Some years ago we were on our way by train from eastern Canada to the Pacific Coast. It was monotonous, uninteresting scenery as we crossed the vast regions; but suddenly the majestic Canadian Rocky Mountains came into view. In our sleeping car there was a rush for the windows from which the towering peaks could be seen. The train held on its way but seemed to us to be making little progress around the base of the mountains, so vast were they.
Among the passengers silence prevailed, and a feeling of awe seemed to have overtaken everyone. After a few minutes I said to a gentleman whose face had been glued to the window: "And just to think that the blessed One who made these great mountains, our Lord Jesus Christ, is the very One who, on the cross, bore our sins in His own body on the tree.”
To my sorrow, these words elicited no response. Absorbed in his sight-seeing, the man's thoughts and heart had no room for the Creator of this majestic splendor. But there is a day coming "when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ." Rom. 2:1616In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:16).
Years later we joined a group being escorted on a tour of the underground caverns of Luray, Virginia. The explanation given by the guide was that at one time an underground river had changed its course, leaving the yawning caves as evidence of its former path.
Here again as we moved along, an awesome silence seemed to have us in its grip. The thought in many minds must have been: "What if the river should suddenly re-appear following its old channel, or the vaulted roofs collapse while we are here?”
At one of the grottoes we had stood for some time in silent wonder. Suddenly a voice exclaimed: "O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! in wisdom past Thou made them all." Psa. 104:2424O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. (Psalm 104:24).
Again we were saddened that there was no response. The mention of the name of the Lord brought only resistance to the pleasure-seeking hearts of the sight-seers. Could they be ashamed to own Him?
"By whom also He made the worlds"—who also upholds "all things by the word of His power.”
"O Christ, the heart rejoices in John one, and verse three,
For by the word of Jesus Christ the worlds came to be;
And those who here confess Him while traveling below,
Will surely have His blessing when they to glory go.”
"Jesus, and shall it be,
A mortal man ashamed of Thee?
Ashamed of Thee, whom angels praise,
Whose glories shine through endless days?”
Dear reader, are you ashamed of Jesus "that dear friend on whom our hopes of heaven depend"? Have you heard His voice of tenderness and love seeking to draw you to Himself? And have you been keeping Him at arms' length—conscious that your decision for Christ will mean the derision of your friends, and will be the end of, and progress in "this present evil world"? Gal. 1:44Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: (Galatians 1:4).
Pause, I pray you, and consider that the eternal welfare of your soul is at stake. An eternity—which you can never exhaust—which will last as long as God exists, is before you. Will it be in Heaven or Hell? One sin only in Eden's garden brought sin, death and judgment as man's portion. Are you not among the guilty? "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
Except for the intervention of our precious Savior on our behalf there could have been no salvation for any of us; but, blessed be God, we read in His Word: "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." Heb. 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28).
"Blest Substitute from God, wrath's awful cup He drained," and "The Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6). Surely, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son At such a cost of infinite sorrow and suffering, to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:1010Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10). the Savior went even unto death. In His mighty love to you He made this great salvation available; and do you say, "I scarce can take it in?”
Friend, you cannot ignore your own sins and your sinful state; you cannot ignore the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, nor set aside God's command that you "Repent... and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out." Acts 3:1919Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (Acts 3:19). This is a "must" for you, because God "will by no means clear the guilty." Ex. 34:77Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Exodus 34:7).
The penalty for refusing to come to God about your sins is plainly declared in this Scripture: "The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:7, 87And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑8).
Oh, friend, may this not be your portion. Instead, may God grant you the blessing bestowed upon the saints who once lived at Colosse: "The hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the Word of the truth of the gospel." Col. 1:55For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; (Colossians 1:5).
"Till then, nor is my boasting vain;
Till then, I boast a Savior slain,
And may this my glory be,
That Christ is not ashamed of me!”
T. M.