What does it mean?
The thought of many minds seems to be that deciding for Christ only means making a firm resolution to be on His side. No doubt there is this in it; but there is much more than this. There is an inwrought conviction that, as to myself, my case is utterly hopeless, and that He only is to be trusted as my Savior. I decide in the light of what God is in His holiness and what I am in my sinfulness, that as a Deliverer, Christ, and Christ done, is worthy of my confidence, and He is on my side.
I see that His welcoming "Come" is my only title to go to Him; His precious blood my only shelter from sin's just judgment; His holy name my only passport to glory, and His matchless merits my only fitness when I get there.
Have you been brought to such a decision, my reader? Then nothing can ever transpire, within you or around you, to alter that decision; no discovery of inward corruptions, no lamented fall in the hour of temptation, no subtle argument even of the arch deceiver himself can do it. Had you decided that you were personally worthy, your ways worthy of God, your feelings satisfactory to yourself, it would be different. But the fact is, that before anyone can really decide for Christ as a Savior he must decide against himself as a sinner.
The prodigal did (Luke 15). He said, "I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.”
The publican did (Luke 18). Hear his self-condemning cry, as smiting upon his breast he prays, "God be merciful to me a sinner.”
The dying thief did (Luke 23), when he uttered his confession, "We indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds." He decided against himself. But when he turned to the Lord and expressed the desire of his heart to be remembered by Him when He came into His kingdom, he had manifestly decided for Christ.
Even the Apostle Peter was no exception. "Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord," was his cry. Though he felt unfit to stay, he could not run away.
Every discovery of myself can only cause me to decide more absolutely against myself as to any claim to merit God's blessing; while every day's increase of acquaintance with Christ, every fresh apprehension of His worthiness, only the more confirms me in my decision for Christ.
Do not imagine that there is any merit on your part in deciding for Christ, for in so doing, I repeat, you only arrive at the conclusion that Christ is trustworthy and you are not.
Suppose that you lived on some distant island in the Atlantic, and that you desired to sail to Australia. Suppose further that only two vessels were available on the island, one a large ocean liner calling at the island weekly; the other a tiny shrimp boat of your own manufacture. Between these two vessels you would have to decide. Which of them can you really rely on to carry you safely to the desired destination? That would be the absorbing question. Both you could not choose, and you could not decide on the Australian liner without deciding against your own frail little boat. Nor would you sit down and look at your faith in these vessels to see which you could safely trust. Would you not indeed, when the big liner came in, walk down to the harbor and make every possible inquiry about her seaworthiness? And moreover you would have a good look at her yourself. This done, a mere glance at your own small vessel would be enough to send you home saying, "The ocean liner is the ship for me.”
Now let me ask you a question: "Would any later discovery of the unseaworthiness of your own boat be likely to change your decision as to the liner? No; on the contrary it would the more confirm you in it.
And so is it with decision for Christ. Self is set aside with distrust and condemnation; and while the blessed Savior is presented before our souls by the Holy Spirit as the object of our heart's truest confidence, we are led thankfully and joyfully to say, "Christ for me! CHRIST FOR ME!”
Reader, "what think ye of Christ?" Is He to you "altogether lovely"? Or do you say: "He has no form nor comeliness, that I should desire Him"? At this moment God knows your choice. I plead with you, let it not be SELF! Decide for Christ, and let others know it too.
G. C.
The Happy Path
I know no sweeter way to heaven than through free grace and hard trials together; and one of these cannot well lack the other.
The wages of sin is death;
but the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ
our Lord.”