Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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After Jesus opened his eyes to the truth, Preacher Clark began to spread the good news everywhere possible. What he began to realize after a few such journeys was that in every congregation to which he preached, only those who were living a holy life before God could understand and rejoice in the truth he taught them. Sluggards among the saints and those who were secretly sinning could not endure the doctrine he now preached. In every place, his persecutors were only those who had secret shame in their hearts. Sometimes, the sin that prevented certain ones from receiving the truth was obvious; other times, it was not. But almost always, sooner or later, the reason for a person's rejection of the truth was made known.
Even Preacher Clark's "overseers", as well as fellow ministers in the Church of God sect, could not hide. Among them, those who fought hardest against the truth Christ had now revealed proved to be hiding sins. On the other hand, those who believed and rejoiced in it proved to be pure in heart.
This is what Jesus meant when he said, "I do not judge any man. The words that I speak, they judge you." Words that really come from God are so pure and holy that only the pure in heart can receive them. God's words are so clean that sinful hearts cannot rejoice to hear them. It is exactly as the Spirit of Christ prophesied through David: the humble among God's people are made glad whenever God's truth is revealed (Ps. 34:2). When Jesus came, those who loved God's righteousness (and some of them seemed to be rough characters) loved Jesus and his words, even if they did not altogether understand them. But those who hated God's righteousness in their hearts (and many of them seemed to be close to God) hated Jesus and his words. Furthermore, those who were "on the fence" in their hearts concerning righteousness (where the majority of people usually are) were uncertain as to whether Jesus was sent from God or not. The spiritual condition of every heart was perfectly revealed by Jesus' words, just as the prophet said they would be (Lk. 2:34-35). No one can hide when God speaks. His word exposes everything and everybody to be what it really is.
I learned this by experience after Jesus began to teach me the truth. It was a benefit of hearing from the Lord that I had not anticipated, but after he taught me, I saw that the spiritual condition of individuals was exposed to the light by the words I spoke. I saw people whom I knew to be clean rejoice greatly at the truth, and I saw those whom I knew to be proud or self-willed dismiss God's word as if it was evil. And I saw those who were spiritually on the fence struggle with confused thoughts and feelings about what Jesus had revealed. That is how I learned what Jesus meant by saying that his words, not he himself, would judge the people who heard him. He could say that because his words and his doctrine were not his own (Jn. 7:16).
I have seen people hold back from receiving and confessing the truth as if they were analyzing it to see if it was worthy of their acceptance. That, however, is only what appears to be happening in such cases. What is really happening is that the word of God is judging them. The Spirit of truth searches the hearts of men to see if they are worthy of Jesus! Men do not judge God. If people are altogether clean and sincere prior to the word of God coming to them, they will rejoice when they hear it. If they are altogether filthy and deceitful, they will despise it. If they are living half-hearted lives of holiness, they will be confused by the word of God and will have to struggle for a while to purify their hearts so that they can receive it. I have seen some of God's children struggle with God's word and finally submit to it, and I have seen some struggle with God's word and finally reject it. But it is always and only a matter of the heart. "Guard your heart with all diligence," said Solomon, "for out of it are the issues of life."
God still has truth to tell us. There are revelations still to be given to His people. Today is the time to prepare to receive those future words from God. Do not wait until the day that the word of God comes to you to start preparing your heart to receive it. "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." When we see Jesus in the air coming for his Bride, it will be too late to prepare our souls to meet him. Thus it is with the truth. When we hear the word of God, it is too late to prepare our souls to believe it. Now is the time to live our lives in such a manner that nothing condemns our hearts and, so, would prevent us from understanding and rejoicing at the truth that God may yet reveal to His people.
If you desire to be able to endure the sound doctrine that Jesus has revealed and will reveal to his people, then live your life sincerely and in the fear of God. Hide no secret uncleanness, but confess and forsake all sin. Each time God speaks, we stand in a miniature Judgment Day because the Word of God judges men. When Amos warned ancient Israel, "Prepare to meet thy God!", he was not referring to the final Day of Judgment. He was warning Israel that God's visitation on that generation was at hand.
The reason that Christianity is "the haunt of demons, and the den of all foul spirits, and a cage for every foul and loathsome bird" (Rev. 18:2) is that Christianity's doctrines are not from God and they expose no evil. Only God's doctrine will expose sin and deliver people from ungodly spirits. Instead of exposing and condemning evil spirits, doctrines of men and of demons provide cover for them. Unclean people flock to unclean doctrines. Unclean people love unclean shepherds, and they hire unclean ministers to teach them unclean doctrines. Those whose deeds are evil cannot come to the light "for every one that doeth evil hateth the light . . . but he that doeth truth cometh to the light" (Jn. 3:19-21).
Live in the light of Christ, and the light that comes from God will be sweet to your soul.