MAY I ask, Are you saved?”
“I hope so.”
Are you not sure about it?”
“Not exactly. I only wish I were. I am seeking, and praying for it; but I cannot say I'm sure; I don't seem to get satisfied.”
You are exactly in the condition of a young sailor I spoke to a short while ago. He had been in that state for about three years; seeking, praying, and trying to feel satisfied. And what do you think delivered him at last and made him happy? Just one simple fact which he had overlooked the whole of the three years, and which you, too, have never apprehended. The fact that God is satisfied. Now you think of it—turn it over in your mind, read it slowly, and let your poor weary heart drink it in—"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 offended party by your sins. You were the offender. Jesus came to satisfy God's holy and righteous claims by dying for our sins, and He did it.
And God has proved His satisfaction in the person and work of Jesus by raising Him from the dead. Had God not been satisfied with the work of Christ. He would have left Him in the grave; but He has taken Him out and thus proved He is satisfied. And it was all for you. Surely if God be satisfied with the work of His Son, you may be also.
“I see quite clearly where you are making your mistake. You are trying to be better and feel different—trying to work yourself up to a certain state of happiness, and then feel satisfied with your own joy; and because you are always failing, and never arriving at the standard, you are satisfied.
“Just suppose a man buying goods at a shop to the amount of five pounds; and then he gets into difficulties, and is unable to pay. He cannot pay the debt himself, and he does not know that any one has paid it for him, and so you find him going about saying, Oh, if I could only get satisfied.' You would say to him at once, ‘My friend, you never can be satisfied, until you have paid your debt, or someone has paid it for you. The shopkeeper must have payment, and be quite satisfied first.'”
“But suppose a kind-hearted friend goes to the shopkeeper and pays the bill, and obtains the receipt and sends it to the man; he would not sit down and look at the receipt, and say, If only I could feel satisfied.' No! he would know the five pounds was paid, for the shopkeeper had given his receipt, and the proof of the shopkeeper's satisfaction would give him satisfaction.
“Thus it is in the gospel. The Saviour who stood in our place was I delivered for our offenses (He had none), and was raised again for our justification ' (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). Then surely the risen Christ is God's receipt for me.
He is satisfied, and so am I. Now why should you not be, this very moment, and give Him thanks?”
It was sweet to see the effects on the young man, as the peace and joy stole into and filled his heart, in believing that "God is satisfied” (Rom. 15:1313Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)). "I see it all! I see it all!" he said, "I can go home and thank Him.”
Now, dear anxious reader, will you lay down this little paper, and say, “I wish I could get satisfied”
Never! never! never will you be satisfied till you have learned that God has found infinite satisfaction in the work of Christ on the cross for you. “He bore our sins in his own body on the tree. "He cried out" It is finished,” and died; and "God raised him from the dead.”
Matchless Saviour, Thy work is done. Once was sufficient for God, and once is sufficient for me. My heart rests there. I can meet God now without fear, for Thou hast answered every question, and settled every claim; and introduced me to that One who rests in His love, and joys over me with singing. The way in which He receives the poor dissatisfied, repentant, returning, prodigal, covering him with kisses, tells out the satisfied heart of a satisfied God.
Dear anxious soul, drop at Christ's feet and rest there. Try no longer to do anything—wait no longer to feel anything—but rest, yes, rest in that heaven and earth-supporting, soul saving, Christ-exalting, God-glorifying truth, God is satisfied with the work of Christ.
W. E.