Echoes of Grace: 1983

The summer has already started, and almost everyone has laid out very complete plans for their vacations. They know where they are going this summer. They know how they are going to get there. They know what they are going to do there. And they know when they are coming back home.

But do you really KNOW all these things? "Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." Prov. 27:1. What are your plans in case you have an accident and YOU are killed? Do your plans include God? "Prepare to meet thy God." Amos 4:12.

: Motor Vehicle 50,800 Bicycle and Tricycle

1,200

Falls

11,700

Drowning

6,000

Fires and Burns

4,900

Suffocation

2,400

Firearms

1,900

Poison Gases

1,700

Other Poisons

2,600

Aviation

1,265

Medical Complications

3,200

All Other

11.335

Now, this isn't the number that died that year, but just those that had made other plans and then accidentally died with no advance notice.

It's so easy to tell yourself, "If I ever get sick and the doctor says I haven't long to live, then I'll accept the Lord Jesus Christ as my Savior. Otherwise I'll just wait until I get old to be saved."

But wait a minute. According to the above figures, everyone doesn't get sick or old before they die. Just visit a cemetery or read the obituary column in your newspaper and you will see that people die at various ages.

Last year during the 4th of July weekend there were 630 fatalities on the U.S. highways, not to mention the number of deaths from the other categories.

Will you still be alive after the 4th of July weekend this year? Are you prepared to die? "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezek. 18:20. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23. If you don't see yourself as a poor lost sinner and accept this gift, you will be leaving yourself exposed to the possibility of dying before you have a chance to repent, and of spending an eternity in hell.

Already the Lord Jesus has died for you on the cross and shed His precious blood. You don't have to stay vulnerable to an accident and its consequences to your soul. If you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, from that moment on, sudden death would only usher you into His glorious presence for all eternity.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Earth's Passing Trifles

You and I must pass into eternity one day. Will you let earth's trifles keep you from Christ? Will it comfort you in hell to remember the trifles for which you neglected your soul?

Will it ease your spirit when you see Christ in all His wondrous beauty as God and man and know that it is He whom you rejected and He whose love you cast aside?

He is calling you now. The risen Man, the living Jesus, is waiting to save you. As surely as you read these pages, so surely will you one day stand face to face with Him.

Will you not take shelter beneath His blood? Will you not accept His love now?

"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

He may never call you again. His Spirit may never strive with you again. Tomorrow you may be gone.

What shall it profit you if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul?

Sand Castles

The third annual Canadian Open Sand Castle Competition was held at White Rock, B.C.

In only four hours, 200 groups of contestants turned the beach into a weird landscape of fanciful sculptures and architecture. The first prize went to a fairy castle rising above white clouds (liberally dusted with talcum powder). Others were as beautiful or as interesting, and 100,000 people crowded onto the beach to view the masterpieces.

Night came; the tide rolled in and the sun rose the next morning on an empty beach. Of all the excitement, all the competition, all the frenzied building, no trace remained. The sea gulls reclaimed their beach; the breakers rolled and crashed on the sand as always, but the castles-where were they?

What a pity that it didn't last! All the planning and work and effort went into buildings that would be swept away by the waves! But many, many people are busy today building elaborate castles in the sand. All their time, all their energy, all their hopes and dreams are centered on their castles of sand. What will they do when the tide comes in?

The builder at last will have to say: "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for naught, and in vain." Isa. 49:4.

The contestants had to build between one tide and the next; how much more time have we in our little life on "the shifting sands of time"?

The Bible tells us that "the things which are seen are temporal" (that is, temporary, or relating to time—sand castles!) "but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18.

The Christian can say: "We have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens." 2 Cor. 5:1. No rising tide can wash that building away!

Isn't it wonderful to be able to look beyond our collapsing castles in the sand to a building "eternal in the heavens"? We can gaze past our brief life here to everlasting life, which is ours for the taking! Only one group could win the first prize in the castle-building contest, but God's offer is open to all of us.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

An Atheist Said:

"There is one thing that mars all the pleasure of my life; I am afraid the Bible is true. If I could know for a certainty that death is an eternal sleep, I should be happy. But here is what pierces my soul; if the Bible is true, I am lost forever!"

"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God." Psa. 14:1.

The Wolf Hunter

In the early history of Canada, when wolves were numerous, a bounty was offered by the government for every wolf or whelp skin brought in. Money in the new settlements was not very plentiful, and as the reward was so liberal, a good many of the back country farmers began hunting wolves.

One man, while going through the woods, saw something move in a thicket. He stopped and found himself looking into the flaming eyes of a female wolf. In an instant she disappeared in the thick undergrowth. The hunter advanced carefully and soon found the lair and six little cubs. He killed the cubs, took their skins to the local officer and collected the reward.

The following year he went out again on a hunting expedition. Again he came across the wolf with another litter of six whelps, which he also killed and brought in the skins as before.

"But," said the official, "have you never seen the mother of these? You know the ravages wolves are making, and the old ones should be destroyed."

"I look out for that!" said the hunter. "If I kill the she wolf there will be no more whelps!"

That is exactly the way it is with many of us; there is the killing off of the whelps and cubs born of a fallen and wicked nature, but one litter just succeeds another and the race is not extinct. You know that you are a sinner. You know that the wages of sin is death, and from time to time you are in the habit of correcting one vice or another while the root of all is still there. It is no use; all such efforts at improvement are futile. You must be born again. The old life is utterly bad and cannot be mended; a bad tree can only bring forth bad fruit.

Only through the precious blood of Christ can sin be cleansed away. "God.... made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:20, 21.

How Far Is It to Hell?

Hell is at the end of a Christless life, and you may be nearer to it than you think.

Is it at the end of your life? Stop and think! On which road are you traveling? The broad or the narrow? The way of holiness or the path of sin?

"Our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity." Titus 2:13, 14.

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

The Word of God Simple and Definite

Friends, observe the Bible I'm holding up before you. Do you realize that it is the only book in the world that gives you the knowledge of what is beyond the grave? Man is totally, absolutely and completely dependent on God's revelation. Not a ray of light pierces the inky darkness of what lies beyond the grave, apart from the Word of God.

At every funeral which takes place in this city, I judge that at least one portion is read from this Book. It is the Word of God. The Lord Jesus says in John 12:48: "He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Yes, he is going to be judged by the Word of God. This Book is the only book in the world, then, that speaks with divine authority and tells what lies beyond the grave.

Everyone in the world, without any exception whatsoever, whether rich or poor, old or young, educated or otherwise, has to leave this world some day. Every beat of your heart, every tick of the clock, every moment of time is just bringing you a little nearer to that moment when you will leave this world. You will leave it, and the great and important question is, Where will you spend eternity? The Word of God is definite that you must spend it either with Christ in glory or in outer darkness under His judgment forever.

Rom. 3:19 tells us: "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." The whole world may become guilty before God! There is a simple statement of truth which is not hard to understand. Every boy or girl can understand this language. You will never be saved until you realize that you are guilty before God.

My friend, the Word of God is simple and definite. The whole world has become guilty before God, and unless you are under the shelter of the blood of Christ, you will meet the judgment of God. Everyone dies in one of two ways; either they die in Christ, having accepted Him as Savior, or they die in their sins.

This Word tells us that the whole world has become guilty before God. Is that not solemn? That is true of everyone. We are guilty before God, and we who are Christians were in that same group. Thank God that now we are under the shelter of the blood of Christ.

Now turn to Rom. 4:5: "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Again how simple the language is! "But to him that worketh not." Thousands of people are making resolutions that they are going to live a better life. But the Word of God never tells us that salvation is found in that way. "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly."

How can God justify the ungodly (Job 9:2)? "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psa. 85:10. How can that be? The cross is the answer. Only by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ could God justify the ungodly or reconcile mercy and truth.

I think of the matchless grace of God that sent His Son into the world, and sent Him to be a sin offering, to bear the judgment that I deserved on the cross. "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up." John 3:14.

When the children of Israel were bitten by the serpents God told Moses to make a serpent of brass and put it on a pole and lift it up in the camp, and whoever looked at the serpent of brass was healed. Suppose they argued, "How could that heal any man?" Could anyone give a satisfactory answer to such a question as that? No they could not answer by any human reasoning, but if they looked, they lived.

Friend, you will never know the happiness of being a child of God until you accept Christ. The knowledge of Christ will make you happy. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Briefs: Satisfaction

Man is made for God, and none but God can satisfy and still the cravings of his soul.

"God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

"He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Psa. 107:9.

A Sailor's Conversion

When I went away to sea, I had a horrid feeling of being unsafe, of some unseen danger very near me, and I could not shake it off. All through our outward passage this feeling clung to me. I would not speak of it to my shipmates, but kept it secret and suffered from it alone.

We were on our way home again and it was my midnight watch. The sea was rolling in mountainous waves in the pitch-darkness and I was alone on the bow of the vessel, looking out. Suddenly there rose a mighty wave which swept me from the vessel far out on the rolling waters. I could feel that I was borne forward on the crest of a great wave, as helpless as a straw. I knew that I would not be missed from my station for a while, nor could I be seen if I were missed. The roar of the waves drowned my cries and I felt that there was no hope for me.

Oh! the horrible, heart-sinking agony! I pictured my wife widowed, my children fatherless and only a void where I had been! What horror I felt! I thought of the sermons I had heard, of my lost chances, and of my death close at hand. All this went through my mind as I struggled fiercely with the wave that was blinding and choking me.

I had no hope. I was headed for a grave in the black raging sea and from there to the scarlet fire of the unforgiven. It was near me, close upon me-a matter of a few seconds-and then eternal darkness and sorrow! Oh, how I struggled with the choking waters!

Then my heart went up in a mighty cry for pardon. All that there was in me of life and sense and feeling was in that cry. I had given up all hope of being saved, but I struggled on so that I might cry and pray. Prayer after prayer, as swift as lightning, went up from my heart as I struggled more and more feebly with the wave that was drowning me.

I was losing consciousness, having lost all hope of rescue when I suddenly felt something touch my hands and I clutched at it in desperation. It was one of the ropes trailing behind our ship! Weakly I clung to it until breath and strength returned and I was able to climb again to the deck, safe and uninjured, except for the fright I had passed through.

I had not been missed. But, when I could go below, the first thing I did in the presence of all the men was to fall on my knees and humbly and heartily thank God that my life had been spared. There was no mocking. They stood in respectful, appreciative silence, feeling that I was doing the right thing.

Since then I have thanked the Lord every day, not only because He snatched me out of the wild waters that night, but because with loving kindness He rescued my soul from eternal destruction. With the same loving kindness, He brought me safely back to my wife and children.

"They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep. For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.... Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses.... Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!" Psa. 107:23-31.

What Is Man?

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man."

Putting your trust in any man is risky, and the very last man in whom you should put confidence in spiritual matters is yourself!

We read: "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Prov. 3:5.

You ask, What is wrong with my understanding? It has served me well in many a difficulty; why should I not confide in it in the greatest of all difficulties—that of salvation?

Just because "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." This is a contrast between the Lord and man, and what a contrast!

What is man? He is God's masterpiece. He was created in the image and likeness of God, and was placed in dominion over all the creatures of His hand. He possesses reason, talent, ability, skill and resource, all of which may be highly developed by education and use. He can accomplish great works. He can discover new constellations and galaxies by his telescope, and the infinitesimal particles of creation by his microscope. He has a brain of extraordinary genius and inventive power, but—his "breath is in his nostrils," and he is here today, gone tomorrow, "and the place thereof shall know it no more."

He is limited—greatly limited; his mind and understanding, after all, are limited. He cannot be certain of the events of the next day! It is neither wise nor safe to trust in man.

Moreover, as the result of sin, we read, "there is none that understandeth." How to be made righteous before the God against whom we all have sinned is beyond the natural wisdom of the wisest of men.

Listen to what one of the most learned men of his day wrote on this very point: "If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more;" but he added: "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."

For him it had to be either Christ or himself—either the Lord or man, and, when it came to a crisis, he flung away all confidence in himself. He rejected his own merits and stood on Christ alone!

Christ—the Accomplisher of all the work necessary—the Friend of the poor, helpless sinner —the Savior of the lost—the Shepherd who died for the flock—is the only Foundation and everlasting Rock.

In Christ we find the answer to the age-old question: "How shall man be just with God?" He is the answer!

"It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man." Psa. 118:8.

"On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand."

Election

When I was a boy, I was taught that there was an elect number who would be saved and that no others had any chance. Of course we all hoped that we were among the favored number, but nobody seemed to have any certainty about it.

When I was 21, I left my country home and came to the city. I soon noticed that others did not believe as I did, and one who worked in the same warehouse told me he was sure of being saved. I wondered how he could know for sure.

One day I asked him, "Have you seen the book of life?"

"No, not yet," he said, "but I have seen the book of LOVE and read my name there."

He opened his Testament and read John 3:16 to me: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." He pointed out to me that both he and I were included in "the world" and in "whosoever."

That completely solved my worry about "election," and I claimed my place as one of the WHOSOEVERS and was saved. Won't you do the same?

What Time Is It?

We really live by the clock these days. Dozens of times a day we are asking:"What time is it? What time must we go? What time will they get here? Have I time to finish?—time to start?—time?"

If you usually wear a watch, leave it off for one day and count the number of times you glance at your empty wrist to check the time.

Turn a wall or table clock to the wall, and again see how often you look at it.

The pressure of time is always with us, "I haven't time today—I wish I had more time—how fast time flies!"

To the best of their ability and more or less accurately our timepieces report the present time to us. But beyond that, every tick of grandfather's big clock, every flicker of the newest digital watch, every clock in this world is silently warning: "It is time to seek the Lord." Hos. 10:12.

Time as we know it is only for this life. Beyond this, in eternity, there will be "time no longer." Rev. 10:6.

We can seek and find the Lord now. We can seek and find salvation now. "Now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

We know that time flies. We have no time to lose before we seek the Lord. We have no time to lose before we make sure of our salvation.

"While it is called To-day.... To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 3:13, 15.

When this day of salvation ends it will be forever too late to seek the Lord-too late to find salvation.

Truly, "IT IS TIME TO SEEK THE LORD!"

Sin and Its Remedy

Sin is the one thing that divides men from God. Sin is also the only plea for mercy the sinner has. It is the only reason he can give why the Son of God should have compassion on him, and by the blood of His cross bring him near to the Father. This is the foundation that can never be moved.

"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8.

This is the gospel—the good news of salvation. If you believe it you are saved.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

"Happy they who trust in Jesus,
Sweet their portion is and sure;
When the foe on others seizes,
He will keep His own secure."

"The Will to Live"

Earlier in the spring of this year, two men died in the United States. Both men were famous, both were very sick before they died and both had what is commonly referred to as "the will to live."

Arthur Godfrey told a friend two months before he died, "I'm not going to die. I'm just not going to die." Well, quite obviously he knew that he would die some day in the future but, at the age of only 71, he just wasn't ready to call it quits. He wasn't ready to die yet.

Barney Clark, the first artificial heart recipient, was chosen because of his strong "will to live." And although his mechanical heart worked steadily for 112 days, his appointed time came and he died.

God tells us in His Word, "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27.

It is hard to imagine any person having better hospital care than Barney Clark had. Every life-support machine imaginable, everything that a doctor could possibly need to prolong a life, was there. But try as they might, it was all to no avail and he died of "multi-organ failure."

Maybe you are in a situation similar to these two men and feel that you still have plenty of time to prepare for eternity because you also have "the will to live."

Just as we read in Matt. 6:27, no man "by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature," so neither can you by taking thought add one hour to your life. "For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14.

The Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life on the cross so that you can have eternal life. He has paid the penalty that you owed for your sins. Won't you simply put your trust in Him now? Then and only then can you welcome death, knowing that it will only bring you into eternal happiness.

"Oh, I pray you count the cost
Ere your Christless soul be lost—
Be in time!"

Time Is Short

"The coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8.

I have only just a minute,

Only sixty seconds in it.

Didn't seek it, didn't choose it;

Forced upon me, can't refuse it;

But it's up to me to use it.

I will suffer if I lose it,

Give account if I abuse it.

Just a little tiny minute—

But ETERNITY is in it!

God Is Satisfied! Are You?

Anxious souls often begin at the wrong end. They begin with themselves instead of beginning with God. They begin with their doings—their feelings—their satisfaction—themselves in some way or other, and often it is a very long time before they learn to turn from themselves and look at God's side. Yet they never can find peace of conscience and joy of heart until they do. We often meet such people.

We ask them, "Are you saved?"

They reply, "I hope so."

"But are you not sure about it?"

"Well, not exactly. I only wish I were. I am seeking and praying for it, but I can't say I'm sure. I don't seem to get satisfied, somehow."

Oh! the numbers there are in this condition. They are putting the cart before the horse, and are surprised because they can't get it to go. Of course not! The gospel begins with God, not with us. Look at that well-worn, but still wonderful verse, John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." It begins with God.

God loved, and God gave.

We believe, and we have everlasting life.

I remember some time ago meeting a young sailor who had been in this state of anxiety for three years. He had been seeking and praying and trying to feel satisfied. What delivered him at last and made him perfectly happy was one simple fact which he had overlooked for three long years. It is the blessed and glorious fact that God is satisfied.

"Oh!" said the sailor, as his face brightened, "I never thought of that before—God is satisfied."

"Yes," I said, "He was the One who was offended by your sins. You were the offender. Jesus came to satisfy God's holy and righteous claims by dying for our sins. He did that work perfectly, and God has proved His satisfaction in the Person and work of Christ by raising Him from the dead.

"The Savior stood in our place, 'was delivered for our offenses, [He had none] and was raised again for our justification.' Rom. 4:25. The risen Christ is God's receipt for me. He is satisfied and so am I. Now why should you not be satisfied this very moment, and give Him the praise?"

It was sweet to see the effects of this truth on the sailor as his heart drank it in. He was filled "with all joy and peace in believing" (Rom. 15:13) that God is satisfied. And looking at me with a face beaming with joy, he said, "I see it all—God is satisfied; I can go home and thank Him for that."

God has sent the Holy Spirit to be the witness to all believers that "their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Heb. 10:17. Rest where God rests—in Christ, who has so glorified Him that He can send a message of love to you, and say, God is satisfied. Are you?

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - Jonah's Sermon

Jonah's sermon was short; it only contained eight words. Hear what he said, "Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown." Jonah 3:4. That was Jonah's message—a word of threatening judgment.

Have you noticed what effect these eight words from God had on the inhabitants of the great city? Did the Ninevites sit down and calculate what they could do before the day of overthrow should come? Did they say, "We have forty days before us yet; we will have our fling of sinning?" No! not one spoke in that way.

They believed God, and neither scoffed at the preaching, nor reckoned on these forty days of grace. They one and all of them repented. "So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them." Jonah 3:5.

You might have heard the king say, "What good will my kingly robe do, if in forty days I shall be in eternity?" He flung his robe aside. We read, "For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat in ashes." Jonah 3:6. What a wonderful sight! King and people are clothed in sackcloth, and sitting in ashes!

Sinner, have you laid aside your robe? Have you clothed yourself in moral sackcloth, and do you sit in the ashes of repentance? Hear what the Lord says, "The men of Nineveh shall rise up in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it." Luke 11:32. Why? "For they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here."

Yes, indeed a greater than Jonas was here! But have you repented? The Ninevites repented when they heard the prophet's words, and you have often heard the words of the Lord's ambassador, but have you repented?

Do you ask, "Must I repent in order to be saved?" Most certainly you must repent. You must acknowledge to God you are a guilty sinner. Repentance is humbling one's self before God. Repentance is the tear-drop in the eye of faith. You have sins, for you know you are a sinner. Do not think of others; think of no one but yourself.

Repentance is a blessed thing. The moment you repent, God rejoices. "Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:7. The sinner who repents is awakened to see his real condition before God and heaven rejoices. It is the Spirit of God which works this repentance, and it is because the Word of God is believed and received into the heart.

Had you gone into Nineveh after the day of Jonah's preaching, you would have found no laughter there. Solemn anguish of soul was written on every face. What a thorough humbling before God that was! That is what you need, my friend. When a man judges himself, and believes that which God says is the truth regarding him, he repents. And I can tell you that the moment the sinner repents, God will save him.

God gave His Son to take the guilty sinner's place. Listen to the Savior's words, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:14, 15. "Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish." That is God's answer to all doubting and unbelief.

The gospel we preach tells more than Jonah's sermon did. It tells that Christ has come and done a work which enables God to bless everyone who comes to Him, having "repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 20:21. When you believe what God says of you, you will have this repentance toward God, and when you simply trust Jesus, you have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Listen to what the Word of God says to you: "Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Rom. 2:4. Oh, what an awful thing for a sinner to despise the goodness of God!

Come to Christ now. Salvation is sure, if you come now. Do you think you are too great a sinner to share the benefits of what Christ has done? Listen: "Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17. Bow to God's invitation to believe, to rejoice, and to be saved.

"Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

Back to School

Do you go to school? Have you enjoyed your summer vacation? I am sure you will be saying, "Where did the time go? It seems like school was just out yesterday." And now it is time to go back to school already!

And oh, how we prepare for the start of school-making sure we have the right materials, books and enough new clothes. If we are going to a new school this year, we take great pains to make sure we know the right route to take.

By the way, how have you prepared for eternity? Which route are you traveling? God says in Matt. 7:13, 14 that we are on one of two routes: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Are you taking the popular and easy "broad way, that leadeth to destruction," or are you going by the "narrow way, which leadeth to life"?

The Lord Jesus Christ has prepared the way for you by shedding His blood on the cross, and if you just believe in that finished work, you can KNOW that you are prepared for eternity.

Of course, when you get to school the main subjects you will be concentrating on will be the "3-R's": Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic.

These subjects are also found in God's Word, the Bible.

In Revelation we read, "Blessed is he that readeth." Have you ever read the Bible? In it you will find out how much God loves you. Of course, if you don't enjoy reading the Bible it may be because you are still lost and you see things in it that condemn you. "He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18.

In Rev. 20:15 we read about a writing that should vitally concern everyone. "And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

If you are trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, then your name is definitely written in this book of life.

As for the study of arithmetic, we know it is usually broken down into four categories: Add, Divide, Multiply and Subtract.

Matt. 6:27 says, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Are you trying to add your own ideas to God's plan of salvation? There is only one way and that is through the Lord Jesus Christ, who said, "I am the way, the truth and the life."

Division? "For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit... and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Heb. 4:12.

And Multiplication: "But the Word of God grew and multiplied." Acts 12:24. Satan for almost 2000 years has been trying to get rid of the Word of God. But it has only multiplied to the point that year after year it is the number one seller among all books.

I must warn you though, that there will be countless numbers of persons in hell who have read part or all of God's Word. Reading alone will not save you. Faith in Christ will save you.

If you will see yourself as a poor, lost, hell-deserving sinner and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior, then you will be able to say, "The Lord hath taken away [my] judgments." Zeph. 3:15. That's Subtraction.

All the judgment that has been reserved for you will be subtracted from you, and you will instead spend all eternity in heaven with the Lord.

"Prepare to meet thy God." Amos 4:12. This is of far greater importance than preparing for school!

"Let Not Conscience Make You Linger"

Let not conscience make you linger,

Nor of fitness fondly dream;

All the fitness Hp requireth

Is to feel your need of Him.

This He gives you—

'Tis the Spirit's rising beam.

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,

Lost and ruined by the fall;

If you wait until you're better

You will never come at all;

Not the righteous—

Sinners Jesus came to call.

"Do" or "Done"?

In a large southern city was a charitable hospital for incurably sick people. Dr. Wood, a Christian doctor, and Mr. Harrell, an evangelist, often visited these poor people bringing God's way of salvation before them.

One of the most afflicted of the poor, suffering patients had never responded to the simple story of the gospel. This young man, Bob Hardy, now about twenty-three years old, had been born blind, and since early childhood had been almost completely paralyzed.

He had his full mental faculties and the full-grown body of a man, but lay, year after year, a totally helpless invalid. Their hearts yearned over this poor man with his seemingly hard and rebellious spirit, and often prayed for him.

On this visit to the hospital, Mr. Harrell was much burdened about Bob, so after visiting a few wards he went directly to his room, but he seemed to be sleeping. The evangelist would have passed by, but the ward nurse greeted him by name. Bob heard and called out, "Hello, Mr. Harrell!"

He turned to speak to him, noting again the rigid body and limbs and the sightless eyes. A wave of deep pity for the helpless lad swept over him as he answered gently: "Well, Bob, you remember me. How is it with you, my boy? Has your soul found rest in Christ?"

The poor face, lined with marks of suffering, grew tense. With evident effort the answer came: "How can I, Mr. Harrell? That is not for such as I. The nurse has been reading to me from the books a lady brought, and not one thing of them all can I do."

Yes, on the table by the bed were these little books—futile—useless—in their doctrine of "do."

Breathing a prayer for words of wisdom, the servant of the Lord took in his own hand the stiff unresponsive fingers of the crippled lad. In solemn tones he asked: "Bob, is God unfair?"

As though discovered in his own secret thoughts and realizing their unworthiness, the stuttering answer came: "N-no, oh no, Mr. Harrell; I wouldn't say that."

"Oh, yes, dear boy! If God's way to 'peace that passeth understanding' demands of you one thing that you can't do and others can, then indeed He would be unfair. But 'shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?'

"True, 'God is light,' and a holy God cannot overlook sin. But 'God is love,' too, and because 'God so loved the world... He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' John 3:16. That is God's own word, Bob; you've heard it many times. Let us take His Word rather than listen to the reasonings of men.

"God's way to save lost sinners, Bob, was through the death, burial and resurrection of His own dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to do for them what they could never, never do for themselves. 'God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned [or judged] sin in the flesh.' Rom. 8:3.

"This blessed Savior 'came unto His own'—to the world as well as to His earthly people, the Jews—`and His own received Him not.' They rejected Him, Bob; they would not have Him as Christ, the Messiah, nor as Israel's King. They refused Him as Savior and as Lord.

"But as many as received Him'—oh, the simplicity of it! Those who took Him at His word and let Him into their hearts—`to them gave He power to become the sons [children] of God, even to them that believe on His name.'

"To the weakest, feeblest, most helpless one who will believe and receive Him, to that one He gives the power to become God's child. That is all that the strongest man can do in order to know forgiveness of sins and to become a partaker of God's life, safe for eternity.

"Oh, Bob, you can do that—without moving a muscle, without speaking a word—you can `believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved.' "

Tears filled the evangelist's eyes as he saw tears stealing from the sightless ones. Helpless to brush them away and too choked with emotion to speak, Bob thought over and over: "believe-receive—saved." As in a dream he heard his friend's whispered "Good-by, Bob, just rest in God's Word."

Yes, Bob has found the work of salvation all done, and he can simply rest. Eph. 2:8,9 is his portion now, "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Yes, Christ has done it all. Just rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross.

The Leak

The gas was fast escaping from all four burners on the kitchen stove as the policemen broke down the door and found the poor body huddled on the floor. When the husband of the dead woman was found, he added a tragic word: "You see, officers, my wife would never have noticed the escaping of the gas. She would never have known about it, for —for—she had no sense of smell whatsoever." How different it all might have been, had the poor woman the least possible sense of smell!

It is said, "Of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these: it might have been." If the poor woman could have smelled the escaping gas her life would have been saved.

And how many are there, forever lost in the gloom of a Christless eternity, who can only say, "If I had listened—if I had believed—I would not be here now. 'It might have been!' “In that life now past and gone there "might have been" the acceptance of the good news of the gospel, had the poor soul not been so "senseless" concerning the reality of eternity.

"Foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not." Jer. 5:21. Why don't they see? They "have eyes, and see not," because "the god of this world [Satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not." If they are blinded, they cannot see the "light of the glorious gospel of Christ."

Their eyes are wide open to all the things of this life, but willfully shut against "the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." Sooner or later, the "escaping gas" they are insensitive to will have its full effect. In eternity, forever doomed and lost, they will see and hear, and understand, but it will be too late. Too late to look to the One who says, "Look unto Me, and be ye saved." Too late to "Hear, and your soul shall live." Too late to "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and... be saved." It "might have been," but it is forever too late.

Don't put it off. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

Salvation by Grace Alone

"Not of works"—no vain endeavors

Can God's great salvation bring

"All of grace"—the Word proclaims it,

Gift of heaven's eternal King;

By believing simply take it,

And the Giver's praises sing.

"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 9.

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

Taking God at His Word

Faith is believing, taking Him at His Word. Look at 1 John 5:9: "If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which He hath testified of His Son."

Then in verse 10 we read: "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in Himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son."

We are in the habit of receiving the witness of men about many things, and a man is greatly insulted if we won't receive his witness. But surely the witness of God is greater than that of man!

And here we have the witness of God in verses 11 and 12: "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life."

Faith says, "This is the record of God." Unbelief says, "How do we know?" Faith says, "God has said it and it must be true." Salvation is linked with faith, and faith is linked with salvation.

When faith grasps God's record, it brings to my soul salvation, life, light and joy. You will never be saved till you come and accept God's record; accept Christ, of whom that record speaks.

One of the most dangerous doctrines preached is that it does not matter what a man believes, if he is only sincere. One form of belief is as good as another. That is the devil's doctrine to deceive souls. You know better than that when you talk of worldly things. A man may be terribly in earnest about getting to London, but if he takes the train to Edinburgh, he may believe what he likes, but he won't get to London.

So a man may believe he is going in the true way to heaven, but if he is not saved, not in Christ, he is going right down to hell all the time. It makes all the difference in the world what a man believes. To believe God and the record He gives of His Son, is to be saved; to believe the devil's lies is to be lost forever.

But faith in a creed or a doctrine is not salvation. If creeds and doctrines do not bring you to Christ, they are worth nothing. You must not only believe that Christ came to save, that Christ died to save, but that He came to save you.

You must make it personal. You must get into Christ and then you will be safe. People who have a sound and orthodox creed will go down to destruction, unless they lay hold on Christ. The faith that grasps the Son of God, that receives Him, and that takes God at His Word, is the faith that saves.

Isa. 12:2 says, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid." How do we get this faith? I used to pray for faith, but all the time I was neglecting the plain teaching of the Bible.

In Rom. 10:17 we read, "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." Faith is the result of hearing the Word of God; it is taking God at His Word. If you think God is worthy of belief, you believe Him and lay hold of His Word. In John 3:33 we read, "He that hath received His testimony hath set to His seal that God is true."

This is just what faith is. It is our setting to our seal that God is true, endorsing it, as long ago they sealed a document with their signet ring on which their initials were engraved.

So when you receive God's testimony concerning His Son, when you receive the witness of His Word, you set to your seal that God is true. Then, and not until then, you will have the knowledge, the peace and the joy of God's salvation. If you would pass from death to life, if you would be saved and know it, you have simply to take this step. That is all.

It seems very simple, very easy, but it is God's way. He has done all else for us; there is nothing more to be done. He sent His Son to die, the just, for us, the unjust. All is finished—all is done.

We do not buy salvation, but we take it as God's gift when we believe the record He has given of His Son.

Know the Lord!

Do you know the Lord? If you understand how important this question is you will be sure of your answer. Oh, how much hangs on the reply!—heaven or hell, and that for eternity.

If, like the Apostle Paul, you can say, "I know whom I have believed," how happy your case is. You are forgiven, cleansed, washed, justified, a child of God, a joint-heir with Christ, and stand now at peace with God in all the favor of His love.

You are then ready to be with Him forever, for He is coming soon to gather up His own. Oh, what a bright and happy time it will be for those who know Him!

But if, like Pharaoh, you have to reply, "I know not the Lord," how terrible your case is! Uncleansed, unforgiven, unwashed, guilty, Christless, lost, you stand in a position of being under the judgment of. God, for the Word of God declares, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36.

Lose no time in coming to the Lord. Listen to the Word that says, "Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee." Job 22:21. You can never have peace till you do so. Do not be afraid to cast yourself upon Him, for He is "the God of peace."

You might know much about Him, and you may be resting in this head knowledge. This is not eternal life. To know Him personally is that. It is eternal life that you need, which He gives to all who will take it from His hands by faith in Jesus, His beloved Son.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

Come just as you are, straight to God. Believe His love; taste His grace; receive His gift of eternal life. KNOW THE LORD! Then let your whole life be a witness for that blessed God who "so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Dipped From Death

Celilo Falls is approximately 80 air miles east of 'Portland, Oregon, on the Columbia River. Many years ago the Indians were granted fishing rights, there by the United States government. Platforms are built over the water, and from there the Indians fish salmon with long-handled nets.

One Day eight-year-old Danny Sampson, an Indian boy from Yakima, fell from one of the fishing platforms into the swiftly flowing waters below He was carried helplessly downstream, and the water', were so turbulent that no one could see him. However, an Indian who was fishing nearby dipped his long-handled net into the waters below the platform, hoping somehow to find the boy, and to his happy surprise he caught him in his net and, with the help of another man, hauled him to safety. The boy was bruised and frightened, but otherwise unhurt.

A remarkable rescue! If the net had not been at the exact spot at the right moment, the young lad would have been beyond the help of anyone and would have died in the rushing waters.

This, reminds us of a much greater rescue-a work which God sent His Son to accomplish. The work was as done nearly 2000 years ago when Christ the Savior died for us upon Calvary's cross. Ever singe that time God has been calling upon people to believe in His Son, saying to them that if they will receive Him as their Savior and Lord they will receive as a, free gift "everlasting life."

The boy fell from the platform into the swift, waters of certain death, illustrating the, fact that we all belong to a fallen race, rushing on to death and judgment. Yes, the human race has fallen. People don't like to think of that, and they think up various ways to deny it. One way is the theory of evolution, which teaches that man is gradually going upward.

The Bible says that man is fallen, and needs a Savior to save him from his sins. That is why the Lord's personal name is "Jesus," because He came into this world to save us who could not save ourselves. Jesus means "Savior," and He is true to His name.

Danny Sampson knew he could not save himself. Do you know that? Or are you one of the many who try to make themselves presentable to God by doing good to other people? God refuses to be bribed in that way. No, we must come to Him in His own way, realizing we are lost and cannot save ourselves.

Why not say the same as another man who cried, "What must I do to be saved?" Do you know the answer to that question? It is clear and simple: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

The rescuer could not see the boy in the waters below, but the Lord does see you and me in our sins and on the way to a lost eternity. He is able and willing—yes, even longing—to save every one of us. All the waters of God's wrath have passed over the Lord Jesus when He bore the judgment for sins (Psa. 42:7). That is why God can be just and at the same time justify those who believe in Jesus. Have you believed in Him?

Think, too, of the joy to follow. There is joy now in heaven over one sinner that repents. You also can have a personal joy in your heart which is different from anything you can find in this world. Beside this, you can look forward with certainty to meeting the Savior face to face and being with Him and like Him forever. This is infinitely more than we could have thought of or asked for, had it been left to us.

Do not let anyone deceive you; either you are on your way to heaven, a sinner saved from his sins, or you are on your way to hell with your sins upon you. There is no middle ground, and there is no "second chance" after death. Be wise, and come now while it is still salvation's day.

Conversion

What is conversion? It is a genuine turning of the heart to God from one's own previous course.

Other things can be mistaken for it. There may be a change of ways, a profession made, a religious course adopted, and the heart still remain a stranger to grace and to God. But in true and full conversion to God there is the sense of deep need, of guilt and of unworthiness.

When the soul is brought into the light of the divine presence and the conscience comes in contact with the glory, then God is heard to speak. The sinner sees the crucified Lord, confesses his sins, and abhors himself. It is then also, through the word of the gospel, Christ is seen as the Savior and trusted in.

The gospel brings knowledge of salvation and forgiveness of sins. In full, genuine conversion the Lord Jesus Christ becomes personally known. The guilty conscience is set at rest and the heart is satisfied. Every truly converted soul is a miracle of God's grace.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 9.

Do You Know?

It is a dark, foggy night and a man is groping his way along the wharf when he takes a wrong turn. Another few moments and he is over the edge! A splash—a frantic cry for help—and silence.

Confused efforts are made to locate him, but all in vain. 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 could not swim!

None of us knows everything, but all of us know something. A few of us know a great many things. Some of us know the one thing of supreme importance. Do you know it?

To be right with God is the matter of supreme importance. It matters little what you are or what you know if you are not right with God. To have "all knowledge" of things that count in this life will not help you if you remain in ignorance of this one thing that counts in eternity. The question of questions is—Are you right with God?

God's Word clearly shows us the way.

FIRST: justification before God cannot be earned. It cannot be deserved. If a soul is to be justified at all, it must be by the grace of God and by that alone.

SECOND: the only way of having justification is through 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 justified before God if and when you believe in Jesus. Then God reckons to your account the value of His Son's death and you are positively justified.

FOURTH: when you do believe in Jesus, you are justified freely. God justifies not only without charge, but also without grudging.

Trusting in Christ for yourself, definitely accepting Him as your Savior and Lord, you can say, "By faith in Jesus I am right with God." Then truly you will know the one thing of greatest importance.

You may not know much of the world's wisdom and knowledge, but you will know how to "swim" if death's waters should rise about you!

"Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus... that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." Rom. 3:24, 26.

Hoping or Believing?

"Are you a Christian?" we asked a young girl whom we knew to be anxious about her soul's salvation.

"I hope so," she answered.

"Have you eternal life?"

At this second question her face fell and she was silent.

Again we asked, "Did you ever thank God for the gift of eternal life?"

"I pray," she said.

We then read to her this text: 'These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life!" 1 John 5:13. Having read it we asked our little friend, "Do you believe on the name of the Son of God?"

"I do," she answered, and we believed she did so most truthfully.

"You believe that He died for your sins on the cross?"

"I do."

"Let us read the text again. 'These things have I written unto you'—now put your own name here—`that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.' "

The darkness rolled away, and her eyes were opened. God gave her faith to believe, and she took the gracious word to herself. She now had peace, and was always thankful afterward for that night when she passed out of darkness into God's marvelous light.

Can you put your name there, or are you still just "hoping"?

"And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39.

God's Works Are Perfect

Upon examining the edge of the sharpest razor with a microscope it will appear as broad as the back of a knife, only rough, uneven and full of notches and furrows.

But the sting of a bee on human skin seen through the same instrument exhibits everywhere the most beautiful polish, without the least flaw, blemish or inequality, and it ends in a point too fine to be discerned.

The threads of linen are coarser than yarn with which ropes are made, but a silkworm's web appears smooth and shining, and everywhere equal.

The smallest dot that is made with a pen is irregular and uneven, whereas the tiny specks on the wings or bodies of insects are found to be accurate circles.

How wonderful are the works of God! "Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace." Job 22:21. "Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live." Isa. 55:3.

Haunted for Fourteen Years

She looked like an average, respectable middle-aged woman just like so many others but for the lines in her face and the shadow that never left her eyes. At the end of the gospel service a Christian worker spoke to her and, seeing the trouble in her face, asked, "Can I help you?"

"Oh, I am haunted—haunted!" gasped the woman. "But I cannot talk here!"

A private spot was found, and again the Christian asked, "Can I help you?"

"No one can help me! I murdered a man! Fourteen years ago I drove a knife into a man's throat. He was found with his hand on the knife, and everyone thought that he had committed suicide. No one ever suspected me, but I was miserable.

"After two years I came to America to see if I could find peace here. First I went to New York, and then came to Chicago. I have been here for twelve years, but have not found peace. I often go to the lake and stand on the pier and look down into the dark water. I would have jumped in if I had not been afraid of what lies beyond death. What help is there for me?"

Can you think of a more terrible state of mind? To be haunted—and haunted for fourteen years—by the memory of a murder and an accusing conscience? It must have been a veritable hell upon earth.

What brought her to such a condition? Her sin. And "are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God?" 2 Chron. 28:10. Think—are there no sins of which your conscience accuses you?

"Of course, I am a sinner," you say. "We are all sinners. But I have never committed such an awful sin as murder."

But who told you that one sin is more awful in God's sight than another? Men may speak of "little sins," but God does not. No sin is trivial or excusable in His eyes. The smallest sin is enough to shut out a man from His presence forever. In His sight there is no difference between you, who have done nothing grossly and outrageously wrong, and the poor woman who drove the knife into the throat of a fellow-creature.

Do you doubt the truth of this? Then open your Bible and see for yourself. Turn to Rom. 3:22, 23: "There is no difference: for all have sinned." All stand on common ground before God. If you were as much awake as you should be to the seriousness of sin, your conscience would be as burdened as was that of the murderess. You would be haunted by the knowledge of your guilt.

But there is another sight to look upon besides sin in all its ugliness and blackness. There is JESUS, who willingly became the Sin-bearer upon the cross and endured the bitter punishment in order that we might be forgiven.

Only by believing in Jesus, and the results of His atoning work, can the accusing conscience be set at rest. Only through Him did the poor, haunted woman find peace—only through Him can you be saved!

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

What Does "Converted" Mean?

What does converted mean? It means completely changed. Converted is not synonymous with reformed. Reforms are from without—conversion from within. Conversion is a complete turnabout to Jesus and a willingness to do what He wants you to do. Unless you have made a complete turnabout and are doing His will it will avail you nothing if you've reformed a thousand times.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart and confess Him with your mouth and you will be saved (Rom. 10:9, 10). The plan of salvation is presented to you in two parts: believe in your heart and confess with your mouth.

The Lord says He has something better for you—salvation—if He can get you to see it. Jesus said: "Come unto Me," not to a creed, to Me, not to a preacher, to Me, not to an evangelist. "Come unto Me... and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. Faith in Jesus Christ saves you.

You can attend the services, teach Sunday school, return thanks and do everything that would apparently stamp you as a Christian—even pray—but you won't ever be a Christian until you do what God tells you to do.

The first thing to remember about being saved is that salvation is a personal matter. "Seek ye the Lord"—that means everyone must seek for himself. It won't do for the parent to seek for the children; it won't do for the children to seek for the parent.

If you were sick, all the medicine I might take wouldn't do you any good. Salvation is a personal matter that no one else can do for you; you must attend to it yourself.

Some think they must come to Him in a certain way—that they must be stirred by emotion or something. Some of you say that in order to accept Jesus you must have different surroundings. You think you could do it better in some other place. You can be saved where you are as well as any place on earth. You need a new heart, not a new suit.

You say, "The church is full of hypocrites." So's hell! There are no hypocrites in heaven. What can I do to keep out of hell? "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

Jesus Christ became a man; God became flesh and blood. He died on the cross for us, so that we might escape the penalty pronounced on us. Now. what's our part in salvation? Here it is: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."

You say, "It's so mysterious. I don't understand." You'll be surprised to find out how little you have to know. You plant a seed in the ground; that's your part. You don't understand how it grows. How God makes that seed grow is mysterious to you. But you leave that up to Him.

God says: "Let the wicked forsake his way." Isa. 55:7. When'? Within a month, within a week, within a day, within an hour? No! Now! The instant you believe, God's plan of salvation is thrown into gear. You will be saved before you know it, like a child being born.

I want you to see what God put in black and white—that there can be a sound, thorough conversion in an instant, and that man can be converted as quietly as the dawning of a new day. What I want to make clear is the fact that a man can be converted without a great display of emotion or ceremony. It is an inward thing.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved. Because of His divinity He understands God's side of it, and because of His humanity He understands our side of it. Therefore, Jesus Christ is the mediator between God and man. He died to save us.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, confess Him with your mouth, and you shall be saved. It is a great salvation that can reach down into the quagmire of filth and pull out a struggling sinner. It is a great salvation, for it saves from great sin.

I want to close with this: that the way to heaven is a blood-stained way. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. No man ever has nor ever will reach it without Christ.

Take It!

Salvation has been procured for all who are not too proud to take it for nothing.

Sinner, hear and obey,

'Tis the voice of the Spirit that cries;

While He strives, yield to Him,

Do not quench the convictions that rise.

"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.

Catastrophe

Most of us are quite capable of handling the small crises of our daily life. Interruptions of all kinds, accidents, illnesses, unexpected expenses-we plan and prepare and are rather proud of our ability to cope with it all.

But what happens when catastrophe comes?

When the dam broke on Lower Price Lake near Reno, Nevada, Tim Miller said, "I saw a wall of mud at least ten feet higher than the sixteen foot house. I don't think I ran more than twenty feet when it came over me. I couldn't breath as I was being swept down in the mud. I called to the Lord."

In Aptos, California, a violent storm destroyed ten homes along the coast. Celeste Goscila, trapped in a collapsing house, said: "I was pinned against the wall; I don't know how I got out. I said a prayer."

A British jetliner with more than 200 passengers was over the Indian Ocean when all four engines, choked with volcanic ash, stalled. Australian passenger Gary Middleton said: "Everybody was petrified. There was no noise. By the time we pulled out... just about every body was on their knees praying."

These are only three examples of people face to face with disaster—unexpected, overwhelming disaster. We, too, can at any time be brought face to face with the realities of life and death, with forces beyond our control, with circumstances where it is useless to call for help from family or friends. There are times when no human being is able to help.

Then what is the universal reaction? "O God, save me!" This is very much like the Apostle Peter when he began to sink beneath the waves calling: "Lord, save me!"

There may have been no time for God in the past, no thought or care for Him, but when catastrophe comes, "Lord, save me!" Beneath all the veneer of sophisticated civilization the heart knows that "Help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth."

Then why wait until "the moment of truth," the last frantic seconds of desperation when death stares one in the face? There are times when death comes instantaneously, when there is not time for even one heartfelt cry for help. What then?

Wouldn't it be wise to be prepared for whatever may come, no matter how sudden it may be? Knowing that disaster may strike at any time, in any place, why not "prepare to meet thy God" now? Why not "acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace"? "Peace of mind" is often offered in insurance ads, but this is real peace, real insurance, and that for all eternity.

Rattlesnake!

Thirteen boy scouts listened intently to the snake handler's presentation. Thirteen pairs of eyes were fixed, first on the speaker, then on the bulgy blue bag on the table. The great moment came, the bag was opened, and handler Sam Clark prodded almost seven feet of angry rattlesnake onto the table.

Swiftly coiling, the great snake waited. Suddenly there was one careless gesture, one hand too close to the tense snake, and the snake handler jumped back holding his hand.

The snake slithered to the floor and turned toward the scouts.

"Up on your chairs—stand up on your chairs!" the scoutmaster shouted. The scouts obeyed— fast!—but Sam Clark stepped directly in front of the snake. Pushing and shoving it with his foot, he kept turning it away from the scouts. It took the bitten Clark about ten minutes to bag the slippery snake again, and the boys were safe.

The scouts were safe, but Sam Clark was rushed to the emergency room at the hospital and then into intensive care.

Telling of it later, the scoutmaster said, "I think what Sam did was way beyond the call."

The diamondback rattlesnake is rated as "the most dangerous snake in North America.': The very sight of one is likely to cause hysterical cries and shouts of "Look out! Run! Somebody get a gun!" But Sam Clark, already badly bitten, faced the deadly snake again to save the boys. And he did save them, at a bitter cost to himself.

Isn't that just a little bit like our Lord? We were at the mercy of a deadlier "serpent" than the rattler. (The Bible speaks of the devil as "that old serpent.") The Lord Jesus came between us and him, and offered Himself in our place. He gave His life that we might live. We have only to accept His sacrifice for us and (like the thirteen grateful scouts) thank Him for what He has done for us.

"What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord." Psa. 116:12,13. That is all He asks of us!

What the Word of God Says About Sin:

"SIN is lawlessness." 1 John 3:4. (JND translation)

"All unrighteousness is SIN." 1 John 5:17.

"A high look, and a proud heart... is SIN." Prov. 21:4.

"The thought of foolishness is SIN." Prov. 24:9.

"Whatsoever is not of faith is SIN." Rom. 14:23.

"To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is SIN." James 4:17.

The Bird in the Boat

It had been a pleasant day for the young couple in the small sailboat; they had enjoyed fresh breezes and warm sun. But the day was drawing to a close and they were tired, so they decided to call it a day and turned their sails toward the boat-ramp two miles away.

Suddenly they noticed coming toward them a small bird flying very erratically. He fluttered into the boat, quite ruffled and a little anxious as he looked up at the human occupants! He must have been relieved to find a resting place for his weary body, after traveling far over the open water, and he looked frightened and LOST. But one thing was sure: though weary, he was SAFE.

Quietly he rode along with the young sailors until at last they reached land and beached their boat. Then a rescued and rested little bird looked around with his bright eyes, selected the nearest tree, and was off to a secure perch as fast as his wings could fly.

Dear friend, just as there was a refuge for this travel-weary bird, there is a Refuge for the sinner who comes to God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Many lost souls are deceived by Satan, "the prince of this world," and are like this little bird. They wander through life, never finding real rest, peace or happiness.

Are you weary of endless searching? Are the years of life taking their toll? Are you without "hope, and without God in the world"? Are you resting on religion or your own good works? It is all in vain! God says: "There is none righteous, no, not one," and "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:10, 23.

Jesus says: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. For those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and the blood He shed on the cross for their sins there is real rest, peace and happiness. Once lost, now found! They are eternally SAFE and secure.

In John 10:27, 28 Jesus says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish." There is no fear of death or hell.

What awaits the Christ-rejecting soul, still wandering in his sins, still blindly groping for reality? If he dies in his sins, he will spend an eternity in hell. Hell is a place of "weeping and gnashing of teeth," (Luke 13:28) and a place of "outer darkness."

God says "Now is the accepted time... now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." Isa. 55:6.

Do not wait another minute! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. Your wanderings will cease and your rest for eternity will begin.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound

That SAVED a wretch like me;

I once was LOST, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see!

A Knock at the Door

Have you ever responded to a knock at the door of your house, to find someone there whom you have never seen before, and to find that he or she is there on business—business in which you have little or no interest? In a moment you must decide: should I ask this person in, or should I turn him away?

Sometimes you may have allowed the stranger into your home, and felt better for showing this little act of kindness. Other times you may have turned the caller away. And have there not been times when you felt you have missed something in turning someone away?

Your heart has a door also, a door at which there are many callers. One Person is knocking at the door of your heart now, a Person who can give you new life if you will bid Him welcome. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, and as He knocks He speaks: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20.

Will you answer His knock? The handle is on the inside of the door; you must open it. Let Him in, and you will never regret having welcomed Him.

If I Die Tonight

The gospel had been faithfully preached by an evangelist in a large barn in the country. The people had gone home, and a farm hand was putting out the lights and closing up. The preacher returned for something he had forgotten. On finding it, he said to the young man, "Well, James, have you decided on whose side you are to be for eternity."

"I hope to go to heaven like other people," answered the man. Looking at his wife beside him, he added, "You see, we are young yet, sir, and have a long life before us, and plenty of time to think about these things."

The evangelist spoke faithfully to the man about the uncertainty of time, and the danger of putting off his personal salvation, but he did not succeed in awakening him. Finally he said, "Will you do me a favor tonight, James?"

"Anything you want, sir."

"Take a sheet of paper, and before you go to bed write on it these words: 'If I die tonight I shall be in hell,' and fasten it over your bed." James answered that he would, thinking little of the matter.

That night, before they went to bed, his wife reminded him of his promise.

"Bring me a pen and paper, and I will do it now," said James. When these had been brought he sat down by the table and wrote, "If I die tonight,"

Then he stopped, looked at it, and laid down the pen. It looked awfully solemn, more so than he had ever thought anything could be. He might die that very night; yes, before the morning's sun shone again, he might be in eternity. Where?

He took up the pen to finish the sentence—he had to face the truth—

"I shall be in hell!"

A tear fell on the last word and blurred it. It was from the eye of his wife, who was looking over his shoulder at the dreadful words. Sleep would not come, and at last they were brought to think of their souls' destinies.

James took down the Bible, seldom read, to see if any comfort or any relief could be found there. As the gray light of morning dawned, they were still eagerly searching God's Word. At last they came upon the blessed words in Isa. 43:25, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions... and will not remember thy sins."

"This is what we want," said James. "This is what we are looking for!" That morning, as lost and hell-deserving sinners, they cast themselves on Jesus, the Savior, whose blood cleanseth from all sin. They were saved!

Taking up the pen, James crossed out the word "hell," and wrote above it, "heaven," and then triumphantly pinned it above his bed.

Have you found out which of the two eternal destinies will be yours? When all is over here, where will your immortal soul be? In heaven, or in hell?

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

"What must I do to be saved?... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31.

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

One Thing Lacking!

In Luke chapter 18, verses 18 to 23 we read about a rich young ruler. He asks in verse 18: "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

God knows your thoughts! The One with whom the rich young ruler spake was God, God manifest in His Son. And as God, the lowly Jesus knew all the thoughts of this well-favored young man.

The young man lacked one thing. He had earthly possessions and religious attainments, but he did not have ETERNAL LIFE. Many spend their God-given time planning how to get more and more of this world's goods. Are you accumulating the things of earth? Count it all as rubbish! The Apostle Paul named one by one the things he had possessed, and said: "and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Phil. 3:8.

It is a humiliating thing to acknowledge that one is a lost, ruined sinner. I believe that the main reason more people are not being saved is because of their pride; they shrink from taking their rightful place before God as a guilty, hopeless wretch, and the hated position before the world as a believer in the rejected Jesus.

In Luke 18:22 we find the key: "Come, follow Me." What! Follow this lowly One? He was born in a manger, not a cradle, in a place suited only for animals, not for the Son of the highest! To follow Him meant to share His reproach, not yet to enter into His glory.

He had not yet come as King, but, as Son of the Father, He was manifesting the love of the Father: going about doing good, comforting broken hearts, healing diseased bodies, proving Himself to be God in the form of man.

And then—mystery of mysteries!—in His great love for poor, helpless, ruined man, He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross due to you and me. On the cross of Calvary He bore the full load of sin and of judgment.

If you will accept Him now as your Substitute, you will have Him eternally as the Savior of your soul. He has the power to judge too, and at the appointed time He will come in that power to judge the world. But now it is the day of His grace and love, and the good news of salvation is still being sounded out.

And then verse 23: "And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich." Sorrowful? Why? Because "he was very rich," and his heart was attached to his riches. If you let possessions have power over you, they will keep you from the Savior.

Let Christ alone have power over your soul. Rom. 1:16 says: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth," that is, believes what God says and accepts it for himself.

And how can you receive it? By faith. Will you accept the Lord Jesus on that basis? "The just shall live by faith." Rom. 1:17. Look back at the cross. See Him suffering there for YOU. Take your place before Him as a sinner. Look to Him as the Savior. Let your heart respond to His love.

God does not want you to go to the pit. God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. Just take your place as a sinner, and He will save you. He Himself said: "He that heareth My word, and believeth... hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

That rich young man went away sorrowful—a sorrow that will never end, if he did not turn to Christ. The blind beggars cried to the Lord Jesus: "Son of David, have mercy on us." They did not care what the world thought or said. They had a need, and they believed in His power to supply that need.

Dear sinner friend, you too have a need—a great need. You need eternal life through belief in Christ, the Savior of sinners. Bow to Him now and receive the blessing that only He can give. Believe now!

Excused

"And they all with one consent began to make excuse." Luke 14:18.

God will excuse you if you want to be excused (from the feast, from heaven, from His presence forever). He does not wish to do it, but He will do it. It is easy to say, "I pray thee have me excused." But by-and-by God may take you at your word and say: "Yes, I will excuse you."

And in that lost world, while others who have accepted the invitation sit down to the marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven, you will be crying in the company of the lost: "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and I am not saved."

"Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:40.

The End

The end of another year is in view, and soon the clock will strike the midnight hour for the last time in 1983. The grains of sand are falling fast.

Soon this year will end. Soon, too, will end our time on earth.

How quickly time passes; the baby becomes the schoolboy, the schoolboy the teenager, the teenager the business man, the business man the elderly, and soon he is the aged one passing on.

A very few more turns of the wheel and all will be completed of our life here. But this life is only the first chapter in our history—a history to which "finish" never will be written. "End of Chapter One" may be written speedily, but Eternity is in view, and it is unending.

It is well for us to pause and consider our eternal destiny, and as we pass one another like ships on the trackless ocean, we ask, "Where are you going?"

Where will you spend eternity? Will it be with Christ in everlasting joy, or without Christ in everlasting sorrow?

Can we know? Absolutely yes. "We know... we have a building of God... eternal in the heavens," says the Apostle Paul in 2 Cor. 5:1, voicing the Christian's confidence. It is the believer's portion to know how he stands as to the past, as to the present, and as to the future.

As to the past: "Ye know that ye were... redeemed... with the precious blood of Christ." 1 Peter 1:18, 19.

As to the present: "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." John 5:24.

As to the future: "We know that, when He [Christ] shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2.

For the Christian, past, present and future are filled with Christ.

Our redemption was through Him.

Our life is in Him.

Our glory will be with Him.

All this is of His grace. We deserve nothing but judgment, but He gives all in the greatness of His goodness. He never fails the worst sinner who trusts in Him, or the weakest believer who relies upon Him.

Friend, you are leaving this world. The clock is ticking you on your way. Your pulse throbs you ceaselessly forward. Where are you going?

The same Word of God which tells of His love, tells of His righteous judgment. If we miss His salvation we will receive the judgment we deserve. And that too is FOREVER.

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:27, 28.

His Father's Will

CHRIST...

HUMBLED HIMSELF

that He might exalt us.

BECAME POOR

that He might enrich us.

WAS SOLD

that He might redeem us.

WAS CONDEMNED

that He might acquit us.

WAS MADE A CURSE

that He might bless us.

DIED

that He might give us life.

December 7

December 7, 1946. To most Americans, December 7 is remembered as Pearl Harbor Day, but in Atlanta, Georgia, the date has other dark memories. On that night hundreds of people, guests of the Winecoff Hotel, slept in their rooms secure in the knowledge that the hotel was fireproof. Like the "unsinkable Titanic," everyone believed in it, everyone trusted the "fireproof construction" and no one lay awake to wonder "What if a fire should break out tonight?"

But quietly, unnoticed, a little fire was smoldering, smoking, growing, until suddenly the great flames broke forth.

What of the fireproof construction then? It didn't mean it couldn't burn, only that the fire would be "contained" in that one building-and would burn even more fiercely inside the "fireproof" walls.

The alarm was given, and then it was sirens—sirens—sirens as fire engines raced to the scene from all the surrounding area. But their ladders were too short, their hoses could not reach, and the fire raged on unchecked.

Because the building was considered fireproof there was little provision for fire escapes or emergency evacuation. People who rushed to their windows saw only the street as much as fifteen floors below, but with smoke and flames at their doors and panic in their hearts they leaped—leaped to death on the street far below.

An airman who had served in World War II said it was "like men bailing out of a burning plane"—but there were no parachutes.

It was the most disastrous hotel fire in American history: 121 deaths. Yet some were saved. Not those who blindly leaped from the windows; not those who dashed into the fire to try to fight their way through; not those who hid in closets and corners until smothered in the smoke. No, there was no way to escape by their own efforts.

Outside the hotel brave men forgot their own safety and rushed into the office building across the alley. Up—up, as high as they could go, and then with boards, ladders, anything that could reach across the narrow opening, they crossed into the tumult and danger with hands outstretched to the terrified people at the windows.

Those who trusted, those who grasped those rescuing hands and were guided back across the perilous boards, were saved. Out of the dark pall of smoke they emerged into the clean white offices of the doctors and dentists across the way. Saved!

Rescue had to come from outside the hotel, outside the fire.

Aren't we in much the same case? No effort of ours can lift us from this doomed world, no struggle can gain the safety of heaven above, no hiding place is safe. But there is a Savior. There is One who can come where we are and lead us to safety. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, and no one else, no other way, can avail.

The rescuers only risked their lives to save others; the Lord Jesus gave His life for us. "For when we were yet without strength... Christ died for the ungodly.... While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:6, 8.

It Is the Gospel of God

In much of modern Christianity it seems, to be almost forgotten that the gospel is the gospel of God. God sends to man His good news of His way of salvation for man. God's own nature, His truth, His holiness, His righteousness, are made known to man in His gospel.

God is light and God is love, such is His nature. His light and His love are made manifest in the cross of His Son. God cannot pass by sin. Were He to do so, He would not be the God of truth.

The cross of Christ is the great proof of His hatred of sin. His holiness can not tolerate sin in His presence, and a propitiation for all sin is made by the death of Christ. Now God declares His righteousness in His gospel concerning His Son.

The question is, will man believe God and live, or die in unbelief?

"What must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31. "Verily, verily, [truly, truly] I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3.

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

"Have You a Remedy?"

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

We need turn no further in the Word to find the gospel. What a tale it tells of the love of God! By the grace of God we are able to read this text and find it fresh to our souls.

In spite of the fact that we have such a wonderful story of the love of God, we find it necessary to point out first of all our need, your need and mine. We must see ourselves as God sees us. God's Word is a revelation from Him who looks down at you and sees you tonight, right where you are, and knows all about you.

Suppose I have in my pocket a remedy for any and every disease. With what joy I would start out to the hospital, anticipating the pleasure of offering the remedy to the sick boys and girls, and the sick men and women.

Do you suppose I would have to spend a half an hour at each bedside pointing out the fact that they are sick, and explaining carefully their aches and pains? Not at all. They would interrupt me, saying, "We know we are sick; have you a remedy?"

Or, suppose I have a pocketful of pardons for those who are in the penitentiary. Would I have to tell them that they are behind the bars, or elaborate on the poor food and the lack of liberty? They would soon tell me that they know all about it and want to get out.

Again, let me visit the poor house with a purse full of $50.00 bills. No explanation of their need would be necessary. The gift would be readily received without pointing out their poverty.

Now I direct you to the Word of God. It unfolds a wondrous tale of the matchless love of God's heart, of the pardon He offers, of a home in the glory, and of unsearchable riches. But, sad to say, all this is of no interest to a man who has not felt His need. Your need is far more desperate than that of the sickest man in the hospital, for you are dead in trespasses and sins. Your case is worse than the man in the penitentiary, for the eternal wrath of God hangs over your head. And you are in greater need than the poorest beggar in the city.

God says, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. Then He goes on to say, "The wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23. And He finally warns us, "After this the judgment." Heb. 9:27. God has faithfully pointed out your need and the warning cannot be exaggerated.

But now turn again to the glorious remedy, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

I like to think of this verse as showing us the height, and depth, and breadth, and length of that love. Here surely we find a height we can never reach: "For God so loved the world." If that verse were written at the beginning of the Bible it would be a marvel indeed, but here we find it after 4,000 years of the history of man's rebellion and failure.

LOOK UP and realize there is a God up there whose tender heart beats in love for you. Then we see the depth of that love: "He gave His only begotten Son." I almost fear to speak of it, for it is so solemnly deep and real. Often have we stood by faith at the foot of the cross and marveled in our inmost soul at the depth of a love that could give "His only begotten Son."

God looked down on that beloved Son as He went about with a heart filled with love and blessing. He saw the wickedness of man pick up stones to cast at Him; He saw them lead Him to the brow of the hill that they might cast Him down headlong; He saw them strip Him of that seamless coat and beat His back.

After man had done all that his wicked heart could think of against the Son of God's love, then God Himself poured out upon that spotless Victim, all the wrath and judgment that my sins deserved, and yours too, if you will have Him. Is that not a depth of love that cannot be measured?

And what breadth: "whosoever believeth in Him." Could greater breadth be possible? That glorious word "whosoever" has been the joy of many a poor sin-burdened heart. "Out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," Rev. 5:9, have been included in that wondrous word. It meant me and many another here tonight, to the rejoicing of each heart. The heart of God desires that you might know the breadth of that love.

Last of all the length cannot be measured. Listen to the glory of it, "should not perish, but have everlasting life." Is there anything like that length in this poor world? Man talks about security, and seeks protection against every possible adversity in this short life, and is thus considered "wise" by the world, but God is offering something with unknown length. He offers "everlasting life" to the man of this world. Do you know anything of this?

As you take your next breath, you are either guilty and lost, or cleansed and saved forever. God now waits to record your decision to this offer of His love which has been made known to you.

Just as I am—and waiting not

To rid my soul of one dark blot,

To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot:

O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

He Is Risen!

"Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:29.

I saw not the hill, nor the cross where they nailed Him... Nor heard the last words spoken with His last breath... I bore Him not hence to the tomb that received Him... So silent and cold in that chamber of death... But stronger than sight is the faith that believes it... And greater than reason, God's witness to me... For sin and uncleanness the Christ made atonement... I know that He died, and His blood cleanses me.

I saw not the angel that came at the dawning... To roll back the stone where the Crucified lay... Nor saw Him arising, majestic in triumph... O'er death and the grave, on that first blessed day... But deep in my heart is the peace that abideth... And joys growing big, like as streams near the sea... Not dead my Redeemer! He's risen! He's risen!... I know that Christ lives, and He lives now in me.

The Coming of the Lord

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

How wonderful to the believer in Christ is the truth of the coming of the Lord Jesus—His personal return to call His own home to share His glory. That coming is near, and will be sudden, whether at noonday or midnight.

But what about those who are unsaved when Jesus comes? As one has said: "It has its dark side for the rejectors of the gospel of God, the despisers of Christ! They will be left behind for judgment."

How solemn! There will be no more pleading from loved ones, no more tearful encouragement to come to Jesus. What an awakening it will be to the unbelievers, those who lived, rejecting Christ, to find all believers gone, and they themselves left behind!

These are not sentimental fancies; they are not cunningly devised fables. They are the true, faithful sayings of the Word of God.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. "If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." John 8:24. "What must I do to be saved?... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31.

Christ is coming! One of two things will happen to you when He comes; you will either be caught up to be forever with Him or left behind for judgment. Think of it—left behind for judgment! Oh, stop and think! "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3. "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

Look

"Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isa. 45:22.

Yes, look to the Savior who died on Calvary. There the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood which cleanses from all sin. There He laid down His life for you. Remember, "the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

1984

What an ominous sound that has! When George Orwell, the English novelist, wrote his prophetic novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, that grimly imaginative picture of life in a future year, he simply reversed the date of the year in which he was writing from 1948 to 1984. Since then the year 1984 has come to have almost a "Doomsday" sound to it.

Through the mercy of God, the predicted totalitarian state has not yet fully developed. There is still religious freedom in many countries. But evil is rapidly and openly increasing; wars and threats of war seem epidemic, and incident after incident seems to be propelling the whole world into one great final holocaust. How strange it would be if the year 1984, that date chosen apparently by chance, should really be the last year of life as we have known it—the last year of our familiar civilization—the last year of the day of grace.

There is no question that the end of our age is near! "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers... lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." 2 Tim. 3:1-4. That certainly describes our times, and our times are the last days of this age.

Then what? Then "the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." 2 Peter 3:10.

Terrible, terrible future! Is there no way to escape? Of course there is—but only now "while it is called today:' When the day of grace has ended the door will be shut, firmly and finally, to all who have been saying, "I'll think about these things—tomorrow." "I want to be saved, but not NOW."

NOW is all the time we have, now is the day of grace, "now is the day of salvation."

Why wait? Why not "seek... the Lord while He may be found, call... upon Him while He is near"? Why not "acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace"? "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee." Isa. 26:3.

Our coins say, "In God We Trust." The Lord Jesus says, "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me." To those who believe in Him and who come to God by Him there is no threatening future this year or any year, no fear of judgment to come, only the wonderful promise, "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3.

For the Christian, 1984 may well be the happiest of years, the year in which our Lord comes to take us home to be with Himself. "I will come again, and receive you unto Myself." John 14:3. "Behold, I come quickly." Rev. 22:7.

The Barometer's Warning

Captain Oldrey was commander of the Hyacinth, a small vessel working up from the Barbados. Standing on deck, he commented that it was the finest weather he had ever seen in that climate.

The atmosphere was perfectly clear. Not a cloud obscured the sky, and there was not the slightest probability of a change as far as he could see from any appearance in the heavens or on the ocean.

Going below to his cabin, the captain laid down on the sofa. A minute or two afterward he happened to look up at a barometer hanging near him and saw that the mercury was falling.

Ordinarily, in such fine weather, he would not have thought to consult this instrument, but so strange did he think it that he rubbed his eyes, imagining he was deceived. He rose from the sofa and, looking at the barometer more closely, discovered the mercury was falling very rapidly.

He went again on deck, but the weather was as lovely as before. Descending again to his quarters he shook the instrument. Still the mercury continued falling. He had never seen a fall so rapid and it finally convinced him that something was about to happen.

He called the first mate and master and told them what he had seen. These officers protested that no storm could be likely with sea and sky so clear and beautiful.

The captain just could not agree. The falling of the barometer indicated a storm, and, having received the barometer's warning, it was his duty as a captain to prepare for one as rapidly as possible. He ordered everything to be instantly made secure and all to be cleared or secured upon the deck.

Captain Oldrey did not relax until all preparation for the worst possible weather was accomplished to his satisfaction. An hour or two went by, but his mind was at rest with the knowledge that his ship was as ready as possible whatever might come.

Suddenly he had proof that the barometer was right! A storm struck and reached its peak almost at once. The wind blew with a fury so great that the sea could not rise into waves, but became one vast plain of foam, on which the ship was swept furiously along.

The Hyacinth escaped disaster and the crew and passengers reached port in safety because Captain Oldrey obeyed the barometer's warning and prepared his ship before the storm arrived.

The Holy Scriptures are the barometer which warn of the coming storm of God's wrath and judgment which will soon break over this world.

Unbelievers may say "Where is the promise of His coming?" 2 Peter 3:4. To them the sky is clear; there is no probability of change. All will go on as it always has. They have no fear. They close their eyes to the clear warnings given in God's Word. In their foolishness they go on, deceiving themselves and others.

God's barometer, however, gives plain warning. "Because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke." Job 36:18.

Now is your time to escape. Now is your only time to prepare. Tomorrow may be too late. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

God Is Knocking

If God has been speaking to you through some illness, some family bereavement, or some hardships in your earthly circumstances, see that you listen to His voice. It is God knocking at the door of your heart. He wants to enter. He desires that Christ should dwell in that heart. It is His will that you should be saved, and so He knocks.

It may seem as if all things are against you, but, if we describe your case in scriptural language, we must say that it is God's goodness leading you to repentance. Do you refuse to repent? Do you refuse to turn to God? Be careful, your hour of mercy is now.

The next time God knocks, He may knock louder and it may be the knock of judgment and not of mercy. Oh, let the blessed Savior in!

"The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance." Rom. 2:4.

He Came but Why?

The Lord Jesus Christ did not come just to teach us how to live, nor did He seek to show us how to die. God tells us why He came.

The Bible says, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15. This is the reason for His coming—"to save sinners."

He did not come "to save those who feel that they are good enough to take their chances on judgment day," nor did He come "to save those who by works of righteousness hope to earn salvation." He did not come "to save those who feel sorry for their sins and are trying to do better." No, He came, God tells us, "to save sinners"!

It is said of Him, "This Man receiveth sinners." Luke 15:2. His call, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" is directed to those who realize that they are sinners and need a Savior.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the wonderful Savior God sent to save sinners! He saves them now and for eternity, for He has said, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

Friend, ask the Lord Jesus Christ to be your Savior now, and according to His own Word He will save you.

"Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." Heb. 7:25.

A Peculiar Poster

The walls of the community hall were nearly covered with posters of all sizes. But, strange to say, one poster alone drew the attention and anger of the custodian. It was a large piece of cardboard on whose white surface the simple, black printed message "stood out like a sore thumb," as he described it. And what were the words which made him so angry?

"He that believeth on the Son

hath everlasting life:

and he that buildeth not the Son

shall not see life; but the wrath of god

abideth on him.” John 3:16.

Glancing around, he saw among a group of young people a pleasant-faced young man who, he decided, was the culprit who had placed it there. "Hey, Sam," he called out, "you are one of the religious type that would do this. Why do your kind of people put up these posters on the walls? Why don't they keep these things to themselves?"

"Why? They have as much right, if it comes to a question of that sort, to do so as others have to put up their notices or advertise their wares."

"Yes, yes, of course; but what does this thing mean?"

"Just what it says, sir. Read it the same as you would read anything else. Use the same thought in reading it as you would in reading another poster and it will be clear enough."

"But will you just explain it a bit to me?"

"It needs very little explanation," said Sam. "It is from the Bible, and thank God, the Bible is plain enough to those who want to understand. It is difficult only to those who won't.

"These words tell us that everlasting life belongs to those who believe in the Son of God—that is, to those who take Him to be their Savior, their Redeemer, their Lord—to those who accept Him as the divine Substitute for them, bearing their sins and taking their punishment on Calvary's cross."

"But what if a man does not believe that?"

"Then there is the other thing: he shall not see life. If you will have Christ as your Savior from sin, you will have everlasting life. That is God's way. It is 'Yes' or 'No.'

"It does not matter what you are; unless you are `born again,' become a new creature in Christ, you cannot see the kingdom of God. Scripture says: `Ye must be born again.' John 3:7.

"Now be clear on this point—no new birth now means no entry into heaven later. Take Jesus Christ into your heart now, and be ready for a blessed eternity with Him in glory."

It was a very subdued and thoughtful custodian that walked away thinking about those solemn words.

Will you take Sam's advice and receive His Savior?

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31. "For with the heart man believeth." Rom. 10:10.

God's Answer

In your more somber moments have you ever cried out, "What's the use?"

Listen in, then, to a conversation between a very discouraged man, and one who wanted to help him.

"I've tried—I've prayed even—I see no hope for me. I've read the Bible some, but I don't understand what it's all about."

"Do you believe that Christ died for our sins, and rose again according to the Scriptures?" "Of course I do."

"If He were here in bodily and visible form, what would you do?"

"I would go to Him at once."

"What would you say to Him?"

"I would tell Him that I'm lost."

"Then what would you ask of Him?"

"I would ask Him to forgive my sins and save my soul, and give me peace."

"What would He answer?"

The man was silent.

"What would He answer?" The question was repeated.

At last the light dawned on him, and a smile of peace stole over his face as he whispered, "He would answer, 'I will.' "

At God's answer he knew he was forgiven and saved through the work of Christ, and could now rejoice.

"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

If you accept Him you can know that: "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons [or children] of God." John 1:12.

When Will You Let Me In?

When I was only six years old I had a Sunday school teacher who was very concerned for the children in her young class. She consistently told Ifs about our need to trust in Christ to save us from the eternal punishment for our sin and to save our earthly lives from the trouble sin would bring us. She told us of Christ's never-failing love, and she told us that He was knocking at our heart's door, asking to come in, and that if we would trust in Him and love Him, He would come into our lives and change us so that we would become like Him, and He would dwell in us till He took us to heaven.

At the end of each class she would pray with us that the Lord would work in our hearts and minds to bring us to Him. Then all together we would sing:

"Into my heart, into my heart,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus;
Come in today, come in to stay,
Come into my heart, Lord Jesus."

This we did—Sunday after Sunday—until I turned seven years old. Then I moved to another town and away from my teacher, but I've never forgotten her words, her prayers or the song she sang with us.

They stayed with me day and night for weeks. I can still picture the dirt road I walked along to school, two or three strides behind my big brother and his friends, thinking over the things my teacher had said about Christ. How I should love Him, and obey Him. How I was sinful. How He was calling me, and waiting for me.

But I didn't feel like anyone was calling me. I didn't feel sinful. I had trouble thinking of my real sins. Sometimes to keep my parents from getting upset, I might lie. I didn't always obey my parents, and I often got mad at my brother and sister, but I thought these were normal things, not sin.

Then one night my parents sent me to bed early because we had company coming. He was a friend of my parents, but I considered him a "special friend" of my own. So after he came and sat down at the kitchen table to talk with my parents I sneaked out of my bed, out of my bedroom, and into the hallway just out of sight of the table, and listened. There I sat for over an hour while my parents, who loved Christ, and my special friend who was also a Christian talked about the Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't remember what they said, but I remember how I felt. Frightened. Sick. They didn't say anything I hadn't heard before, but this time the Holy Spirit spoke to my soul.

The next morning I told my mother what I had done and what I had heard. I asked her what I should do. I knew the terms: "Accept Christ," "Ask Him into your heart," "Put your trust in Christ," "Be saved," and "Come to Him," etc. But none of these seemed to answer my question. None of these seemed like the "how" that I needed for my "what to do?" They all seemed too easy, or too intangible to grasp.

Then my mother told me that if I said "yes" to Christ deep down in my heart, and really meant it and believed what He said, He would save me. That I understood!

At that time my thinking changed. I no longer thought of how Christ was calling me, or if He was calling me, but when I would say "yes" and allow Christ to lift the weight which had suddenly settled on my young shoulders.

It was as if every day Christ would ask me, "When will you let Me in? When? When?"

And I would say, "Not yet!"

I don't remember how long this went on, but it seems like it was weeks until one Sunday morning in May when we were singing a gospel song, and suddenly I couldn't say "no" to Him any more. I just said "YES" to the Lord.

I can't describe the relief I felt in that moment. But that isn't what has proven Christ to me. In the twenty years since then, I've known much loneliness and sadness, but I've always been able to turn to Him for the deepest comfort. I will 'spend eternity with the King of kings, but since that day in May I've found my richest happiness in my relationship with Christ.

He has given me more joy, more peace, more hope, than I've ever had in a relationship of any kind with anyone. He has been the center of my life, and He has never failed me.

As He called me, He's calling you. It is true that the Lord Jesus said: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," and "the wages of sin is death," but He also said that: "him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." I urge you not to reject Christ but to "cast... all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." Say yes to the Lord of lords!

The Power of the Bible

Sometimes the power of the Bible baffles its critics and even amazes Christians. A young man who had spent eight years in an Australian prison for armed robbery walked into the Bible Society office in Athens, Greece, a few months ago and gave a donation of $120 to the Bible Society.

Asked why he was making this gift, he said that while serving his sentence someone had given him a Greek Bible. Through reading it he had accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior.

His simple testimony was, "that by searching the Scriptures I realized that the reason I had gotten into this bad situation was due to my being away from God. I got converted and accepted Christ as my own personal Savior and Lord."

His conversion took place in the third year of his eight-year sentence. "The remaining five years in prison were the best time in my life, full of happiness, as I continued to read the Word of God," he said.

When he was released from prison he was deported by Australia to his native Greece. When he arrived in Athens the first thing he did was to go directly to the Bible Society office at the address which was on the Greek Bible he had been given in prison. He said, "I want to show my gratitude to the Bible Society for publishing this Book which saved my life."

"The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." John 6:63, 68.

Which? Where?

An unsaved person is one who is in his sins, out of Christ, on the road to the lake of fire, ready for it, and deserving it.

A saved person is one who is out of his sins, in Christ, on the road to glory, and ready for it, though utterly undeserving of it.

Friend, which are you?

The saved are destined to spend an eternity with Jesus, the saints of God, and the angels, in the wonderful realms of ever-unfolding glory.

The unsaved are destined to spend an eternity with the devil, the demons, and the damned, in the fathomless depths of the lake of fire—there to be the everlasting food of the undying worm, and inextinguishable fuel for the quenchless flames of that awful place.

Are You Adopted?

Ted always felt the chill of those cold gray prison walls as he walked into the State Penitentiary, but still he returned as often as he could. In his heart was a deep desire to help those men who were bound, not with actual chains, but with sin from which only the Lord Himself could cleanse them and give them power to be free indeed.

As the prisoners walked into the chapel that evening, Ted noticed that one man's face was quite a contrast to the glum, noncommittal expressions of the others. Jim's face was "alive" with a glow of joy in his eyes. Ted just felt that something special had happened. "Perhaps he is going to receive a parole or something," he thought to himself.

After greeting each other, Jim said he'd like to tell him a bit about his past life. This is his story: "When I was only five years old my parents deserted us. We were put into foster homes to be cared for, and from then on I was moved from one place to another.

"Sometimes a couple would come and visit one of these places, looking for a child to adopt, so that they could have a boy or girl to raise and love as their own child.

"As I watched these people looking over the group, I always hoped that I'd be the one they would adopt. I wanted a home. I wanted so much to have a 'Mom' and 'Dad.' As the years passed, that hope grew into a burning desire to 'belong.' I would ask the matron, 'Will anybody ever adopt me?'

"She would have to say, 'Well, I just don't know, Jim. Maybe some day you will be chosen.' But it never happened.

"In all those homes no one ever told me about Jesus. The only thing I remember in the way of prayer was what one house mother taught me: `Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray Thee, Lord, my soul to keep. Amen.' "I think the Lord answered that simple prayer in spite of everything!

"As I grew older I got into trouble and was put into detention homes, then reform school, then jail, and finally I had to be put into the penitentiary. God saved me about two years ago while I was being held for trial in the county jail. A man came there with a Bible and spoke to us of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, and I accepted Him as my Savior.

"The other day as I was reading in my Bible in Rom. 8:14-17, it suddenly dawned on me: I had been chosen! I was adopted into the family of God, and God is my Father. I am His child! No one else would have me as their child, but God adopted me and I belong to Him!

" 'The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.' "

Ted and Jim had a happy time together there in that prison rejoicing in the blessed truth that all who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior are adopted into God's family, are His children and are soon going to inherit glory forever!

"According as He hath chosen us in Him... unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved: in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:4-7.

Have you been adopted into God's family?

"I Don't Believe in the Right Way"

Wrong! If you are not already saved, you don't believe in Jesus in any way. The Bible does not recognize two ways of believing—a "right way" and a "wrong" one. Men may speak about a "living faith," a "saving faith" and an "intellectual faith," but Scripture speaks of believing what God says.

Faith in man and faith in God are the same exercises of mind; the difference is not in the faith, but in the person on whom the faith depends.

Paul did not say to the Philippian jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with the right kind of believing and thou shalt be saved." If he had, the poor man would not have understood him.

He simply said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ." Do the same, and "thou shalt be saved." Don't think about your believing, but about Christ, the object of faith.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

I Love You!”

On the 14th day of February more love is going to be expressed, conveyed, written or spoken to more people in more ways than on any other day of the year. Of course, that is what "Valentine's Day" is all about, telling someone, "I love you!"

God has sent you a message of love in the person of His Son. John 3:16 tells us about it. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." What have you done with His love?

How would you feel if, when you say, "I love you" to someone you really love very much, they answer: "I really can't accept your feelings at this time. I have to wait until I have become a good enough person to deserve your love. In other words, I must earn it myself"? I'm sure you would be crushed!

How do you think God feels? He has expressed His love for you by sending His only Son to die on the cross for you. Do you think that you need to do something to make His act of love work for you? Well, you don't! He has done it all. All you need to do is accept it. Real love doesn't have conditions connected to it. God's love for you has none. Remember, it is for "whosoever believeth."

John 15:13 tells us: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." The Lord Jesus Christ has done just this; He has laid down His life for you. Are you going to accept Him or reject Him? It's up to you.

God is love. But God is also righteous, and He cannot allow you to enter heaven with even one sin. If you don't accept Him as your Savior a day will come when you will have to accept Him as your Judge and then He will say: "I never knew you."

Won't you just accept His love in the same way you would want your love to be accepted, with no strings attached?

"Something That Had to Be Done"

It was midsummer and very hot. In the steamy heat the whole apartment complex seemed to be dozing, but Damon, 13, and Emerson, 11, were playing ball in spite of the heat.

Inside, in a first-floor apartment, five small children sat or sprawled on the floor, their eyes fixed on the make-believe world of the television screen. Seeing them so absorbed, their mother slipped out to the neighborhood store. She would only be gone a minute!

Outside, the ball game came to a sudden stop. Was that smoke curling out of a window? The boys hesitated only long enough to be sure, then the game was forgotten as they rushed into the apartment.

There were the five children, still transfixed by the unreal world they watched while smoke and fire spread toward them.

"Those kids didn't even know there was smoke in the room," said Emerson. "They just sat there watching television. The fire was coming right at the baby. I grabbed her and ran outside."

The apartment was destroyed, but the two boys got all the children outside, uninjured.

Later Emerson said, "I was scared something was going to blow up... but I guess I thought more of their lives than I did my own."

And Damon said, "It was just something that had to be done."

The boys ran a terrible risk, but they saved the children without losing their own lives.

Nearly 2000 years ago the Lord Jesus Christ gave His life to save us. He came to a world absorbed in its own plans and pleasures, to people that had forgotten God and were "willingly ignorant" of the destruction that was coming on the earth.

There was no hope that man would see his danger and flee from the wrath to come. Satan, the god of this world, had "blinded the eyes of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ... should shine unto them." 2 Cor. 4:4.

As Damon said, "It had to be done"—if the children were to be saved.

The Lord Jesus had to come, had to die, had to rise again, if we were to live.

And He did! "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:6, 8.

There was no other way.

Hide-And-Seek

When I was a child and got together with a group of friends my own age, my favorite game was hide-and-seek.

You probably remember the way it went. You chose a base. Someone was chosen to be "It." That person hid their eyes and counted to a certain number—50 or 100—while the others ran and hid. Then "It" would yell, "Ready or not, here I come!" and would start to try to find the others. If "It" spotted someone he would run to the base and yell, "1-2-3 on so-and-so!" If someone that was hidden saw a chance they would run to the base before "It" could see them. Then they would yell "SAFE!"

If you are still hidden in sin, you need to run to the Lord Jesus Christ and accept Him as your own personal Savior and then you can yell SAFE! and you will be safe for all eternity. Isa. 55:6 says, "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near."

Luke 19:10 tells us: "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." The Lord Jesus Christ is seeking for you and so is the devil. He wants to ruin your life and cause you to spend eternity in hell. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." 1 Peter 5:8.

It is no longer just the game of life. We're talking about FOREVER. Are you going to be forever SAVED or forever LOST? It is up to you. Are you willing to exchange a few years enjoying the pleasures of sin for an eternity of "weeping and gnashing of teeth" in hell? Or do you want peace now and an eternity of peace and joy in heaven with the Lord?

I remember that many times while playing hide-and-seek someone would find a particularly good place to hide. Sometimes we would finally give up trying to find them and go off to do something else. Sometimes it would take so long that the person who was hiding would go to sleep. Don't you be like that and wait too long before you come out of hiding and seek the Lord!

There is coming a time when it will be too late. The "game" will be over! The Lord is coming back some day very soon, to take His own to be with Himself in glory. Will you be SAFE, or sorry?

Prov. 1:28, 24-26 says, "Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught [disregarded] all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.... Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me." Then it will be too late to seek the Lord. Seek Him NOW while there is yet time.

Him That Cometh to Me

The moment you learn that you are a sinner, you may look up into the face of the Son of God and claim Him as your own Savior.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

What rejoicing there will be then among the heavenly hosts! "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:10.

Christ Jesus came into the world to seek and save sinners. He did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. He walked a lonely path down here, rejected by the world, but still offering love and forgiveness to sinners.

So it was with the woman at Sychar's well. "Jesus... said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water." John 4:10. She answered, "Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not." v. 15.

The rich man and rulers rejected Him, but the leper who was cleansed by His word returned to give Him thanks. So it is with many others found in the Word of God, and so it will be when you, realizing that 'you are a sinner, turn to Him who loves you as a Father loves His wayward child.

How can you ignore such great salvation? "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

Bees Will Sting!

Bees are noted for two things, honey and stings. In seeking the honey, beware of the stings. Sins also have their sweets; "the pleasures of sin" which are only "for a season" (Heb. 11:25) always end in the penalties of sin which are eternal. Doing wrong may be like eating honey, but when the conscience convicts, its stings are terrible.

Sins, like bees, are numerous. There are in some hives as many as 30,000 bees. Who can tell the number of sins in our hearts? They are countless. How they buzz around—sins of speech, sins of action, sins of thought! Try to count the bees flying in and out of a hive, and then try to number your sins.

Thousands of bees are inside the hive and out of sight. A young friend of ours, who had made his own wooden hive, opened it one evening and let us see the black swarms of bees moving within, though not a bee could be seen outside.

We cannot always see the sins that are in our hearts, but God can, and He says, "I know the things that come into your mind, every one of them." Ezek. 11:5.

Jesus, when on earth, knew what was in people's hearts (Luke 9:47), and He knows what is in our hearts today. One day He opened the human heart, as my young friend opened his hive, and revealed some of the evils working within (Matt. 15:19).

We would not like for the world to know the thoughts within us, yet God says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart." Jer. 17:9,10. This ought to humble us.

Did you ever have a bee follow you and try to sting you? One went after a friend of mine. He started beating the air, until he thought he had beaten his attacker off. When he stopped, I saw the bee quietly crawling inside his coat. It is hard to get away from sin, and when we think we have succeeded, it may be nearer than ever.

I knew a lady who, when a swarm of bees were threatening to attack her, shut the garden gate to keep them out! This was just about as effective as our good resolutions to keep away evil thoughts and desires.

Now a bee cannot sting two persons. Its sting is barbed, like a broad arrow, and when inserted, cannot be withdrawn, but is left in the wound. Thereafter that bee is stingless and cannot sting again.

My sins the Savior stung,

And caused His painful death

When on the cross He hung,

And yielded up His breath;

My sins will never sting me now,

They left their stings in His blest brow.

"There is none righteous, no, not one.... They are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.... For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:10,12 and 23.

Only the Lord Jesus Christ can save from the sting of sin. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

The "Portland"

The steamer "Portland" left Boston harbor during a storm in November, 1898. She left when all the storm signals were flying; she left when the government agent at the signal office had advised out-going vessels to remain in port; she left when the owners of the ship had commanded her to stay at the dock.

Why she left, no one has ever been able to say. Her captain must have been apprehensive, for he said to the lighthouse keeper, "Keep your light burning bright tonight, for we may come back."

But she never came back!

"But they refused to hearken... and stopped their ears, that they should not hear." Zech. 7:11.

How many lives have been shipwrecked for the same reason!

And if you still His call refuse

And all His wondrous love abuse,

"Too late! too late!" will be your cry—

"Jesus of Nazareth has passed by."

Little Things

Remember the old story of the missing nail? It went something like this:

For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;

For want of a shoe, the horse was lost;

For want of the horse, the rider was lost;

For want of the rider, the battle was lost;

For want of the battle, the kingdom was lost—

And all for the want of a nail!

Who could have thought one little horseshoe nail was so important?

Tiny little "O-rings" don't seem like much either, do they? In fact they seem specially insignificant when compared to a jumbo jet! But recently a big, three-engined jet plane, loaded with passengers, took off for Nassau without those little O-rings on the oil seals. They had not gone far out to sea when:

For want of the rings, the oil was lost;

For want of the oil, the engines...

You can follow the progression!

This time, though, there was a happy ending. The pilot was able to restart one engine before they crashed into the Atlantic, and the plane limped back to Miami, landing safely. How carefully they check those insignificant little oil seals now!

When the Lord Jesus was here on earth a rich young ruler once came and asked Him what he must do to inherit eternal life. He must have been pretty confident that he deserved it for, as to the law ("Do not kill, Do not steal...") he said: "All these have I kept from my youth up!"

He was young, rich, noble and "good." in the eyes of the world, but what did the Lord tell him? "One thing thou lackest!"

It hardly seemed important in the face of all that ostentatious worthiness, but without that one thing a soul would be lost forever.

We don't need to commit great sins; we needn't murder, or steal or lie; we need not even refuse to accept the salvation God offers us through His Son. All that is necessary is to "neglect so great salvation."

We can even say, "Of course I want to be saved. I intend to accept Christ—some day!" This one "little thing," this one little oversight, this one good intention never carried out, will prove to be the one little thing that will cause the whole structure of an apparently blameless life—a kind, honorable, law-abiding life—to crash down at last as we hear the sad words, "I never knew you: depart from Me!"

How dreadful, and how unnecessary! The Lord Jesus has done all that is needed for salvation, and He offers it to us today as a free gift. All we need to do is accept it, now, and make sure of that one thing we have lacked.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

Who Cares?

Where we live, many people have a sign on their car showing a map of the state and the word "NATIVE!" Others have signs that say "SEMI-NATIVE!" Apparently responding to these, there are others that say "WHO CARES?"

When I see the sticker that says, "Who Cares," I always think of the verse: "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7. "He [the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God] careth for you." Think of that! In John 3:16 it tells us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And, "I have loved you, saith the Lord." Yes, Jesus cares!

There is a hymn that says, "His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." Even "the very hairs of your head are all numbered"! Matt. 10:30. How much He cares!

Dear friend, have you ever thanked the Lord Jesus Christ for His love and care for you? It was proved nearly 2000 years ago at the cross of Calvary when "He laid down His life for us." What love can compare with this?

Oh yes, He cares; I know He cares,

His heart is touched with my grief!

When the days are weary,

The long nights dreary,

I know my Savior cares!

My prayer is that you will put your trust in Him today and experience His love and care yourself.

A True Friend

How much true friendship is needed in this world, but how little of it is to be found! Friendship shown in a day of trouble when the clouds are heavy is so appreciated, but how disappointing when there are none to help.

But there is One who exactly meets this great need of humanity, One who is a Friend in the day of adversity, "a Friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Prov. 18:24. Yes, Jesus is the true Friend.

"Doctor, what shall I do?" asked a patient. "I have no friends in this town."

He said, "You may have one Friend who is never away, but is always near, and is always true. Jesus is the best friend for both earth and heaven."

The last words of one man when he came to die were, after bidding his friends good by, "Now where is Jesus of Nazareth, my true and never-failing Friend?" And so saying, he fell asleep.

May we ask you, do you know Jesus as your Friend? Put your faith and trust in Him today. He will never fail you. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10. "The Son of man came... a Friend of publicans and sinners." Matt. 11:19.

"As It Was in the Days of Noah" Luke 17:26

UK 17:26{The state of the world today is very similar to the days of Noah, when men had corrupted their ways so that "the earth was filled with violence" and God had to pronounce judgment upon it.

God warned them, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man.... I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy." Gen. 6:3 and 7:4. But men would not listen then and they do not listen now.

Referring back to this, the Lord Jesus said, "For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day the Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." Matt. 24:38, 39.

Probably men thought the days of Noah were days of wonderful progress. Many of the wise men of this age would have said, Oh no, Noah, you are quite mistaken; it is only your opinion. You had better give up your working on that great ship, and stop preaching such peculiar views. Come and enjoy yourself, man, and don't be such a narrow-minded bigot; do you think everybody is wrong but you?

In Noah's day "God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth." Gen. 6:5. The flood came and destroyed them all except for those who took refuge with Noah inside the ark. Every soul that was not shut in with Noah was shut out. There was then no hope; it was too late!

Today, also, He sees all the vile atrocities committed each day. Soon His judgment will fall and the world will be taken with as great surprise as it was in Noah's day. Only those who have taken shelter in the blessed Savior will escape.

God is speaking loudly to men. "The end of all things is at hand." 1 Peter 4:7. "For the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8.

As terrible as wars are, they are only the preliminaries to what is just ahead, (not a great flood as in Noah's day, but something far worse) the "great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." Matt. 24:21.

Earth, what a sorrow lies before you—

None like it in the shadowy past!

The Man of Calvary, now the gracious Savior in the glory, will come again in all the power and majesty of His eternal Godhead, in judgment upon those who have rejected Him! (2 Thessalonians, chapters 1 and 2.)

Thinking men realize that these are alarming times. Statesmen are baffled. "Upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity... men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming." Luke 21:25, 26.

The most privileged nations have in recent years become materialistic, pleasure-loving, and act in all respects as if God's existence had no bearing upon their course of conduct.

God gave man a mind, and he is using it to reason against God, and today more than ever, is inventing diabolical weapons with which to kill his fellow man!

For centuries men have tried in vain to patch up this poor world with education, reformation, legislation, and every kind of political government. But, since SIN lies in the heart of every man, as "the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked" (Jer. 17:9), no amount of effort on the part of men can permanently remedy the world.

God has not forgotten that this world has murdered His Son, and it will soon have to answer for His blood. "I will punish the world for their evil." Isa. 13:11. "His blood is required." Gen. 42:22.

But until that moment, so near at hand, in grace He is still presenting Jesus the crucified One as the only way of escape. "He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

I Have Sinned

Do you wonder why there is so much emphasis put on seeing yourself as a poor, lost sinner needing to be saved? Would you rather the gospel preacher put more emphasis on what a good person you are? Do you feel that you have been good enough, that you have done the best you could and that somehow in the end you will be let into heaven on that basis?

Well, let's just suppose for a minute that it does work out according to your present plans.

First of all, you have to acknowledge that Jesus did die on the cross. We all know, too, from history that numerous men, women and children have been killed by stoning, hanging, crucifixion, by being burned at the stake or fed to the lions just because they trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and accepted His work on the cross for them.

Continuing with our supposition that you can get to heaven on your own good deeds and by doing the best you can, just picture yourself there among a group of those martyrs. They will say something like, "Except for His dying on the cross for me and shedding His life's blood for me to put away my sins, I would be spending an eternity in Hell!" And then, turning to you: "Isn't that right?"

What would you say then? Would you say, "Oh, no! I made it on my own." How could you give God any glory in such a situation? What would you praise the Lord for? You would instead be singing your own praises.

I hope this ridiculous little example will help you to realize the foolishness of trying to see some good still in yourself. "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23.

Not one sin can enter heaven. If you were to enter heaven on your own merits, you would be making yourself equal with God, and that in itself is sin. Just one sin will exclude you forever, unless it has been washed away with His precious blood. How can this be done?

First, admit that you are a sinner, that you have no hope of making it on your own, as the prodigal son did when he came back and said to his father, "I have sinned... and am no more worthy to be called thy son."

Then put your complete trust, not in yourself, but in the Lord Jesus Christ. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

A Sinner Saved by Grace

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8.

The Birds and the Lighthouses

It is estimated that more than one hundred thousand sea birds are killed every year by flying against the lighthouses along the coast. They strike the shining lights, as they flash across the stormy sea, with such force that they instantly drop into the waves and are cast up dead on the shore.

How strange it is to think of these poor birds losing their lives by running against that which has been set up to save life. Yet such is the case, and it only tells what is being done by sinners every day and every hour.

The gospel lighthouse has been set up by God to guide lost sinners to the haven of safety, the Lord Jesus Christ. Instead of being guided to salvation, however, many are lost because they fly against the light. They reject and oppose the gospel and drop into the dark waters of judgment to be cast up on the shores of a lost eternity.

Are you sure that you are not flying against God's light? You may know the gospel well. You may have heard it, read it, sung it, and you probably know others who, by believing and receiving it, have been saved. But have you yourself been saved? That is the great question. The light that guides the storm-tossed sailor to the harbor becomes death to the birds that fly against it; the gospel of God, by which believers are saved, becomes death to the rejector.

"As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?" Ezek. 33:11.

The Good Shepherd

The Good Shepherd has come to seek and to save the lost. His voice is calling out, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matt. 11:28-30.

Deadlines

On the 16th of April most Americans will be facing a deadline-income taxes are due. The completed tax returns have to be in the mail by midnight that night, or a penalty will be assessed for the tardy person.

Everyone in this world is also facing a deadline, but no one except God knows when it will come. Are you prepared for that deadline? We are told in Amos 4:12 to "Prepare to meet thy God."

Preparing to meet the tax deadline is simply a matter of filling out the right forms and, if you owe money, sending the correct amount to the tax office along with the forms.

To prepare to meet God, you must simply put your trust in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Now, if for some reason you can't make the tax deadline, you can fill out another form and mail that in and get an extension that will give you more time after the original deadline has passed.

God's deadline, however, has no extensions. Once that deadline (the coming of the Lord for those who are His) has passed, there will be absolutely no second chance to accept the Lord as your Savior.

If you miss the tax deadline and don't file for an extension, the worst that will probably happen to you when you eventually file, will be the assessment of a small penalty for late filing. But if you miss God's deadline, the penalty is an eternity in hell, and you can never finish paying that penalty.

Also, don't forget that billions of people have passed God's deadline—death. Because of the uncertainty of when you will meet that deadline it is imperative that you accept His offer of mercy NOW. Believe in Him NOW, and you can be assured of having eternal life. You won't have to worry about this deadline any more.

Taxes are usually paid by the head of the household, and when the head of the household pays the taxes for that household, everyone in that family is relieved of any obligation when the tax deadline comes along. Salvation, however, is on an individual basis. Your parents' being saved will do you no good if, when God's deadline comes, your sins haven't been washed away by the blood of His Son. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. Nothing else will do!

You may wait until the last minute to file your income tax return and get by with it, but that won't be the case if you try to wait until the last minute to meet God's deadline since you do not know the exact date of that deadline. "Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2. The risks of waiting even a minute longer are far too great. Accept Him now!

The Hand That Never Failed

Down the steep slope of a massive mountainside a little party of climbers was following the guide. It had been a wonderful day, first the toil up the mountain, then the glorious air and the far-reaching view from the summit. Now the climbers were unroped from each other. The dangerous places had been passed, and they were almost in sight of the hotel.

Suddenly, unexpectedly, they came to a standstill before a yawning crevasse in a glacier. It must be crossed in order for them to reach home. Leaping across to the other side, the guide cried: "Follow me!"

One of the party obeyed, and in a moment he stood beside the guide. Another followed, and another, until all but one man were safely over. But the last man stood with white, set face and horror-stricken eyes gazing at the dreadful crevasse. Weary with the day's climbing, and utterly unstrung, all his nerve forsook him as he hesitated there.

"I can't," he cried in despair.

Swiftly the guide stepped forward. Holding out his strong right hand, he said: "This hand has never failed the hand that grasped it."

In a moment the traveler laid his hand in the one stretched out to him, jumped, and was safe on the other side.

Friend, there is One who stands before us on life's pathway. He stretches out the hand that was once wounded for us, to weary, sin-stricken, lost and guilty men. He can truly say: "This hand has never failed the one who has grasped it."

How is it with you? Do you know this Jesus as your Savior? Have you trusted all to that nail-pierced hand, to the mighty power of the Savior of sinners? He is willing and able "to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." Heb. 7:25.

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15.

The Survival of the Fittest

If we were to believe in the survival of the fittest, there would not be much chance for some of us! But the glory of the gospel is this, that God comes to the unfit, to the marred and spoiled, to those who have thwarted and resisted Him. He is prepared to make them over again, and if you will let Him, He will do the same for you.

Helpless I am and full of guilt;

But yet for me Thy blood was spilled,

And Thou canst make me what Thou wilt,

And take me as I am.

"At that time ye were without Christ, being aliens... and strangers... having no hope, and without God in the world: BUT NOW, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." Eph. 2:12,13.

"What Is to Be, Will Be"

"What is to be, will be—so never mind about the future."

This is about the poorest reasoning that Satan could possibly bring up, for it certainly comes from him for the purpose of taking souls down to hell. And yet some people are so foolish as to conclude that, "If I'm to be saved, I will be saved, and if I'm to be lost, I will be lost. What is to be, will be!"

Do people ever show such stupidity in the affairs of this life? Does the workman, for instance, sit down on Monday morning and say, "There's no need for me to work, for if I'm to get a paycheck, I'll get it. What is to be, will be."

Or can you imagine the farmer sitting comfortably in the house while his fields are growing up in weeds and assuring himself that if there is to be a fine crop of wheat at harvest, there will be one, for "what is to be, will be"?

If that farmer waits in that way till harvest time he will find a crop of weeds and nothing more, for he will reap just what he sows. And that is the exact truth which God is telling us in His Book: "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Gal. 6:7. If you neglect "so great salvation" you will surely reap the "wages of sin" in a dark eternity.

Be wise now, and just receive "the gift of God" which is eternal life (Rom. 6:23) and you will find that "What is to be" will be your salvation and eternal life with Christ in glory.

Are You Ready?

Perhaps your relatives and friends are ready for the coming of the Lord Jesus but you are still unprepared!

"THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH." James 5:8.

He is coming to take His people to Himself, but what will become of YOU?

Your friends will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and you will be left behind for judgment. How grievous that will be! Salvation is offered to you NOW. Do not wait a moment longer.

"Surely I come quickly" are Christ's own words. Rev. 22:20.

Are you ready to meet HIM? "Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." Isa. 55:6.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

“I Come Quickly”

What a short and strange announcement-I COME QUICKLY! Imagine these words posted in large letters all over the billboards of your town. What effect would it have on everyone?

As they awake one morning, and begin to move around the town, they see everywhere around them the words, "I COME QUICKLY." What do they mean? Everyone is talking about them. The children on their way to school, people riding to work, all are puzzled as they see at every turn the startling sentence: "I COME QUICKLY."

If you will turn to the last chapter of your Bible, you will see in Rev. 22 the very sentence, "I come quickly" repeated three times over.

"Behold, I come quickly." Verse 7.

"Behold, I come quickly." Verse 12.

"SURELY I COME QUICKLY." Verse 20.

There will be quite a few, no doubt, as the message begins to dawn on them, who will treat this with scorn and indifference. Fulfilling Scripture, scoffers will say: "Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 2 Peter 3:4.

Be warned, something is going to happen; an event is going to take place very soon. If you are not saved, if you are not sheltered under the precious blood of Christ, when He comes it will be too late for YOU!

Scoffers who mock God's warnings will be left behind for judgment. If they will not have Christ as their Savior now, they will meet Him later as their judge.

The Lord Jesus Christ, a real living person, is the one who has promised, "Surely I come quickly."

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ [believers who have died] shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16,17.

"I come quickly," says the Lord Jesus. What is your response, then, to this great fact? Before this day is over Jesus Himself may come. Do not delay. For, "if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins." John 8:24.

My Sheep Hear My Voice

"The sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.... My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand." John 10:3, 4, 27, 28.

What's in a Name?

I've heard the name of God and the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ, taken in vain countless times. It seems to be the most popular name around! But, by the way His name is used, usually in cursing, I can see that the users don't love the precious Savior and God His Father. In fact, they despise Him.

Why is this? Why can't the name of Buddha or maybe Adolf Hitler or just plain John Doe be used in that way? Psa. 139:20 says, "Thine enemies take Thy name in vain." Why? "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom. 8:7.

It has been said that "every man, woman and child has a Christ-shaped void in his heart that only the Son of God can fill." Could it be that when the precious name of Jesus or God is spoken, even in ignorance, that the poor soul is acknowledging his or her Creator in a way, although not realizing their need of forgiveness of sins through that same precious name of the Lord Jesus Christ?

We read in Acts 4:12 that, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Consider that after more than 1900 years His name is still being used. But how sad that instead of praise and adoration coming from these lips, there is indifference, contempt, and so often even mockery.

What's in a name? The precious name of Jesus speaks of truth, life, peace and most blessed forgiveness of sins. Won't you trust Him? "Jesus saith unto him [Thomas], I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

His name may be used with indifference and contempt, but Christ is "the power of God, and the wisdom of God" to those that know Him as their Lord and Savior. All of His redeemed, including myself, who once took that name in vain, are now praising and adoring that precious One who died for our sins—"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures." 1 Cor. 15:3.

"God is love," but also, "God is light." No sin can enter into His presence. If you reject Him now and die in your sins, your eternity will be spent in hell apart from Him who loves you so very, very much. Won't you come to the Lord Jesus now, while there is still time?

"Unto you therefore which believe He is precious." 1 Peter 2:7.

Flame-Out Over Portland

In the Air

United Airlines Flight 173 from Denver to Portland had been an uneventful two hour flight. Now, nearing Portland, the pilot of the big DC-8 began the long descent toward the airport. As he pushed the button to lower the landing gear, something went wrong. Dennis Deveny, a passenger, said afterward, "It went BOOM! BOOM! a sharp sound, obviously something mechanical!"

Captain McBroom knew that something was wrong, but just what?... and how bad? After notifying the control tower, he tried to reassure the passengers. Over the intercom came his calm voice: "That noise that you just heard was the landing gear. Something seems to be abnormal. We are going to circle Portland and do some checks."

The captain began a series of tests to determine the condition of the landing gear. Soon the co-pilot came back into the passenger cabin and looked through several windows trying to see the landing gear, then returned to the cockpit.

Deveny recalls, "It was a worrisome situation. People were trying to make light of things, yet you could feel tension throughout the airplane."

Finally McBroom appeared in person to calm the passengers. "I do not feel there will be a crash...." But he added, "However, I have directed the flight crew to take all precautions just in case of an emergency."

From that point on, the action was confusingly rapid for the passengers. Seat positions were shifted to place able-bodied men by the exit doors. Stewardesses drilled the passengers on which position to take and what to do in the case of a crash.

"Keep your seat belt fastened tightly and low across your laps!"

"At impact time be sure to have your glasses off. Cross your arms on your knees and lay your head on them!"

Dennis Deveny asked, "What is the safest way to hold our little boy?"

"This child should be in the first class section up front!" exclaimed the stewardess.

"No!" answered both Dennis and his wife, Mary, emphatically.

The stewardess brought them both a pillow and blankets to pad the baby.

The plane continued in its wide circle while they worked on the problem with the landing gear, until suddenly they were faced with another problem. Fuel! Just three minutes after the traffic controller asked, "How much fuel have you on board?" one of the engines suddenly quieted.

"You just lost number four!" said the co-pilot.

Almost immediately the chief engineer reported, "We're going to lose number three in a minute! It's showing zero!"

The cross-feed valves were open, the pressure pumps were on. Now they were doing everything they could to nurse the DC-8 across those final miles of sky.

Another engine failed. "They're going!" the captain despaired. "We can't make it!"

The controller's radio crackled again: "Portland tower, United... ah... 173 heavy. Mayday! Mayday! We're goin' down!"

There was only one more thing to do, only one more thing that could be done. A survivor told the story: "The captain ordered everyone aboard to pray because the plane was crash landing! All heads were down, apparently praying! I thank the Lord for sparing my life and the lives of so many! The plane finally stopped suddenly after crushing two houses. Everything was pitch black! I thought I was in eternity! I could hardly believe I was alive!"

The people on Flight 173 had only one resource at the end: to pray to God. And God did answer their prayers! Of the 186 persons in the plane, only ten lost their lives. Those were the ones in the front of the plane where the Deveny couple had refused to send their little boy. God spared the life of that little child; his father said, "God was holding our hand throughout the whole thing."

"Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear." Isa. 59:1.

Those 186 persons suddenly faced the solemn fact of eternity ahead. But every person in the world must face the same facts of eternity and the judgment of God to come. That means both you and me, "for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:22, 23.

God "hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Jesus] whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead." Acts 17:31.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Flame-Out Over Portland

On the Ground

When United Airlines Flight 173 from Denver to Portland crashed with 178 passengers and 8 crew members, only 10 people lost their lives in the crash.

The plane crashed in a residential area, but no one on the ground was killed or even injured. Two houses were crushed by the plane, but both were vacant—the only vacant houses in the immediate area.

The plane passed over the raised roadbed of Burnside Street, which was between the two houses, and it passed under two high-tension electric power lines. After its first impact it actually stopped in only two times its length, though it had trimmed off fir trees 60 feet high a full six blocks away. The two houses acted as a cushion before striking the firm ground, and the first one deflected the plane from the raised roadbed. The high-tension lines caught the tail of the plane and acted as a spring to slow it down quickly. Only minutes before the crash, a false signal tripped the overload relay switch and cut power from one of the two 57,000 volt power lines.

That plane crash is well called: "The Burnside Street Miracle!"

Virginia Webb lived with her family next door to the crash site on Burnside Street. The following account by Mrs. Webb shows how wonderfully God takes care of those who trust in Him: "My sons Danny, 11, and Andy, 7, had just come in the door from collecting for their paper route. Moments before, they had walked past the spot where the plane crashed.

"There was a sudden flash, followed by more flashes and crashing sounds, and the whole house shook. My six children were terrified and screaming; I got them calmed down and told them to sit together in the middle of the living room.

"Then I went outside expecting to find a bad car wreck. Instead, people were streaming over our fence, screaming for help. There sat a DC-8 where our neighbor's house had been. It was unbelievable!

"When my husband got home from work, we gathered our children together and knelt in prayer, thanking God for His protecting hand on our family. We feel our family was spared by the grace of God."

The hand of God brought about a wonderful set of circumstances to deliver so many from a fiery death. God says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me." Psa. 50:15. Just as the passengers on Flight 173 had prayed to God and were delivered, so we can call upon Him and be saved from our sins. That is because the Lord Jesus Christ died on tie cross, taking the punishment we deserved. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53:6.

All Sin

It seemed to me as if it were possible that most of my sins might be forgiven. They were bad enough, but then they were no worse than others. But there were some dark spots in my life, sins that I was ashamed to think of, and I could not believe that there could be forgiveness for such as those.

I spent many anxious hours over this, but at last, light broke in. This verse was brought by the Holy Spirit to my mind: "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

Oh, what a wonderful verse! I just left all my sins, little ones and great ones, inside the word "ALL."

Thank God for this message of assurance! He would not leave us in doubt. That word "ALL" is large indeed, though it is made up of only three letters.

"ALL sin"—Yes! Sin of every character and shade—"the little sins," as some people speak of them, and the great ones too.

"ALL sin." None is too dark or desperate. The soul that comes to the Savior is completely cleansed.

"ALL sin." Oh, come to the Savior now. He wants to bless you. The door of mercy stands open wide. Soon the Master of the house of blessing will rise and close that door of salvation.

Think seriously of what it will mean to have missed that cleansing, and to be joined forever with your sin and its doom. Don't be a fool. "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Isa. 1:18.

"ALL sin"? Yes, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

What Can Wash Away My Sins?

What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

So that not one spot remains—

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh, precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow.

No other fount I know—

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

"Because It Works"

A professor, seeing a student reading his Bible during his lunch hour, said to him, "I'm surprised to see an intelligent man like you read that Book. Why, you don't even know the writer, say, of the book of Daniel for instance."

"Do you use the multiplication table?" the student replied.

"Why of course," was the reply, "but what has that to do with it?"

"Do you know the author of it?"

"No, of course not."

"Well, why do you use it?" the student asked. "Because it works," came the answer again. "That's why I read this Book—because it works," said the delighted believer.

The great test of all theories, remedies or devices is—Do they work? Detailed explanations of them are unnecessary; it they work they are accepted and sought after.

For instance, we cannot explain or understand the process by which food becomes flesh, bone, blood, etc., or how it restores strength and energy and maintains life. But it does, and we continue to eat and drink.

Again, consider the medicine some of us take; can we explain or understand how it attacks and repels the disease or infection? No, but it works, and so we hopefully take it.

So it is with the gospel. The wisest sage or most holy saint cannot adequately explain or fully understand the ways of God in saving a soul, but it has worked in numberless cases, and among them, my own. So I value it and commend it to my fellow creatures, who are all in need of deliverance from sin.

The difficulty seems to be in bringing others to realize their need. A friend of mine approached a man about his soul's salvation, but he replied, "I'm young yet." He didn't feel the need of a Savior. Do you?

Whether you realize it or not, you do need the Lord Jesus Christ to save you from sin's awful power and penalty. No one else can save you, "for there is none other name under heaven... whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

All our strength, wisdom and righteousness combined are no use against the evil nature which works within us. But, "when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly." Rom. 5:6.

Our so-called good works do not count because "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Isa. 64:6.

Only God can deliver a lost soul, and He does this by the work of redemption which was accomplished by His own blessed Son on the cross.

"God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8. And because of that great and wonderful work on the cross, "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

"The gospel of Christ... is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." Rom. 1:16.

Thirty Years of Service

R.A. West, a thirty-year employee of a gas and electric company, retired recently. They called to say his final pay check was ready, and he drove in to the office for it.

The check read: "Pay to the order of R.A. West: One Cent"!

What a final reward after thirty years of service.

But there is a paymaster whose pay is far, far worse. Serve the devil for thirty years—sixty years—a whole lifetime—and what will your final paycheck be? DEATH!

No other reward will be given, though the "pleasures of sin for a season" may keep the end "out of sight, out of mind."

On the other hand, what does God offer?

Not wages, not something to be earned: "the GIFT of God is eternal life." The longest life is too short to earn it; the greatest effort can never deserve it, but God gives it—freely, "without money and without price"—through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If we do not deserve it and can never earn it, how do we get that gift?

We just accept it. We believe what God has said, we accept what Christ has done when He died on the cross, and we can put ourselves in that great "whosoever" "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:3.

Christ Is Coming

The sands of grace in the hourglass of time have nearly run out, for the "coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8. When the Lord comes for His own the door of grace will be forever closed.

Yes, Christ is coming, and one of two things will happen when He comes; you will either be caught up to be forever with Him or left behind for judgment. Think of it—left behind for judgment!

Think of those who know the Lord Jesus as their Savior and what their gain will be. They will be "forever with the Lord," seeing His face, hearing His voice, and sharing His love and glory. Perhaps a loved one, or a dear relative or friend will be among those "called home."

Will they leave you behind?

But, dear unsaved one, why do you need to be left behind? Christ died for the ungodly, and there is not a sinner on earth that He is unwilling, or unable to save. He saves to the uttermost (Heb. 7:25).

Scripture is full of examples of His love to helpless and hell-deserving sinners, for He saved harlots; He saved a thief on the brink of hell; He saved a jailor by an earthquake; He saved Saul of Tarsus when he was doing his utmost to stamp out the name of Jesus, and Jesus can save you.

Don't say that you are beyond the reach of God's heart of love. Calvary's cross proves to you that God is not a harsh judge, for "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.

Sinner, your only hope is Christ. Come to Jesus now for "now is the day of salvation." Do not depend on anyone else, nor on yourself, but on Christ alone. "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

The last book of the last chapter in the Bible tells us: "And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me." Rev. 22:12. God's pleadings and warnings go on until the very end of His living Word. Do not trifle with your soul's salvation; take refuge in a living, loving Savior who still cries, "Come unto Me," and "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out."

Are You Ready to Meet Him?

"Behold, I come quickly.... Surely I come quickly." Rev. 22:12, 20.

"Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." Isa. 55:6.

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

"What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" 1 Peter 4:17.

"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that... obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Thess. 1:7, 8.

Facing the Judge

It had been a long day, and the judge was looking forward to being at home with his family. With grocery bags in hand, he headed down the walk leading to the kitchen door.

Without warning, he was suddenly confronted with the barrel of a shotgun aimed between his eyes, and a vicious-looking man motioning for him to move on into the house.

Once inside, the intruder said, "Call the family together." The assailant then abused the wife and children in front of the judge and, after gathering up everything of value he could find, struck the judge on the side of the head with the stock of the gun and left him bleeding on the floor.

As he fled, the robber said to the judge's wife, "If you make a telephone call within an hour I'll come back and kill all your children!"

I doubt that anyone reading this account has ever done anything as openly wicked as this man did, but did you know that when God looks down at each one of us, He says, "There is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:22, 23.

In the eyes of God, we are all guilty and in need of His forgiveness. He warns us that "the wages of sin is death," but He goes on to promise us that "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

As soon as the intruder left the house, the judge's wife reached for the phone and called for the police and an ambulance. The police responded immediately, and soon the judge's house was surrounded and a manhunt was in progress.

Within a very short time, the suspect was apprehended, identified, and taken into custody.

The following morning the prisoner, handcuffed to two policemen, was led into the courtroom for arraignment on the charges placed against him. As he entered the courtroom he stared at the floor, avoiding the cameras of the newsmen. Flanked by his two guards, he approached the judge and raised his head to face him. Suddenly his legs buckled and he would have fallen to the floor had not the two policemen held him upright. There in front of him, with his head swathed in bandages, stood the man he had robbed and injured and whose family he had abused.

For a time the judge stared at his attacker in total silence. Finally, he spoke: "I must disqualify myself from this case. Your case will be set for another time before another judge. Then, with much feeling, he said, "May justice be done!"

Friend, today God is offering you salvation for your sins. "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Corinthians 6:2. But soon that offer will no longer be valid. If you die with your sins unforgiven, you will one day stand face to face with the very One against whom you have sinned.

In that day the Lord Jesus Christ, who now offers you pardon, love and forgiveness, will stand as your Judge, dispensing only condemnation. The Bible tells us in Rev. 20:12-15: "I saw the dead... stand before God... and the dead were judged.... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire."

Won't you accept the Lord Jesus as your Savior now? If you do, you will never need to face Him as your Judge.

"God... now commendeth all men every where to repent: because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man [Christ Jesus] whom He hath ordained." Acts 17:30, 31.

Your Soul!

God has given the abundance of the earth for the upkeep of your body, but, of far more importance, for the salvation of your soul He has given His only-begotten Son!

"Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for Him hath God the Father sealed." John 6:27.

"This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." John 6:29.

"What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mark 8:36, 37.

Big Winners

That was the headline of the newspaper story: "Big Winners." It was true, they were big winners. The prize was 13.9 million Canadian dollars, making Stuart and Lillian Kelly instant millionaires.

Now they had all the money they could spend, just for the price of a $1.00 lottery ticket! But what about all the losers, all those others who bought tickets and didn't win? There were 67.5 million tickets sold (equal to about 21/2 tickets for every living Canadian) but only one grand prize. One winner-and millions of losers. Not very good odds, surely!

Of course, it was only a small loss in the hope of a big gain, but what about the many, many people who are risking great loss, an immeasurable loss, for a, very small gain? What about the people who are gambling with their souls? Can you measure eternal loss with any short-lived pleasure or gain now? The Bible puts it plainly: "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36.

If you have not yet settled the question of your soul's eternal destiny, if you have not made sure that you will not "lose your own soul," then every time you lie down at night you are gambling—yes, gambling—that sickness will not strike in the night and that you will awake in the morning. Every time you get up in the morning you are gambling that you will meet no accident that day. Every time you say to yourself, "I am going to accept the Lord Jesus and make sure of my soul's salvation, but after the next party—when school is out—when I am older—or richer—or wiser..." you are gambling your eternal salvation for a few minutes of time.

The Apostle Paul saw things in the right perspective when he said, "I have suffered the loss of all things... that I may win Christ." Phil. 3:8. Nothing in this world can compare with that!

"To lose your wealth is much;
To lose your health is more;
To lose your soul is such a loss
As nothing can restore."

Are You Born of the Spirit?

We know nothing of life until we are born. So we know nothing of spiritual life until we are born again.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:6, 7.

"Deathbed Repentance"

When I was a boy of about fourteen I was listening to a preacher when he said, "Friends, I have just come from the bedside of a poor woman who was dying. I spoke to her about her soul and she listened with great attention. When I pointed out to her the danger of meeting her God, unforgiven, she cried for mercy, and a few minutes afterward she died. I believe she has gone to heaven."

I may not have given the exact words, but the impression they left on my mind was that a man might live as he liked and that on his deathbed he could cry for mercy, be forgiven, and go to heaven.

I said to myself, "That is exactly what I will do, and I will enjoy life in my own way."

So I deliberately formed this resolution and lived accordingly. I joined in all the pleasures going on around me and tried to keep God out of my thoughts. If anyone talked about the possibility of going to hell, I would think, "No, not me. I am going to cry for mercy on my deathbed!"

Years passed. I joined the army and lived a careless, godless life, trying to forget the eternity which lay before me. Sometimes I would think, "What will be the end of the life I am leading?" But I always had the answer ready, "On my deathbed I am going to cry for mercy."

One day while I was out hunting I got wet through and thoroughly chilled and was soon acutely ill. I was on very good terms with Gordon, one of our medical officers, and when he came to my bedside I said to him, "What do you really think of me, Gordon? Do you think I am going to die? Tell me honestly."

Slowly and sadly he replied, "To tell you the honest truth, I think unless you take a decided turn for the better within an hour, you will probably be dead in two or three hours."

"Thank you," I answered; "then will you leave me by myself and come back at the end of the hour?"

Gordon left me alone. "And now," I thought, "the time has come for me to cry for mercy."

I looked at the clock and noticed the exact time. After lying quiet for a few minutes to collect my thoughts, I looked again at the clock and found that a quarter of an hour had slipped away. I was startled but, repeating to myself, "Now I must cry for mercy," I lay back on my bed.

My thoughts flew to my family at home and I wondered how those I loved would hear of my death, and what they would think and say, and again I looked at the clock.

Only twenty minutes left! In deep distress I tried to think of the words in which I should cry for mercy, but could not think of any words whatever. I realized to my horror that I was so weak from my illness that, do what I would, I could not collect my thoughts sufficiently to cry for mercy.

Once more I looked at the clock. Two or three minutes only of the hour were left to me, and I feared that I would probably soon become unconscious. This roused me to a desperate effort and, raising myself on my knees, I tried as a last resource to say a prayer I had memorized as a boy.

"Our Father which art—," I began, but that was all I could remember. I was too sick to think of what came next and fell down upon my bed in anguish, fully realizing that on my deathbed it was too late to cry for mercy.

God spared my life, and some time later I heard the gospel of free and full salvation. The preacher pointed out that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners," and that if any man came as a sinner to Christ, believing in Him and trusting in Him, that very moment Christ would receive him and would give him eternal life.

"Now," he cried, "is the accepted time!"

It flashed through my mind: "How foolish to delay!" Then and there I came to Christ, and ever since I have been blessed with the knowledge of my perfect safety for time and eternity.

You, too, may accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior today and share that wonderful peace of mind. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Trust Him Wholly

While visiting a lady, I asked her, "Are you saved?"

She covered her face with her hands, and shuddered as she exclaimed with deep emotion, "I would give worlds to know that."

It was such a joy to explain to her that she could do nothing towards her salvation because Christ had done everything, and that on the cross He had triumphantly exclaimed, "It is finished."

She discovered that His place in glory was the proof of God's satisfaction in His work, and that all she needed to do was to trust that Savior, and God would save her on the spot. I opened my Bible and read some very plain scriptures to her.

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43.

"Be it known unto you therefore... that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38, 39.

"He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.

I shall never forget her face as the light broke in upon her and she saw that all she had to do was to trust the Savior. She jumped at the offer, and earnestly accepted the Lord Jesus as her Savior.

Will you not trust this same Savior? He is so trustworthy, and He will do all that He has said He will.

"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. Miss Havergal truly wrote:

"They that trust Him wholly
Find Him wholly true."

Can we doubt the word of Christ? He said, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37.

Everyone who has put Him to the test has found Him true to His Word. Yes, we can trust Him. Will you not do so now?

Remember, time is flying fast. Life from here on is uncertain. Sudden death seems the order of the day. Reports of street accidents, short illnesses, violent men, all constantly warn us that we should be ready at any time.

Whether we die at twenty or eighty matters little. It is not when we die, but how we die that matters. If you died today how would you die? You would die in Christ, or in your sins. You are either a sinner saved by grace, or a sinner in your sins.

Was it for nothing that Christ died? Was it not that sin's dreadful penalty should be paid, and God enabled righteously to offer forgiveness and salvation to "whosoever will?"

Will you not face facts here and settle the question of your eternal destiny by trusting the loving Savior now?

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

Are You Thirsty?

"If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." John 7:37.

If any man thirst. What person today does not thirst for that which will satisfy his soul? The world has never brought any lasting satisfaction and it never will.

Multitudes are restless and dissatisfied. They are not quite conscious of what they need, but they are thirsting for something. To those who realize their need, however, and who are conscious of their failure, this message is one of life and salvation.

"If any man thirst"—that is the sole condition. "Let him come"—that is the simple step needed. Then when we do come, Christ says: "Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst." John 4:14.

What then is the secret of all blessing? It is that the Lord gives, and I, in simple faith, just take it from His hand.

"Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.

The Gospel "Abc"

A. "ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. "ALL we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us ALL." Isa. 53:6.

The Bible teaches that God is our Creator, but the history of mankind from Adam onwards has been one of rebellion and disobedience. None is exempt—sin has left its dreadful scars on us all. The penalty of sin is death.

God's love does not desire the death of a sinner, but God's holiness is such that He cannot gloss over sin. This is the reason why Christ came—to die on the cross to bear the punishment of our sins.

B. "BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" was the wonderful answer to the question, "What must I do to be saved?" in Acts 16:30, 31. It was asked by the jailer who was convicted of his sin. Each one of us needs to experience that conviction of sin, to repent toward God, and to put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul said "that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt BELIEVE in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Rom. 10:9.

C. "COME unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matt. 11:28. After believing, we should commit our ways unto the Lord and devote our lives to the Lord Jesus, who died that we might live.

A life without Christ is a wasted life. The blessing and joy which come from being fully committed to the Lord Jesus are beyond telling.

"In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psa. 16:11.

Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.

Echoes of Grace: 1983

Table of Contents

Summer Plans?

Earth's Passing Trifles

Sand Castles

An Atheist Said:

The Wolf Hunter

How Far Is It to Hell?

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

Briefs: Satisfaction

A Sailor's Conversion

What Is Man?

Election

What Time Is It?

Sin and Its Remedy

"The Will to Live"

Time Is Short

God Is Satisfied! Are You?

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard - Jonah's Sermon

Back to School

"Let Not Conscience Make You Linger"

"Do" or "Done"?

The Leak

Salvation by Grace Alone

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

Know the Lord!

Dipped From Death

Conversion

Do You Know?

God's Works Are Perfect

Haunted for Fourteen Years

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

Take It!

Catastrophe

Rattlesnake!

What the Word of God Says About Sin:

The Bird in the Boat

A Knock at the Door

If I Die Tonight

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

Excused

The End

His Father's Will

December 7

It Is the Gospel of God

An Old-Time Preacher Hits Hard

He Is Risen!

The Coming of the Lord

Look

1984

The Barometer's Warning

God Is Knocking

He Came but Why?

A Peculiar Poster

God's Answer

When Will You Let Me In?

The Power of the Bible

Which? Where?

Are You Adopted?

"I Don't Believe in the Right Way"

I Love You!”

"Something That Had to Be Done"

Hide-And-Seek

Him That Cometh to Me

Bees Will Sting!

The "Portland"

Little Things

Who Cares?

A True Friend

"As It Was in the Days of Noah" Luke 17:26

I Have Sinned

A Sinner Saved by Grace

The Birds and the Lighthouses

The Good Shepherd

Deadlines

The Hand That Never Failed

The Survival of the Fittest

"What Is to Be, Will Be"

Are You Ready?

“I Come Quickly”