“OUR prayers will save you, Holy Father.” So said the cardinals, as one by one they kissed the hand of the dying pontiff.
“I’m going to eternity!” was the awful uncertain response that fell from the lips of Pope Leo XIII., as he lay breathing his last.
This man, assuming to be the Vicar of Christ on earth and the successor of the apostle Peter, a man honored and looked up to by millions, could leave no better testimony than this! For what was there in it but awe-inspiring uncertainty?
What a contrast between the apostle Peter and his so-called successor!
The former, when face to face with death, and that by cruel martyrdom, could say, “Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed one” (2 Peter 1:1414Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me. (2 Peter 1:14)).
To him it was no leap into the dark, but simply a taking down of the tent, a dissolving of the “earthly house”; and what then? What hope had he beyond? Read his first epistle, first chapter, verse 3 to 5: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
No dread uncertainty here; no overwhelming sense of responsibility; but a sure and certain expectation of eternal blessedness, through sovereign grace.
He knew that he was born again (1 Peter 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23)). He knew that he was redeemed with the precious blood of Christ and that every other believer shared these blessings with him (1 Peter 1:1818Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1 Peter 1:18)). He knew that the God of all grace had called both him and them “to His own eternal glory by Christ Jesus” (1 Peter 5:1010But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. (1 Peter 5:10)).
In the face of this contrast, what should be the thoughts of those who are connected with that system of religion of which the Pope of Rome is the head? Is it not high time that they asked themselves the question, “Do I really belong to the true Apostolic Church?” If so, how is it that such miserable uncertainty should overcloud the mind of the professed successor of Peter, whilst such glorious assurance and certainty was the portion of that apostle? And not only so. Is not the general teaching of that Church uncertainty as to salvation? And does not that same Church denounce the blessed apostolic doctrine of assurance as “the vain confidence of the heretics”?
These are weighty questions which require an answer, and that a satisfactory one.
Beloved reader, whether you belong to this Church or not, permit me to ask you one question. If the summons came for you to pass into eternity today, what would be the language of your heart? Dread uncertainty or blessed assurance? I beseech you answer this question in the presence of God. Can you speak with a divinely given confidence of “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you”? Or are you so full of misgivings and fears, that you can only look forward to passing into an unknown eternity?
Unhappy soul, if this is your condition, I beseech you give yourself no rest until you can speak with the same assurance as the apostle Peter. Thank God there are thousands who can. Why not you? Get into the presence of God at once, own your lost and guilty condition, and cast yourself upon His sovereign mercy and grace, extended to you on a perfectly righteous ground, even the death and blood-shedding of His only Son, who “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” He stood in our stead as a holy, spotless substitute. He endured all the judgment of a just and holy God against sin, and so perfectly satisfied divine righteousness and justice that God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the highest place in heaven, even to “the right hand of the Majesty on high.” For the true believer, to depart this life is only to reach the immediate presence of Him who is just the same as when, with one look of love, He exposed Peter’s self-sufficiency and melted his heart to tears. Who that really knew Him would not delight to be with Him? Of Him the same apostle writes, “Whom having not seen, ye love in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:88Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8)).
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.”
Dear reader, be not deceived: if you are building on a sandy foundation, it will give way when you want it to be firm.
What a contrast between the dying Pope of Rome and a dear Christian lady who recently passed away.
“Oh, John,” she said to her brother, who stood beside her bed, “what will the first five minutes in His presence be!”
May the Lord give you, beloved reader, to see His way of salvation, and enjoy a divinely given assurance, for His name’s sake. Amen. J. H. E.