GOD commands men. Man dearly loves to command his fellow, and often does; but that is a state of things that has come in through his departure from God. At the outset, a creature in whom God could find delight, having failed in his responsibility, he became self-willed, and whilst walking himself in disobedience to God, delights only too often in commanding, or even tyrannizing over, his fellow. It is a principle one perceives at work even in the nursery, the school, and in the great political arena of the world. And this state of things went so far, that when God came into His own world in the person of His Son, man utterly refused His authority and spat in Christ’s face. Man refused God’s command, saying, “We will not have this man to reign over us.”
Now God winked at this time of ignorance, till man’s guilt was thus fully consummated. Then the Holy Ghost, through His chosen vessel, the Apostle Paul, called upon all men to repent. Nothing can be clearer than this important scripture, God commandeth repentance. Mark it well, dear reader, God―God Himself―commands repentance. The One who has all authority and power has caused His command to be expressed. Terrible indeed will be the consequence of all disobedience.
And when does He command? Now. Tens of thousands have perished through delay. Procrastination is the thief of Souls. Tomorrow is in the mist of uncertainty. God commands men to repent now. The time of probation is over. If you do not repent now, tomorrow you may be reaping the fruit of your folly in endless misery, instead of the fruits of repentance in endless joy. God always means precisely what He says. Hence, the moment to repent is an ever-present now. The next moment death may overtake you, and there is no repentance in the grave. Have you repented?
May be you think in your deceitful heart that this command only refers to those whom you would look upon as wicked people. You yourself may be a respectable, moral, and religious person, and therefore think that it cannot possibly refer to you. But what saith the Scripture? “God commandeth all men.” Not some men, but all. There is no exception. All means all. It is impossible for you or for anyone to escape its force. All includes all, and excludes none―no, not one. The command is for all, and hence, unmistakably, it refers to you. You are commanded. Have you obeyed? Are you still running the awful risks of disobedience?
But maybe you still seek to escape the sharp edge of the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, saying in your heart―Yes; but does that mean all men in the world? May it not apply to all in a certain sphere, or of a certain nation? Or may it not apply to the inhabitants of Athens who heard it declared? Again the Scripture meets you, saying, “All men everywhere.” It is impossible to get out of it. Everywhere includes every country under the sun. All men everywhere includes all men in all places. It matters not what your name, or character, or dwelling-place, or nationality may be, all everywhere includes you. God now commands all men everywhere.
And what does He command? To repent. Again we appeal to you. Have you obeyed? Have you repented? How dare you disobey? Again your treacherous and deceitful heart may essay to wriggle out of it, saying, But what is meant by repentance? I have always sought to lead a good life, and to do my duty, and serve God. Well, that is not repentance. That is all yourself, as people so often express themselves, “doing the best” you can. Repentance is quite another thing. Repentance is the judgment of yourself, not self-justification. Repentance is learning you are good for nothing in the presence of God, and giving up all thought of being better. If your natural course of life, however moral or religious, would suit God, there were no occasion for Him to command you to repent; and as we have seen, He commands all. Perhaps you think as you read this—Well, I must turn over a new leaf, I must set to work to lead a better life altogether than I have done. Ah, again you miss the mark. That is not repentance. That is reformation, Repentance and reformation are diametrically opposite. God commandeth all men everywhere, not to reform, but to, repent.
Now, the moment you discern you are a good-for-nothing, hopeless one, judging yourself before God in. His holiness, that you deserve naught but judgment at His hands, you will discern naught but grace in His heart towards you. And by faith in Him, whom He in love gave to die for all, you will be justified in His sight. With repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, heaven is sure. No soul ever missed it who is characterized by that. A nominal, national, head belief, as one said, is utterly valueless„ but repentance towards God puts me right as to myself before Him, and faith in the risen Lord Jesus Christ gives me a sure title to glory in Him.
And why does God command all men everywhere to repent? Because, says the apostle, “he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world (this habitable earth) in righteousness, by that Man whom he hath ordained, whereof he Hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” God has no pleasure in judging men; but for His own glory He must judge those who fail to repent. The desire of His heart is that all should be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth. But if men persist in doing their own will, and neglect the command of God to repent, how is it possible to escape the consequence of their folly and disobedience?
Men act on all sides as if they were their own master, instead of God’s responsible creatures. Dear reader, look this serious matter in the face, we pray you. Repent, and believe the gospel of God. The One whom God has raised from the dead, and by whom He will surely execute the threatened judgment, is a Saviour today. Seated at the right hand of God in glory, triumphant and crowned in His presence, He is ready to pardon and save any and every poor sinner who in true self-judgment bows to and believes on Him. Mercy now rejoices against judgment, and grace, without limit and free, flows through righteousness, bringing a present and everlasting salvation to every one everywhere who believeth in Jesus.
No longer, then, pursue your pathway of indifference and carelessness, but bow now in the light of God’s presence in true repentance, true self-judgment, and as and where you are believe on the glorious name of His Son. The Spirit of God has remained here in grace, convincing sinners to that end. Resist His strivings, and you will reap the fruit of your sins in everlasting despair; but “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). For all who believe on Him there is no judgment; it is passed and gone forever. It fell on Christ at Calvary, and from then till now God has waited in grace, proclaiming full, free, and eternal pardon to an. Happy indeed is everyone who receives it. May your soul be sure of it now.