The Bible is replete with verses that instruct the Christian to examine himself. The Bible also gives guidance that this is one of the ways that someone can be spurred on to repentance. Examining yourself is a vital component of Christianity. It has been said that there are two ways that we can be assured of our relationship with Christ.
One of the ways is by taking note of our faith. Do we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as He has been revealed to us in His Gospel message? The other way is by taking note of our life. Are we living for the Lord? Sometimes people may hear a question like this and go too far with what is being asked. So often, the sins of an individual quickly come to his mind as he is asked if he is living for the Lord.
It is important to note that Christianity is not about perfection. The teachings of sinless perfection in this life should not be entertained. The Christian will be fighting in a battle throughout his pilgrimage. He has not reached his home yet, and the effects of this reality will come to bear on his personal experience. Times will arise when his flesh, the devil, or the world will deceive him, and he will fall into sin.
Paul makes it clear in Galatians chapter 5 that the Christian is made up of both flesh and Spirit. We are not in the flesh anymore since we are in Christ. However, there are elements of the flesh that still remain. In the state that the Christian finds himself in, Paul also makes it clear that there is an ongoing battle between the flesh and the Spirit and that they both act as guardrails. Scripture says, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would “(KJV, Gal. 5:16-17). The Spirit is on one side of the road, and the flesh is on the other. They both act as guardrails to keep the Christian traveling down a path. While this may not be a perfect illustration, one can see the point if he would try. The Christian will not be able to get all the way over to the left because the Spirit will not let him. The Christian will not be able to get all the way over to the right because the flesh will not allow it either.
Simply put, the Christian will be seeking to grow in this life, but he will never be all that God has called him to be. Evidence of a genuine faith is therefore not about perfection. Instead, what should be noted is the direction of a man’s life and the direction of his heart.
Check out the following Scriptures, and examine your life.
“I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies” (Ps. 119:59).
It is debatable as to who the psalmist is that wrote Psalm 119. In essence, it does not really matter or God would have told us. Either way, the psalmist is particularly concerned with God’s Word in Psalm 119. In various ways, he speaks of God’s testimonies, statues, words, ways, laws, etc.
In the above verse, the psalmist turns to a matter that is important for us today. The psalmist would “think on his ways.” This does not mean that he would simply think about all that he had done. His thinking would have been a focused and intentional time of thinking. He was a man who knew the Word of God and would have known how to properly think about his sin.
His thinking would have also been convicting. Conviction comes by way of the Spirit of God and is often through the Word of God. As the psalmist examined himself in the light of Scripture and meditated on the truth of God’s Word, he turned his feet; he changed his direction; he repented of his sin.
“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord” (Lam. 3:40).
In the previous verse, the psalmist “thought on his ways.” In this verse, Jeremiah desired, for himself and the people, to “search and try their ways.” Lamentations was written during a time of great disaster. Jerusalem had just been brought to ruin by the Babylonians. The walls were destroyed, as was the beloved temple. In Lamentations, Jeremiah is portrayed as a man who was left behind after the destruction. As he walked through the city of Jerusalem, he saw the horror and wept over the people. He wept over the city and the circumstances that God’s people had encountered.
It is sad that sometimes people need to be brought to utter ruin before they will “search and try their ways.” But here is where we find the prophet Jeremiah and his plea for the people. The searching that Jeremiah presents has an element of diligence within it. The searching also consists of effort, and it may even be strenuous.
Jeremiah knew that the destruction of Jerusalem took place because of the sins of the people. As a result, Jeremiah also believed that there was sin that needed to be exposed, and he prayed that the people would search their ways. This desire of Jeremiah gives the impression of a searching until the sin is found. Much like when someone loses his car keys, he does not give up until he finds them.
This type of searching must be done in our hearts if we would come to the end of Jeremiah’s verse: “turn again to the Lord.” Apart from knowing what to turn from, it is possible that turning will never take place.
“Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die” (Ez. 18:28).
This next verse is an eye-opener. Examining oneself is more than a good idea. It is a life or death matter. God is speaking through the prophet Ezekiel in this verse, and He tells of the way that Israel considered his ways. This “considering” was an essential component to restoring a right relationship with the Lord.
When someone considers what he has done before the Lord and takes an inventory of his life, it is a step toward God. It is humbling to sit in front of the Word, with a desire to be exposed by the Word, and to turn from sin. It may even hurt at times when someone takes a look into the mirror of God’s Word.
But what does James say? James tells us that the doer of God’s Word will be blessed in his doing. Do not be like the man who looks into the mirror of God’s Word, then goes on about his business and forgets what was shown to him. Consider your ways, think on them, and examine your heart, with the intent to honor the Lord in your examination.
When Israel truly considered their ways as a people, they turned from their transgressions. No longer were they plagued by the worship of idols. They did not bow before foreign gods and engage in sinful acts. Were they perfect people? Absolutely not! Nevertheless, good things could be said about them.
After they were freed from their captivity, they rebuilt the walls of their beloved city and also rebuilt the temple. They could look upon God from repentant hearts and truly say, “I shall surely live; I shall not die!”
The truth of the matter is that examination and repentance are a matter of life or death. If someone forgoes this crucial matter, he will regret it throughout all eternity. Many will say, “Lord, Lord.” Examine yourself! Do you know Jesus? Do you believe that He died for your sin and rose from the dead? Do you believe that you need to be forgiven of your sin, and Christ is your only hope? Does your life evidence true faith? Is the direction of your life toward God, or is it away from Him? Examine yourself this day.
Final prayer
Father, I thank You for the gift of repentance. Teach me to examine myself this day, and help me to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.