THERE are some who are actively opposed to the gospel. They are like drowning men who push away the lifebelt; like wounded men who tear off their bandages. They trample under foot their own salvation; they despise their only hope; they deliberately murder their own souls.
There are others whose creed might be summed up in the words, “I don’t know, and I don’t care.” They have opinions on the gospel, but no convictions. They lay emphasis on material things, and neglect the real. They imagine they can live without God, and go on as they please, and yet prosper. They dream they can take or leave God’s message of life or death, and it will make no difference. They prefer to maintain the “don’t know” and the “we can’t be sure” attitude, because they find it very convenient to doubt.
But besides the soul-suicides and the “don’t cares” there is a third class. These are convinced that the gospel comes from God, and demands their obedience. They have seen its transforming power over the lives of some known to them. They have many a time been impressed by its truths. They have said to themselves that they ought to decide for the Saviour. They have resolved, and resolved, but nothing has come of it.
Others have pushed on, and opened their hearts to Christ, but they are still where they were years ago. They want to be saved, after a fashion, and yet they remain unsaved.
Why is this? It is simply because the wish to be saved is not the foremost desire in their heart. They do not long for it above all things else. They want to be saved, but they want to keep some of their sins too. They want to be saved, but they are not prepared to be saved in God’s way, and on God’s terms. They want to be saved, but they do not want to be saved in God’s time, which is now.
Reader, you will be saved as soon as you ma desire salvation above all other things. As soon as you are really willing, all obstacles to your salvation will be removed. There is no obstacle on God’s side. The obstacle is all on your side. Do you really want to be saved?
E. A.