A PICTURE bearing the above title was once exhibited in some of our large towns. It represented the gallant captain and officers of the S.S. “Missouri” in the act of rescuing the passengers and crew of the sinking emigrant ship “Danemark,” on her way to New York, from Copenhagen, in April 1889.
Those well qualified to judge pronounced it marvelously realistic, and the public generally showed their appreciation of it by daily flocking in large numbers to the exhibition rooms.
I will ask the reader now kindly to turn his attention to one of God’s pictures, in which ALL THE WORLD is represented (Rom. 3:9-239What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:9‑23)). The emperor and the serf, the king and the peasant, the prince and the beggar, the peer and the crossing-sweeper, the wearer of a coronet and the lowly laborer in fustian, the merchant millionaire and the workhouse pauper, the titled lady of the royal court and the fallen woman of the city, the countess and the charwoman, dm proprietress of the manor house with its broad acres and the factory girl—every grade of society, from the monarch downwards, are here found ranged together, on one common platform, in the HOLY PRESENCE of a THRICE HOLY GOD.
What is the title of this picture?
“WEIGHED AND FOUND WANTING.”
What? no difference between the sovereign and the cottager? None, for ALL have sinned. Would you class that polished gentleman with yonder poor inebriate? or this amiable and accomplished lady with that degraded and dissolute woman reeling out of the tap-room? YES, for IN THIS PICTURE God shows that there is no difference (vs. 22) ―that every mouth is stopped, and that all are alike guilty before God (vs. 19).
Turn to another picture, drawn for us with unerring accuracy by the Holy Ghost. Allow me to entitle it, “PARDONED SINNERS AT HOME” (Rev. 4 and 5). The scene is laid in heaven; the background, the unsullied light of the glory of God. See heaven’s door opened (ch. 4:1), and a throne set, and ranged around it twenty-four crowned elders. Who are these? A representative company of redeemed sinners from the earth. The slain Lamb is the prominent object, forming the center of a vast radiant circle of glory.
Next to the Lamb, in the inner circle, are the crowned elders, then the living creatures, while an innumerable company of angels complete the threefold circle.
Dear reader, fix your eye steadily on this sublime picture. The book of Revelation is not a sealed book (ch. 22:10); simple, childlike faith in God unveils its mysteries to those who have ears to hear (ch. 3:22). But it is largely symbolic, you say. Granted, but symbolic of what? Who is the center and sun around whom the scriptures revolve and irradiate? Surely He who is clearly symbolized in the slain Lamb, the beloved One of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Note, to the elders in Peter’s first Epistle, he thus speaks to a few despised, scattered, and persecuted followers of Jesus: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:5, 95Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)
9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (1 Peter 2:9)). And John writing to the seven Churches in Asia, composed of converted men and women, thus speaks (Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6)): “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father” (1 Cor. 6:10,1110Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:10‑11)).
From these and many other scriptures we learn who are represented by the crowned elders in Revelation 4 and 5, the white linen and golden vials bespeaking their priestly service, as the golden crowns mark their royal character and dignity. In other words, it is designed to set forth, as far as our finite minds can grasp it, the future dignity, place, and portion of the redeemed sinners of Adam’s race.
In John 4 the sent One of God makes known to a seeking sinner that the Father is seeking worshippers. In chapter 9:38 a sample case is given, proving that the only place to graduate for a worshipper is at the feet of Jesus. In Revelation 4 and 5, next in dignity, as in place and portion to the One upon the throne, and the Lamb in the midst, see the mighty company of blood-washed sinners from the earth; only they, of all that holy throng, can sing the new song, “Thou art worthy, thou wast slain, thou hast redeemed us.” Only they can raise the note of worship (ch. 4:10; vs. 14) which shall swell louder and deeper as the eternal ages roll on. My reader, will you be amongst that number?
I turn you to one more picture in God’s gallery, and, oh, friend, behold its title, written on every death-doomed brow in that vast company, “AND EVERY SOUL WAS LOST” (Luke 13:25-2725When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Luke 13:25‑27); Matt. 7:22, 23, 25:10-12). Religious professor, careless scoffer, orthodox hypocrite, infatuated slave of Satan, votary of scientific research, shameless profligate, refined lady of elegant accomplishments, abandoned outcast of the city, where will you find a refuge for your soul in that day? Heaven’s door is closed forever against you.
Dear reader, God’s pictures are true. The skilled artist may fail to produce on canvas even the conception of his own genius, but every stroke of the Divine pencil is guided by a masterly hand. See that multitude with blanched faces, uttering a wild despairing cry, “Lord, Lord, open to us!” and the withering answer, “I never knew you, depart from me.” Moralists, philanthropists, ordinance keepers, skeptics, rationalists, will your creeds and dogmas hold your souls up, as those sweeping sentences meet your ears? Not real believers now, then you are too late; never more will the silvery tones of the gospel be sounded in your hearing, and forever, and forever, you will bewail the folly, the infatuation, the unbelief that kept you away from the blessed One, whose heart lingered long over you.
Dear unsaved reader, whatever your present condition of soul may be, whether outwardly moral, upright, and respectable, or utterly careless and indifferent as to your soul’s interests, one thing is certain, you are represented in two of these pictures.
Have you seen your full-length portrait in Romans 3:10-23,10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17And the way of peace have they not known: 18There is no fear of God before their eyes. 19Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:10‑23) and having seen it, have you owned in God’s presence that it exactly describes you? If so, then listen to verse 24, which also applies to you: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24)). Grasp this truth in childlike faith, then turn your eye to the second picture, in Revelation 5, and let your soul feast on the Spirit’s graphic delineation of your future home, where, with that blood-washed and exulting throng, who surround God’s beloved One in glory, you will join the ceaseless anthem of praise to Him who alone is worthy.
Hardened sinner in your sins, do you refuse to own God’s photograph is true of you? Then remember you have no part in that radiant circle of Revelation 5, but, continuing as you are, you will most surely find your place in the third picture. You will be left outside, and the door of God’s mercy will be barred against you forever. Today it stands open. God knows you, friend, better than you do yourself; why not accept His verdict of you? You will have to bow to it. Better a thousand times to own it now, when the river of God’s soul-saving grace is streaming over this poor, barren scene. Then you will be able to sing―
“Oh! I am my Beloved’s,
And my Beloved is mine;
He brings a poor vile sinner
Into His house of wine.”
Jesus? Is His strong arm not powerful enough to hold a trembling one like you? The precious blood He shed on Calvary has availed for millions; is it not sufficient for you? Venture upon Him, venture wholly, and venture now. He will save you this moment, He will satisfy your heart, He will put you on His shoulders (Luke 15), and there you will remain until He lands you in His own bright home.
G. F. E.