“HE’LL see me righted” were the words which concluded a short conversation which I had with an old man in my office one afternoon, He had turned up later than usual, and explained that he had been stopping to see the Yeomanry Cavalry, which were up for their ten days’ training.
“I suppose you do not approve of that, sir,” he said. I made no reply. “Ah, well, it takes something of everything to make up a world,” he added.
“Yes, and do you know the world is fast going to judgment?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said, “I do believe that. Things cannot keep on as they are now. Something is sum to happen.”
“Suppose,” I said, “you were in a house that was on fire, what would you do?”
“I should get out of it as quick as I could,” he answered. I paused to let the old man make the application in his own way; and then quoted John 3:36,36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36) “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” He replied, “Ah, well, we must all do the best we can.”
“That would be all useless,” said I; “if you were able to do the best that the best man ever could do, you would be no further forward. To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.’”
“Well, according to that I have got to wait a bit longer yet until it comes to me.” It is remarkable how a man will twist and wriggle when driven into a corner by the Word of God. “It seems to me that I can do nothing, and therefore how can it be my fault if I have not got it?”
“Look here,” I answered, “is not this the real secret, you are not willing to take it? Life is offered you as a gift, and you will not accept it.” He paused for a moment, and then owned that it was, and immediately added, “Of course, I do not say that I am what I ought to be, but still I do not know that I have done anybody any harm. I have always tried to be honest and just.”
“Do you know,” I asked, “what the Lord said to the young man who could say that he had kept all the commandments? One thing thou lackest.”
Oh, yes, he remembered that, but still he had never been an outwardly wicked person.
“My dear Mr.—,” said I, “I will suppose you have lived all your life in a respectable manner, have worked hard, paid your way honestly, have never, as far as you know, done any one harm: you will have to stand on the same platform as if you had been the biggest blackguard that ever walked the town.”
“Oh, indeed,” he retorted, “I do not see that.”
“There is no difference, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
“Ah, well,” was his rejoinder, “I shall stand a good chance, I daresay. He will not wrong me (meaning God). He’ll see me righted. Good-day.” So saying he left.
My dear reader, those words are quite true, “Shall not the judge of all the earth do right?”
He will see you righted. Never forget that God is a God of inflexible justice. He can never deviate one hair-breadth from the path of righteousness: and at the same time remember that He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. If you are not saved, if you are not cleansed from your sin by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, “He will see you righted.” He has declared, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Have you ever sinned? Oh, yes, you say, of course we are all sinners. Never mind about anybody else just now, have you sinned? Listen again, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die”— will God keep His word? “Is God a man that he should lie, or the Son of man that he should repent?” The infinite holiness of God could never make light sin; if God deals with sin, it must be in unsparing judgment.
What happened, my friend, when Christ was made sin upon the cross, when God’s own beloved Son was taking the sinner’s place? There were three awful hours of darkness, towards the close of which He had to cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” God spared not His own Son. There was no mercy for Him, therefore there cannot be any possible hope for you, my friend, if you remain in your sins until you die, or the Lord Jesus comes to fetch His own. There is only one possible and righteous thing for God to do, and that is to shut you out to “outer darkness, where there is weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.” But God has also said, “As I live, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” What blessed glad tidings for the poor sinner who is ready to really justify God, and condemn himself.
Oh, poor helpless soul, lost and undone, turn to Him, come to Him, He will see thee righted. Remember His inflexible justice by all means, but receive the assurance of His word, which declares that “He is just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus.” He cannot swerve from the path of righteousness, but blessed be His name, that righteousness is not now against the sinner, but for him, “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all that believe.”
Yes, the poor sinner who believes in Jesus is made the righteousness of God in Him. Not only the righteousness of God is unto (for) him—on his behalf—but, believing in Jesus, he is made the righteousness of God in Him.
It is the same if we think of His holiness. The work of Jesus, the Son of God, upon the cross, has not only put away the sins of the sinner, but removed the sinner who sinned: so that he not only finds himself forgiven, because the punishment due to sin has been borne, but the holy God can challenge every adversary. “Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect?” And further, he finds himself brought into the favor of God in the beloved One.
Yes, dear, anxious, seeking soul, God owes it to every attribute of His nature, and to His own blessed Son to see you righted, and He will. When God wanted to bring the sinner back to Himself; there was only one way in which it could be done; God did it by giving up His only beloved Son to death. He must bear the wrath and judgment due to man on account of his rebellion against Him. He has suffered and entered into His glory. Having become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, “God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name.” And now God will see Jesus righted, for Hid “name every knee shall bow of heavenly, and earthly, and infernal beings, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father,” in spite of His present rejection. God will see the believer righted, “for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him; if we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” (2 Tim. 2:11, 1211It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (2 Timothy 2:11‑12)). God will also see unrepentant sinners righted, “Because I have called (a call of love) and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand (a hand of mercy) and no man regarded; but ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; when your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek.me early, but they shall not find Me; for that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord; they would none of my-counsel; they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But-whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil” (Prov. 1:24-3324Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord: 30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil. (Proverbs 1:24‑33)).
A. G. T.