TT is a wonderful thing to find that God's salvation is—
"Salvation without money,
Salvation without price,
Salvation without labor,
Believing doth suffice."
More, it is salvation now—this moment; yes, reader, you may have it now. I would have it, were I in your place, without any further delay, and be recorded in God's book as saved. Just look at your watch a moment. Do you note the time? Well, NOW means just this identical moment, so you can have no difficulty in grasping the meaning of that precious word, " Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation " (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). There is no folly like that of putting off the salvation of the soul.
But if it, then, be true that by believing in Jesus, there is for you—
"Salvation now—this moment;
Then why, oh! why delay?
You may not see to-morrow;
Now is salvation's day."
No! you may not see to-morrow-to-morrow may be too late!
As I was about to finish my day's work one Saturday, not long ago, I rang the bell of a house where one had long been ill. The door was opened by a relative whom I scarcely recognized, as it was nearly dark. I said, “How is A—?"
“Oh! have you not heard? she is gone."
"What, dead?”
“Yes, dead!"
Gone! she was gone from earth for ever. Was she old? No. Middle-aged? No. Young? Yes; not quite twenty-one years of age. I had seen her three days before, and I expected to have seen her again in life; but I did not.
Perhaps, my reader, you would like to know how she died? It was a long illness; consumption the fatal malady that cut short her days.
She knew perfectly well that she could not recover, but thought some little time would elapse ere the “golden cord “would be loosed. That morning, however, as her watchful relative was giving her some needed assistance, which brought her to the bedside of the feeble girl, there happened that which had not been before. Without any warning a large blood-vessel in the lung gave way, and the life-blood poured forth. Lifting her eyes towards heaven, she said very calmly, “Auntie, I am going home? I am going HOME!“ and passed away to be with Jesus.
Reader, could you die like that? Her whole face brightened up; no fear was pictured thereon. She could say, quietly, calmly, “I am going home; " and the next moment found herself there. Sinner, you could not say that. You, who are on the broad road, could you call hell a home? Describe not the eternal abode of the lost, that region of speechless woe, by such a charming, sacred name. Oh, unsaved man! unsaved woman! have salvation! have it now! Flee to Jesus as you read this, for “now is salvation's day!" and He has said He will not cast you out if you come to Him.
Many a time this dying girl grasped my hand as I was leaving her after a medical visit, and said, “Doctor, will it be long?" I could not tell her how long; consumption is often a lingering disease. The last time I saw her before her death she said to me, as we parted, " Doctor, it will not be long, will it, before I am with Jesus?" These were her last words to me, full of peace and assurance of a present and eternal salvation. She longed to be with Jesus.
Dear unsaved one, open your heart to Him! Just where you are, open your heart and let Jesus enter in! He will fill your heart. Be converted now. Decide for Christ, I pray you. Turn to the Lord while you may. "Now is salvation's day." Just now—now. If you want to be saved, it must be now.
How shall I get salvation? Do I hear you ask this? You have nothing to do, and nothing to be, except to be and own what you are, an utterly lost sinner. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Come to Him in your sins just where you are and as you are, this very moment, and Jesus will save you.
What will He do? you may say.
Come and see!
Oh, but I am such a sinner; He must, He will put me from Him.
No! He will put your sins away, but you He will receive. The prodigal came as he was, and was kissed while in his want and misery. Then he got the best robe which fitted him for the father's house. Just so the sinner must come to Jesus by faith, without seeking in the slightest degree to fit himself for Christ. Your fitness for Christ is that you are a lost sinner, and need a Saviour; and, on the other hand, He is a Saviour looking ever about for the sinner whose heart He can reach and touch, in order that He may save him. Come as you are to Him, and He will save you on the spot.
Always remember this, that Christ does not help sinners; He saves them. When I talk of some one helping me, I imply that I have a little strength; when I say another saved me, I mean that my own power was gone utterly, and I were lost without recovery but for the act of another. Now this is just the gospel in a nutshell. As says the apostle, " For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)). How simple and how blessed! When " without strength " (not trying to show I had a little, by good works and reforming my life) and " ungodly," i.e., not having a single thing to commend me to God—then Christ died for me, and by His death I am cleansed from my sin and guilt, and made fit for the presence of God.
Reader, may God grant to you repentance unto life, faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ, a daily walk that tells louder than words that your heart is Christ's; and, should you be called to die suddenly, may you be able to say, " I am going home."