HOW varied and strange are the ways of God, both with His own people and with the world!
The natural mind cannot grasp them, for “God’s ways are not as our ways, nor His thoughts as our thoughts”; and many a dealing of God’s hand, directed in unerring wisdom, calls forth, even from those who know Him as their God and Father, the exclamation, “How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out”; and many a proof of His never-failing love and mercy can be traced in these dealings, like a vein of precious metal amidst the rough and shapeless rocks.
Again, how varied are the states of soul, and the characters of those around us! The many seeking their own way — the pleasure-loving ones fully taken up with the empty baubles and vanities of this world, but (as 1 Timothy 1:66From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; (1 Timothy 1:6) tells us) these are dead while they live. It may be that they have “a form of godliness,” and are trying to make the best of both worlds, forgetting God’s solemn warning, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
Respectable and orthodox in their outward ways; correct in all domestic duties; benevolent, kind, and active in services of love — much that is so like the true Christian life may be seen, and yet the soul is dead, “dead in trespasses and sins,” dead as to God, “far off,” “having no hope, and without God in this world.” They are thus incapable of doing one work pleasing to God, whose penetrating eye discerns the root from which their works spring.
Shall I tell you of one of this class, and how solemnly her life, which was such as I have described, was tested as to what really she was resting upon? — whether on her own works, which are as shifting sand, or on the only ground that can stand the righteous judgment of a holy God, the finished work of Jesus on the cross?
She lived in a seaport town in one of our lovely islands, and was the daughter of a family well known and looked up to, and of her it could be said, “What a good life Miss― is leading” — kind, industrious, unselfish, amiable, and (so-called) religious. But what was God’s estimate? He saw that something deeper was needed than this outwardly fair life.
Late one evening, in the height of summer, this young lady was walking home alone, after a long ramble through the fields and moors at the top of the precipitous cliffs above the sea. She was gathering flowers, and seeing one she greatly desired to have, alas! she either went a short way down the cliff to get it, and stumbled, or was tempted to step on one of those spots of green mossy turf that look so secure, but are treacherous, and often give way. Whichever it was, she slipped and fell over the cliff, sliding down and down the side of the rock.
Think what a moment of horror it must have been to feel herself gradually slipping either into the deep sea or to be dashed to pieces on the sharp rocks that lay beneath! But God had, in His tender mercy and pity, so ordered it that, in a wonderful way, her feet rested on a ledge in the side of the precipice, where a small tree was growing, which she grasped and clung to desperately. But what could she do in such a perilous position? One step even was dangerous in the extreme. She dared not move; to cry for help was in vain. No sound of her voice could reach the land above, and nothing but the yawning sea below — night fast coming on, with all its silence and dreariness — alone — nothing to be heard but the cries of the birds and the surging of the waves. Think what must have been her anguish and despair as hour after hour passed on. There she remained, clinging to that tree for very life! Face to face with death and eternity — alone with God. No voice to be heard but His.
What of her profession of Christianity now? Would not the thought of the eternity before her be too real for anything false and fleeting? But God was speaking to her. Will she not listen, and cry to Him in her distress? I can tell you that she did cry to Him, and His Word says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13)). He looked down upon her in His tender grace. He heard her cry, and showed her the Crucified One standing beside her, in that night of terror. Her eyes were opened to see Him as the One who had died for her, shedding His blood that she might live, and He, in the loneliness of that moment, spoke peace to her soul. So the treacherous ground, from which she slipped, simply landed her on the Rock of Ages, there to rest forever! The night of sorrow was turned to joy, and there was joy in heaven over this repentant one.
The night passed on, and gradually gave place to the early dawn of the summer’s day, and she was still clinging to the tree, with strength that God must have expressly given, and God (her Father now) had His loving eye on a way of escape for His newly-born child.
It had been arranged at the harbor that, in consequence of some special excursion, a steamer was to start from the pier several hours earlier than the ordinary time. Amongst those on board was a naturalist, whose desire was to take observations of the cliffs, and the birds that frequent them. As the steamer slowly rounded the headland forming the Harbor, the naturalist was busy with his glass observing the birds among the rocks, when he noticed a white object on the side of the cliff. It puzzled him greatly what it could be. The captain’s attention was called to it, who said, “There’s a bird for you, sir.”
Many on board are roused to curiosity, and join in the cry, “What can it be?” “It is too large for any ordinary bird.” As they approach nearer, they cry, “That is no bird.” It moves! Can it be the figure of a woman whose dress is fluttering in the breeze? Another and another look. They all cry out, “This is no bird; it is a woman clinging to something several hundred feet up the cliff” What heartfelt sympathy and consternation there was on board. What was to be done?
It was evident that no help could reach her from below, and seeing this, the captain at once put back into port. The alarm was given on shore, and instantly responded to, especially by those (you may be sure) who had had a long night’s search for the missing one. Ready help was given, and by means of scaling ladders, &c., from above, willing hands and beating hearts united in the rescue of this young lady. I cannot tell you the exact mode employed, but I can tell you that she was saved in this truly remarkable manner, and that, it was during those long hours that she was brought to know God as her Father, and Jesus Christ as her Saviour, and from that time she sought to live for Him “who had loved her, and given Himself for her.”
With what feelings of joy and thankfulness would she ever look back to that morning, when she was thus rescued from her perilous position. And through eternity how will she praise the grace that had met her, showing her what it was to be living without Christ, and bringing her to rejoice in His forgiving love. Truly “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Weeping, to see our sins against a holy God, — joy, to know all those very sins washed away in the precious blood of Jesus, and the soul accepted in the Beloved.
Reader, let me ask you, On what foundation are you resting? Is it on anything, even the best you can do yourself, or is it only and simply on Christ? Let me beg you to ask yourself, How should I stand such a test? Many and solemn are the warnings around us; the almost daily records of accidents, illness, and sudden death cry out loudly to you to delay no longer to trust in Christ, the one and only true ground of rest. He is calling you; will you not hear His voice? He says, “Ho! every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”
Tomorrow may be too late. One false step, one fleeting breath, and you may be in an eternity of woe — and that forever. E.