“Each one of us shall give count of himself to God.” – Romans 14:12

In one of my pastorates, I had a woman in my Bible class who was in business and was notoriously dishonest. One day she said to me, “Brother Torrey” – oh, she did love the word brother – “Brother Torrey, don’t you think that everybody in business is dishonest?”

I looked at her and replied “Mrs. Mac“ – she was Scottish – “When anybody in business accuses everybody in business of being dishonest they convict at least one person.”  And she was mad! But why should she be mad? I only told her the truth. I made a statement like this in my own church in an American city: “Show me a person who is always talking about the faults of others, and I will show you a person rotten at the heart.”

At the close of class, a lady in my church came to me and said “I didn’t like something you said this morning.”

I said, “What was that?”

“You said ‘Show you a man or woman that was always talking of the faults of others, and you would show them a man or woman rotten at the heart every time.’”

I said, “Yes, I said that and I meant it too.“

“Well,”  she said, “There is Miss So-and-so; you must admit she is always talking about the faults of others.“ I had to admit it. “Now,“ she said, “you would not say she was bad.“

Well, I didn’t say it, but I could have told this lady that the fact was, earlier that day I had told that woman that she could never sing in our choir again because of awful rottenness in her life that had been brought to my attention. I had charged her with this and she had confessed. If you know, a man or woman who is always talking about the faults of others, don’t trust them.

(From the book “Real Salvation – And Whole-Hearted Service For The Lord.” by Reuben A. Torrey in 1905)

Lord, thank You so much for old books and old preachers that didn’t mind laying out the truth.  I realize almost every time that I’m honest with myself just how rotten my own heart is.  Without You in my life these past 35 years, I can’t imagine how evil and deceptive I’d be.  Convict hearts, Lord.  Help us realize that it will only be our own lives and our own choices on trial on that great day of final judgment.  Amen.