But to open a book — that is surely a very easy thing! No, not this book. This book has seven seals, and to open it we need the courage of a lion. For, what is this sealed writing? It is the moral consciousness of man. To open the book is to tell me that I am a sinner. The man who tells me that is in great personal danger. You may accuse me of total depravity when you speak from the pulpit, because you there include everybody else in the accusation. But if you boldly turn to my corner and say, “Here is a man who has not been exactly upright in all his dealings,” you must have a lion heart indeed! I am certain to arraign you, to impeach you, to charge you with becoming personal. That was where Jesus met His danger, met His death; He opened the book of each individual heart. He did not merely say, “You are all sinners,” that would not have lost His audience half an hour’s sleep! He made every one feel “He means me!’’ He made Judas the apostle wince. He made Simon the Pharisee cower. He made Pilate the governor uncomfortable. He made everyone say, “This is personal!” And how did He do it? By speaking? Oh, no — by being. Why has nobody opened the book but Jesus? Simply because nobody has been pure but Jesus. You will never tell me my sins by pointing to them; you must point away from them. Would you teach me my avarice; you must show me generosity. Would you teach me my deceit; you must reveal truthfulness. Would you teach me the folly of my pride; you must display the dignity of being humble. No man can see the brass till his eye has rested on the gold.

Son of Man, I come to Thee to get the book of my heart opened; what was once Thine oifence is now Thy glory. It is only by coming to Thee that I shall learn my sin. I have heard men say that before I come I must feel my need of Thee. Nay, it is the opposite; ere I can feel my need of Thee I must come. Thou alone canst open the book. It is only from the interior of the palace that I can see the miry clay of the road outside. I cannot know myself until I have known Thee. “Whence has Magdalene derived the mirror of herself? From the scenes of the street? From the sight of her moral equals? From viewing those who have descended deeper still? Nay; it is from a gaze on Thee. It is in Thy face she first sees her own. Thy purity is the mirror of her impurity. She never sees her deformity till she beholds Thy beauty. She never knows her discord till she hears Thy music. She never discerns her clouds till she catches Thy sunshine. She never feels her burden till she finds the support of Thine arm. She never experiences the pains of hell till she looks on the joys of Thy heaven. Only by Thy light of holiness can I read the tragedy of my book of life.