He Knows our Inability

by Lee Hanks

The Gospel Messenger, August 1913

Recently while in deep meditation about the experience of the Lord's people, I felt deep down in my heart that I wanted to hear God's children talk about their experience.  I said, 'I wish I knew how a Christian feels.'  While examining myself and seeing so much that I detest in the flesh, I asked myself the question, 'Does the Lord, who is so good, pure, holy, just, wise, powerful, and loving, love such a wretch as I?  Is it possible that I can be His child?' I read this sweet expression:  'For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.'  How I rejoiced and praised His holy name!  He does not expect perfection in us.  He knows how sinful, poor, and needy we are.  We do not have to appear before a just and holy Being in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Jesus.  We go in name of Christ, our Elder Brother, who is so good and merciful.  He knows that we are depraved and all polluted with sin and cannot save ourselves; but, thank God! the precious Saviour came to earth for that express purpose: to bear our sins in His own body and put them all away by the sacrifice of Himself.  He paid all the debt.  His precious blood cleanses us from all sin.  He knows the corruptions of our hearts, but the blood of Jesus, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, lovingly purges our consciences from dead works to serve the true and living God.  Malice and hatred are removed, and our hearts filled with His pure love by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  Thank God He does not deal with us after our sins; nor reward us according to our iniquities.  He knows we cannot keep the law, and He kept it for us.  He knew that all of our righteousnesses were as filthy rags, and He clothed us with His own spotless righteousness.  He is merciful to our unrighteousness.  He loved sinners.  Bless His holy name!  He ate with sinners, and commended His love to us while we were sinners.  He knew that we had no strength, but, in due time, He died for us.  'Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him.'  His mercy to us poor sinners is from everlasting to everlasting.  He forgives all of our iniquities; He heals all of our diseases; He redeems our life from destruction; He satisfies our mouth with good things.  He is a Sun and shield to us and gives grace and glory, and no good thing will He withhold from them that walk up rightly.  When I think of the awful corruption in the world religiously, morally, socially, and politically, were it not that the dear Lord is merciful to our unrighteousness, we would all be hopelessly lost.  Man continues to degenerate.  Pride, fashion, covetousness, worldly mindedness, formality, envy, carnality, etc., are having a blighting effect in Zion.  Where is that love, forbearance, gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, that should characterize us as followers of the meek and lowly Saviour?  I am often heart-sick when I see strifes and contentions, hobby-riding, magnifying seeming differences, making 'mountains out of mole hills,' and each wanting to say the last word.  O! Lord, have mercy upon poor, afflicted Zion-Associations dropping correspondence with an Association for the errors of one or two churches, making the Association a disciplinary body.  Preacher jealousy is a dangerous thing and plays its part.  Perilous times are upon us!  Surely me are heady, high-minded, self-willed, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God! We so much feel the need of God's mercy and kind remembrance of us all.  Our hope for time and eternity is in the grace and mercy of Him who is our refuge, strength, and a very present help in time of trouble.

L. H.