When a man finds himself thoroughly down, in utter darkness, perhaps in despair, he is then a fit subject for the grace of God.
When the law has done its work in his conscience and convicted him of sin, then Christ is the "end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." O! how precious then is the work of His cross, when the soul, having learned what its true condition is—one of sin and strengthlessness— discovers the perfect suitability of Christ: His blood purging the conscience, and His boundless love filling the heart. Then it rests! Light divine shines in and dispels the clouds.
The double need is thus met, the guilt and the weakness. To be ungodly is, alas! our state by nature, and to be without the strength to aid or alter that state is our condition; and yet, when both without strength and ungodly, Christ—blessed be His name!—died for us.
Now, let us find in Scripture—in the written Word of God—a passage that sheds great light on this matter. I will adduce one which has proved helpful to thousands of souls who desired the knowledge of salvation. Indeed, I cannot do better than site a case in point. It was that of a man who had been led to see that salvation could not be obtained by works of righteousness which he had done; but how to know for certain that he could be, and was saved, he could not tell.
I read to him these words.
"Here are two conditions, and on the fulfillment of them," I said, "God assures salvation. First, 'If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus.' Now, are you," I asked, "ashamed of the blessed Lord who died for us—afraid to confess Him as Lord?”
"No," he said, "I am not.”
"Then, second, 'If thou shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead.' Do you believe in your heart this great truth of the gospel?”
"I do," said he.
"Truly?"
"Yes, truly.”
"Then you fulfill the two conditions. Now let me read the consequences— 'Thou shalt be saved.' Mark that! Whose words are these?”
"God's.”
"Then they are sure."
"`Mayest be saved'?”
"No, 'shalt be saved.' Again, mark that! Not feel saved, nor think, nor hope, but shall be. And God's promise and the fulfillment of it are identical. God cannot fail. Do you take Him at His word?”
"I do," he replied; and this was his first confession.
"Well," I said, "I hope to see a friend of yours shortly; may I tell him that you trust in the Lord?”
"Yes," said he, without hesitation. And I did so. Accordingly, after the lapse of three weeks, I received from that friend the cheering message: "I saw last night. You will be thankful to hear he is getting on very nicely. He told me, that after all his struggling, he saw the truth just in a moment, and that it was so simple.”
This man had confessed with his mouth and believed in his heart, and now he rested on the word of assurance— "Thou shalt be saved"; and thus he "saw the truth just in a moment," and found "that it was so simple.”
Reader, follow his example! God has made it very "simple" because He loves our souls. Become like a child. The wise and prudent lose everything; their pride is their hindrance. The child, the babe, the nobody, the man who is down and in darkness and despair, and who gladly repudiates every claim, is just in the condition for grace.
"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!”