More than 25 years ago I wrote to my eldest brother, telling him that I had found Christ. This brother had known the Lord already a number of years, and my letter thus confessing Christ, brought from him a very hearty reply. It was something to the effect that he would rather have heard such news from me, than that I had become a millionaire, or a prince among the great ones of the earth. The joy that filled my heart, on meeting with such a response from one I so admired and loved, comes back to me now as one of the happiest moments of my life.
Bearing this in mind, though we are unknown to each other; I would desire heartily to congratulate every young believer, who reads these lines, on having through grace become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. With distinctness and certainty, you may affirm that you become a possessor of Jesus Christ, for by believing on His Name it has been your unspeakable privilege to have received Him (John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12)). It is a work of joy to the Holy Spirit now to bring you into the blessed realization of your possession.
“Ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you” (John 14:2020At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)). Well may the heart that begins to realize that it possesses Jesus Christ, gladly respond,
“Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
Blessed Jesus, unto Thee.”
Such is God’s way and order, as He has said, “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:1010For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:10). Not having seen and complied with this order, may be the reason why some young Christians have to mourn the absence of assurance and joy in the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 1:5, 65For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: (1 Thessalonians 1:5‑6)). The mistake is frequently made by beginning at the wrong end. You may desire first to have the sweet, joyous sense of acceptance in your heart, then to give the Lord thanks for having saved you; but it is more to the Lord’s honor if you hear His word and believe Him, and just tell Him that you do believe Him, and give Him thanks. Take Ephesians 1:3-73Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:3‑7), and use it as your thanksgiving to the Lord. Then, as He leads and gives you the opportunity, tell someone else that you have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and that God says you are “Accepted in the Beloved.” This will be like opening the door of a cage, to let the lark escape, to soar upwards and sing in the blue heavens.
Confession of Christ thus begun should be maintained. It will be more difficult to do so than to fix a badge on your collar, but the wearing of a ribbon, of a certain dress, is, in comparison to the real confession of Christ, what praying by machinery is, to the prayer of the heart. The Lord wants reality, and that which will suit His eyes. He looks not on the outward appearance, but on the heart. It is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaketh. While the heart is fresh with the love of God, the lips will speak freely of Christ.
Young Christians, and old ones, too, like young soldiers, need to hear the word of command: “Front.” This may keep us steady, or, if there has been declension, it will bring recovery. When the Lord’s eyes met Peter’s, backsliding ceased, and restoration began. For wiser is it to keep facing our front, and to have our eyes on the Lord, so that our hearts and lips are free to confess His name.
Is He not worthy? The Father said of Him, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Twice such a testimony was given from heaven. When John was permitted to see and hear what was going on in heaven, he writes of ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, who said with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Revelation 5:11, 1211And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation 5:11‑12). It was the face of this Worthy One that Stephen saw, and it so charmed him that he heeded not the stones cast by his murderers. Since then, in many lands, the noble army of martyrs have joyfully sealed their confession to His worth with their blood. Read God’s roll of honor (Heb. 11), and see the company into which, through grace, you have been brought, and seek strength from Him to fight like them the good fight of faith.