THE streets of London in the neighborhood of the Law Courts were crowded with people. A man was being tried for his life, and the prevailing question was, “What is the verdict?” Excitement inside was at its highest when the jury returned to give their final decision. The silence was intense as the foreman, in answer to the usual question, pronounced the awful word—“Guilty.”
Now, dear reader, has it ever occurred to you that we have all been found guilty before God? Listen to the verdict. The Spirit of God pronounces it: ―
“There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulcher; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: their feet are swift to shed blood: destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes” (Rom. 3:10-1810As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:10‑18)). “Every mouth stopped!” cries the great Searcher of hearts. “All the world” has become “guilty before God” (Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19)). How awful the indictment―how sweeping! Yet it is what God in His Word has said of each one of us.
Did you ever think how it must have grieved the heart of the blessed God to have had to say these words of His creature man? For He had originally created him in His own image.
But let us return once more to our illustration. We left the prisoner listening to what his fellowmen had to say about him, and the best they could say was, that he was “guilty,” worthy of the sentence of death being passed upon him. All that the law could do for him was to kill him. But appeal is made by others to the mercy of the Sovereign; and he obtains a reprieve. When the news reaches him he cannot believe it until he sees for himself the Royal Seal. Then what joy fills his heart! He does not now question the authority of the one who actually wrote it, but accepts it with joy because of him who sent it.
Has the reader yet taken to heart what God has said about him? Does he know that the sentence is passed already, and that sentence―death? “Death has passed upon all men” (Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12)). That little word “all” must include you and me. Are you prepared to meet the solemn situation? Ask yourself that question, and do not rest until you can give a satisfactory answer. Be honest with yourself. Do not trifle with your soul. It is too precious, and the time is short.
If I am so bad, you say, what can I do?
The man in our picture was allowed to live a little longer on earth, but it did not touch the question of sin’s penalty before God. But it is God Himself Who offers you pardon, and He does it on righteous grounds too. Jesus has died upon the cross, and to you the message is, “Believe and live.” Does it not fill your heart with deep longing, dear unsaved reader? Oh, how good God is I Will you not trust Him? Do so, then; delay no more.
“But take with rejoicing from Jesus at once
The life everlasting He gives;
And know with assurance, thou never canst die,
Since Jesus thy righteousness lives.”
F. J. W.