TEXT: 2COR. 13:5
''Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates''
Affixing blame, for our miscarriages here on earth, might be allowed; but in the world to come, every man shall bear his own burden. O man, do you know that God believes that all needed to make your passage through this life to the world beyond has been given to you in His son? In Christ God has shut every mouth from any excuse, now and hereafter. What He says to one, He says to all: His Holy book belongs to all; and all can understand its contents: for the Holy Spirit, its interpreter, is a gift to all: 'For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.' (Acts 2:39) The Bible, Jesus, Holy Ghost are ours, therefore we are inexcusable. It shall be our duty to give our account before God at the end of time, let it then be our duty, while here, to prepare for that on our own. With or without a shepherd over us, we are bound for this final reckoning. Oh man, pastor thyself. Lead yourself beside the still water; lie yourself down in the green pasture; often reprove and rebuke yourself! Take diligence to know the state of thy flock, your own self. Direct all your sermons and persuasives for godly living, first on yourself. Face your soul; know its state: get acquainted with both your strength and weakness! Hide not from yourself. See to it that eternity be your looking glass. Let neither praise nor jeering of men put you out of humour. Pastor yourself. A man loves not his own life if he applies not the rod of chastisement on himself, as the Lord chastises those he loves and considers every son He accepts. He considers his soul a bastard to himself, who chastises not himself when he goes astray! Be your own overseer! Amen!