WHEN in Indianapolis, some time ago, a Christian related to me his past life and conversion to God by the Gospel. He said: “When I was young my mother died, and I became reckless, caring for nothing, and lived without God, and only for myself. My mother was a Christian, and had often prayed for me. One night I was sleeping, and as I slept I dreamed that a book was placed before me, and on its page was to be seen but one word, and that word was Repent.' My mother appeared in my dream, and with her finger pointed to the word, and as she pointed she looked at me and vanished.
“I lived on in my sin years after this, but the word Repent' ever went with me— seemed never to leave me— it followed me everywhere. The book, the word, and my mother's finger pointing to the word, were always at band.
“A little ago, a servant of Christ came to this town, and preached in one of the theaters, and I went to hear him. On one occasion he was preaching on the great love of God, that ' 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 3:1616For 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)). As he went on, letting out and describing the great love and goodness of God, my poor heart was melted, broken down, and gave way for the first time in my life. I saw what I was, and had been, notwithstanding this warning to repent, — a poor, God-hating, Christ-rejecting sinner. But I saw also God giving His Son for me, and Jesus dying on the cross for me, bearing my sins in His own body there. I saw, I believed, and was saved. And though I have learned much precious truth since, yet it was then that the goodness of God led me to repentance, and to believe on the Saviour to life everlasting.”
In this simple, yet blessed rehearsal, we learn how persistently the Good Shepherd goes after the lost sheep, until He finds it; and how it is the goodness of God that leads any sinner to repentance,—" Repentance to salvation not to be repented of.”
“God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed: then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, that he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man" (Job 33:14-47). It was so in this man's case; God came to him in the midnight watch, when fast asleep, and caused him to see this book, and the solitary word in the book, and his beloved mother pointing to the word "Repent;" and ever after kept that word pressing on his conscience, until the sweet tale of His own infinite love, in the giving and dying of His own Son, for His enemies, broke him down and won his heart. It was a triumph of grace divine; Satan was defeated, and the brand was plucked out of the fire.
Reader, think of that book and its solitary word— REPENT! From Genesis to Malachi, it is Repent; and from Matthew to Revelation it is Repent. "Repent, and turn to God." “God commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent" (Acts 17:3030And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: (Acts 17:30)). “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:33I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. (Luke 13:3)). It is the voce of God to men, — men of every class and condition, of every clime and color. The eternal God, from His eternal throne, calls upon man— His guilty rebel creature— to repent and turn to Him.
Now, my friend, have you heard His voice? have you obeyed His command? have you yielded to His goodness that leads to repentance? have you bowed at His footstool, in all your solitary guilt and wretchedness, and prayed," I have sinned. God be merciful to me a sinner"?
If so, let me tell you that the attitude of your soul, your self-abasement, and self-judgment, and the full confession of your sins to God, has caused joy in the presence of the angels above. “There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10)). Oh, how intensely Heaven is interested in man's repentance and salvation! Would that man was as interested!
But more, the sinner's attitude of repentance leaves God free to act according to the love and mercy of His heart. “He freely justifies by his grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24)). The father of the prodigal had the embrace, the kiss, the best robe, the ring, the shoes, the fatted calf, a place in the house at his table, all ready for him the moment he returned in the spirit of repentance, saying, " Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son " (Luke 15).
As it is impossible for God to lie, so, beloved reader, it is morally impossible for the sinner to be saved without turning to God in repentance. “Repentance towards God, and faith towards our Lord Jesus Christ," go together. Remember the book and the solitary word—REPENT.
E. A.