THERE are, however, numbers of our fellow-travelers who dwell but little on the aspect of old age which I have just emphasized. Because of shortcoming, and failure, and sin, they are obsessed with ITS REGRETS.
Indeed, it has been said that, just as anticipation is the dower of the young, so regret is often the possession of the old. Before we go further in our walk and talk, therefore, I desire that every one of us shall face the facts and get rid, once and for all, of the things that occasion misgiving and unrest.
Again, and again, people have said: " Oh, that I could have the past thirty, forty, fifty years over again: how differently I would live!” But are we quite sure about that? We have seen that the greatest university in life is the school of experience; but since, as Coleridge reminds us, experience is like the stern light of a ship at sea, which enlightens only the track that has been passed over, we could not, even with a fresh start, have the accumulated experience of those years whose failures we so deeply lament. But there is another and a deeper sense in which we may make a fresh start; and here I come to the main theme of this book. May God anoint my pen as I write, and your eyes as you read; for I have a wonderful message to deliver to you.
"Strife in Heaven” In an old poem bearing the above title, the writer imagined himself walking the heavenly streets, when he encountered a company of the redeemed engaged in a very excited discussion. Drawing near to listen, he found that they were debating who among them was the greatest example of the divine grace of salvation.
In the debate, which was long continued, each one advanced claims to prove that he, himself, was the recipient of the greatest measure of God's free grace. It was finally decided that the question should be settled by vote. In process of time the list of competitors was reduced to two. These two were then invited each to state his own case to the company.
The first of the two to speak was a very old man. He declared that it was absolutely impossible that God's grace could have done more for any man than it had done for him. He said that he had led a vile and vicious life. He had been a liar, a thief, a blasphemer, a drunkard, and a murderer. On his deathbed he had confessed his guilt, and, by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, he was forgiven.
The other man just said that he came to the Savior when he was a boy. He had always led a quiet and peaceful life, full of the joys that Christ gives.
The vote was taken—and, to the surprise of the writer, the result was in favor of the second speaker. The poet learned the mightier truth, that the grace which, through the long years, can keep a man true, in the midst of much that would drag him from the path of integrity, is an infinitely greater thing than the mercy that washes white the scarlet stains of repentant profligacy. A fence at the top of a precipice is better than a hospital at the bottom; prevention is better than cure.
That old story illustrates many points about the Gospel of the grace of God. It tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; that the man whom divine grace kept in the paths of righteousness was as dependent upon the cleansing blood of the Redeemer, as was he who had strayed into the ways of sin; that both were saved by the matchless kindness of Heaven. As he neared the end of his earthly career an eminent preacher once said: “I throw overboard my good works and my bad works, and sail to glory on the plank of free grace."
But what about the men and women who have not yet come into personal touch with the Lord Jesus; who have not yet received Him as Savior; who know not the joy of sins forgiven? Ah I these are just the loved ones that I desire most earnestly to help; and if you will follow me carefully for a little, as a lowly servant of the Lord Jesus, I will show you how the past may be blotted out, how the present may be filled with gladness, and how the heart that has, perchance, been lacerated by remorse may, from this hour, find healing, and enter into rest. As, however, old folks like young people, are fond of stories, I will perhaps achieve my purpose most effectively by telling you of some things that happened in America.
Fifty years ago Peter Bilhorn, an American evangelist and singer, was mightily used of God in that vast land. About the year 1900 he received from a friend a clipping from the Youth's Companion, containing the poem, “The Bird with the Broken Wing," which was written by Hezekiah Butterworth. The message of the poem, in brief, was that the wounded bird was the most tragic of sights; that it served mainly as a warning; that its powers of achievement were practically finished.
“For the bird with the broken pinion
Never soars as high again."
Peter's friend suggested that here was something worth setting to music; and, after some effort, the singer prepared a musical score for the words, and placed it in his portfolio.
Some weeks later, Bilhorn was invited to conduct a gospel meeting in the Iowa State Prison at Fort Madison. Just before the close of the meeting the Chaplain said: “Sing us one more song, Peter," and, without thinking where he was, or how it would sound, the missioner picked up the sheet of the new song, seated himself at the organ, and sang it to the prisoners.
When he had finished, a strange thing happened. A convict, a young man down in the center, sprang to his feet, and, holding on to the seat in front of him said: “Chaplain, Chaplain, is that true? If what he has been singing is true, there is no hope for me or a lot of us here." And he dropped back into his seat with a sob.
Mr. Bilhorn at once realized the dreadful blunder which he had made, but it was too late to explain or apologize. He went back to Chicago saying: “It’s not true; it's not true. There must be another verse added to that song." A few days later he wrote:
“But the soul that comes to Jesus
Is saved from every sin;
And the heart that fully trusts Him
Shall a crown of glory win.
"Then come to the dear Redeemer,
He will cleanse you from every stain,
By the grace that He freely gives you,
You shall higher soar again."
Then he sat down and wrote to the Chaplain asking for the privilege of a return visit to the prison for another service. Three weeks later he was there. During the service he made his apology, and sang the song with the new verse added.
But that is not the end of the story. In May, 1918—nearly twenty years afterward—Mr. Bilhorn was at a Camp in Illinois, singing for the Y.M.C.A. On a Sunday morning, at the close of a meeting in the Tabernacle, a tall, splendid-looking officer in a colonel's uniform came down the aisle to the platform, put out his hand, and said: “Hello, Bilhorn. You don't remember me, but I do you. You visited Fort Madison prison eighteen years ago, and sang about, The Bird with the Broken Wing '." “Yes," said Peter,” and every time I think of it I am filled with shame." “Well," said the colonel, “I am the man who asked if the song was true; and when you came back weeks later and gave your testimony, and then sang the new verse, I gave my heart to Jesus Christ. I was able to rise. I am now the colonel of a regiment of infantry preparing to go overseas. By God's grace one can higher soar again."
I wonder if any reader, filled with regret because of the past, feels as the colonel did in his young days, before he heard the new verse which Mr. Bilhom added to the song? It is not necessary to stand behind prison bars for us to become sinners in the sight of God. Every one of us—the writer of this book as really as any of its readers—comes under that category.
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." “There is none righteous, no, not one" (Rom. 3:10, 2310As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)
23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). If we take the place of the sinner, then are we in the place where Heaven's choicest gift—a full and a free salvation-can reach us; for it was for sinners that Jesus died (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)). And, my friends, be assured of the heartiest of welcomes from Him if to Him you come. “If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared “(Psa. 130:3, 43If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? 4But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 130:3‑4)). "Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out," says our Savior (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)). He is not willing that any should perish, and can save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him (2 Peter 3:99The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9); Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)). He frankly forgives (Luke 7:4242And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? (Luke 7:42)). He abundantly pardons (Isa. 55:77Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)).
I read recently of a wayward boy who had wandered from home, and spent his days and nights in riotous living in the city. Eventually he came to an end of himself, and wrote to his mother asking for forgiveness, and expressing a desire to return. He told her that one day he would pass near the old home, and that, if he saw a white sheet on the clothes-line, he would take that as a sign that he would be welcome. Mother-like, the one who yearned most for his home-coming, gathered up every sheet in the house and hung them on the ropes! That was her way of saying to her boy, what God says to us in Isa. 55:77Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7).
In an Aberdeen shire glen there is a wayside fountain, with a drinking cup attached to it which bears the following inscription in the Gaelic language: “Cead mille failte "—" a hundred thousand welcomes." That motto is a fair interpretation of the invitations of the Gospel; and, responding to them, you will find yourself confronted with divine assurances such as these: “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; not rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear Him. As far as the East is from the West, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us “(Psa. 103:10-1210He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:10‑12)).” Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He delighteth in mercy...Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea " (Mic. 7:18-1918Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:18‑19)).” Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more " (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)).” Now is the time of loving welcome! Now is the day of salvation “(2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2). Weymouth).
And so, you see, there is a very real sense in which we may begin afresh; a divine method by which the moan of regret shall be exchanged for the shout of victory. Listen:
“Lord, at Thy feet my prostrate heart is lying,
Worn with the burden, weary of the way;
The world's proud sunshine on the hills is dying,
And morning's promise fades with parting day.
Yet, in Thy light, another morn is breaking,
Of fairer promise and with pledge more true;
And in Thy life a dawn of youth is waking,
Whose bounding pulses shall this heart renew.
“Oh, to go back across the years long vanished,
To have the words unsaid, the deeds undone,
The errors canceled, the deep shadows banished,
In the glad sense of a new life begun.
To be a little child, whose page of story
Is yet undimmed, unblotted by a stain,
And in the sunrise of primeval glory
To know that life has had its start again.
“I may go back across the years long vanished,
I may resume my childhood, Lord, in Thee,
When in the shadow of Thy cross are banished
All other shadows that encompass me;
And o'er the road that now is rough and dreary,
This soul, made buoyant by a strength divine,
Shall walk untired, shall run and not be weary,
To bear the blessings that have made Thee mine."