If You Attempt to Enthrone the Creature!

If You Attempt to Enthrone the Creature!

O Christian! God has removed one of your sweetest mercies, comforts, or enjoyments! It may be that you have over-loved them, and over-much delighted yourself in them. It may be they have often had your heart - when they should have had but your hand. It may be that care, that concern, that confidence, that joy - which should have been expended upon more noble objects, has been expended upon them!

Your heart is Christ's bed of spices, and it may be that you have bedded your mercies with you - when Christ has been made to lie outside! You have had room for them - when you have had none for Him! They have had your best - when your worst have been counted good enough for Christ!

It is said of Reuben, that he went up to his father's bed, (Genesis 49:4). Ah, how often has one creature comfort, and sometimes another - been put in between Christ and your souls! How often have your dear enjoyments gone up to Christ's bed! Your near and dear mercies have come into Christ's bed of love - your hearts!

Now, if you take a husband, a child, a friend into that room in your soul which only belongs to God - then He will either embitter it, remove it, or be the death of it.

If once the love of a wife runs out more to a servant, then to her husband - the husband will remove that servant; though otherwise he was a servant worth gold.

Now, if God has stripped you of that very mercy with which you have often committed spiritual adultery and idolatry - have you any cause to murmur?

There are those who love their mercies into their graves, who hug their mercies to death, who kiss them until they kill them!

Christian! Your heart is Christ's royal throne, and in this throne Christ will be chief! He will endure no competitor! If you attempt to enthrone the creature, be it ever so near and dear unto you - Christ will dethrone it! He will destroy it!

"This is what the Sovereign Lord says: "I am about to desecrate my sanctuary - the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword!" (Exekiel 24:21).

~Thomas Brooks~