THERE has been exhibited lately, I am told, a remarkable picture entitled “The Last Move.” It represents a young man playing chess with the devil. The chessmen were so arranged that seemingly the only move the young man could make at that time would cause him to be checkmated by the devil. A famous chess-player went to see the picture, and after studying the problem for some time, had a chessboard brought to him, declaring, “I can save that fellow!” Placing the “men” in exactly the same positions as in the picture, he so played the game as to bring out the young man victorious and not Satan.
Now, what is Satan’s last move with man? It is to present the terror of death. Having enticed man to sin, he thought he was certain of closing up God’s favored creature to death irrevocably. But he was mistaken, for through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ man has gained and Satan has lost. Christ’s victory is the believer’s victory, and Satan’s eternal defeat. “Thanks be unto God, Which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:5757But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57)).
A Victorious Record.
A little over a century ago was written on the gravestone of an eminent man, and a believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, this remarkable epitaph: “HE BEING DEAD YET SPEAKETH.”
“I have seen, I have confessed, I have repented, “I have trusted, I have loved,” I now rest, I shall rise, I shall reign.”
Eight brief but pregnant sentences expressive of faith in the Saviour. Would you, my reader, share in this glorious victory achieved by our blessed Redeemer? Then I ask, Have you taken these eight steps of faith on this ladder of grace (like Jacob’s ladder whose top reached to heaven) reaching down to where you are in your sins, and under Satan’s power? Your last move on this ladder will bring you into the full results of Christ’s glorious victory; yea, into an eternity of blessing.
My friend, it will be a wonderful moment in your soul’s history when you can say, first and foremost, as written in this epitaph:
“I HAVE SEEN.”
I have seen myself a helpless, hopeless sinner in the sight of God. But I have also seen Jesus as my own precious, personal Saviour, my mighty Deliverer from all the power of the enemy. But not less important is the second step:
“I HAVE CONFESSED.”
David said, “I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin” (Ps. 32:5). It was a wise man who said, “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper” (or “shall not get out of the pit”). David tried hard to cover his, and tried harder still to get out of the pit he had dug; but not until he confessed did he obtain mercy (Prov. 28:1313He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13)).
“I HAVE REPENTED.”
“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Have you? You ask, What is it to repent? It is just to think of yourself and your sin as God thinks. To own in God’s presence that your whole life Godward is a gigantic mistake. In a word; it is to be brought to abhor yourself as Job did (Job 42:66Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. (Job 42:6)). What the Apostle Paul preached to both Jew and Gentile was, “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:2121Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. (Acts 20:21)). Hence the fourth thing on that remarkable tombstone was:
“I HAVE TRUSTED?”
“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him” (Psa. 2:1212Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12)). Are you one of this blessed company? “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” To trust a person you must know him. Therefore, says the Psalmist, “They that know Thy Name will put their trust in Thee: for Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee” (Psa. 9:1010And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. (Psalm 9:10)). And the Apostle gave thanks to God for those who have faith in the Lord Jesus. May I give thanks for your faith in Christ?
But as faith works by love, our next sentence is:
“I HAVE LOVED.”
“We love Him because He first loved us.” In answer to the, Lord’s question, “Lovest thou Me?” Peter said, “Yea, Lord, Thou knowest that I love Thee” (John 21:1616He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:16)); and afterward in writing his epistle, he could say to others, “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)). How fitting, then, that there should be written over this departed saint this peaceful, blessed sentence:
“I NOW REST.”
In his life it was his to “rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.” He often listened to the Saviour’s voice: “Come unto Me, and I will give you rest.” And he came to Him and found rest of conscience and rest of heart also. Now as to his body lying in that tomb, it could be said of him, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors”(Rev. 14:1313And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them. (Revelation 14:13)). O, sweet thought to rest in Jesus with this glorious assurance of victory over every foe, death and sin and the grave.
“I SHALL RISE.”
“He is coming, coming for us, soon we’ll see His light afar,
On the dark horizon rising, as the Bright and Morning Star;
Cheering many a waking watcher, as the star whose kindly ray
Heralds the approaching morning, just before the break of day.”
“I SHALL REIGN.”
Christ “must reign,” and every believer will reign with Him. All shall then and forever share His glorious victory, won for them by His precious death and resurrection.
His resurrection and glory are the pledge, and proof, and pattern of our victory.
Again, then, dear reader, I ask, Will you share His glorious victory?
“Jesus, Lord, we joy before Thee,
Sorrow’s night is o’er;
Foes are vanquished, Thou art Victor,
Evermore.”
W. N.