"Are you a Christian?" asked a gentleman of a young lady.
"Of course I am! Why, I go to Sunday school, I give out tracts, and I like to help in every good work." As she gave a quick reply, the speaker turned away in surprise at such a question being asked her. However, her momentary feeling of annoyance soon passed away, and with a self-satisfied smile she joined her companions.
Annie had been brought up in a Christian home, and from her earliest years had regularly attended church. At fifteen years of age she was asked by a Christian friend: "Have you decided for Christ?”
"No," was Annie's frank reply.
"Will you decide now?”
"Yes; I will," was the answer given after a moment's hesitation, for Annie thought, "I shall have to decide sometime, and why not now? I mean to be a Christian, of course.”
Annie was soon received as a communicant in her church, and ere long, became a Sunday school teacher. She took part in all religious activities, and was considered by herself and others as a "Christian.”
In spite of her "goodness," at times an uneasy feeling would come over this young lady when she heard one of God's dear children speak of the peace and blessing of communion with Him and of joy in His service. What did it mean? She knew nothing of this! Her prayers were offered with unflinching regularity, but her religious duties were often tedious, though faithfully performed. Yet, she had decided to serve Christ, and was she not serving Him? Was she not the foremost in every good work? Was she not told how useful and helpful she was, and held up as an example to others by those who ought to know what a Christian should be? In these thoughts she stilled her conscience and rested satisfied.
Poor Annie! She was building upon the sand, striving to rear a structure without having first laid the foundation. Often, when alone she felt a soul-hunger, a longing for something more satisfying to the heart.
Time passed on. Annie married the man of her choice, without a thought of consulting the Lord's will in the matter. He had a pleasing appearance and seemed quite respectable and well-to-do. That was enough for Annie. But ere long she discovered her mistake. Right bravely she tried to hide this fact from others, and suffered in silence through the lonely nights, while her husband occupied the hours in gambling and debauchery.
Matters grew worse until scarcely a year from the time Annie became a bride, she found herself to be a deserted wife. Worse yet, she became very ill, and it seemed she might not recover.
Now did her "religion" comfort and sustain her? No! All before her was dark. When she seemed to be near death, no hope, no comfort was hers. Now she realized that the "goodness" in which she had trusted —her righteousness—was but as filthy rags.
In this state, and contrary to all human expectation, Annie began to recover a measure of health. But how torn with doubts and remorse was her poor heart! The Spirit of God held up to her all her pride and self-confidence and she trembled before Him. She who had thought herself so good, now saw her utterly ruined condition, and like Job she cried: "I abhor myself!”
Again she tried to make herself acceptable to God; but the more she tried, the more hopeless the task, and the poor girl began to despair of even being any better. She tried to pray, but she was afraid to. How could she ask to be forgiven, when she was painfully conscious of her own unforgiving spirit?
More and more miserable, Annie gave herself up as lost; but "He who came to seek and to save that which was lost" was tenderly watching over her. He by His Spirit had undermined the false foundation upon which she had been building, and He led her on to the Rock.
Leaving the town in which she had grown up, Annie went to live in a country village; but change of scene could not bring change of heart. She still longed for peace; but her soul was like the troubled sea, and would not be lulled to rest.
On the first Sunday night after her arrival, Annie went to "church," drawn there only by force of habit, and her desire to be numbered with Christians. Thus does Satan strive to keep sinners from the Savior. First he would persuade them that they are too good to need Him. Then when their eyes are opened to their lost state, he goes to the opposite extreme, and tells them that they are too bad—that their case is hopeless.
But Satan is a liar from the beginning. Both statements are equally false, for God says, "There is none righteous, no, not one." All need a Savior—One mighty to save. And the Lord Jesus is indeed "able to save to the uttermost them that come unto God by Him." 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).
"Let not conscience make you linger,
Nor of fitness fondly dream;
All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.”
The familiar words came to the unhappy soul as a new revelation. Like a flash of lightning, the Holy Spirit revealed to her the blessed truth they contained. "Cleanseth! Does it? Cleanseth from all sin? All sin? Then it cleanseth me! Even me! Thank God for that. What a Savior Jesus is!”
In an instant the burden rolled away, and peace entered her heart. Not a word of the sermon did Annie hear. She was too deeply stirred by this revelation Of the Savior—God who had been so graciously revealed to her. Now she was humbly content to say:
"I'm a poor sinner and nothing at all,
But Jesus Christ is my all in all.”
Building upon a false foundation can only result in everlasting grief and loss; but building on the true foundation, no matter what may come, all will be well for time and eternity.