THE purpose of God is to save and to bless man, and this comes out at the time when we might least have von expected it. At the call and conversion of Saul of Tarsus, as related in the 26th chapter of the Acts, we read that the Lord had appeared to him for a purpose (19 v.) to make him a minister, and a witness, not of judgment, but of blessing.
Now, a little before that time, God's Son had been crucified and rejected from the earth. Messages of grace from heaven by the mouth of Peter, and the testimony of Stephen, were equally refused, the latter sealing his witness with his blood. Saul of Tarsus was of the company of his enemies that stoned him to death.
What should we have expected after all this from God? Surely the immediate outpouring of His judgment. Not so. God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world. So, soon after, this very Saul of Tarsus is arrested on the journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, as one who was to be the witness of grace on God's part to man; for He was, and is, bent upon blessing.
So the Lord in glory said to him, "I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified." And he was to go forth and tell them that all his full cup of blessing should be theirs individually, on the simple principle of "faith that is in me" (Acts 26:16-2816But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. 19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: 20But showed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. 21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 22Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. 24And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 26For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. 28Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. (Acts 26:16‑28)).
And Saul went forth and continued witnessing that Christ had suffered, and risen again from the dead, according as the prophets and Moses had said, in order to show light to the people and to the Gentiles (22, 23 v). For indeed gross darkness had set in, since He who was the Light of the world had been put out of it. Now this sets forth the condition the world is in to-day. It is under the blinding power of Satan, who is its god (2 Cor. 4:44In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. (2 Corinthians 4:4).) Darkness, gross darkness, pervades the whole scene (Eph. 6:1212For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)). It was at this very time that God Himself came in and declared what He had done. He who is slow to judgment, who delivereth in mercy, turned that dark deed of man, in placing Christ upon the cross, into the occasion of His richest blessing, even of His having been made sin for us (2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)), to bear the penalty of the very sin that put Him there, and to bear sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)).
Christ has suffered; He died, was buried, and rose again (1 Cor. 15:3, 43For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3‑4)), and on that ground, the gospel, light, life, and salvation, are now addressed to you. This is God's power unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)), How simple!
FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO GOD.
We may look at the case of the poor demoniac, whose name was Legion, as a wonderful illustration of this great salvation from the power of Satan to God. In the account in Luke 8:2727And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs. (Luke 8:27), we read that Jesus when down here, "met a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs." Further, in the 29th verse, "he was kept bound with chains, and in fetters: and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.”
“His name was Legion, because many devils were entered into him" (30 verse). What a terrible picture of man in his natural state. Not that every individual is possessed by the devil in the same way, yet every one, however he may boast of his freewill, is really captive to that dreadful enemy, the god of this world, that old serpent (Rev. 20:22And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, (Revelation 20:2)) And, as Legion had had devils a long time, so man's condition has been such a long time; yea, ever since the entrance of sin, when he disobeyed God in Eden, and became the prey of the tempter. We are born in this slavery and thralldom.
Legion also ware no clothes. Man, woman or child, all are naked sinners in the sight of God. He abode not in any house. He was, indeed, an outcast, as the sinner is from the only sure dwelling place, the presence of God. His dwelling place was in the tombs; fit description of what this world is, one vast graveyard. Where are all the generations of men that lived before the present one? All, with two exceptions, died and were buried. Do you believe these solemn realities? They are the truth, and if you apply them to yourself, do not put the truth away from you, from a feeling of despair, for there is salvation even for you, Then the poor man was bound with chains and in fetters—the restraints his fellow men put upon him—but he brake them, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness, and would have been driven sooner or later to destruction, had not deliverance come. There are many agencies in the world emanating from man, to keep order, and check the evil in him to-day.
Take any place in this so-called Christian country, and compare the general condition of things amongst the professors of the day. Compare Saturday night of the week with the Sunday, and say if there is not such a chain as religious restraint. The demands of society, education, temperance, what my neighbor may think of me, the fear of man, are all restraints. Yet, withal, restraints good or bad, do not deliver; man's state remains the same.
Oh! my reader, be not deceived by the sight of your eyes, or otherwise, but believe the word of God, and look at things as they are, and see also in the driving, racing, competing condition of the world to-day, the devil already driving his victims in the wilderness, soon to land them in everlasting destruction in the lake of fire (Rev. 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15)). Do not be the devil's dupe, when God warns you plainly, but take your place as a poor helpless sinner, and learn how you may be eternally delivered. Where was this poor man's deliverance?
Jesus meets him; He, in whom reposed the power of God, draws near. What was the effect? "What have Ito do with thee?" poor Legion cries out, "I beseech thee, torment me not." Do you feel like this? How often, when Christ is introduced, men feel it is tormenting them. Speak of Him, and you are a troubler. Yes, man finds the presence of Satan more easy to be borne than the presence of God.
Beloved, do you in your heart, say to Jesus to "What have I to do with Thee" Let me tell you, that you must have to do with Him, now or hereafter. May it be, like this poor man, now. Jesus commanded, and by His word, the unclean spirit departs out of him.
The Gospel now is the power of God for this purpose, and soon the same man that besought Jesus not to torment him, besought Him that he might remain with Him. What a change! and it is a change to be delivered from the power of Satan to God.
The lookers on, and those that joined them (Luke 8:3535Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid. (Luke 8:35)), gaze upon the wondrous work of God. They see the poor man sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: the only place where rest is to be found, for Jesus says, "Come unto me, and I will give you rest." God also has provided the best robe of the Father's house for the repentant sinner, Christ Himself. They see him in his right mind. Man never has right thoughts of anything, till he is brought back to God. What a deliverance! And Christ, my rest and peace. Christ, of God, made unto me righteousness (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)), and the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:1616For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16)), instead of my own. Surely, he can only need one thing more, as every true-hearted Christian must desire: that is, to be with the One who has wrought all these marvels, and displayed such love.
Yet is there an interval before this may be. The men of Gadara would not have Jesus. He departed from them for a season: so has He, from this world that refused Him; and, until His return, He bids us, as he did poor Legion, to tell what great things God has done for us; first, to friends at home (Mark 5:1919Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (Mark 5:19)), and then it is our privilege to publish God's glad tidings abroad. And when Jesus returns a second time (Heb. 9:2828So 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. (Hebrews 9:28)), there will be, as was found at Gadara (Luke 8:4040And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him. (Luke 8:40)), a people who (not like the Jews, who will receive Him when they see Him, but who) have received Him, and are waiting for Him—God's Son from heaven—who cometh quickly to receive His own to Himself (Rev. 22:22In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. (Revelation 22:2))). May you, my reader, be amongst the happy number who will be caught up to meet Him in the air (1 Thess. 4:15-1715For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For 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: 17Then 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 Thessalonians 4:15‑17)), and by the only means, on our part, "faith that is in me," i.e., Christ (Acts 26:1818To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18)). J. S. C.