The title of this paper was the significant and repeated exclamation of a poor dying woman. And were it not for the benefit of others, there would be no good reason for publishing it. But her case is not a rare one. Go where we may, we shall find many in the same condition. And the simple story of God’s ways in grace with her soul may be made a blessing to many. The Lord, in His abundant mercy, grant that it may!
Self-deception is a fearful thing, and not uncommon. Surely we should ever seek to deliver precious souls from it, by plain, and faithful dealing, in dependence on God.
The subject of this narrative had reached her seventieth year. She was now very near her journey’s end, but still ignorant of the way of salvation.
After a few general inquiries, and learning a little as to the real state of her soul, I asked her plainly, in something like the following words, “Have you any hope of recovering from this illness?”
“Οh no, sir! I am an old woman, and I have been a hard-working woman all my life. I can never be better in this world.”
“Are you thinking much about the next as you lie there?”
“Οh yes, sir; that is just what I am doing. I pray nearly all night and all day.”
“I am glad to hear that. But, tell me, what do you chiefly pray for?”
“I pray to the Almighty, that He would pardon my sins. I know I have a great many.”
“Are you very anxious to know whether they are all forgiven or not?”
“Indeed I am, sir. I have nothing else now to think about, but to pray to the Almighty that He would pardon me.”
“And do you believe He will?”
“Οh yes I am sure a great many of my sins have been pardoned, since I began to pray; but I know they are not all pardoned yet; and I keep praying to Him.”
“Well, it is surely a right thing for us poor creatures to pray to God, who only can help us. But it would be quite wrong to make a Saviour of our prayers. Christ is the only Saviour from sin. You must have a great many to pray about. The sins of seventy long years! What a number you must have committed in that time! And remember, you will have to speak to God about every one of them, unless another does it for you. Now, tell me this, Do you really expect that your own prayers will satisfy God, for having neglected Him, and sinned against Him seventy years?”
“Οh no, sir! I know the Saviour died for our sins, and we have the promise, that if we ask we shall receive. But we must ask.”
“Just so; that is so far true. But how long do you think you will have to pray yet, before they are all forgiven? Do not the Scriptures positively teach us, that if we are depending on the death of Christ for pardon, and not on our own prayers, we are forgiven already? When God forgives a sinner, He does it all at once. Not by halves, surely! Whenever we trust, by faith, in the death of Jesus, we are fully and freely forgiven, whether we know it or not. God does everything perfectly.”
The poor woman was sadly in the dark on this important point, but most attentive to what was said, and deeply interested, although not in great trouble about her soul.
After reading to her some passages from the Scriptures, her mind was evidently turned to the word of God, and became fixed on it. Especially on such portions as Acts 13:28-39, where the apostle is proving that the death and resurrection of Christ is the only ground of pardon, and that God only forgives those who truly believe on His Son.
“AND HAVE I NOTHING TO DO?” she exclaimed, in the most earnest manner.
“No, dear woman, nothing to do; only to believe. The blessed Jesus has done it all. He has done all the work of our salvation. He did everything that God demanded, and now, God asks nothing from us, only to believe and rejoice in the perfect, finished work of His beloved Son. The word of God expressly says, that it is through faith in the Lord Jesus we are pardoned, and not through our own prayers or doings of any sort. ‘Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins. And, by Him, all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.’ Here, you see, the apostle stands up, in the midst of a congregation of Jews, at Antioch, and proclaims a full and free pardon to all, without exception. Now, all in that assembly, who believed the glad tidings, were immediately forgiven and justified. And they knew that they were so, by the plain word of God; therefore they could take the comfort of it at once.
“Now, mark this, the apostle does not say one word about doing; he only speaks about believing. All who believed what he preached about ‘Jesus and the resurrection,’ were, the same moment, forgiven, justified, and eternally saved. And now, if you believe the same good news, and trust only in the risen and glorified Jesus, you will be completely forgiven and saved all at once. Just where you are; and you will not require to wait till tomorrow. It will be true just now. God declares Himself to “be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.” Rom. 3:26.
The simplicity of the gospel evidently stumbled her for the moment; and again she exclaimed, with wonder and amazement, “And have I nothing to do?”
“The apostle says, ALL THAT BELIEVE ARE FORGIVEN AND JUSTIFIED, and that is enough. We must not say anything different from the apostle. These are God’s own words by the lips of His servant. Oh, then, think no more about your prayers or doings, as a means of pardon. Believe God’s word—praise Him for His mercy, and pray that you may be kept “looking unto Jesus.” Place all your confidence in Him, and in the work which He accomplished for poor, helpless sinners on the cross. His blood alone cleanseth from all sin. The very instant you believe you are washed in the blood of Jesus, clothed in the righteousness of God and fitted for heaven. The heavy load of your seventy years’ transgression will be entirely removed, and you will find relief and rest to your weary heart in Him.”
Before leaving, I could bless God for the state of her mind. She was now deeply exercised. Her conscience appeared to be in the light of God’s word. As I turned round to say a parting word, with my hand on the handle of the door, she once more repeated, with deep emotion, “And have I nothing to do?”
These were the last words I heard her utter. A few days after this she fell asleep in Jesus, giving evidence to those who visited her, that she was not now counting on her prayers for acceptance before God, but on the Lord Jesus Christ, the blessed Saviour of the chief of sinners, whose precious blood cleanseth us from ALL sin. 1 John 1:7.
“Must I be nothing?
Must I nothing do?
Nothing, my child.
Christ hath done all for you:
You cannot buy,
The price is all too high:
Freely I give—
Only “believe and live.”
I will be nothing still,
That Christ alone my heaven of heavens may fill.
Yet set me, Lord, a little glowing gem
Upon His diadem;
To shed my tiny ray
Among the splendors of His crowning day;
Though unperceived, I still should like to shine,
A tribute glory on that brow divine.”