“My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord” (Isa. 55:8), so that we gather from the word of the Lord, not only here, but in numerous places, that man’s thoughts are all wrong with regard to the things of God.
As soon as sinners become anxious about their souls, their first thought is, Now I must be good, and then I may hope to be saved. Works is the first thought. But how contrary to what God says! And, surely, it is not what the sinner thinks, but what God says. “Hear and your soul shall live” (Isa. 55:3). That is the avenue to the sinner’s soul; and mark, it is not simply the teaching of the Old Testament, but of the New also. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “Verily I say unto you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God; and they that hear shall live” (John 5:25). “Faith cometh by hearing (not working), and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Thus we find the sinner is told to hear, not to work, and hearing, his soul shall live.
Now, sinner, let me ask you, What are you about; working, or listening―which?
But, says the sinner, there must be works; we must do something; we can’t be saved if we don’t try for it, surely.
Of course there must be works; but whose works? Christ’s, or yours?
If you would only tease your doings, and sit still and listen, then you would hear about His work—a work accomplished eighteen hundred years ago at Calvary’s cross; a work which met all the righteous claims of a holy God against the sinner, and glorified that God so perfectly that He has raised and glorified the One who did that work, and decreed that “every knee shall bow to him, and every tongue confess that he is Lord” (Phil. 2:10, 11). So that those who refuse to hear His voice and receive life from Him shall hear His voice, and come out of their graves to receive judgment from Him (John 5:25, 28, 29).
Oh, what a blessed, finished work is the work of the Son of God! And now that God has got Him in the heavens―the proof that it is done―He asks not for the poor sinner’s paltry works, but sets him down to listen, while He tells him of the Person and work of His Son, and then bids him exercise faith in Him. Yes; God wants the sinner’s faith, not his works. But before he can exercise faith he has to hear; then, when he hears, faith comes, and he lives.
How blessed to hear that the work that saves thy soul, dear sinner, is finished. And if it is, then, what art thou working for? Give it up, and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and His work, and thou shalt be saved.
But, says the sinner again, I do from my heart believe on Him. I am sure I do.
Then here is God’s word for you: “He that believeth on the Son HATH everlasting life” (John 3:36). Now, note, it is not you may hope to get it, but God says HATH it.
Do you hear what He says?
Yes, I do. And believe in Jesus? Yes, truly.
Then there are only two things you can do.
First, go to your knees, and thank Him you have it, because He says so. Secondly, go on your way rejoicing. Love Christ, and seek to show others that salvation does not come by their working, but that faith does come by their hearing. And the Lord grant that many may hear, and their souls shall live.
W. E.