“Now, then, don’t stand chattering there, jump in, or the train will be off without you,” said a railway porter, sharply, to an elderly woman, as the train was about to start.
“I wasn’t chattering,” replied she, as she got hastily into the carriage, “I’ve asked about twenty people if the train stopped at H―, but couldn’t get an answer. I don’t want to get twenty miles out of the way.”
The train started, and presently a Christian passenger in the carriage said to her, “I think you were very wise to make sure you were right, and then get in. Have you also made sure of going to heaven?”
“Ah! we have some very nice tracts left us, sir.”
“But having nice tracts won’t take you there.”
“No, I know that, but then, I study them.”
“Yes, and so you might study the time-bill of the train, but if you didn’t get in, you would not arrive where you want to go.” And you may study the tracts, but if you do not believe in Jesus, of whom the tract speaks, you cannot go to heaven. He is the only Way. John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6).
“Well, I study them.”
“But do you believe in Jesus? Are your sins forgiven?”
“I can’t say that. But I’m not without sense.”
“But there are many who have plenty of sense who won’t get to heaven. Christ is the only way. You must believe in Him.”
“I’m a poor widow, sir, and brought up several children.”
“But that won’t save you.”
“I’ve had a good education for a person in my position,” she concluded, as the train pulled up, and she got out.
Poor soul! What a sorrowful example of the complete blindness of man in nature. Again and again receiving tracts and papers about the Lord Jesus and His work upon the cross, professing to study them, and yet all the while resting in something else. Beloved reader, how is it with you? What are you resting upon? Is it Christ or self? Christ is the only way. Heaven is closed to all who in any form or shape whatever trust in themselves. It is not by works of righteousness which we have done. Not of works, lest any man should boast. Nothing in us, and nothing done by us, can help toward our salvation. By nature we are bad, being born in sin and shapers in iniquity. Psalms 51:5,5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. (Psalm 51:5) and all our best deeds, however well thought of by man, are mixed with sin. If you look at yourself, and bow to the Word of God, you can only come to one conclusion, and that is, that you are a lost and guilty sinner. Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). But “this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” Tim. 1:15. Yes, dear reader, it is the faithful saying of a faithful God, a saying to be implicitly depended upon. Worthy, too, of all acceptation, and therefore worthy of your fullest acceptation now. Christ Jesus, God’s beloved Son, came into this world of sin to save sinners, lost and guilty. Sinners of all kinds, sinners of few or many sins, sinners of all nations. And the deeper dyed you are found in sin, the greater your need of Him.
Come to the Saviour now. All are welcome. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins. Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43). Will you, do you believe? Take God at His Word, believe the gospel, and you shall dwell in glory with His beloved through one eternal day. God grant that you may.
E. H. C.