Echoes of Grace: 1938
Table of Contents
Blotted Out
A merchant had been successful in business, and was very well off. He was born in New England, and had a pious mother who had taught him faithfully the truths of God's holy Word. But, when he grew up, and moved away from home, he became acquainted with a number of men who said they did not believe in the Bible. They were what we call infidels. He adopted their views and became an infidel, too. He had given up going to church, and did not have a Bible in his home. But he had a bright little boy about seven years of age. This was the only child he had. His name was Theodore, and his father was very fond of him.
"One evening," says this man, "when I came home, Theodore was lying on the bed partly undressed. My wife and I were sitting by an open fire in an adjoining room. She had been telling me that Theodore had been naughty that day, and that she had punished him for it.
"All was quiet, when suddenly he broke out into a loud crying and sobbing. I went in and asked him what was the matter.
"I don't want it there, father! I don't want it there!"
“‘What, my child—what is it?'
“‘Why, father, I don't want the angels to write down in God's Book, all the naughty things I have done today. I don't want them there; I wish they could be blotted out.' And then, in great distress, he broke out crying again.
"What could I do? To turn away from the dear child, in his heart-breaking sorrow, was impossible. There was nothing in the teachings of infidelity that would meet the case, and give the distressed child any comfort. And so, in spite of myself, I was obliged to fall back on what my dear mother had taught me about the Bible.
“‘Well, you need not cry, my dear child; you can have it all blotted out, if you want.'
“‘How, father? how?' he asked.
“‘Why, get down on your knees and ask God for Christ's sake, to blot it all out, and He will do it.'
"I did not have to speak twice. He jumped out of bed, and was on his knees in a moment. He was silent for a while, and then looking up to me, he said,
`I don't know what to say. Father, won't you come and help me?'
"What was I to do? I had not offered a word of prayer to God for years. But the dear boy's distress was so great, and he pleaded so earnestly, that, big man as I was, I got down on my knees, alongside my sorrowing child, and asked God to blot out his sins. Then we got up, and he laid himself down on the bed again. In a few moments he said:
`Father, are you sure it's all blotted out?' And then, in spite of my infidelity, I was compelled to say,
`Why, yes, my dear boy, the Bible says so; if you are really sorry for what you have done wrong, and if, from your heart, you have asked God, for Christ's sake, to blot it out, you may be sure that He will do it.'
"A smile of pleasure passed over his face, as he quietly asked,
`But father—what did the angels blot it out with?'
"Again putting my infidelity aside, I answered:
`With the precious blood of Christ.'
"Then he lay down and went quietly to sleep.
"When I went into the next room and told my wife what had taken place, both our hearts were melted. We wept like children. Then we kneeled down side by side, and asked God, for Christ's sake, to blot out our sins, and make us His dear children."
"Without shedding of blood is no remission." Heb. 9:22.
"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions." Isa. 44:22.
Save Our Souls
The Royal mail steamer C—, having made the passage from the West Indies, was just entering the Bay of Fundy and all were glad that the short run from this to St. John would terminate the somewhat stormy voyage. A dense snowstorm was raging, rendering navigation somewhat uncertain, but all seemed to be going well. Suddenly there was a terrible crash, and it was soon learned that the ship had struck the dreaded Trinity ledge that lies just at the entrance of the Bay. She lay at the mercy of the mad waves that threatened destruction to all on board unless succor should come from an outside source.
How vividly this sets forth the perilous condition of all who are out of Christ.
"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27. With this difference, however, that all on board the steamer not only realized their lost condition, but the agonizing cry "Save our souls" went out without delay, and they were all without exception quite ready to accept salvation by whatsoever means it might come —and at once.
Men everywhere today can only admit the truth that "it is appointed unto men once to die," but few have any concern as to the judgment that just as surely follows, and so neglect the great salvation offered by God!
The wireless message fulfilled its mission and soon another steamer reached the scene and, though with the utmost difficulty, boats were put out, all were safely transferred from danger to safety.
As we review the situation, how terrible was the plight of those seventy souls crowded into that upper saloon expecting every moment the next wave to dash them to their death in the sea. It however fails to parallel the case of the sinner and the ungodly.
"For we must needs die and are as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again," "neither doth God respect any person." 2 Sam. 14:4.
What joy they felt as from that upper deck they heard the whistle of an approaching steamer! What joy it should prove to the sinner who has learned God's estimate of man—"None righteous, no not one"—to hear that cheering word, "Yet doth He devise means that His banished be not expelled from Him."
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
The intensity of that love was shown at Calvary when in that terrible hour He forsook His blessed Son as He bore sin's awful load. Christ's atoning sacrifice, dear reader, is the way, the only way, of approach to a just and holy God. Through the virtue of Christ's work on Calvary, God can in mercy meet us in all our need, and by virtue of His shed blood, translate us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.
Sinner, see the bleeding Savior,
Pierced and nailed to Calvary's tree;
Sacrifice of sweetest savor,
Object of man's enmity.
God in heaven now waits to save thee,
Now believing thou are free.
Sinner, hear the wondrous story,
Jesus died and rose for thee.
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.
Confidence
"Father, what is that noise?" asked a faint little voice at midnight one night.
"Only the wind, dear," I replied. The wind was very boisterous and shook the house and the room where we were sleeping.
"Father," came later, and fainter still, "may I come in beside you?"
"Yes, my dear," I answered, and immediately she came right into my arms, and though she trembled very much, and the wind had increased in violence, the fearful little tot was soon fast asleep.
Now, I thought, what a precious little lesson for me. Why cannot I cultivate that same simple habit of confidence in our Father in heaven, who would value our casting our care upon Him, knowing surely, if we know anything about Him, that He cares for us, and is the only one who can undertake for us in our times of difficulty.
"Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7.
All Is Clear to Me
As illustrating the above heading, we will give an account of one who was delivered from his doubts as to his salvation by the Word of God.
In a small room, a university student was seated at a table covered with books and papers. He was not very young having commenced his studies somewhat late. He was a true disciple of Christ, zealous for his Lord and Savior to whom he rendered faithful witness. His work for Christ had been blessed, and he had the unbounded confidence of the seriously minded students.
The evening was well advanced when he was surprised at receiving a visit from a fellow student who came alone to ask advice.
The visitor was a young man, gifted with remarkable ability and considered the most advanced among the advanced students. His zeal for the acquisition of knowledge had so absorbed his active mind that he had till then given but little thought to the needs of his soul, but having before him the thought of preaching the gospel, he had been suddenly and strongly seized and moved to the very depths of his being in examining his own state with regard to what he proposed to announce to others. In his anxiety he resolved to go to the "missionary," for this was the name which had been given his friend, and confide his trouble of soul to him.
"The object of my visit will perhaps surprise you," said he "for I have come to ask you what I have to do in order that I may be happy. You will perhaps refer me to the thesis which I have recently presented on `Christ as Substitute,' but I confess to you that although I am able to set forth to the satisfaction of the professors all the doctrine of the grace of God in Christ, I do not however know Christ personally as my Savior. In my intelligence, I have clearly laid hold of God's plan of salvation, and I could this very evening undergo an examination successfully on the subject, but alas! all the knowledge which I possess brings neither peace of conscience, nor rest or joy of heart. I seek, for my soul, peace and assurance, and I find neither; but you, I know, have peace with God, and joy through faith in Jesus, and I desire to know how you have arrived at the possession of these inestimable blessings"
"You wish to interrupt me, but permit me to continue for a few moments longer, for I have not yet told you the positive reason of my trouble of soul. You would probably remind me of the word Paul gave in response to the cry of anguish of the Philippian jailer:
`What must I do to be saved?' the apostle said: 'Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31.
"This response leads me to what weighs so heavily on my heart. The jailer, by his faith came at once into joy, but for myself, knowing as I do the whole revelation of God by Christ in the Bible, I do not find a trace of joy in myself. I have not the faith Paul speaks of, consequently I cannot be saved. Now I am resolved not to accept the appointment as preacher before being in a state to announce to others what I have myself received, that is to say, a salvation of which I have the assurance, and in which I can rejoice. Can you, with the help of God, be of any assistance to me?"
The "missionary" had listened with the greatest attention to the words of his friend, but before replying he retired to another room adjoining, to collect his thoughts and to ask God for light and guidance. What, however, was his astonishment on his return to his friend, to hear him cry out:
"All is clear to me now. The gift of God, eternal life, is mine, and joy, a great joy fills my heart. When you left the room I began to read in your Bible, open on the table, without anything specially before me. After having read several verses, a passage arrested me and impressed me in the strongest possible way. I will read it to you,
"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son. He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, who believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:9-13.
"These words have brought light into my heart, hitherto full of darkness, and peace to my soul which has been thirsting for salvation. Until now I have looked upon the Bible only as a holy book, and not as the testimony of God by which He reveals His grace to me, testifying that Jesus Christ His Son is my Savior. Never as now have I had the consciousness that the Bible is the witness of God as to Christ, and that for my salvation. I see it now clearly, and instead of rejecting the testimony and thus making God a liar, I have received it. I understand that God in His book, His word, affirms to me that Christ is the Savior, the only and all-sufficient Redeemer who has brought all for me. It is only in Him now that I trust, and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, I am possessor of salvation as was the Philippian jailer, for in this passage God asserts that I have eternal life, and I am able to rejoice with inexpressible joy."
The remarkable conversion of this student had for result an activity for the service of Christ, which was greatly blest. His first preaching led several souls to the Savior.
Troubled souls, God calls on you to receive the witness He has given as to His Son,
"Whosoever believeth on the Son, hath everlasting life," and faith in His Word glorifies God.
Grace
Man was lost, but God has come down to look for him—to bring him out of his hiding place in order that, in happy confidence of faith he might find a hiding place in Himself. This was Grace. To create man out of the dust was power: but to seek man in his lost estate was grace.
Maggie Will Put Her Name in
A well-known Fisherman-Evangelist was asked by a wealthy lady to address a meeting in her house.
He was much perplexed as to how to speak to such a distinguished company; but at length decided that if John 3:16 was good for poor sinners, it was equally efficacious for rich sinners.
After the meeting he felt that this part of his work had proved a failure, and that nothing would induce him to undertake a similar service again. A few weeks later, however, he met the same lady. Stopping him, she said,
"O, Mr.—I did so want to see you to tell you of something that took place when you were at my house. While you were speaking, one of my maids knelt outside the door with her ear at the keyhole. She heard you say, as you expounded your text, `Just take out that big word whosoever, put your own name in, and you will get the blessing'; and my maid told me afterwards that she said to herself,
`If none of the grand ladies in that room will do it, Maggie will put her name in.'
Dear friend, will you put in your name. Listen once again to the message,
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
What a message! It comes from the heart of God; it is brought by the Son of God, and it offers everlasting life to every man, woman, and child upon earth.
Say! Do you have everlasting life? If not, take the preacher's advice; follow Maggie's example; put in your name, put in your claim, and you too shall become the recipient and happy possessor of God's priceless gift of everlasting life.
There's a Savior for You
Afar off from God in the broad downward road,
The soul may have wandered, 'neath sin's heavy load;
Yet still there's a message for Gentile and Jew,
And this is its purport—There's a Savior for you.
Though burdened with sin, and though laden with care,
E'en now there is hope, so you need not despair;
For Jesus has met all the penalty due
To sin, and, in glory,—He's the Savior for you.
Oh! why quench your thirst at the rivers of earth
By drinking from streams of unsanctified mirth?
Oh! why not the world and its pleasures eschew,
And heed the glad tidings—There's a Savior for you?
A Savior for you!—Oh! how precious the word
That God hath declared Him both Savior and Lord!
He's done all the work God assigned Him to do,
And now rest assured—There's a Savior for you.
Ah! soon will this day of God's favor, be o'er,
When He will forever have shut to the door,
How bitterly, then, all the past you'll review
In hearing no longer—There's a Savior for you.
NEITHER
IS THERE SALVATION
IN ANY OTHER:
FOR THERE IS
NONE OTHER NAME
(BUT JESUS CHRIST)
UNDER HEAVEN
GIVEN AMONG MEN,
WHEREBY WE
MUST BE SAVED.
Acts 4:12.
July
The Colporteur
A colporteur was travelling in Brazil with his mule laden with his precious books. The shades of night were beginning to fall, when he saw in the distance a company of merchants who had stopped to camp for the night. He accordingly approached them and asked if they would, allow him to camp with them. They readily agreed and invited him to share their evening meal by the fire.
As they sat around the cheerful blaze after their frugal repast, the colporteur drew a Bible from his pocket and asked if they would allow him to read to them. They gladly consented, and he read for some time, after which a lively conversation ensued concerning the things he had read from the Book of books.
They were on the point of settling for the night, when the sound of galloping hoofs was heard in the evening stillness, and very soon a well-dressed stranger alighted from his horse and begged leave to share their camp also. One of the merchants showed him a place, and the newcomer seated himself by the fire.
During the conversation which followed, the stranger spoke with deep emotion of the troubles of life: he had just lost his wife and was feeling very lonely. A remark by our friend the colporteur elicited the admission that he did not know salvation and wished he had it.
"But," he added, "is it not strange that a man must make so many sacrifices for his own salvation and that of his dear ones, and still has to ask himself all the time whether they are sufficient."
"Well," said one of the merchants, "in this man's book it tells of an altogether different way of getting salvation," and he pointed to our friend who still held his Bible in his hands.
"And what book is that?" asked the stranger, greatly interested.
"It is the Word of God," replied the colporteur. "Although it is getting late, I should like to read you a few passages, if you will permit me."
The stranger listened intently, and learned to his great surprise that it is, not with silver, nor with gold, that we are redeemed, but with the precious blood of Christ, and that he could have the salvation he desired freely, without money, according to the words,
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.
The man seemed dumbfounded on hearing such good news, so different from all he had ever heard before. At last he begged the colporteur to give him the book from which he had been reading, after which each went to rest, and the next morning they all took their several ways.
It was many months ere the colporteur returned to that district. Everybody was talking of a retired sea-captain who had bought a property nearby, and who every day at a certain hour gathered his family, his servants and his neighbors in his house, and read to them from the sacred Scriptures. The colporteur went to the house and recognized in the owner of the estate, the stranger to whom the Bible had been given on that night by the camp-fire. God had in His mercy led that man to Jesus Christ, in whom he found the salvation and peace for which he had longed.
Have you, dear reader, found this salvation and this peace?
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1.
The Way of Life Made Plain
I was brought up religiously and taught to read and reverence the Bible. In our home the Sabbath was rigidly kept, and the whole family had to appear in the village church, morning and evening. My father was a God-fearing man, but I never heard him speak of salvation as being a present possession. He was "seeking it earnestly." There was nothing in the preaching to show how a sinner could be saved and know it, and I do not remember ever hearing anyone say they had salvation.
A family came to the neighborhood, and two of the sons began Sunday evening meetings. A good many went out of curiosity to hear what they would say, as "lay" preaching was altogether unknown in our parish. They read a chapter, spoke shortly and simply on it, and finished by each telling the story of his conversion. That did arouse opposition, and a lot of hard things were said behind the young men's backs for their "presumption." But I did not think it presumption at all, for they showed from the Word of God simply and clearly that it was within the reach of everyone of us to be saved, and as sure of it as they were.
I was not saved then, but this was at least clear to me, that there was such a thing possible as being saved and sure of it when here on earth. I never was at rest after that. Night after night I went to the meetings, and at last through God's mercy the way of life was made plain to me from Isaiah 53:5, 6.
"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed."
"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid upon Him the iniquity of us all."
I put in "me" and "my," and read the verses as a personal confession of my own faith in the Lord Jesus, and I had the knowledge of my salvation that hour. Years have come and gone, but my soul is still at rest in Christ, "by whose stripes I am healed."
Three Certainties
I feel sure there are many of my dear readers who, though they have heard of the wondrous love of Jesus in giving His life a ransom for poor sinners, and have believed in His name, yet are not always quite certain that they have eternal life and shall never come into judgment; but are, alas! often filled with doubts and fears instead of being filled with joy and peace in believing. May the following little incident be used through God's grace to help any such.
A young man was led to go and hear a servant of God preach the Gospel, and during the preaching he came by faith to Jesus, and went home feeling very happy. But after a week or two the happy feelings began to get less and less and he felt afraid to tell his old companions about Jesus. About this time he went to see his brother, who was associated with a little mission. It so happened that they were then having special meetings. Of course, they both went.
After the preacher had delivered his message, and was about to close with prayer, he asked those present who wished to be specially prayed for to hold up their right hand. The young man's heart began to beat quickly, and there was quite a struggle going on within him. While he hesitated, he kept repeating to himself,
"Lord, Thou knowest I love Thee; Lord, Thou knowest I love Thee," until the preacher had closed with prayer. Still the young man felt undecided, and as he passed out and shook the preacher's hand, he said,
"You meant me, sir, didn't you, when you asked any to hold up their hand?"
"Are you not saved?" asked the preacher. "Yes, sir, I am saved, but-" "Have you got a Bible?"
"Yes, sir."
"Well, when you get home turn to the Gospel of John 5th chapter, 24th verse, and there you will find THREE DIVINE CERTAINTIES. When you have found them, come and see me again, will you?" The young man replied that he would, and they bade each other goodnight.
"Three divine certainties in John 5:24," our friend kept saying to himself until he reached home; and then going straight up to his bedroom, he took down his Bible, and before very long was eagerly reading John 5:24, carefully weighing each word,
"Verily—verily—I say unto you" ("that means me"), "He—that—heareth—My—Word" ("that is what I have heard tonight"), "and—believeth—on—Him—that—sent—Me" ("I believe on Him"), "HATH —everlasting—life." Hath! Hath!! He could scarcely believe his own eyes; "Hath everlasting life." "Have it; have it now!" and throwing himself on his knees he could do nothing but thank God for this wondrous gift.
But after a while he remembered that the preacher had told him of three things, and this was but the first one, blessed as it was. So he again went to this wondrous verse. Presently he came to the words, "And—shall—not—come— into— Judgment."
"What! No judgment? O praise the Lord! Have everlasting life; shall not come into judgment; and now, what else can there be? What is the third blessing? Ah! passed—out—of—death—into—life.' Now, at the present time. Praise the Lord! I have eternal life; I shall not come into judgment, and I am passed out of death into life."
The young man was so full of joy that he could do nothing but praise God for His wondrous and unspeakable gift.
May it be your portion, my dear reader, now and for all eternity.
Fifteen Minutes
As a young man was starting out on his Christian career, an old man put his hands upon his shoulders, and said,
"There are three simple rules I can give you, and if you hold to them, no one will ever write `back-slider' after your name.
`Take fifteen minutes each day to listen to God talking to you through His Word.
`Take fifteen minutes each day to talk to God.
`Take fifteen minutes each day to talk to others about God."
"Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." James 4:8.
Professors, but Without Christ
One rainy, dreary day I had walked some little distance, distributing tracts as I went. I was about to turn back, when my attention was arrested by two neat cottages standing side by side. Hesitating at first as to whether time would permit, I determined to hurry on to them and leave at least a simple tract, showing God’s way of salvation.
I knocked at the door of one, and a woman came forward, saying,
“I don’t know you, but will you kindly step inside?”
“I did not mean to stay,” I replied, “but just came to leave you a little paper about the Lord Jesus Christ. Are you saved?”
“I hope so,” she said.
“But on what ground do you hope so? If your soul is not saved, God says you are `without hope and without God in the world.’ What makes you hope?” Looking up, she replied sadly:
“I really can’t answer you, I wish I could.”
“How do you think of getting to heaven, then, for surely no sin can ever enter there. What are you going to do about your sins?”
“Well, I try, I strive and pray.”
“But do you think for all this God will pass over your sins? He is a righteous God, and will ‘by no means clear the guilty.’ “
“O! then, I don’t know what I shall do, for I’m sure I’m a sinner. O, yes, I know that, and I know He wouldn’t pass over my sins: which is the way then?”
O! the poverty of words, to tell out, at such a moment of eternal importance, the value of the Person and Work of the glorious Christ of God. Looking to the Lord to speak through His feeble child, I told her the sweet story of the Father’s love in giving His Son—of the love of Jesus in taking the sinner’s place, and bearing the punishment for sin, “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18). It was joy to tell her there was no more need of her prayers, her strivings, her tears to obtain immediate salvation, for Christ had done the work, He had paid the debt, and that God had accepted the payment.
I left her then, and stepping up to the next cottage, handed a tract to the young woman who answered the door, saying,
“Here is a little paper about the Lord Jesus. May I ask you, do you know Him?”
“Know Him!” she replied, “I should think we do. Do you think we are all heathens? We have heard as much about religion as anybody.’ Alas! How manifest that here was a heartless, hopeless professor.
Ah! My reader, if you are a mere professor, beware, lest your profession carry you down to the pit; or, it may be, that you are a hoper—a broken-hearted, convicted sinner, afraid of God, yet hoping in His mercy.
It is ever so where grace works in the soul. The holiness of God terrifies; yet grace, like the presence of Jesus, draws to the very one of whom the soul is most afraid. Cast away then, every doubt. Let these eternal things be a solemn reality to your soul. Let Christ have the only place in your heart. Let that blessed Savior who died on Calvary become the rock of your salvation, and you will cease to be a mere hoper or professor.
“He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” 1 John 5:12, 13.
Vast Eternity to Come
The vast eternity to come
Will never be too long
To tell the endless story,
And to sing the endless song;
"Unto Him who loved us,"
And who washed us from our sin—
We shall finish it in heaven,
But 'tis here the words begin.
The Danger of Delay
Three young women, who had been to a gospel preaching, were telling one another what they thought of it. Said one,
"I never heard anything like it before; if what they say is true, it is very certain we are not saved."
"No," responded the second, "indeed we are not; what shall we do?"
"Let us go back again," said the first speaker, "there is an inquiry-meeting; perhaps we could be saved tonight." Here the third one remarked,
"Let us go for a walk and forget it, I say." After a little more consultation her voice prevailed. They had not gone far, however, before the first one stopped, saying,
"I shall go back, I know they are there praying for us. If the blessing they tell of is to be had, I should like it; will you come with me?"
The girl who had before counseled the walk refused, but the other two went back to the meeting, and through the mercy of God believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and were saved that night.
Many years have passed, and now one of those young women lives a happy, rejoicing Christian. The second one has passed into the Lord's own presence; and the third, the one who preferred her pleasure to her soul's salvation, is living yet, one of the most hardened sinners in her native town. Not an outwardly wicked woman, by any means, but a person whose heart has grown so hard that nothing seems to touch it, and whose ear is so closed that the pleading voice of mercy never appears to reach it.
Do let me warn you, my readers, not to trifle about this important matter.
"Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your heart." Heb. 4:7.
Even if the Lord should not come yet awhile, and you were not taken away by death, what a terrible thing if you should have been anxious about your sins for the last time, and now every day are but heaping up the measure of your condemnation.
May God, in His infinite mercy, grant it may never be yours; but I warn you, if still unsaved, you are running a fearful risk. Trifling! procrastinating! and on the very brink of hell! How awfully solemn. Do heed now the voice that has often pleaded, perhaps it is sounding in your ears for the last time.
Room for Jesus
Have you any room for Jesus,—
He who bore your load of sin?
As He knocks and asks admission,
Sinner, will you let Him in?
Room for pleasure, room for business;
But for Christ the Crucified,
Not a place that He can enter
In the heart for which he died!
Have you any time for Jesus,
As in grace He calls again?
O, "TODAY" is "time accepted."
Tomorrow you may call in vain.
Room and time now give to Jesus:
Soon will pass God's day of grace;
Soon thy heart be cold and silent,
And thy Savior's pleadings cease.
"I AM NOT ASHAMED
OF THE GOSPEL
OF CHRIST:
FOR IT IS
THE POWER OF GOD
UNTO SALVATION
TO EVERY ONE
THAT BELIEVETH."
Romans 1:16.
"WHOSO TRUSTETH
IN THE LORD,
HAPPY IS HE."
Proverbs 16:20
August
This Is It
"Then you believe in witchcraft?"
The utterer of this statement was a hardheaded, intelligent-looking man who occupied a seat with me in a train. What led up to this strange remark, I will narrate:
I had handed to my fellow travelers some small leaflets which contained nothing but Scripture, presenting the gospel of the grace of God in God's own language. Most of the recipients perused the leaflet; but the foregoing speaker did not do so. The moment he received his copy he glanced at it, made a contemptuous comment to a comrade sitting by his side, let down the window of the train, and with a very audible and contemptuous "Whew!" cast the leaflet out.
"If you did not want it you might have returned it to me," I said quietly.
"O, I do not believe at all in those stupid tracts; they are perfectly worthless," was his rejoinder.
"Many a tract that man has written might be worthless, but what you just now held in your hand was not what man wrote, but what God wrote. It was nothing but His own Word that you thus carelessly cast to the winds. In plain language, it was the Word of God."
"And pray, what is the Word of God?" he sarcastically rejoined.
"This is it," I replied, holding up a small Bible which I was reading at the moment.
"O, you believe in the Bible, do you? I do not. I am a skeptic."
"Most certainly I do; every line of it, from cover to cover. I am perfectly assured it is God's Word, and God's revelation of Himself to man, and I regret to learn that you thus scout it."
"Do you mean to say that you believe it all?" was his next query.
"Yes, all."
"And all that is in it?"
"Yes. God's record of everything I believe."
"Then you believe in witchcraft," was his triumphant rejoinder.
"I thought that was coming," said a cheery voice from behind us, and looking up I saw a happy-faced Church of England clergyman standing at my back that he might hear our conversation. My reply to my querist was,
"We must first define what you mean by believing in witchcraft. If you mean, by believing in witchcraft, that I accept it, or commit myself to it, use or rely on it, I in no sense believe in it, for I believe it to be thoroughly of the devil.
But if, by believing in it, you mean that witchcraft is a power that can be exercised over men's minds, the Word of God makes it abundantly plain to me that witchcraft, sorcery, necromancy, or spiritualism, by whatever name you like to call it, is a real power, and a satanic system which God's Word condemns; but which, nevertheless, many a man prefers to traffic in, in face of God's Word."
"But how do you know that the Bible is God's Word," was his reply.
"I could not prove to you that it is God's Word," I said, "but the way I know it is God's Word is this, that He has spoken to my soul through it. By it He made me know I was a lost sinner, for it is written,
`The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.' Luke 19:10.
"By it He has given me to know that He is love, and that His Son has died for a sinner like me; for it is written,
`In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.' 1 John 4:9, 10
He has proclaimed pardon to me through His Son, and given me eternal life in His Son, and all this I have learned through the Scriptures applied to my soul in the power of the Holy Ghost."
"But I do not believe that it is the Word of God," was his reply.
"Very likely. And I do not think you will believe it until by it God wounds you.
`The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.'
`The proof of this is seen in the effects of that word,'
For the Word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.' Heb. 4:12.
If I held a sharp-pointed sword in my hand, you might argue that it could neither cut nor pierce. But if I ran it through you, or lopped off a limb with it, you would then believe in its edge and its point. Your arguments would all die. Similarly you may argue all your days that Scripture is not the Word of God; but if the Holy Ghost were to apply it, as I trust He will, in power to your conscience, your opposition would cease, your heart would be broken, and your then troubled and guilty conscience would alone be calmed by its precious and peace-giving statements. It reveals Christ, and fills the heart that is led to know Him with peace and happiness. I wish you knew Him, my friend. You will have real happiness then."
"What makes you think I am not happy?" was his sullen rejoinder.
"Your face," I replied, "you do not look at all happy."
"There is very little happiness in this world," was his response, "I am just off to Paris to see if I cannot get some."
"That is a long way to go to get happiness; I do not need to go so far as that to get mine," said I, "I carry mine with me. Christ dwelling in my heart by faith secures abiding joy."
"But I have two weeks' holiday, my mate and I, and we are going to the Paris exhibition. We hope to get some happiness there."
"Paris cannot furnish what the knowledge of Christ alone can give you," I replied, "and if you are a wise man, you will turn to Him, the fount of all real joy, long before you get to Paris. But I think I know the reason why you are not happy."
"What is that?" said he, looking me very keenly in the face.
"I have a suspicion you are not a holy man," was my quiet rejoinder, and a furious blush suffused his face ere he softly said, "How do you know that?"
"I did not say I know it, I merely said I suspected it. I know this, that happiness and holiness go together. 'Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord.' If you see Him, you will be happy, as were the disciples, "Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord” 1 John 20:20.
"Let me ask you a plain question, Are you a holy man? Are you leading a life of purity?"
The blush deepened, and then faded, leaving his face pallid and wretched as he paused a minute, and then said,
"You are right. No, I am not a holy man. I know I am leading a sinful life."
"I thought so," I replied. 'When man leaves God out of his life, he gets into the clutch of Satan, and that means self-gratification, indulgence in lust, passion, and sin of every kind, with misery in the heart as the consequence."
The train slowed down at the station where I was to alight, so I could only now with a few words beg him to turn to Jesus. As I got out he said,
"I will think of all you have said to me." I gave him another gospel booklet, which he thankfully received, and we parted, never more I fear to meet on this earth. Whether I shall see Him in heaven, God only knows.
Reader, shall I see you there? If you have any doubts about the Word of God, let me ask you to quietly read it. Do not judge it, let it judge you. You will find it will expose you to yourself. That is the reason why most men dislike it.
Another man said once in a train,
"I have observed through a long life that good men love the Bible, and wicked men hate it." That witness is true.
"When first, o'erwhelmed with sin and shame
To Jesus' cross I trembling came,
Burdened with guilt and full of fear,
Yet drawn by love, I ventured near,
And pardon found, and peace with God,
In Jesus' rich, atoning blood."
It Will Do to Light My Pipe.
A fast living youth when offered a tract on the streets, took it from the distributor's hand, and thrusting it into his pocket, said with a sneer,
"It will do to light my pipe."
Later, the same night, he put his hand into his pocket, pulled out the crushed tract, and folding it up proceeded to do with it as he had said. As the flame caught the paper, one bold word gleamed out before his eyes; that word was "ETERNITY."
He tried to forget it, but could not. It haunted him day and night, until he came as a lost sinner to God, and found rest in the Lord Jesus Christ, as his Savior.
Where will you spend eternity, my dear reader?
"He is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by Him." Heb. 7:25.
Looking for a Book
A missionary, Mr. D., was in a little town, when he noticed a man stop before a book store, in front of which were laid out a number of second-hand books. The man opened the books, one after the other, and put them aside, muttering to himself the while and appearing very discouraged. Mr. D. drew near and said,
"You do not seem to find what you want. If I may take the liberty of offering you my services, I should be glad to help you, if I can."
"I am much obliged to you," said he, "but that is just the difficulty. I have been looking for a certain book for several years, but I do not know what book it is."
"How is that?" asked Mr. D. in surprise.
The man took from his pocket a piece of paper, yellow and torn, which looked as if it came from a very old book, and handed it to Mr. D., saying:
"Look, sir, I should like to find the book from which that sheet came. I should especially like to know the end of the unfinished sentence at the bottom of it. Till now I have been unsuccessful in finding it." Mr. D. recognized at once a page of the New Testament.
"Well, my friend," said he, "if you will come with me, I will show you the book, and I will give it to you."
He took the man to his home and read to him the whole verse,
"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." (Romans 5:6). Then he gave the book to the man whose face just beamed with joy. They read several passages together, after which the man departed, saying,
"Yes, that's the book I have looked for so long. Thank you, sir, I am so happy to have it at last."
A few days after Mr. D. went to call on his new friend at his farm. He found him deeply touched by the wonderful grace of God revealed in his newly-found treasure. He had understood what being a sinner means, and that he was without strength to gain heaven by his own merits or by his good works, and that the Lord Jesus Christ had died for him, and was willing to save him. He believed the message and was saved.
If you, my reader, wish to read the Word of God, you will not have to wait for years to have, a copy of it, as did the poor farmer.
"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Matt. 7:7.
"Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation: but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.
A Lost Opportunity
A Christian lady was telling a friend, who had just called, of the death of her brother, whom she had nursed in his illness.
"And was he saved?" anxiously inquired her friend.
The sister shook her head sadly.
"But did you put the way of salvation before him?"
"Well, you see, I did not like to disturb his last days!"
And so the brother passed "undisturbed" into a lost eternity, his sister thinking it better that he should die a lost soul than that his last days should be "disturbed" by his being urged to accept Christ who had shed His blood and died in order to bring salvation to him, and thus save him from an endless eternity of woe!
"It is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul." Leviticus 17:11.
"Without shedding of blood is no remission (of sins)." Heb. 9:22.
John Spencer Saved
John Spencer was born and brought up in the lap of luxury. His parents were professing Christians but he had never really accepted Christ as his Savior and Lord.
At his mother's death he gave up all pretentions of being a Christian, and professed to be a Skeptic and a Socialist. For years he never entered a church, and if he saw any one preaching in the open air, he would cross the street lest his conscience might be troubled by what he would hear.
Eventually he got into financial difficulties through speculations, and he saw nothing but poverty and destitution ahead of him. This his proud spirit could not stand, and his skepticism afforded him no comfort.
One Sunday evening he went into a park, determined to commit suicide. But God had His eyes upon him, and had something better for him. As he considered it too early in the evening to accomplish his purpose, he took a walk. As he passed a theater he was asked by a Christian worker if he would come to the gospel service that was being held in it. At first he refused, but eventually consented.
The preacher, a well-known evangelist, was specially struck by the appearance of the man, and felt as if the message he had that night was for him. At the close of the service he sought to converse with any who were anxious about their souls. On reaching the seat on which Spencer sat, he perceived that he was deeply troubled, and was trying to conceal his emotions. At that moment he rose and left, but the evangelist followed him, and said,
"My dear fellow, how do matters stand between your soul and God?"
Spencer's heart was too full for utterance, and shaking his head, as the tears ran down his cheeks, he pulled his hand out of the preacher's, and rushed down stairs. Then he took the middle of the road and ran till he reached the park, and there he wandered about all night. But all thoughts of self-destruction were gone. The night was spent bemoaning his past life of sin and folly, and wondering if God would save such a wretch as he.
He went to the meetings again, and there learned God's way of salvation. The blessed fact was shown him in God's Word that, in spite of his innumerable sins, God loved him and was desirous of saving him, that He so loved him as to give Christ to die for him on Calvary; that the work of atonement was completed; that God's justice was satisfied, and all who believe on the Lord Jesus are saved and have eternal life.
"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His Name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43.
"To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Romans 4:5.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death, unto life." John 5:24.
He saw these blessed facts, he believed them, he received them, he believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and obtained salvation—full, free, and eternal.
If the reader is not saved, you may be saved even now. You may be respectable, moral and even religious, but if not, you must be saved in the same way as any other sinner.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.
The Soul's Resting-Place
Not what these hands have done
Can save this guilty soul;
Not what this toiling flesh has borne
Can make my spirit whole.
Thy work alone, O Christ,
Can ease this weight of sin;
Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
Can give me peace within.
"THIS IS THE RECORD,
THAT GOD HATH
GIVEN TO US
ETERNAL LIFE,
AND THIS LIFE
IS IN HIS SON.
HE THAT HATH THE SON
HATH LIFE:
AND HE THAT HATH NOT
THE SON OF GOD,
HATH NOT LIFE."
1 John 5:11, 12.
October
Whose Side Do You Take?
Many years ago, when walking down Phoenix Park, Dublin, a woman, selling apples from a basket, opposite the Viceregal Lodge, pointed out to me a round hole in the grass at the roadside as being the exact spot where the body of Lord Frederick Cavendish lay just after he was murdered. I said to this woman:
"If your body had lain there dead instead of Lord Cavendish's, where would your soul now have been?"
"Your honor," said she, "you have given me a very hard question to answer; but I hope to get to heaven at last."
"Do you side with Lord Cavendish or with his murderers?"
"O, sir," she said, "it was very kind of the noble lord to come from England to help us, and it was very wicked of those cruel murderers to kill him."
"Then you sided with Lord Frederick?" "Yes, sir, most certainly I did."
"My good woman," I added, "this very much reminds me of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who in such love and compassion came from heaven to do this poor world good, and of what this wicked world did to Him. Let me also ask, Do you side with the Lord Jesus Christ, or with the world that murdered Him, and still rejects Him?"
"O, sir, it was very good of that Savior to come and do what He did, and it was very wrong indeed for Him to be treated so badly."
"But you have not answered my question about the Son of God as you did about Lord Frederick. Have you, then, as a needy and helpless sinner, accepted that blessed Savior as your substitute, trusted His finished work, and taken shelter under His precious blood, who came to seek and to save that which was lost'?"
Alas! alas! from the indifferent manner of this poor woman, she was evidently more interested in her apples than in the Savior. Just like those Gadarenes of old, who preferred their swine to the Lord Jesus, who had come to their country, through the storms of Galilee's lake, to cast a legion of demons out of the poor demoniac bound in Satan's chains, and to set him free to love and serve his Deliverer.
I had, therefore, to pass on with another unsatisfactory evasion of the all-important question, the salvation of the never-dying soul. But this is by no means a solitary example of the sad, sad rule of preferring the fleeting things of time and sense to the soul's eternal welfare.
Is our reader, I wonder, an exception to that rule? Think about it solemnly, friend, and give the answer to God, who is light as well as love, and who knows your heart.
"As it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time, without sin unto salvation" Heb. 9:27, 28. What are you, dear soul, looking for? Is it for Jesus and glory, or for judgment and hell?
A few weeks later I was walking through the grounds of Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire, where the Duke of Devonshire has a seat, and where a monument is erected to the memory of Lord Frederick Charles Cavendish, whose father at that time held the title.
I noticed on this monument the following striking inscription:
"Full of love to that country, Full of hope for her future,
Full of capacity to render her service.
Murdered in Phoenix Park, Dublin, within twelve hours of his arrival," etc.
Reader, I would not for one moment seek to undervalue what Lord Frederick Cavendish, as Chief Secretary, sought to do for Ireland, nor do I desire to discuss how much his murderers should be deprecated, for that is no part of our theme: but when reading those three first lines of the inscription. most forcibly it struck me how infinitely more applicable, in the higher sense, they were to the blessed Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, who in such love and grace for guilty sinners came so far to this world, and suffered so much at their hands. Yes, of Him, and Him alone, can we truly say:
Full of love to lost sinners,
Full of hope for their future,
Full of capacity to render them service.
"Who once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God."
1 Pet. 3:18.
"Who so full of love unfathomable, love divine, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God; but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" Phil. 2:6-12.
I beseech you, therefore, leave the murderers' ranks! "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," and be "filled into all the fullness of God," for His peerless name's sake.
I Will Come Again.
John 14:3
The Lord Himself shall come again,
His promise stands for ever sure;
For us He has prepared the place,
His Father's house our home secure.
And where He is His own shall be,
To share with Him His joys on high;
For them He will Himself return:
Rejoice! Rejoice! for He is nigh.
The Lord Himself shall come again,
From heav'n He quickly will descend;
His welcome shout we soon shall hear,
Our pilgrim pathway soon shall end.
The dead in Christ in glory rise,
His living ones are made most fair;
Together all caught up will meet
Their Lord and Savior in the air.
The Lord Himself shall come again,
With all His saints, to take His throne;
He'll reign supreme o'er all the earth,
He'll hush the wide creation's groan,
Then Israel shall tell forth their joys,
The nations sound His endless fame,
The deserts blossom, as they cry,
"O! praise the Lord, proclaim His Name."
The Lord Himself shall come again,
We see the day approaching fast;
Though scoffers may His words deride,
They all shall be fulfilled at last.
His Bride must with the Bridegroom dwell,
The Lord of lords supreme must be;
He's King of kings, and He must reign—
"Lord Jesus come,—we wait for Thee!"
A Text That Is Not in the Bible
" 'It is never too late to mend.' Do you believe that, Miss H.?"
"Of course I do; I believe everything that is in the Bible."
"But that saying is not in the Bible, you may search from the first chapter to the last, and you will not find it."
"Still it is quite true, is it not? everybody believes it."
"Well, Miss H., I for one do not believe it. It is a flat contradiction of the Word of God."
"What! do you mean to say that there is anyone who is past mending?"
"Yes, that is just what I do mean, and the person who is past mending is yourself, and every other sinner on the face of the earth."
The young lady to whom these words were spoken seemed greatly surprised; she had never thought it possible that anyone should be past mending, and little did she know that she herself was one such.
My reader, have you ever thought of this matter? The Bible is plain and positive on this, point.
It describes us all as "filthy" (Psa. 14:3), and it shows us that nothing, that we can do, will make us clean (Jer. 2:22).
It says, that we are all "under sin" (Rom. 3:9), and utterly "without strength" (Rom. 5:6) to deliver ourselves.
Once again, it tells us, that we are "dead" in "trespasses and sins," and altogether without hope (Eph. 2:1-12).
There are many other verses in Scripture which teach us that we are past mending, past reforming, past improving. But, thank God, though it is too late to mend, it is not too late to be saved.
We are past mending, but, thank God, we are not past saving! We are sunk deep in the mire and filth of sin, but the strong arm of Jesus is able to save us, though no power in heaven or earth can mend us.
Reader! do you want that arm of power to save you? Then I will tell you what to do. Get down upon your knees, and say, "O Lord! I am just what Thou dost say I am. I am ungodly; I am vile; I have done nothing but sin, and I deserve to be put into the flames of hell forever."
Tell it all out to Jesus, take the low place of a poor unworthy sinner at His feet, and put your whole-hearted trust in Him as your Savior. Remember it was for sinners like you that He died. Think of the blood which He shed to make atonement for sin. Then, look up and say from your heart,
"Lord Jesus, I am guilty and helpless, but Thou art able to save, Thou did'st shed Thy blood for me, and I, a poor sinner, rely upon the merits of that precious blood. I trust in Thee, I confide in Thy love, and I flee to Thee for pardon."
If words like these come from your heart, they will reach the Savior's ear. And what will be the result? You will be pardoned and saved forever! Yes, for the Bible says,
"Believe (or trust) on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.
Do You Love the Lord?
In the course of my business, one morning, I was led, as I truly believe, by God, to inspect some goods at one of our largest stations. There was no necessity for me personally to trouble myself about these particular wares, and I merely refer to this to show how wonderful are the ways in which God uses His children.
Arriving at the station, I saw one of the officials, whom I was led to ask if he were a follower of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. The answer was,
"Praise the Lord, yes. He has saved my soul, and I have now the privilege of working for Him seven days in the week, (the Lord had evidently favored him with good health,) always sowing Seed for the Master."
I very soon found him a man filled with gospel truths, and one who traveled to all parts of the country, delivering his Master's message, returning, as he said, from long journeys by night, ready for his daily toil in the morning. On his own station, where he held mission services, he had been much blessed, and the Lord had used him very largely there in winning souls for Christ; so much so that, as I afterwards learned, numbers of the staff are today "shining lights."
This brings me to the subject to which I more particularly wish to refer:
A porter, whom my Christian brother deputed to accompany me to the store warehouse, (which, by-the-bye, was a very dark, cold store-room, such a one as I shall never forget,) I very soon found was not a Christian. Having asked him the question,
"Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ, friend?" he replied promptly, "O yes, sir, I go to church." I followed by asking him again,
"Are you saved from the wrath to come?" (inspecting the goods all the while, and thus giving him time to think).
"Well," he replied, "I heard the Rev.— preach last Sunday; and my son goes to church regularly."
"Have you peace, friend?" I asked, (praying God to give me the right word, and to convert this soul,) "Have you peace with God, through His Son Jesus Christ? Do you feel the need of a Savior? Have your sins been washed in the blood of the Lamb—Christ Jesus? If not, friend, notwithstanding your going to church regularly, you are going to hell." The poor fellow looked very uneasy, and said,
"I will be honest, sir, and tell you I have never been spoken to so plainly before."
"Thank God His words are plain. You must excuse me, my friend, but I feel that my Master has brought me here to deliver a message to you, and it is this, 'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' 1 Tim. 1:15. Do you feel you are such a one?"
"Yes, sir," said he, "I know I am."
"Thank God for your honesty," I rejoined. "Then as a sinner I shall address you. God's own Word says,
`The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.' Rom. 6:23.
Now, sinner, what does God's Word say to such a one as you? In Acts 17:30 God commands you to repent: for without repentance there can be no remission of sins."
"O, sir, I have been for many years trying to find Jesus, and to seek forgiveness, of my sins; but I know I am lost; I know it, I do. What can I do? What must I do?"
"Stop! God's Word says in reply to your question,
`Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.' Acts 16:31. Do you believe that He means you? Let us look at Rom. 10:9, 10, and see what is said there,
`If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe with thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
"Yes, sir; but—"
"Friend, there is no but about salvation. Christ's atoning blood was offered on your behalf, and He died that you might live. Christ says, Come. Won't you take Him as your own personal Savior? Believing is taking God at His word. He declares that Christ died for such as you. Has He; or, has He not?"
The poor fellow at once gave signs that the Spirit of God was striving with him, and I immediately engaged in silent prayer. Presently he broke out in truly penitent tears of joy, and said,
"I believe it all, sir. I believe it. I do believe. I see now I can do nothing, and that Jesus did it all, and for me. I see it, sir;" and whilst clasping my hands he said, "I do thank Jesus for sending you here."
"Then you really accept Christ as your Savior, friend?"
"Yes, sir, I do! I do."
"Then let us thank God for His mercy and love towards you, nay, and towards all men."
Time having passed away so quickly, I left him with a text or two, viz.:
"The Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil." 2 Thess. 3:3:
"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ"; and "Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." 2 Tim. 2:3, 19.
Dear reader, you may attend church every Sunday, nay, every day, but let me warn you, in the name of my Master, that nothing but the atoning blood of Jesus can wash away your sins.
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.
Faith, Not Feelings
"He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." John 6:47.
Remember that it is one thing to be saved, and quite another to feel it. There are no doubt very many, children of God, who have never had the sweet assurance of salvation, which is the seal of the Spirit. Directly you look to Jesus, you are saved; whether you feel it or not. Don't think about your feeling; don't think about your faith; look to Jesus; trust Him and He will keep His word.
Himself
"He said unto them: Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself." Luke 24:39.
How does He reassure their hearts? How does He restore their confidence and peace? Just by presenting Himself. It is not even by a clear announcement of the proofs of what He was; it is not by recalling to their minds that He had taught them divine truths. No; precious as this would have been from His lips, there was something yet more touching, more melting, more convincing, and that was— presenting Himself.
And now that He has come and gone away, and that we, His poor weak ones, are left in a world that disowns and rejects Him, what has He left us to cheer our hearts, to occupy our souls, to feed our hopes? Just "Himself."
Waiting, Watching, Working
The Christians are to be waiting for God's Son from heaven; and not only waiting, but watching; and not only watching, but working.
"Surely, I come quickly." Rev. 22:20.
"THERE IS NONE
RIGHTEOUS,
NO, NOT ONE:
THERE IS NONE
THAT UNDERSTANDETH,
THERE IS NONE
THAT SEEKETH
AFTER GOD.
THERE IS NONE
THAT DOETH GOOD,
NO, NOT ONE."
Rom. 3:10-12.