No. 1.
THERE are two kinds of cowards. Every man, woman, or child who is going on in sin is a coward the moment God’s voice is heard, or the light of eternity dawns on them. Adam was a coward, and tried in vain to hide himself; and all the fallen race of Adam sooner or later will seek a hiding place from God. Some will call on the rocks and hills to fall on and hide them. Some are seeking in vain to hide behind some trees of self-righteousness; but the voice of God, sooner or later, shall be heard by thee, dear friend, the reader of this paper, saying, “Where art thou?”
That voice must be heard. And what will your answer be? Will you stand a found out guilty sinner in the presence of a Holy God, to own and feel with Cain, “My punishment is greater than I can bear?” Will it be your awful doom never more to hear the sweet voice of mercy saying, “Come;” never more to hear the earnest entreaties of friends who love thee and long for thy salvation? Will it be your portion never more to feel the striving of the Holy Spirit? God forbid! Now once more let me entreat thee; just as thou art, to turn to Him Who is still saying, “Come.” The music of heaven is the voice of Jesus, and He is still saying, “Come.”
His precious blood was shed to blot out the sinner’s sins; trust it, believe on the One Who shed it, and then, not as a coward seeking to hide, but as a sinner confessing thy sin, come into the presence of Him Who is light and love, and know the peace that has been made by the precious blood that cleanseth from all sin.
Cowards. No. 2.
It may be that you, reader, are a believer in the Lord Jesus, and have thanked Him for what He has done for you, but have not yet told even those you know that you are on the Lord’s side. Meditate upon these solemn searching words, “Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 10:32).
There is deep, true joy in confessing Him before others. A young convert told me, “I wrote to all my friends and told them I was converted, and I was so happy.” Another young man when he was converted, and living with godless shopmates, thought, “How can I confess Christ before them.” He slept in the same room with one of the very worst, and he was tempted to read his Bible in secret, and pray after he was in bed, not to be seen. But the thought of being a coward dispelled his fears, and led him at once to openly read and pray, and this filled his soul with joy and gave him victory.
May the Lord give you courage to confess Him before others, but never forget that the only power to do so is by keeping close to Him Who died for you. W. T.