WHEN souls are awakened to their eternal danger, it seems to be the enemy’s endeavor to mislead and discourage them by giving false impressions about the way of peace, and so to hide the only true way. One very common snare is that a good resolution to change their course of conduct will be enough; and when they have made it he will, if possible, make them satisfied with it. But when there is a real awakening by the Spirit of God, this is not possible, and the seeking goes on. But if the seeking continues, the enemy’s distractions continue also ― anything to falsify God’s glad tidings, and keep the troubled seeker in the dark. God’s Word thus expresses it, “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)).
Years ago in the South of England a special victim of the enemy’s distraction came before the writer. A domestic servant in a large household noticed that one of her fellow servants appeared to be in deep distress about something; but the cause of the trouble she could not imagine, and the distressed one, seemed disposed to keep it a secret. At last, however, she said to her, “What is the matter with you? I can’t make you out!” Sorrowfully she replied, “I’m going to hell!” This gave the enquirer quite a start, and caused her to think seriously also. She said to herself, “I’m troubling myself about her; yet in the same danger myself, only I’ve been regardless about it.” This was really the beginning of a great stir in her own soul, and she felt she must pray, yea begin at once. In order to do this in secret, that the other servants could not see her, she would, in the day, when she had opportunity, get into a large cupboard for the purpose; and at night when they were asleep, she would get out of bed and pray. But if her fellow-servants could not see her, the enemy could, and was busy enough.
When she had got back into bed again, this disturbing suggestion came, ‘Do you think that God will hear a prayer like that from you?’ Upon which she would get out again and again, and try to pray more acceptably. But instead of this, horrible blasphemous thoughts would come into her mind, and though she could not express such revolting things, it almost seemed as though they hissed through her lips in spite of her.
After a while she thought she, would begin to read the Bible. The one she had was greatly treasured by her as a relic. It was really her brother’s, who was lost at sea. This Bible was brought home in his kit, and given to her. She now began to read it in a way she had never done before; but only got more wretched in doing so. One day the thought was suggested (no doubt by the enemy who feared the result of her reading it), ‘Put that book into the fire: burn it, and get out of your misery!’ And so unbearably miserable was she, that she was actually about to push it between the bars, when thoughts of her brother came into her mind, and she said to herself, what would my brother Tom think of me if I burned his Bible? Hastily she drew it back, but an almost unbearable weight of anguish seemed to be crushing her. Her fellow servant, seeing her state, tried to comfort her, but in vain.
Now souls in this disappointed state are usually turning to their own feelings to find the longed-for satisfaction. But the fact is, that when the question of sin against God is raised in the conscience, with all the solemn consequences connected with it, the first Person to be satisfied is God Himself.
Take a simple figure. Suppose that I have been living in a reckless way, and that I have not paid my rent for over a year. At last my landlord presses me for immediate payment of the whole. What use would it be to assure him that I now intended to do my best to pay my rent regularly every quarter; that I have made such a firm resolution about it that I am quite satisfied it will all be right. But he tells me that the past quarters must be fully paid, and that he shall not be satisfied until they are. This distresses me, for I am in daily fear of being sold up; but I can’t say it is not just and right.
Now suppose in the midst of my distress I get a message from the landlord to the effect that he wants to see me. When I get there, full of dread as to the consequences, I am surprised to see a smile on his face, and especially to hear him say he is glad to see me. I begin to tell him that I really am sincerely struggling to meet all his demands. But he answers by assuring me that all his demands have been met already, that a friend of mine living at a distance had heard of my deep trouble and sent a check that fully covered all my liabilities; that the check had been Honored at the bank, and that he is now perfectly satisfied with the settlement! On asking for the name of this kind-hearted friend, I am still more surprised to find that he is a near relative of the landlords!
Of course I should be thoroughly satisfied; but my satisfaction would rest on the assurance of his satisfaction; and I should go away with heartfelt gratitude to the friend who had done it all for me.
Now to come back to the harassed seeker we have been referring to. She was trying to satisfy herself by her own sincere and pious efforts, and needed to see that the “Friend above all others” had taken up the whole of her liabilities as a sinner, had satisfied God about them, and all that God required was to thank the Lord Jesus for what He had done, and confess His name to others in like need.
Well, she knew that a Christian living near was going to a little meeting in a private house, and asked if she might go with her. Gladly this believer responded to her request; but when they got to the lobby of the house they found that the kitchen where the meeting was held was full, and a hymn was being sung. So they stood in the lobby until it was finished. The verse they were singing at the time was: ―
“Jesus did it all, All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.”
This was the very news she needed; and as she stood there silently listening, the dark cloud upon her spirit was entirely cleared away, and left her satisfied and at peace with God. The truth of what Jesus had done settled the matter; and the Spirit gave her a taste of God’s Own joy in it. THE DISAPPOINTED SEEKER WAS SATISFIED AT LAST.
“Sweetest rest and peace have filled me,
Sweeter peace than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus,
I am satisfied as well.”
GEO. C.