Woodside August 14, 1955  18

Matt 24. 39. James 4. 14. John 6. 67 & 18. 8 & Matt 25. 46. You will observe the use of the word “away” in each of the scriptures, and I might tell you that there are two things [that] have brought the word very much before my mind during these last two weeks. At an open-air meeting at Witley[1] recently a few verses from Matt 24 were read which included v: 39 where we read the flood came and took them all away, and the question arose in my mind “Where?”. And again one who was with us in our opening meeting last Lord’s Day is now gone and I have had brought very vividly to my mind the question Where?, And the word of James 4. 14 For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away and we ask Where?. And it is good that this question should arise now: and not shelved till it is too late to do anything about it[2].

Let us look at the passage of John 6. During our Lord’s earthly life the people are often confronted with statements that things that offended them and at times he experienced the disappointment of seeing them go back and walk no more with Him and at this particular time as He saw it He turned to His own disciples and asked them a very simple and yet very direct question “Will ye also go away, and at once the question created the natural query in their own mind. “If we do to whom shall we go.. And Peter the usual spokesman countered with another question and added a very telling declaration of faith. To whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, and we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. They knew Him, whom to know is life eternal. Just a word about the question Will ye also go away. Could they find another who could meet their need. They knew the truth of a hymn in the Sankey Book The world has nothing left to give. It has no new no pure delight[3], and having thoroughly weighed up the situation, they made their decision they would not go back. They would cleave unto the Lord with purpose of heart. Now let us pass on to the words of our Lord recorded in chap 18 and take note of the circumstances, and I think we shall see that His love and protection of them is such that their choice is a very wise one. He is at this time passing through the bitterest hour of his earthly life and has a stern and bitter conflict with Satan in that garden of Gethsemane, and we see Him there sweating as it were great drops of blood[4]. The weight of the world’s sin made to meet upon Him. And He the sin-hating God bearing it alone. Forsaken of God, and yet in spite of all His own suffering. He was still planning for His beloved disciples. See them come to take Him with lanterns, torches & weapons.. Led on by Judas the traitor His own familiar friend and Jesus went forth to meet them. He [did] not turn away from them in spite of the fact that He knew all things that should come upon Him. He went forth to meet them. Nothing could be more dignified. Nothing more majestic. Listen for He speaks “Whom seek ye?” They answer “Jesus of Nazareth” and our Lord replies “I am He” His words though so few exhibit the nature of one who transcends all mankind. None but He could answer thus. They go backward and fall to the ground We do not know how long they lie before Him but the scene reveals His Deity. He repeats His question. Whom seek ye? They answer again “Jesus of Nazareth”. Now listen again. I have told you that I am He. If therefore ye seek me let these go their way Oh the love behind these words Here I am. I know what awaits me. The cross with all its shame. The purple robe and crown of thorns with all its mockery. The spitting. The nailing. The scattering of the sheep. The hiding of the fathers face, and all the unmentioned suffering. Yes Here I am take me to the place of death, but let these go their way. My way must be the way of suffering and death, but theirs must be the way of life. I must go alone. Do we ask again where? Let us ponder this question. We follow His footsteps from Gethsemane to the judgment hall and thence to the cross, but let these go their way. Where? Ask Peter. Do we see him following the crowd. Do we hear his denial. Do we see him going out to weep bitterly. Yes we know it but see him coming back and think of his forgiveness and the way he proves the sincerity of his repentance. Let these go their way. Yes they did. It was the way of service. But let us also turn to those words of Matt 25 They shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal[5]. I do not intend to deal with the dispensational teaching of this passage[6]. But I would like to remind you of the words. These shall go away. At once the words suggest the small words from and to. While on duty as an auxiliary postman[7] a few years ago I had to deal with a postal packet which had the sender’s address written in larger letters than the address to which it should have gone, and the result was it came back three times to the sender. Peter said in answer to his Lord’s question “To whom shall we go”. It was not a question of where but to whom. If you go away from the Lord who loves you, you will go to another. It is not a question of Heaven and Hell. It is also God who loves you and who has proved His love by giving His beloved Son to die for you, and who, preparing a place for you but it is also going to another who has planned and purposed to drag you down to the depths of woe and misery which is his own everlasting portion.



[1] There wasn't an obvious place to have an open air meetings at Witley because the village lacks a centre, so it is unclear where this meeting was held [RRA]

[2] This talk is a particularly direct appeal, although it appears to be directed more at Christians who might go back on their commitment than people who have never made a commitment which, perhaps, reflected the increasing difficulty the Brethren found in getting non-Christians to attend their gospel meetings (see Grass p 458-9). Lloyd does not seem to have preached since May which was, perhaps, occasioned by illness which may have caused him to reflect more than normally on human mortality.

[3] 312 in Sacred Hymns and Solos by Ira D Sankey the singer who accompanied Moody on his evangelistic campaigns. This is the version found there. It is a particularly direct challenge for individuals to make a decision

 

O do not let the Word depart

And close thine eyes against the light

Poor sinner, harden not your heart

Be saved, O tonight

 

O why not tonight?

O why not tonight?

Wilt thou be saved?

Then why not tonight?

 

Tomorrow’s sun may never rise

To bless thy long deluded sight

This is the time, O then be wise

Be saved, O tonight

 

The world has nothing left to give

It has no new, no pure delight

O try the life which Christians live

Be saved, O tonight

 

Our blessed Lord refuses none

Who would to Him their souls unite

Believe on Him, the work is done

Be saved, O tonight

[4] Luke 22:44. This detail is not in John

[5] Matthew 25:46 The conclusion to the parable of the sheep and the goats

[6] By the dispensational teaching on this passage, he is presumably referring to the notes in his Scofield Bible "This judgment is to be distinguished from the judgment of the great white throne. Here there is no resurrection; the persons judged on living nations; no books are opened; three classes are present, sheep, goats, brethren; the time is the return of Christ (verse 31); and the scene is on the earth. All these particulars are in contrast with Revelation 20. 11-15. The test in this judgment is the treatment accorded by the nations to those whom Christ here calls "my brethren". These "brethren" are the Jewish remnant who will of preached the gospel of the kingdom to all nations during the tribulation."

[7] Lloyd took on this work after he retired to the prefab at 1 Sunny Corner, Witley. As a gardener he was rather to ask away from village life so he enjoyed the opportunity to get out and meet people. He was a good conversationalist [RRA]