WHILST passing through the old country churchyard of Wembdon, a picturesque little village in West Somersetshire, I recently observed a stone on which was written, "Spes mea Christus," which means, "Christ—my hope.”
Now, this is exceedingly beautiful, for what words could better express the state and condition of one who, passing from a scene of time into eternity, had trusted Christ as his Savior?
At such a moment—and remember, friend, the moment will surely come when you, too, will have to die—how good to know Christ as one's own Savior; to be able to turn with all confidence towards heaven, seeing Christ there as the One who once died and shed His blood, and who, moreover, was raised from the dead that your faith and hope might be in God. He was "delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification." (Rom. 4:25) What blessed news is this to a poor lost sinner, and how truly encouraging. God, who is bent on the blessing of the sinner, could only have devised such means; you and I could not possibly have got back to God by any way or method of our own. Oh, no! God is holy and cannot change.
In this Cain erred; he sought to merit the favor of God by his own work, quite forgetting how far distant he was on account of sin.
God must necessarily, in consistency with who and what He is, have to say of sin: it could not be passed over. God is just, righteous, and of holier eyes than to behold evil! Even the angelic hosts—those into whose ranks sin has not entered—veil their faces, crying day and night: Holy! Holy! Holy! But instead of you and me—sinners indeed!—being put to death (for the wages of sin is death), another has taken our place—even Jesus, the blessed, spotless, Lamb of God. All the righteous, unmitigated judgment of God due to us fell on Him at Calvary. He who knew no sin made sin for us that we (those who believe) might become the righteousness of God in Him.
And whilst there, the Sin-bearer, God had to hide His face from Him, resulting in that awful, memorable cry: “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” (Psa. 22:1.)
“The perfect righteousness of God,
Is witnessed in the Savior’s blood.
'Tis on the cross of Christ we see
His righteousness, yet wondrous grace.
“God could not pass the sinner by,
His sin demands that he must die;
But in the cross of Christ we see
How God can save, yet righteous be.
“The sin alights on Jesus' head.
'Tis in His blood sin's debt is paid.
Stern justice can demand no more,
And mercy can dispense her store.
“The sinner who believes is free.
Can say, The Savior died for me.'
Can point to the atoning blood,
And say, This made my peace with God.'
“How wondrous the redemption plan
Designed by God for ruined man.
His precious Son in death laid low
That He might endless life bestow!”
One has said, “The moral import of the cross for the glory of God is a subject which, as we study it, becomes ever more and more magnificent—a never-ending study." It is absolutely unique! Judgment was there exhausted! The veil of the temple rent in twain! God made known in the wondrous character of a Savior-God. There, too, redemption was accomplished; there peace was established; and there the love of God most blessedly and wondrously told out.
Thank God for having thus, from His own side, and in perfect harmony and accord with His own holiness, laid such a basis whereon He is free to forgive and bless. Just indeed! and also the Justifier of Him who believes in Jesus. Turn, friend, from all your own devices, to Christ and His finished work. It is God's only way of blessing, as set forth in those words: " 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." (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39).)
If Christ is not your Savior, your hope is vain! God grant you may now take up those words—Christ my hope—with which we began our paper. W. B. H.