VISITING one day in the large city of N —, we saw, amongst others, a lady, who professed to believe all that God said in His Word, and to wish to be saved, and hoped that someday He would save her, but at the same time candidly admitted that she loved the world, its theaters, balls, &c. She was one of the large class of procrastinators, who listen daily to Satan’s lullaby, “Time enough yet.” To decide for Christ meant to give up the world. For this she was not yet prepared. Like thousands more, she would like to go to heaven, if she could escape the cross and enjoy the world on the road.
We spoke earnestly to her about the solemnity of her state, pressing upon her the importance of the present moment, as God had said now is the day of salvation, and all was uncertain as to the future. The Lord might return at any moment, or death overtake her in her sins, when it would be too late forever to get this momentous question settled.
We were forcibly reminded in the course of the afternoon of the importance of our own words. We were told that some children, playing in the street, had somehow set a large wagon running down a steep incline. A woman happened to be passing with her young family, to visit the grave of their little brother who had died a few weeks before. Seeing they were in danger, her first thought was their safety; but in saving them she was too late to escape herself. The pole, with iron end, struck her with tremendous force, and passing right through her chest killed her on the spot!
In a few seconds she was summoned from time into eternity. We know nothing of her spiritual state, but we do know that she was suddenly called away, without a moment to consider the question of her soul’s salvation. Surely, when God in His inscrutable wisdom and providence allows such a thing, it is meant as a warning to others that, ere it be too late, they may consider their latter end (Deut. 32:2929O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! (Deuteronomy 32:29)).
Dear reader, how is it with you? Maybe you too are a procrastinator. Maybe you too admit that all is true, but, lured by the world, go on day after day, and year after year, without decision for Christ. Take heed lest He spare not thee. Once again we warn you of the importance of the present moment. Delays are dangerous. God offers you forgiveness now. Confess your sin and guilt in the light of His holy presence. Bow in the judgment of self before Him, and believe on His Son. “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by him all that believe are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)).
The gospel is wondrously simple. God is glorified as to sin in the death of His Son. The work of the cross is a finished work. A glorified Saviour, at the right hand of God, is a proof it. God freely forgives the sins of all who believe, and has taken the greatest pains in His Word to show how completely our sins are got rid of before Him, by employing figure after figure, that a child may understand, to convince us of the truth of it.
In Psalms 103:1212As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:12), we read, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” Who can tell us how far that is? Where is the east? where is the west? Man may travel to any part of the globe he likes, there is still an east, and still a west. Or, if two birds could fly off east and west, and keep on flying in a straight line, the farther they flew the farther they would be from one another, and who can tell when or where they would reach the east or west? So far, saith the Word of Him who cannot lie, hath He removed our transgressions from us, when we believe.
In Isaiah 38:1717Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. (Isaiah 38:17), “Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” Precious passage to assure us that God sees them not. Who can see behind his back? No one. And this is the simple and homely figure that God uses to show us that His eyes no more behold our sins. He Himself cast them behind His back. And not some but all. All my sins; every sin in thought, word, or deed. Every secret sin. Every presumptuous sin. All. Has He cast all yours there?
In Micah 7:1919He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19), “Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Again, we find it is His own work. He Himself cast them there. Not simply into the sea, but into the depths. Let anyone on board a ship in the open sea just empty his purse over the ship’s side, and see how much of it he will get back again. Not a farthing. All would go down, we well know, into the depths, every pound, shilling, and penny. So also with our sins. God casts all our sins, great or small, into the depths of the sea, never to be brought back again.
In Isaiah 44:2222I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. (Isaiah 44:22), “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins.” We are all accustomed to observe the clouds of heaven, but who can trace their path? Where today is yonder cloud which yesterday, perhaps, darkened the whole heaven, and deluged the earth with rain? Who has not gazed upon the sky, and beheld it all covered with clouds to the horizon? And then perhaps, an hour or two later, before a brilliant sun, all have disappeared, and the sky everywhere is one deep blue. And so with our sins. One day they rise up as a thick cloud between us and God, but the moment we believe on the blessed name of the Son, all are blotted out by His precious blood. God Himself blots them out, as He blotteth out the thick cloud that covereth the heaven. Has He so done with yours?
Again, in Isaiah 1:1818Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18), “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Once more, a striking figure given us in God’s wondrous grace to fill our hearts with joy and peace. Though our sins be as scarlet and crimson, the most difficult of colors to destroy, God Himself can make them white as snow, or as wool. We are all familiar with these things. Who has ever seen anything that ever approaches the spotless whiteness of the fresh fallen snow? Even so white are your sins, reader, the moment you bow to God’s testimony concerning His Son, and believe. “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” And it is our privilege to know with David, that we are whiter than snow (Psa. 51:77Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)).
In all this we see, as remarked above, what pains our Saviour-God takes to assure us of the complete riddance of all our sins from before Him. And we might multiply passages which confirm this blessed truth. Amongst others we read: ― “Their sins and iniquities will I remember NO MORE” (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)).
What precious verses! God assures us He will remember our sins no more. He forgives us according to the riches of His grace. Who can compute these? And twice over He pronounces as blessed those who know and believe it.
Look, then, this momentous matter in the face, ere it be too late. There is no forgiveness after this life. If you miss the blessing now, you must miss it forever. In hell there is no forgiveness, no hope. Come to the Saviour now. Believe on the Son of God and be reconciled. We become God’s children by faith in Christ Jesus. And to such the apostle John writes, “Little children... your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake” (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12)).
Maybe some voice asks, “But are all our sins forgiven when we believe on the Son of God?” Assuredly. But suppose we sin again? That we ought not to do. But if we do, God in His grace has made a blessed provision for it. If we sin after we are forgiven, and are become the children of God, it is as His children, and against a loving Father, and this is even worse. But saith the Scripture,” If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1)). And, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)).
Reader, DOST THOU BELIEVE? E. H. C.
In Hebrews 10 we get the will of God (vs. 7), the work of Christ (vs. 10), and the witness of the Holy Ghost (vs. 17). How simple is the gospel God wants us to be saved, so Christ died to save us, and the Holy Ghost comes and tells us we are saved. The whole thing is of God. Man’s only part is to believe, and receive, and enjoy this wondrous outflow of Divine love. W. T. P. W.