In a one-roomed cottage lived an old woman, who had for years been crying to God about her soul. One day when visiting her, a friend asked her if she knew that she was a sinner.
"O, yes! yes!" she answered, "night after night as I lie awake, I crave for pardon.”
Little she seemed to know that God delighted in mercy, and that pardon was offered to her; that, through Christ Jesus, the risen Savior, is preached that for which she so longed, even the forgiveness of sins; and that by Him all that believe are justified from all things. She knew her danger, and was alarmed as to the future, but as yet had not relied upon Christ's finished work.
And surely there is enough for every unsaved soul to be alarmed at. Every moment is carrying us nearer and nearer to eternity. We know not at what hour death may lay us low, and we are warned by the solemn scripture, "Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth," not to count too surely upon any future at all.
And what will eternity be for those who have never repented before God and believed in the Lord Jesus Christ? A never ending existence away from God, away from Christ, away from light and love, purity and peace, holiness, and happiness, beyond the reach of mercy, and not only shut out from God, the true source of blessing for His creatures, but shut "in torment" with the devil and his angels. May your eyes be opened to see your danger.
If you were to see yourself as God sees you for a moment only, you, too, would "crave for pardon." Thanks be to God, that besides showing your awful and imminent peril, His Word presents the Savior whose work alone can meet your need, and whose presence in heaven today is the assurance that God has been glorified about sin, and can righteously receive the vilest sinner who pleads the precious name of Jesus. The repentance of one sinner towards God makes heaven's courts to resound with joy, for our Lord tells us, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth." Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10).
Will not you cause joy there today?