GOD declares that “the way of transgressors is hard;” also, that “the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” How often souls in their distance and alienation from God, prove the truth of these verses!
Mr. and Mrs. J — were no exception to this; over and over again it was their bitter experience. They could only reap what they had sown (Gal. 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7)). Drunkenness, with its attendant quarrelling, made their home everything but what a home ought to be. Their only child, of whom the father was very fond, had been ill for several weeks, and had been visited by a Christian lady.
When this little Mary was recovering, she called as usual, and was surprised to find the home changed. Mrs. J —, neatly dressed, received her with a happy face and hearty greeting. All this so struck the visitor, that she congratulated her on her altered appearance.
“Fresh people live here now,” Mrs. J — explained, and then she told what had brought about the change. Mr. J — had come home sober the same day that little Mary got up, and to please her, he said he would play with her.
“Oh, daddy, let us have a game of Sunday school, will you?” Mary said. “I’ll be teacher, you be the scholar; you stand there, and I’ll give you an easy lesson first. You must say what I say; won’t you, daddy?”
“Yes,” answered the father, his mind going back to years ago, when he had stood in a Sunday-school class.
“Now, daddy, say ‘Jesus.’”
No answer came from the scholar, but a something like a rising in his throat, “Now, daddy, you promised you would say what I told you, and it is an easy lesson.”
Mr. J―stood still; for that name he had only mentioned when using it in oaths and cursing. How he wished the lesson over, and as little Mary sat on her cot, patiently waiting, he in a snappish and quick manner repeated the lesson.
“Oh, daddy, you mustn’t say His name like that; you must say it soft and low like this” — and little Mary said His name in her sweetest manner, and the father softly repeated the lesson, till little Mary said, “Daddy, me don’t want to play no more, I feel so tired,” and with that dropped her head on the pillow and went off to sleep. But not so Mr. J―; he found no rest till God by His Spirit led him to cry for mercy and forgiveness to the One who has never turned a seeking sinner away.
Dear reader, I will ask you to repeat little Mary’s lesson. What does that name speak to you of? Does it cause your heart to rejoice at the sound of a Saviour’s name? Does it speak to you of forgiveness of sins, through His blood? (Col. 1:1414In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)). Does it remind you of One who was delivered for your offenses and raised for your justification? (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). Can you truthfully say that God made Him to be sin for you, who knew no sin, that you might be made the righteousness of God in Him? (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). Do you own Him Master and Lord, for He is such (John 13:1313Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (John 13:13)). Are you waiting for that Blessed One to come again to receive you unto Himself? (John 14:1-31Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1‑3)).
If the above be true of you, praise and worship to God will fill your heart for such wondrous grace and mercy.
In which part of this verse are you?
Every reader is described there, either in the first part or the second.
If you are a true believer on the Son of God you have NOW everlasting life — for God says so.
If you are not a believer, and if you enter eternity in that condition, you will never see life, but God’s wrath will abide on you eternally.
If death were to come to you suddenly today, your eternal destiny would be fixed.
Decide this matter, then, at once.
Here is what a young convert writes: — “I can never cease to thank God for what He has done for me through His Son Jesus Christ. I cannot tell you how great is my joy; neither tongue nor pen can express it. My heart is too full for words, but I know this, that I am far happier than I was before I found my Saviour.”