“THE BENEFIT OF SELF-EXAMINATION”

In Jeremiah 5:7, the prophet records a most sobering question which God ask of the Israelites: “Why should I pardon you?” The Israelites were in a covenant relationship with Jehovah, based upon the events at Mt. Sinai (cf. Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5). They had sworn to obey this Law (Exodus 19:8; Deuteronomy 26:17). However, as Jeremiah 5 details, they had BROKEN their promise. So, Jehovah puts forth the question, “WHY SHOULD I PARDON YOU?”

It is sad to read of the degradation of holy people. Yet, it is even sadder to read of holy people who are in denial of their sin. Spiritual blindness and hardening of the heart are constant dangers for the people of God. Satan is relentless in his attack upon our minds. It is why self-examination is so vital in our spiritual walk (2 Corinthians 13:5). Self-examination ensures that our worship will be in order. “Wherefore whosoever shall eat the bread or drink the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup. For he that eateth and drinketh, eateth and drinketh judgment unto himself, if he discern not the body. For this cause many among you are weak and sickly, and not a few sleep. But if we discerned ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

Self-examination guards our minds from being self-deceived that material prosperity is proof that we are walking by faith (cf. Romans 10:3). Many will anticipate pardon on Judgment Day, based upon the teaching of Matthew 7:21-23. Their disappointment will be a result of their failure to self-examine their life by God’s standards. Self-examination will spare us, as God’s elect, from such disappointment on Judgment Day because we can know with certainty whether we are being rich toward God in our life (Luke 12:12). Pardon comes by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). As David put it, “Jehovah is nigh unto all them that call upon him…in truth” (Psalm 145:18).