Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. Not one or other among us, but probably every man who hears me, either has already had, or will have, at some time of his life, a strong desire to obey God. One man is checked or is favoured in this respect in one way, another in another. We cannot avoid seeing that some men have, almost by nature, religious feelings which are not given in equal measure to others. But still it is with respect to religion as it is with regard to our own prosperity in life. It is said there is no man who has not once or twice in life a lucky chance, and it depends on the skill with which he uses it whether he turns out a prosperous man or not. So it is with our religious character. However unfavourable his position, however strongly a character may have taken a cold or irreligious tone, still there is scarcely a man who is not now and then awakened by some of what we call the accidents of life, but which are in reality calls from God, and who does not often see Him and His will distinctly — as it was said of Balaam, "having his eyes open." But did Balaam, when his eyes were open, obey? Did he to whom, more than to God's own servants, it was given to know God's will, follow it? No! He was contented to know about God, and made his knowledge of Him a substitute for the obedience he ought to have rendered. So it is with us all, if we forget that the wish to press — nay, the very pressing itself into God's kingdom, is but the first step towards winning it. It may be a great step; it may change the direction of a man's whole life; it may realize the proverb, that " well begun is half done; " while it may also be the mere turning away for a few weeks, or even days, from vice. God's kingdom can be really won by nothing but steady, manly perseverance; it is a matter which demands a lifelong energy of prayer and watching, lest at any time we let it slip. (Dean Lake.) Parallel Verses KJV: And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. |
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