INFIDELITY increases; man grows bold in wickedness, and rejection of the Word of God. The Christian constantly finds himself confronted with the open denial of the very foundations of Christianity. Many run to and fro, and knowledge is increased (Dan. 12:44But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. (Daniel 12:4)), but with it man gets puffed up (1 Cor. 8:11Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. (1 Corinthians 8:1)), and thinks he knows better than God.
A servant of the Lord found himself in a railway carriage with a single fellow traveler, when the latter, with an open book of accounts in his hand, began making some remarks about bankruptcy; his avocation in life apparently being in connection chiefly with the settlement of bankrupt cases. The following is the substance of the conversation which then ensued.
“Suppose that a man was bankrupt," replied the other,” and I was to pay down as much as he owed, would he not be very foolish to refuse the discharge of his debt? Did you ever meet such an one?
“Yes," said he, "I met with one the other day. His brother-in-law offered to pay it all, but he refused; but it paid him better, I expect, to remain in the business and go on. He was a deep customer.”
“But suppose that, in addition to paying the amount, I was to put a large sum of money to his account in the bank, how then?
“Ah! I never met one that would reject that.”
“Well, that is the manner in which I have been treated.”
“Indeed, sir," he replied, looking surprised.
“Yes. But I do not mean in a monetary way, but by the Lord. I owed to God for my sin, and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, died upon the cross and paid it all in His own precious blood. And now God has put all the unsearchable riches of Christ to my account.
I was a poor bankrupt sinner, and you are in a similar case. But have you accepted the payment?
“I don't believe in it.”
“I don't believe in that either.”
“Indeed, you may profess not to believe it, but in your own conscience you know it is true.”
“I believe God is loving and merciful. You don't mean to tell me that He has prepared the lake of fire to torment us forever.”
“No, certainly not; He Himself tells us that it is prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:4141Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (Matthew 25:41)). But God is light, as well as love (1 John 1:55This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)), and therefore as you are not fit for His presence, if you will not have Christ, He says He will cast you there, too.”
“Prepared for the devil! I don't believe in the devil.”
“I can easily prove that there is one.”
“How?”
And he is so clever in his deceit, that he has deceived you as to his very existence. Further “The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)).
What would you think of a man, who had been found guilty by the jury, sentenced by the judge, in prison and in chains, awaiting the day of execution, rejecting a free pardon, and seeking to persuade himself that he was not guilty, and that the chains, bolts, bars, and prison walls, and judge did not exist? And what must I think of you, a guilty sinner, under judgment, led captive by Satan, refusing and rejecting God's salvation, and trying to persuade yourself that it is all a myth. God is love, and has given His only begotten Son to die for sinners, that we might not receive the consequences of our sins (John 3: 16); but if you will not accept God's salvation, you will surely be cast into hell, and never get out.”
“I'm a Unitarian.”
“Are you," replied the other, taking out his Bible from his pocket, then here is a text that will upset all your Unitarianism at once. And opening it at Rom. 9:3-53For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:3‑5), he read the words of the apostle by the Holy Ghost, in relation to the Israelites, “Of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever, Amen." And here is another," Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh, &c." (1 Tim. 3:1616And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)).
And 'here is a third, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, &c."(John 1:11In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)).
“Very likely that's a mistranslation. I don't believe Christ is God.”
“Mistranslation! That's a very convenient way of shirking the truth. The moment the Word does not suit you, convicting you against yourself, you are forced to cry, mistranslation.'
It so happens I have another, and I believe, more exact translation of the original with me, and you shall hear it from that. And taking it from his bag, he read the blessed truth to him again.
"The fact is," he continued,” you are infidel; and bold and daring enough to tell God He is a liar to His face. You, the creature, denying the Word of the Creator. He says, Christ is God,' and. you say, He is not.' You will not answer Him thus at the great white throne.
Why, if you knew that this train was about to go off the line, you would tremble like an aspen leaf at the thought of meeting God,”
“No, I shouldn't.”
“I believe you would. And mark you, too, there is a moment coming, when, if you continue to set at naught God's counsel and reproof, He also will laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear cornea (Prov. 1:25-2625But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; (Proverbs 1:25‑26)). Mind, I warn you; you will not be enabled to say that nobody ever told you. I tell you plainly, that unless you are washed from your sins in the precious blood of Christ, you will never meet me in glory. All you say only proves to me the truth of God's Word, for He declares therein that " the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor. 2:1414But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians 2:14)). And again, that " the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be," &c. (Rom. 8:77Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7))". You have never been born again, and therefore know not God, nor understand His Word. You remind me of a man born blind trying to make another who can see, believe that there are no fields, nor trees, &c. I pity you, and warn you again, that without Christ you are lost, and if you leave this world as you are, in your sins, you will be lost forever.”
The train now drew up to the platform, and the travelers parted, perhaps never to meet again in this world, certainly never in the next, unless this poor deluded one should exchange his infidelity for the blessed Christ of God.
And now, dear reader, a word with you.
What think ye of Christ? Your eternal destiny depends upon the answer. The Christian can take up the language of the epistle of John, and say, “We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." (1 John 5:2020And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)). Can you say it? Have you eternal life? He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)). The devils believe in God and tremble; this poor blinded one professed to believe in God, denied His Son, disbelieved His Word, yet trembled not. But the moment will come, when, except he repent, he will tremble before Him as his Judge, in his sins. Awful moment!
Sinner, if you live a Christless life, you will die a Christless death; come forth from the grave to a Christless resurrection, stand before God Christless in your sins, and be cast Christless into hell, to spend a Christless eternity without a single ray of hope.
Dear reader, what will your lot be?
E. H. C.