THE manner in which we approach God is of vital importance, and only in His word can we learn how we may rightly do this. We are not astonished at care and anxiety in any communication with an earthly potentate, but, on the contrary, if ourselves summoned to appear, should seek all available information as to what became us in our relationship to him. A man who ignored these points would be accounted a fool, for in all probability his contempt or negligence would recoil upon himself, for it would not do to trust one’s own opinion or good sense in such matters, especially when there are established rules existing.
Even people who would acknowledge this in everyday life, nevertheless rarely reflect on what becomes them in their relationship to God. We must all have to do with Him, and the summons may come at any moment. Let us be prepared, and approach Him acceptably by heeding His instructions.
Jesus, who is the Word of God — the Revealer of God’s mind towards us — declares, “I am the way, the truth, and the life no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” As the trusty Alpine guide tells the inexperienced traveler that he cannot reach those lofty heights but by his aid and guidance, so Jesus tells us that there is no approach to God but by the way He has made. Yes, dear friend, the awful gulf which sin had created must first of all be bridged; mercy and truth had to be united before peace could righteously be extended to man.
For this undeniable and universal indictment, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God,” is gone forth; every mouth is stopped, for we are guilty before God; our relationship as children of Adam and unsaved is that of sinners; and our position one of alienation. From God must proceed the overture; our lips must be silent; in ourselves we have nothing to plead, for God declares our righteousness to be as filthy rags. On this ground of silence, distance, and alienation — in ourselves hopelessly ruined — the gospel of God’s grace is extended through the work of Christ, in such terms, too, as might well break down the proudest heart that has hitherto rebelled. Listen to the language the Apostle Paul employs, “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him (who knew no sin) to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.”
As we pause at this wondrous scripture, let us review these points. The question of sin, dear reader, you cannot deny; the consequent alienation from God it is not in your power to contend over, for you yourself are the offender, and God declares that it is so. He is at purer eyes than to toehold iniquity, and we are enemies in mind by wicked works. Such being the case, then, have you ever heard of such love, that while extending His grace, God should maintain His Holy character at the cost of the life blood of His only begotten Son.
God would not offer you such a pardon at the expense of His righteousness. You would value such as little as you would the action of a magistrate who abused his authority to release a prisoner in his pity towards him. Such a cheap kind of grace could but excite in the prisoner contempt of law and order, without one spark of affection towards the one of whom it had cost nothing. God’s grace is on the ground of righteousness. He offers you a free pardon because at the highest cost to Himself He has executed sentence on the Lord Jesus Christ. “The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” It is not mere overlooking your sins, but a pardon, in which He would violate His own intrinsic holiness to withhold from the believer, since he has demanded the penalty at the hands of His own Son. Moreover, He has signified His complete satisfaction in the work of Christ by raising Him from the dead. “He was delivered for our offences, and raised again for our justification.”
Oh, do for once look at the cross of Christ, and yielding your hard thoughts, see God in His true character, see there the depth of His love. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “By Him all that believe are justified from all things.”
Can it be that you will slight the work of Christ, and deliberately choose to brave the awful tempest of God’s wrath against sin? E. W. O.