A GENTLEMAN lay dying, not from the infirmities of age, for he had just reached the meridian of life, but from dire disease.
Having been well educated, and his position in society having afforded him ample means of "enjoying himself" (as the phrase is), he had availed himself of his social advantages to enter freely into the pleasures of the world; not, indeed, in their grosser forms; but he had lived to himself, with but an occasional thought of God.
At length, however, being laid upon a bed of suffering, and knowing that the issue of his sickness must be death, he began to reflect upon the solemnity of his having to meet God; and he could not look forward to that meeting without serious apprehension.
An evangelist friend, who cared for his soul, called upon him, and in earnest language set before the dying man the boundless love and infinite mercy of God, as manifested in the gift of His dear Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:1616For 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).)
He spoke, too, of the willingness of God to receive all who come to Him in the name of His Son, however much they might hitherto have rejected His great salvation, and however much they might have hardened their hearts against the reception of His grace.
He then urged the anxious sinner to accept without delay of the full and rich mercy of God presented to him, without money and without price, in the precious Person and finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The gentleman, who had listened attentively to the weighty words and earnest entreaty of his friend, said to him at the close: "I have no doubt that what you have been saying is perfectly true; but somehow or other it does not allay my anxiety. I know that I am dying. I am conscious that I am a sinful man, and that I am soon to appear in the presence of God. What I fail to perceive is, how God, who is infinitely holy, can maintain His holiness in its integrity and at the same time show mercy to me, a sinner. If, now, you can clear that difficulty to me, you will be doing me an invaluable service.”
The visitor, perceiving the real question which troubled the soul of his friend, looked to the Lord to enable him to meet it from His Word.
He began by pointing out to him the utter ruin of man as a sinner; that "there is none righteous, no, not one"; that "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3); and that “as many as are under the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." (Gal. 3:1010For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. (Galatians 3:10).)
He also showed that one fault was fatal, for whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all "(James 2:1010For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)); and, besides all one's actual offenses, there is the fountain from which they spring, the corrupt nature and evil heart; so that in himself the sinner is utterly helpless before God, and" without hope "; and that if he die in his sins, and be judged according to his works, it must result in his being cast into" the lake of fire, which is the second death." (Rev. 20)
Having traced the course of man, as a sinner, to his awful end of everlasting woe, he endeavored to show what God, who is love, and " rich in mercy, “has wrought, in order to bring salvation to His rebellious creatures," alienated, and enemies in mind by wicked works,” and altogether unable to deliver themselves from the “righteous judgment of God"; having" commended His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom. 5)
He then set forth the personal glory of the Son, who was ever with the Father, "daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him," showing that "all things were created by Him, and for Him"; and yet "that He 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." (Phil. 2)
He set before the dying man the truth that God made Christ, "who knew no sin, to be sin for us"; that as the sin-offering, He bore on the cross the judgment of God against sin, a judgment so fearful that when He, the spotless Lamb, of God, endured it, He cried in the deep agony of His soul, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken ME?”
He enlarged upon the preciousness of the blood of Christ, without the shedding of which there could have been no remission of sins; dwelling, too, upon the wondrous fact of His laying down His life; no man taking it from Him, but laying it down of Himself, having power to lay it down, and power to take it again. (John 10)
His concluding remarks were upon the glorious theme of Christ's resurrection and ascension to “the right hand of the Majesty on high," He having finished the work which God gave Him to do, in the putting away sin by the sacrifice of Himself, and of the declaration of God of His delight in His Son; and of His perfect satisfaction with the work which He had thus accomplished, by seating Him, who had been the sin Bearer, on His throne, and crowning Him with glory and honor.
Thus the evangelist sought to show the anxious sinner that the holiness of God was perfectly satisfied and glorified in respect of sin in the sacrifice of Christ; that the judgment of God, for sin, had been visited upon Him; and that so infinitely precious is that sacrifice in the sight of God that He could now, consistently with His intense holiness, not only showing all grace and mercy to the sinner coming to Him in the name of His Son, but He could be "just" and at the same time " the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."(Rom. 3)" Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign THROUGH RIGHTEOUSNESS unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom. 5:2121That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21).)
The discourse, of which this is but an outline, was blessed by the Spirit of God to the soul of the evangelist's dying friend, who shortly afterward departed this life as one having “peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1).)
Dear reader, have you this peace?