IN a day like the present, in which all the forces of the enemy of man seem joined together to becloud and confuse God's noblest creature, and to rob him of the blessing so freely proffered by a God of infinite love, there is an ever increasing need for a sure and certain guide. Men to-day, led on by Satan, are turning more and more from the fountain of wisdom and knowledge to the dry wells of reason and unbelief.
But, thank God, there is that which He has provided Himself to meet man's need. The psalmist of old could say, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path," and to-day the same word, though now more fully made known, is found in all its perfection to give to the soul the direction it needs.
The writer remembers how some few years ago, as he was journeying by boat from Southampton to London, the pilot on boarding the boat at Gravesend was noticed to be very unsteady in his gait. A very vivid recollection is retained of nearly colliding with Greenwich Pier, and when we arrived close to the entrance of the dock, our disgust may be imagined at finding that our unworthy pilot had run us on a mud bank. The services of a tugboat had to be requisitioned before we were free to enter the wished-for dock.
But there is no failure in the heavenly Pilot. His word is sure and certain, and from start to finish it points in unmistakable terms to the only way to God.
From Abel's lamb to the cross of Calvary is indeed a long journey, but the finger-posts of God's providing point unwaveringly on and on till the consummation is reached. There at Calvary alone do we find God's full answer to man's sin. There are we told God's implacable hatred of sin, yet marvelous love to the sinner, for there it was that God's only begotten Son bore the wrath of God against sin, not His own, and opened up the way to God.
“I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me;" were the words of the Son when here on earth; and still the words of Him who is "the same yesterday, and to-clay, and forever," are of all importance; for though man, in his blindness, believes he is progressing towards perfection, he is still a sinner, unfit for God, and needing the "one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.”
Then come to Him to-day, dear reader, if you feel that your life is in danger of shipwreck, and you fear to miss the heavenly port, and you shall find that as the people of old confessed, " Never man spake like this Man," so to you His word and Himself will become increasingly precious as you grow in the knowledge of God's revealed word.
H. W. R.