Test yourselves
The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson
Once upon a time there lived a vain Emperor whose only worry in life was to dress in elegant clothes. He changed clothes almost every hour and loved to show them off to his people.
Word of the Emperor's refined habits spread over his kingdom and beyond. Two scoundrels who had heard of the Emperor's vanity decided to take advantage of it.
They introduced themselves at the gates of the palace with a scheme in mind.
"We are two very good tailors and after many years of research we have invented an extraordinary method to weave a cloth so light and fine that it looks invisible. As a matter of fact it is invisible to anyone who is too stupid and incompetent to appreciate its quality."
The chief of the guards heard the scoundrel's strange story and sent for the court chamberlain. The chamberlain notified the prime minister, who ran to the Emperor and disclosed the incredible news. The Emperor's curiosity got the better of him and he decided to see the two scoundrels.
"Besides being invisible, your Highness, this cloth will be woven in colours and patterns created especially for you." The emperor gave the two men a bag of gold coins in exchange for their promise to begin working on the fabric immediately. "Just tell us what you need to get started and we'll give it to you."
The two scoundrels asked for a loom, silk, gold thread and then pretended to begin working. The Emperor thought he had spent his money quite well: in addition to getting a new extraordinary suit, he would discover which of his subjects were ignorant and incompetent.
A few days later, he called the old and wise prime minister, who was considered by everyone as a man with common sense. "Go and see how the work is proceeding," the Emperor told him, "and come back to let me know."
The prime minister was welcomed by the two scoundrels. "We're almost finished, but we need a lot more gold thread. Here, Excellency! Admire the colours, feel the softness!"
The old man bent over the loom and tried to see the fabric that was not there. He felt cold sweat on his forehead. "I can't see anything," he thought. "If I see nothing, that means I'm stupid! Or, worse, incompetent!" If the prime minister admitted that he didn't see anything, he would be discharged from his office.
"What a marvellous fabric, he said then. "I'll certainly tell the Emperor." The two scoundrels rubbed their hands gleefully. They had almost made it. More thread was requested to finish the work.
Finally, the Emperor received the announcement that the two tailors had come to take all the measurements needed to sew his new suit. "Come in," the Emperor ordered. Even as they bowed, the two scoundrels pretended to be holding large roll of fabric.
"Here it is your Highness, the result of our labour," the scoundrels said. "We have worked night and day but, at last, the most beautiful fabric in the world is ready for you. Look at the colours and feel how fine it is." Of course the Emperor did not see any colours and could not feel any cloth between his fingers. He panicked and felt like fainting. But luckily the throne was right behind him and he sat down. But when he realized that no one could know that he did not see the fabric, he felt better. Nobody could find out he was stupid and incompetent. And the Emperor didn't know that everybody else around him thought and did the very same thing.
The farce continued as the two scoundrels had foreseen it. Once they had taken the measurements, the two began cutting the air with scissors while sewing with their needles an invisible cloth. "Your Highness, you'll have to take off your clothes to try on your new ones." The two scoundrels draped the new clothes on him and then held up a mirror. The Emperor was embarrassed but since none of his bystanders were, he felt relieved.
"Yes, this is a beautiful suit and it looks very good on me," the Emperor said trying to look comfortable. "You've done a fine job." "Your Majesty," the prime minister said, "we have a request for you. The people have found out about this extraordinary fabric and they are anxious to see you in your new suit." The Emperor was doubtful showing himself naked to the people, but then he abandoned his fears. After all, no one would know about it except the ignorant and the incompetent.
"All right," he said. "I will grant the people this privilege." He summoned his carriage and the ceremonial parade was formed. A group of dignitaries walked at the very front of the procession and anxiously scrutinized the faces of the people in the street. All the people had gathered in the main square, pushing and shoving to get a better look. An applause welcomed the regal procession. Everyone wanted to know how stupid or incompetent his or her neighbour was but, as the Emperor passed, a strange murmur rose from the crowd.
Everyone said, loud enough for the others to hear: "Look at the Emperor's new clothes. They're beautiful!" "What a marvellous train!" "And the colours! The colours of that beautiful fabric! I have never seen anything like it in my life!" They all tried to conceal their disappointment at not being able to see the clothes, and since nobody was willing to admit his own stupidity and incompetence, they all behaved as the two scoundrels had predicted.
A child, however, who had no important job and could only see things as his eyes showed them to him, went up to the carriage. "The Emperor is naked," he said.
"Fool!" his father reprimanded, running after him. "Don't talk nonsense!" He grabbed his child and took him away. But the boy's remark, which had been heard by the bystanders, was repeated over and over again until everyone cried: "The boy is right! The Emperor is naked! It's true!"
The Emperor realized that the people were right but could not admit to that. He though it better to continue the procession under the illusion that anyone who couldn't see his clothes was either stupid or incompetent. And he stood stiffly on his carriage, while behind him a page held his imaginary mantle.
You’ve probably heard the story before and probably laughed at the stupidity of the emperor and all the others who pretended to be able to see that which wasn’t there
We wouldn’t be so silly would we? Would we??
Sometimes it is easier not to say what needs to be said – easier to go with the flow and avoid saying anything that might cause an upset
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves…test yourselves
Are you ever disturbed by the gap between the Christian life we read about in the Bible and the reality we see in the world today?
Why is it that so many Christians struggle to live as Christians?
Where is the victory? Where is the power? Where is the holiness of life?
Come to the conclusion that in many cases the source of the problem is right at the beginning…
We have said to people that if they put up their hand in a meeting and pray a prayer then they are born again…not necessarily all bad…but…the big question…have we tested the results of that prayer?
Reaction time?
Surely you can’t say that somebody who has prayed that prayer is not born again! God is faithful isn’t he?
Doesn’t he always answer that prayer?
Stick with me…
What often happens when a person questions whether they are really born again?
We take them back to the sinner’s prayer:
On that basis we then quote Bible verses that speak of our new life in Christ and say “this is what you have received”
They say, “But I don’t feel any different” or “I’m not sure that I’m really a Christian”
We reply with something about faith rather than sight and trusting the word of God which hopefully convinces them for a while
What we don’t do so often is ask the really tough question – has God actually done a work of regeneration in the person? Were they actually born again?
We ask whether the person was sincere when we should be asking did a miracle occur?
Nowhere in the Bible will you find that the test of whether or not a person is born again is whether they sincerely prayed a sinner’s prayer!
Eph. 2:1-10
What part do we play in this?
What part does God play?
Us:
God:
This is a wonderful, miraculous work of God that he does in our lives
The question is not “Did you sincerely repeat a pattern of words?” it is “Has God performed the miracle of new birth in you?”
Paul says examine yourselves, test yourselves – there should be evidence that something has happened
Going to look shortly at some diagnostics – some things to look for that are evidence of new birth – they do not include prayers prayed, hands raised, decision cards, church membership, attendance at meetings
Before we look at diagnostics we need a word or two about process and events…
People come to faith in different ways – for some it is a long process, for others it happens in an instant when God breaks unexpectedly into a life
Some battle with it over years, others have an encounter with the God they have never even considered
For some people praying the prayer in a meeting is when they were amazingly born again, for others the miracle happened while reading the Bible, for some it was when they just called out to God with a cry of desperation
The process or event varies from person to person – this is not the big issue – the questions need to be asked now – do you pass the test?
For too long we have asked whether sometime somewhere a person raised a hand or made a commitment and we have missed the essential diagnosis – has there been real new birth?
Parents – this is an emotional issue, but we need to be honest with ourselves, our children and the Word of God…
Maybe you need to pray some different prayers over your child who isn’t living the Christian life – many parents need to pray for new birth to occur rather than praying for the restoration of a backslider
It can be hard to be sure what was happening in your child who went to church with you many years ago and I don’t want to get all judgemental about this, but neither should we pretend that the emperor is wonderfully dressed when he is actually naked
What I do know is that many people who have called themselves Christians for a long time have found themselves being truly born again at a later date
Diagnostics…five questions to ask as you examine yourself… all from 1 John…
Test one: 1 John 3:9-10 He cannot go on sinning because he has been born of God
Not saying that a born again person never sins (see 1:8) but it is clear that when a person is born again it is not business as usual – there is a change in the attitude to sin – no longer dead in sin – no longer a sinner who is trying to live right, but a saint who sometimes sins
The person who can live comfortably in sin is not born of God
Sometimes said in church that “the people of the world only think they are having a good time”
They often are having a good time – when you are dead in sin you can enjoy sin – sometimes the consequences catch up on you but conscience is not the big problem
If the person who calls themselves a Christian lives the same as the non-Christian then new birth has not occurred
Test two: 1 John 4:7-8 Everyone who loves has been born of God
Luke 6:32-35 Needs to be more than the natural love that ‘sinners’ have for those who love them
As with all these things we grow in them – they may not be fully developed but there needs to be signs of their presence
Love for brothers in Christ (3:10) is particularly telling – people who are born again will want to be with others who are born again – a supernatural love will exist
Test three: 1 John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ
Not talking about a one off moment when someone “believed” in the emotion of a Gospel meeting
This is the ongoing unshakeable knowledge of Jesus that can only come from him
1 Cor. 12:3 no-one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit
New birth is not evidenced by an intellectual reasoning that Jesus is almost certainly the Christ – it is evidenced by the sure knowledge that he is
Test four: 1 John 5:3-4 everyone born of God overcomes the world
With new birth comes the power to live the life that Jesus calls us to
Read the Sermon on the Mount – totally against the way of the world
A way for those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness and those who are ready to suffer persecution and insults
It is a way for those who are willing to let God deal with their anger and lust, change their unfaithful heart and sanctify their speech
It is a way for those who are willing to turn the other cheek, go the extra mile and love their enemies
It is a way for those who will give without thought of reward or counting the cost
It is a way for those who will live for eternal rewards rather than temporary pleasure
It is a way for those who will make their money serve God rather than serving their money
It is a way for those who are ready to let go of every material concern in this world and concern themselves with the kingdom of God
You cannot live this way in your own strength – the world will overcome you
If someone is born again the they should be experiencing the power to overcome – to walk in a different path
Test five: 1 John 4:13 because he has given us of his Spirit
People who are born again are not alone
Assurance does not come from knowing you have prayed the right prayer as much as knowing that you have met with Jesus Christ and that he lives in you
There will be ups and downs, good days and bad days, days of intimacy and days of struggle but the born again testimony is that Jesus is alive and he has met with me
Did you pass the test?
If not you need to know that this is what is available and seek God until you receive
No more cover up, no more struggling to be what you are not – acknowledge your need and come to the One who can meet it
He is the one who gives a new heart and a new spirit – come to him and ask
Let go of your own efforts, your pride and your old nature – come in repentance and ask him to do a new work
Parents, friends, relatives – begin to pray with new passion for those you know who are not yet born again – don’t look to the past, look to God – ask him to do a new miracle not stir up a fire that was never really there