NONE of us know everything. All of us know something. A few of us know a great many things. Some of us know
THE ONE THING OF SUPREME IMPORTANCE.
The question is: Do You know it?
It is a dark foggy night, and a man is groping his way along the wharf of a large dock when he takes a wrong turning. Another few moments and he is over the edge! A splash, followed by frantic cries for help for some minutes Confused efforts are made to locate him, but all in vain, and soon the cries are over. The next day his body is recovered, and at the inquest he is identified. A very able and skillful man is no more! He knew ten thousand things. What he did not know about docks and ships and navigation was not worth knowing, but the one thing of supreme importance in those critical five minutes he did not know. He did not know how to swim!
We have supposed a case by way of illustration. Now let us tell you a true incident. A few years ago a young man of Jewish birth was in the employ of the United States legation at Christiania. He was a clever, witty fellow, well informed, and also a very ready talker. One day, when work was slack and discussion busy, he began boasting of his powers of speech, and ended by offering to mount a chair and make an impromptu address on any subject that might be chosen by those present. He stood by his chair ready to begin, but the subject was not readily forthcoming, till one of his fellow-clerks, who was a thorough-going believer on the Lord Jesus Christ, took up his challenge, saying, “Very well, mount your chair and take this question for your subject, ‘How should man be just with God?’ It is a question raised in your own Scriptures.” The effect of those words was remarkable. His whole appearance changed. His self-confidence forsook him. He hung his head and retired from the attempt without uttering a word.
Now why was this? Simply because though so well informed upon worldly matters in general that he felt himself able to discuss most topics with intelligence and ease, he was totally ignorant of the far greater things which lie outside this pausing world. The one thing of supreme importance for dying men and women he did not know.
You may feel inclined to remark that being a Jew and consequently rejecting the New Testament, it was not surprising that he had no answer to the question proposed to him as his subject; and clear enough it is that he was disqualified in this way. But, then, how many of those who call themselves Christians would be ready to answer that question at a moment’s notice, or even to answer it at all? To have something to say as to how a man should be just or right with God, one must needs be right with God oneself.
To be right with God is the one thing of supreme importance. It matters little what you are, if you are not that. To have known an immense number of things that count in this life will not avail you anything if you remain in ignorance of this one thing that counts in eternity. The question of questions is—Are you right with God?
If you do not know and are willing to confess your ignorance, we have the clear light of God’s Word to show the way.
First: You cannot earn justification before God. You cannot deserve it. If you are justified at all, you must be content to be so by the grace of God, and by that alone.
Second: The only thing that will procure justification for you is the redemption work accomplished by the Lord Jesus Christ, when He died on the cross. His atoning death, His resurrection, alone can meet the guilt of your sins and put you right with God.
Third: You can only be thus justified before God if and when you believe. It is when you believe in Jesus that God reckons to your account the value of His death and you are positively justified.
Fourth: When you do believe in Jesus and are justified—as we trust indeed you will be—that great blessing will reach you freely. God justifies not only without charge, but also without grudging.
In making these four statements we have been but emphasizing what is said in the following extract from the Word of God: ―
What we are anxious about is not that you should memorize these versos and master the four points and say, “Now I know how to be right with God”; but rather that receiving them as the Word of God you should believe in Christ for yourself, definitely accepting Him as your Saviour and Lord, and thus be able to say, “Now, believing in the Lord Jesus I am right with God.”
Then indeed you will know the one thing of surpassing moment. You may not be counted great or learned in worldly wisdom, but you will know how to “swim” when death’s “waters” rise about you, and you will not be taken aback and speechless if challenged as to your happiness here or your hopes of heaven hereafter.
F.B. HOLE