Not often are great cathedrals so filled with people as was the nave of the fine old Minster at York, England, on a December night many years ago. Men and women from all parts of the city and representing every rank in life had gathered there to hear the gospel as proclaimed by a plain mission preacher. This man's words as directed by the Holy Ghost produced conviction of sin in many, and under the power of the Spirit, they were converted to God. Some wondered and some scoffed at the idea of "Revival" meetings being held in the great cathedral; but God can use any place in which His voice is heard, and bless any people who hear it anywhere.
Among those who gathered in the stately building that winter night was a young man studying for the ministry. He was half-curious to learn the secret of getting such crowds, when so few attended regular services at his church. He had been duly ordained and was well educated, but he lacked the "one thing needful"—the new birth. The sight of so many, the reverent hush preceding the preaching, the absence of all ritual, the simple but hearty singing, followed by a short, direct, earnest prayer that God would "awaken and convert sinners" then and there, all impressed the young student-preacher with the reality of divine things in a way he had never known before.
The evangelist announced his subject. It was Exodus 12—the chapter that tells the story of the pass-over in Egypt: the killing of the lamb, the sprinkling of the blood, the salvation of the first-born. Under three simple "heads," he pressed home the three-fold gospel lesson of the type.
First—Condemnation
Second—Substitution
Third—Appropriation
While the gospel preacher was setting forth the first of these as the sinner's ruin by nature, his guilt by practice, his just condemnation by a righteous God, the young student became conscious for the first time of his state before God as a sinner.
Under the second heading he showed forth the virtues of Christ, the perfect sacrifice once offered to God, a sacrifice never to be repeated and to which nothing can be added. Then the awakened clergyman saw the suitability of Christ as his Savior.
Finally the preacher told of the necessity of personal acceptance of Christ for salvation, of individual trust in His atoning death for justification, and the certain fact that all who do thus personally trust Him are saved as truly as the Israelite who heard the word of Jehovah, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." Ex. 12:1313And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. (Exodus 12:13).
The young clergyman comprehended immediately God's way of salvation. Casting himself as a sinner on the Savior, he was born of God, saved by grace, and set on the way to heaven then and there, even as he sat in the nave of York Minster that December night.
Yes, what neither education, religion, nor holy orders could bestow, the old gospel, faithfully, simply preached, was brought to him as a sinner, and as a sinner he gave it welcome. Then to the mission preacher that very night, he confessed Christ. The next Sunday he told his own congregation that he had been converted, and urged upon all the need of being sheltered by the blood.
Reader, are you thus sheltered, or are you exposed to judgment without Christ? Which is your position? Remember, there is no middle ground. Saved or Lost! Which?