Daniel Webster, the famous lawyer, spent a summer vacation in a rural district far away from the capital and its scenes of busy life. While there, he went each Sunday morning to a little country church. His niece asked him why he chose to go there, since he paid so little attention to far abler sermons in Washington.
"In Washington," he replied, "they preach to Daniel" Webster the statesman. But here this man has been talking to Daniel Webster the sinner, and telling him of Jesus.”
Beloved one out of Christ, are you high in this world's opinion? Let me solemnly warn you: whatever your worldly attainments, title, or talents, they are nothing before God, Any name, any descriptive term you choose, is in God's sight an alias. To Him you are only a sinner.
What can meet the crying need of every sinner? What alone can bring peace to your conscience, and lasting joy to your heart? It is all summed up in the one word that meant so much to Daniel Webster: JESUS. '
God made a way to extend His mercy and show His love to all sinners, regardless of their earthly estate. Nor does He compromise His holiness. He has given Jesus, His own Son, to die in the sinner's place; and bear away his sins. This is what the Lord Jesus has done. This is the work that He accomplished when He suffered upon the cross. He atoned for sin by His sufferings and death. The condemnation due to all sinners, fell upon Him, and now God freely pardons and saves whosoever puts his trust in the Savior. What rest to the sin-burdened conscience the knowledge of this brings!
But this pardon, free though it is, must be received in order to be effective. Friend, have you received it?
About a hundred years ago a man named George Wilson was sentenced to be hanged for robbing the United States mails and for murder. Andrew Jackson, who was then President, exercised his prerogative, and sent him a pardon. Wilson, however, refused it, and insisted that it was not a pardon unless he accepted it.
The Attorney-General said that the law was silent on this point and the matter was referred to the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Marshall gave the following decision: "A pardon is a paper, the value of which depends on its acceptance by the person implicated. It is hardly to be supposed that one under sentence of death would refuse to accept a pardon, but if it is refused it is no pardon. George Wilson must be hanged!" And he was.
What folly was it that could have induced Wilson to refuse the pardon that meant life and liberty to him? I do not know. But it was no greater folly than that which leads thousands to refuse, day after day, the pardon that is freely offered them by God. Men need pardon because they are offenders against God. Sin is an infinite offense in His sight; and all have sinned! ALL, therefore, need pardon. None can earn it, for men are not only sinners but "without strength.”
But the Lord "is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." God has not left us to perish without hope. On the ground of the atonement wrought by His own Son, He offers a free pardon to all. However, that pardon, if not accepted, will not avail. Do not, I beseech you, let this priceless boon slip from you through indifference or stubbornness of heart.