YES, Jack, it's a real thing to be a Christian. It is not a question of turning over new leaves, giving up this, refraining from that, leading a moral, upright life, and so on,—commendable as all these things may be in themselves,—but it's a positive, present, and .substantial reality; it is a new life communicated, with new hopes, new joys, new associations, so infinitely superior to the old order of things, that all that formerly engaged the heart and mind must of necessity drop off like autumn leaves. Only fancy what a relief it must be for one who has found out his lost and guilty condition (Rom. 3) and who has become alive to the fact that he is CONDEMNED ALREADY (John 3:1818He 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)) to learn, on the authority of God's Word, that his many sins have been atoned for, that judgment is now behind him, and that the prospect immediately before him is one of unclouded happiness with the One who has accomplished it all. Of course, Christians have their trials and their sorrows on the road, but it only serves to draw out the tender care and sympathy of the Shepherd into whose keeping they are entrusted. Like the little conies in the hour of danger, they hide themselves in the safe shelter of the rocks (Prow. 30:26). If they are troubled and perplexed, they have a friend and counselor; are they tempted, they have an High Priest, ready and able to succor; are they pressed down with afflictions, they have a Father, who bids them cast all their care upon him;' and ' in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, to let their request be made known to HIM' (Phil. 4:66Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)).
“These are realities, Jack, to be known and enjoyed by faith NOW. You have your troubles, your trials, your sorrows, I know, but you have to bear them ALONE,—no sympathizing Savior by your side to cheer your drooping spirit, to calm the surging breakers; no Friend, like Jesus, to advise and comfort in your hour of need; no Father to whom you can unburden your griefs or carry your sorrows. No wonder you are downcast, with God's wrath hanging over you, a dark eternity in front of you; friendless and Christless, yours is no enviable position. Wouldn't you like to have this matter settled? We won't be here always, you know. Have you no desire to be a real believer in the Lord Jesus Christ?”
“Ah! yes, but how am I going to fight my way into it ?”
“There's no fighting for you to do, Jack; Another has done it all. You have fought long enough; lay down your arms of rebellion, and you are into it. You have been taking sides all these years with the enemy of your soul against your best Friend. Surrender to Him now, and a free pardon is yours.”
We give the substance of a " little conversation " which took place between two schoolmates, who met each other after an interval of a few years, during which time one of them had been converted to God; while the other, although he had had a deal of rough tossing on life's rude billows, was still a stranger to Jesus.
Jack seemed deeply interested while his friend spoke of that which was nearest his heart, and his reply, given in a serious tone, accompanied by a deep-drawn sigh, expressed his earnest desire to know for himself those truths which had so entirely changed the current of his friend's life; but he evidently thought it must be a matter of attainment, or a blessing only conferred upon a certain class of persons, who in virtue of their good deeds, moral life, or religious tendencies, had qualified themselves in some way to merit the favor of God. As this is a pretty general thought, will the reader permit us to point out that it is quite foreign to Scripture?
Salvation is offered exclusively to sinners,—lost, guilty, undone, bankrupt sinners. Have you learned this, dear reader? Have you felt the burden of your sins intolerable, and have you believed in your heart that the Son of Man is COME to seek and to SAVE that which was lost? The righteousnesses of the best men that ever lived are described as "filthy rags" (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)). What, then, could you say of any one who expects to be saved through his own merits or good works?
There is only one platform where God's grace is dispensed (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)); but it is a blessed fact that all who do take that place will most assuredly be justified; for therein is God's righteousness declared, " that he might be just and the justifier of him that believes in Jesus " (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). The Queen may exercise her prerogative of mercy, and pardon a guilty criminal, but that does not justify him. Sovereign grace has arrested the arm of justice, but has not satisfied her righteous claims. Far different is it with you, dear friend, if you have trusted Christ, for He has paid the penalty of your sins.
He has sustained the wrath of God on your account, and so God is righteous in clearing you from every charge of guilt. For
“He will not payment twice demand,
Once at my bleeding Surety's hands,
And then again at mine.”
What a salvation! what a Savior! Are you weary and heavy laden, still groaning under the heavy load of your sins? listen to the voice of Jesus—"It is finished." Where was He when He said it? On the cross of Calvary. Why was He there?
Your sins and mine would forever have shut us out of God's holy presence, but the Father's Beloved One—His holy, spotless Son, in whom was all His delight (Luke 3:2222And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (Luke 3:22))—voluntarily endured the cross, with all its shame, its abandonment, its overflowing cup of Divine judgment, in order that a full cup of everlasting salvation might be put into your hands without money and without price (Isa. 55:11Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1)).
G. F. E.