WHILE on the way to preach the gospel one Lord’s Day evening some time since, my attention was arrested by a striking notice, displayed in a prominent position outside a large railway station in the East End of London.
It was an invitation to a certain George M—to return at once; and as an encouragement to do so, a note was added stating that “all was right and all was forgiven.” It was very easy to infer that George M—had acted wrongly in some way or another, and conscious of his wrong, had departed. Equally plain was it, too, that the one whom he had wronged entertained none but kindly thoughts towards the wrong-doer, and was earnestly desirous of his immediate return to receive complete forgiveness. One could not help seeing in all this, a picture of the gospel, — the spontaneous grace of God in inviting the offender back to receive a full free pardon. How wondrous is God’s love to returning ones who have sinned against Him; the black past with all its hatred and rebellion is obliterated, and never can a single sin face the believer, for the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanseth from all sin.
Passing by the same place a week later, I looked again for the announcement of forgiveness, but it was no longer to be seen. Was it that the wanderer had returned, or was it that the patience of the one who displayed the invitation was exhausted? Such thoughts as these crowded into my mind, and I remembered that May God help the reader who up till now has God’s invitation to the sinner must one day be withdrawn. Now, though away from Him and in our sins, He calls us; indeed our sinful condition constitutes our only passport to His grace, and His grace is our only passport to glory. Today the word is— “Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isa. 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)).
Could anything be more emphatic? May I ask my reader if he or she has responded to these scriptures. What a slight it would be to His Majesty the King, to ignore his invitation to Buckingham Palace; but how infinitely greater the slight to neglect the great salvation that God offers (Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)).
The present is the only time we can call our own.
“Time past, ‘tis gone, thou canst not it recall;
Time present is, employ the moments small;
Time future is not, and may never be;
Time present is the only time for thee.”
May God help the reader who up till now has not “come” to Him, to do so at once. Soon the day of grace may close, then instead of “come” the awful word will be “depart” (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)).
C. H. B.