A SHORT time since an afflicted young Christian was brought to one of the beds in the workhouse infirmary at S ―, in Lincolnshire. This was, no doubt, a trial to him; but nothing seemed to touch his joy in the Lord. In course of time, his brother, similarly afflicted, was brought there also and placed in the next bed; but he had not yet found the Lord. He was, however, in time to witness his Christian brother’s departure. This made a great impression on him, and led, eventually, to his finding the Saviour also. Speaking, one day, to a Christian visiting the infirmary, of his departed brother’s happy end, he said, “I have often wondered at the bright smile on his face when dying; but now I think I know how it was. It must have been the welcome he was getting that caused it!” And who can prove that it was not so; for to be made sure of getting a welcome in heaven is enough to gladden the heart and brighten the face of any one, whether on a workhouse bed, or in royal palace. Neither is it necessary to wait until a dying hour to get such assurance; for it may be known now, and known by any believer. But some exercised soul may perhaps be saying, “I only wish that I could feel sure of such a welcome, but it seems to be utterly impossible.” Let us, then, consider the interesting matter a little more closely.
To do this profitably, it will be necessary to bear in mind that there are two sides to the subject, God’s side and ours. God has gracious desires to be suitably gratified; the sinner has serious needs to be righteously met; but both find absolute satisfaction in the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s well-beloved Son. The sinner, awakened to his need, is brought to welcome the blessed Saviour; and (on God’s behalf) the Saviour gladly welcomes the repentant sinner. Indeed, we may well say that God’s marvelous gospel story is just a tale of touching welcomes all through.
It is helpful to see that there are two words that stand in very close relation to each other; namely, ‘wanted’ and ‘welcomed.’ Take a simple example: A fall of rain is most welcome where it is most wanted. If, in going to some place, you would make sure of being heartily welcomed, you have only to make sure of being really wanted.
But it may be asked, ‘How can we possibly make sure of being wanted in heaven?’ The answer is as wonderful as it is simple. A worthy Witness has been sent from heaven to let us into the secret. And His evidence has been recorded for our benefit.
We rightly judge of how much a thing was wanted by the price given to get it. And this heavenly Witness plainly tells us the price God has given to secure us. One tremendous necessity stood in the way of our being welcomed in heaven. We had sins; and they could not enter there. The only way of justly meeting the case was by a Sinless One making Himself answerable for them. And this has been done. God’s beloved Son was willing to come into manhood and do it, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,” and He went down to death in the sinner’s stead. “He suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” And why bring us to God? Because God wanted us.
Then to prove to us that God’s welcoming us goes with His wanting us, we have from the lips of His blessed Sent-One three parables (see Luke 15). Lost ones wanted marks the first two; a lost one welcomed marks the third. It is God’s side of the story of welcomes. The wandering sheep is not the seeker, it is the Shepherd, God’s sent One. In each case the rejoicing is on the divine side, and their joy too great to be kept to themselves. They call together their friends and neighbors to rejoice with them. The gracious comment upon it is this, “There is joy in heaven― joy in the presence of the angels of God, over one sinner that repenteth.” God does not hide His joy even from the angels that never sinned. How cheering it is; for it draws our attention to God’s deep interest in the sinner’s expression of his need of the Saviour Whom His love has provided.
Take another simple figure. Not every crew, even in the gravest peril, will give up hope in their own ship, and accept being taken to shore in a lifeboat. They cling to the hope of getting safely to harbor without such help; which is naturally discouraging to the lifeboat crew. But when a signal of distress is hoisted they have a definite guarantee that the lifeboat will be thankfully welcomed. And when a sinner is brought to repentance, that is, brought to condemn himself for his sinful course, and to give up all hope of a safe landing on the heavenly shore through his own merits, it is like the hoisting of the signal of distress; and when it is so, the heart of God rejoices that there is one more that feels the need of Jesus as his Saviour. In like manner, when the Lord found Zacchæus in the sycamore tree, and knew what brought him there, it was a gratifying proof that there was another sinner that had desires after Him. And when, calling him by name, He said, “Zacchæus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house”; it must have been very welcome to this publican’s heart; for “he made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully”; and then heard from the Saviour’s own lips that such was the object of His mission here. “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:1-101And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zaccheus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:1‑10)).
But this was not the end of the happy story. If Zacchæus was found upon the tree, and came down to give the Saviour a joyful welcome to his own house, Jesus was on His way to another tree to do such a work, that there would be nothing to prevent Zacchæus or any other repentant sinner getting a joyful welcome to His Father’s house. There this publican will find the ‘same Jesus,’ but in the midst of honors heaped upon Him by the God who sent Him here to die for sinners.
To the same blessed destination lie is conducting every believer.
“There shall we see His face
With all the saints above,
And sing Forever of His grace,
Forever of His love.”
May our reader be one of the happy number.
GEO. C.