65. Звание

We see in the world that people are called by different titles. Some are judges, others are warriors, others are generals, others herd cattle, and so on. Likewise, every Christian is called to repentance by Christ the Lord, Who says: “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matthew 9:13). And since we are all sinners - “because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) - then we are all called to repentance. The Christian title to which they are called by Christ is true repentance, and this is what Christ called them to. For every person, his rank is the first priority while he is in his rank. The first job of judges is to seek the truth and judge according to the laws, as long as they hold this rank. So the first task of Christians is to be in repentance, since Christ called them to this. Look, Christian, what are you called to? Do not seek wealth, not honor, not glory in the world, do not organize banquets, do not go on visits and receive guests, but, turning away from all this, be in repentance and receive the eternal salvation to which you are called in Christ Jesus. Repentance consists not only in leaving behind great external sins, but in changing the mind and heart and renewing the inner state. That is, one must turn away from all the vanity of this world, since it prevents anyone who wants to be saved, from considering various spiritual weaknesses, that is, pride, anger, envy, impurity, love of money, etc., and regretting and lamenting the fact that such evil entered through snake venom into our soul, which was created pure and immaculate. And with such pity and contrition, pray to Christ, so that by His power He will correct and heal us. And when the heart or inner state changes and improves, then both outer life and outer deeds will be good. The legs will not do evil if the soul does not want to. Hands will not do evil if the will does not want to. The tongue will not speak evil if the heart does not want to. The body will not commit fornication if the heart does not want to. What is the benefit of not doing evil on the outside, but being evil on the inside? What's the use of not stealing, but being covetous inside? What is the use of not killing with your hands, but breathing anger and murder inside? A murderer, an adulterer, a thief lives in the heart. There is no benefit in a vessel that is clean on the outside but full of all stench and uncleanness on the inside. So there is no benefit to a person who is good on the outside but evil on the inside, humble and quiet on the outside, but filled with pride, envy and malice on the inside; He speaks kindly and smoothly, but has flattery and deceit in his heart; He keeps his hands from theft and robbery, but he doesn’t give his own to anyone, and so on. Therefore, people who are good on the outside but evil on the inside are likened to “whitewashed tombs, which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27). Our God, a Christian, “tests our hearts and bowels, looks at our heart”, and not at our appearance and appearance (Ps. 7:10; 1 Sam. 16:7). He looks at what is hidden inside, in the heart, and not at what appears on the outside; and by this he judges a person. If you appear humble on the outside, that’s good, but aren’t you exalted in your heart? If you don’t show anger on the outside and don’t get angry, that’s good, but isn’t anger at your neighbor consuming you inside? Not killing your brother with your hands is not bad, but look, don’t you hate him in your heart? “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer” (1 John 3:15). If you do not mingle with a woman with your body, that is not bad, but if you lust with your heart, you are a fornicator. “Whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). You do not steal someone else's property, but inside in your heart you desire it - a true thief. You don’t steal someone else’s property, but out of your stinginess you don’t give it to someone in need—a true thief. If you keep God’s good, which was given not for you alone, but also for others, to yourself alone, then you offend as many people as you can bestow with your good, which you keep to yourself, and so on. The human heart is a vessel filled with impurity and the stench of lusts. Beloved Christian! Let us try to cleanse this vessel within us, and then our external deeds will be pleasing to God. God promised us great things - He promised Himself to live in our hearts: “I will dwell in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be My people” (2 Cor. 6:16; Lev. 26:12). There is not and cannot be a greater, more precious, most pleasant and most amiable treasure than having God living within you. And there is no greater honor for a person than to be the church of God! God lives in a pure soul, as in His most favorable church. And it is more pleasant for Him to dwell in a pure soul than in man-made churches, since in the soul is the image of God. Let us also purify our hearts, O Christians! May the image of God appear in us, the beautiful beauty of our souls, and so we will be the church of our God. “Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Cor. 7:1). “Imitating the Prophet Jonah, I cry: free my belly, O Good One, from aphids, and save me, O Savior of the world, calling: glory to Thee.” You might be interested in: