Several years ago I was passing through a village and distributing gospel leaflets along the way. An old man was busily mending holes in the road. Stopping near him, I inquired how matters stood about his soul. He gave me, with evident self-complacency, an account of his own goodness. He went regularly to his church; he was honest; he always paid his debts, did not tell lies, did not curse and swear; he was always ready to do a kind turn for a neighbor, and his good deeds were numberless.
Poor fellow, how blind he was! I tried to show him by the Scriptures that all these things, though good and right in themselves, formed but a foundation of sand on which to build for eternity!
Poor fellow, indeed! He still insisted that he must work his way into heaven.
I had to leave him, feeling sad enough at heart. But just a little farther on I encountered an old woman. Bent with the weight of years, she was toiling feebly along, supported partly by a stick and partly by the arm of a younger person. As I approached her I said: "Well, friend, you seem very feeble. Evidently you have traveled long and far upon the road of life. But tell me: are you on your way to the bright home above?”
Her eyes sparkled at the question. "Oh, yes!" she replied eagerly.
"Well, but what reason have you to say so? How do you expect to reach there?”
"Only through the precious blood of Jesus!”—
Truly my heart leaped to hear the words. They sounded like the genuine "ring of the metal." We had a happy and interesting talk, and I found that she was indeed a dear old pilgrim, journeying Zion-ward. Oh, it was so refreshing to meet her, especially just after the other sad encounter. This dear old saint has since then gone in to see the "King in His beauty.”
Now, a word to you, my reader. That old man was brimful of himself. His talk was a great big letter "I." I do this and I do that, or else I don't do this or that! Not a syllable about the Savior!
Now consider the dear old woman. With her it was exactly the reverse. Not one word about herself. No, she spoke of "Jesus only!”
For you I have this plain, loving question-On what foundation are you resting? Is it self, or is it Christ? Ah, beware, I entreat you! Are you on the Rock-Jesus Christ? Satan has his terrible quicksands of self-righteousness, on which myriads of boastful souls are stranded. Indeed they are sinking, down, down, lower and lower, until they land in an eternal hell!
Dear reader, are you able to say, in the words of the old hymn:
"On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand"?