When a person sees how infinitely distant the common temper is from the divine life, he may be ready to lose heart and think it utterly impossible to attain.
"They are happy indeed whose souls are awakened to the divine life — but I am of a completely different makeup, and am not able to bring about so great a change."
✦ The Despair That Follows the Seeing
Scougal gives voice to the moment every honest soul faces — the moment after the seeing. The divine life has been described. Its beauty is clear. And the soul looks at itself — and despairs. Not because the divine life is unattractive. Because it is too beautiful. Too high. The seeing produces anguish — because the distance seems impossible to cross. 🙏
"Since nothing less than a new nature will do, what can I possibly accomplish?"
"I could give away all my goods, but I cannot command that love without which such giving would profit me nothing."
"Those vanities I have shut out through the door keep getting in through the windows."
"I have reason to suspect my highest achievements are all merely self-love acting under various disguises."
"I may toss and turn like a door on its hinges, but can never get free — self is still the center of all my movements."
✦ Every Word Is True
Every objection is honest. The soul cannot command love. Cannot kill all corruption. Cannot escape the gravitational pull of self. Every word is true. And this is where Murray's teaching answers Scougal: absolutely impossible with men — but by the grace of God, it is a life to which we are destined. The answer is not human effort. The answer is divine power. 🙏
"All I can gain is to see at a great distance a happiness I cannot reach — like a man in a shipwreck, who can make out the land, and envies the happiness of those who are there, but thinks it impossible for himself to get ashore."
The shipwrecked man — Scougal's most powerful image. The land is visible. The happiness is real. But the water is between. This is the moment of every conversion. Every renewal. The seeing of what is beautiful — and the honest confession that the soul cannot get there alone. And it is exactly the right place to be. The one who thinks she can swim to shore will exhaust herself trying. The one who knows she cannot — is the one who will be carried.
"Like a man in a shipwreck, who can make out the land, but thinks it impossible for himself to get ashore."
Henry Scougal · The despair that precedes the rescueLet us take courage from the mighty help we can expect; for greater is He who is for us than all who rise up against us.
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms" (Deuteronomy 33:27).
"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 6:10).
The eternal God is our refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.
God will not leave you nor forsake you. 🙏
The rescue is not a technique. It is a Person. The eternal God — refuge. Underneath — the everlasting arms. The shipwrecked man does not need to swim. The arms are underneath. They were underneath at midnight in Lubbock. They are underneath in Caldas tonight — apartment sold, extortion defeated, France ahead. They will be underneath wherever the road leads next. The shipwrecked soul will reach the shore. Not by swimming. By being carried.
God has a tender regard for the souls of men. There is no rivalry or envy in that ever-blessed Being, whose name and nature is Love.
"He has laid help upon one who is mighty" (Psalm 89:19), and committed the care of our souls to the eternal Son of His love.
It is He who is the Captain of our salvation — and what enemies can be too strong for us when we are fighting under His banner?
✦ Under His Banner
You cannot command love? The One whose name is Love commands it for you. You cannot kill the corruptions? The Captain fights them for you. Self is still the center? He will move the center. No rivalry in God. No envy. Only tender regard and infinite willingness. What enemies can be too strong when we fight under His banner?
The shipwrecked man sees the land. The waves are real. The weakness is real. And the everlasting arms are underneath. 🙏
"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms."
Deuteronomy 33:27 · Scougal · Carried, not swimmingThe Shipwrecked Man
The soul that sees the divine life and despairs of reaching it. The land is visible. The distance is real. I cannot get there alone.
In Through the Windows
Every honest objection is valid. The vanities come in through the windows. Self remains the center. The natural life cannot produce the divine.
Everlasting Arms
Underneath are the everlasting arms. The rescue is a Person. Greater is He who is for us. God will not leave nor forsake. Carried, not swimming.
The Captain
God laid help upon One who is mighty. The Captain of our salvation. No enemy too strong under His banner. His name and nature is Love.