The Gospel According to Mr. Magoo

“Oh Magoo, you’ve done it again!” – Mr. Magoo

Mr. Magoo, the elderly, wealthy, and extremely nearsighted cartoon character created by the UPA animation studio in 1949 and brought to life by the vocal talents of Jim Backus, was known for signing off each episode with today’s quote. Well, there was nothing cartoonish about Charles Spurgeon, the “Prince of Preachers,” who so eloquently described the need for professing Christians to remain as pure as possible that I decided to simply share his words verbatim.

Oh, Spurgeon, you’ve done it again!

Banish forever any thought of indulging the flesh if you want to live in the power of your risen Lord. It is incongruous for a man who is alive in Christ to dwell in the corruption of sin. "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" said the angel to the women. Should the living dwell in the tombs? Should divine life be imprisoned in the burial ground of fleshly lust? How can we partake of the cup of the Lord and yet drink the cup of the devil? Surely, believer, from blatant lusts and sins you are delivered, but have you also escaped from those that are more secret and delusive? Have you left behind the lust of pride? Have you escaped from laziness? Have you given up trusting in earthly things? Are you seeking each day to live above worldliness, the pride of life, and the ensnaring grip of greed?

Remember, it is in order that you might know such victory that you have been enriched with the treasures of God. If you are really the chosen of God, and beloved by Him, do not allow all this lavish treasure of grace to be wasted on you. Pursue holiness; it is the Christian's crown and glory. An unholy church is useless to the world and of no esteem among men. It is an abomination, hell's laughter, heaven's abhorrence. The worst evils that have ever come upon the world have been brought upon her by an unholy church. O Christian, the vows of God are upon you.

You are God's servant: Act as such. You are God's king: Reign over your lusts. You are God's chosen: Do not associate with Satan. Heaven is your portion: Live like a heavenly spirit, and in this way you will prove that you have true faith in Jesus, for there cannot be faith in the heart unless there is holiness in the life.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith...” Hebrews 12:1-2a (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President