He has pronounced his own condemnation. Christ is the test of all men and of all things. Every man that hears of Christ, discovers the outline of his character, gets a vision of his voluntary suffering, and death, and glorious resurrection, and unchanging love, and yet believes not on him, every such man declares himself to be unworthy of everlasting life. There is no affinity between him and Christ, and it is easily calculated, therefore, what are his true affinities. There is no need for him to perpetrate any signal act of infamy in order to bring down condemnation on himself. God has drawn nigh to him in the person of the Son; and, before the essential perfections of deity, this man has not bowed the knee. When Christ appears in glory, of course every knee shall bow; but in the case of many this tardy homage will be no homage. It is not because of his dazzling glory and irresistible sovereignty that God claims to be honored and adored; but because of his moral excellencies, because of the attributes that were revealed upon the cross.
A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.
George H. Bowen (30 April 1816 at Middlebury, Vermont – 5 February 1888 at Bombay, India) was an American missionary, newspaper man, linguist, and translator in India. He was known as "The White Saint of India" for his resemblance in manner and dress to the Hindu holy men.
He has pronounced his own condemnation. Christ is the test of all men and of all things. Every man that hears of Christ, discovers the outline of his character, gets a vision of his voluntary suffering, and death, and glorious resurrection, and unchanging love, and yet believes not on him, every such man declares himself to be unworthy of everlasting life. There is no affinity between him and Christ, and it is easily calculated, therefore, what are his true affinities. There is no need for him to perpetrate any signal act of infamy in order to bring down condemnation on himself. God has drawn nigh to him in the person of the Son; and, before the essential perfections of deity, this man has not bowed the knee. When Christ appears in glory, of course every knee shall bow; but in the case of many this tardy homage will be no homage. It is not because of his dazzling glory and irresistible sovereignty that God claims to be honored and adored; but because of his moral excellencies, because of the attributes that were revealed upon the cross.