THE above question was asked the writer recently in the town of P―, South Africa.
In the course of my business I met a man who had lost his wife about twelve months previously, and had since that event given himself up to drink.
One day when he was recovering from a drinking bout, I took occasion to speak to him seriously about the course he was following, and the result. In the course of our conversation he asked me the question “How can you say God is merciful, when less than twelve months ago he took from me and my children the best wife and mother that ever lived and made a home happy? If He is the loving and merciful God you say He is, would He have done that? Was it an act of mercy?”
I said, “May I ask you a question?” and he answered, “Yes, as many as you like.” So I said, “Have you given God His rightful place in your life? “He was silent for a few moments, then he replied, “Perhaps not.” “Well,” I said, “can you expect God to study you and your comfort when you have never given Him His rights, and never thanked Him even for the happiness you say you were blessed with?”
He said, “I have never looked at that side of the question before, but when I think of our happy home in the past, then go home and see my motherless children, it drives me to desperation.”
“Are you doing your duty as a man and a father now, in neglecting your business, your home and your children, whom God has entrusted to your care? Remember, that since your wife has gone you have a double responsibility, and yet you are leading a selfish life, thinking only of your own troubles, and thereby adding to the troubles and sorrows of your children. Do you think you are adding to their comfort by going home sodden with drink? Why, man, you are pursuing a terribly selfish course. Just think for a moment of the fearful example you are setting them, and yet, while pursuing such an unmerciful course yourself, you dare to judge the actions of God.”
Perhaps one of my readers is in the same position as that poor man. If you are, let me beg of you to first judge yourself-search your own heart, let your past life come in review before you, and I am sure that instead of presuming to judge God, you will bring in a verdict of “Guilty” against yourself. You cannot do otherwise if you deal honestly with the question, and when you have found yourself Guilty, just get a Bible and turn to Romans 3:23, and you will find that God has found you “Guilty” also. His words are, “for all have sinned.” Then turn to Romans 6:23, and you will find that you are sentenced also, for “the wages of sin is Death.”
What a terrible position to be in—found Guilty, not only by yourself but by God, and sentenced to Death; but, thank God, He has provided a way by which your sentence has been executed on Another to His complete satisfaction, and thereby He is enabled to offer you a complete pardon, for the sentence passed on you was borne by Jesus. He took the sins of others upon Himself, and thereby came under the judgment that belongs rightly to all-and so He died. But God raised Mm up again without the sins. Therefore, my reader, “be it known unto you that through this Man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, and by him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38, 39).
“Who is a pardoning God like Thee,
And who has grace so rich and free?”
C. J. B.