COME with me, in your thoughts, to the chamber of death, and witness a scene, which, I trust, God may bless to your soul. It is no deathbed repentance, as people say, though, thank God, that too is possible; but what meets us on entering is an aged man, of nearly seventy summers, the father of eleven children, lying helpless upon the bed. You can easily tell by his languid eye, his pale face, his emaciated body, that death is not far off. There is something exceedingly calm about the old man, and peaceful about the dying chamber, and those that move about in it. Sadness may be seen upon their faces, but mingled with the sadness is a peace and joy, knowing that all is well with the beloved husband and father. They know that when the spirit leaves the pain-stricken body, it will be present and forever with the Lord, and for that supremely solemn and yet blessed moment they wait.
A neighbor calls to see him. This gives the opportunity for the dying saint to glorify his Master, and bear testimony to the all-cleansing power of His precious blood. It is what angels cannot say, and it is what thousands on earth will not say, though they may: ― “The blood of Christ, shed for me, a poor sinful man, has cleansed my conscience of all guilt, and now I go in peace.”
Yes, blessed be God, he went in peace; and for him it was to depart and be with Christ, which is far better; and absent from the body, present with the Lord. Death but waited on him to open the door into the bright, peaceful presence of the One who had redeemed him with His own blood. We can most emphatically say, “The end of that man was peace.”
How concise, and yet how full were the words of the dying saint― “The blood of Christ.” He began at the right place, not with himself, but with the blood of Christ. Ah, what could meet God’s claims, but the blood of Christ? What could blot out sin, but the blood of Christ? What could stay the hand of judgment, but the blood of Christ? What could atone for the soul, but the blood of Christ? Reader, have you commenced there?
“Shed for me, a poor sinful man.” Ah, when he comes to himself, must speak of himself, this is what he has to say― “A poor sinful man.” He has seen himself in the light of God’s Word, the light of God’s presence has shone upon him, and he has discovered that that good, righteous self is nothing but “a poor sinful man.” But over against what he finds in and knows himself to be, he places what? ― “The blood of Christ shed for me.” This meets the whole difficulty, and settles the question for time and for eternity. “The blood of Christ shed for me―shed for me.” There had been in the deep secret of his soul the individual appropriation, by faith, of that precious blood to himself, a poor sinful man. Not only that it was shed for sinners, but “shed for me.” How important this is. There are many who know that the blood of Christ was shed for sinners, who cannot say― “The blood of Christ shed for me.”
“Has cleansed my conscience of all guilt.” Blessed testimony! That which defiled him; that which made him a poor, guilty, sinful man; that which separated him from God, and merited His divine displeasure, was gone; but how? Ah, listen: “The blood of Christ, shed for me, a poor sinful man, has ‘cleansed my conscience of all guilt.” Oh, reader, if you are not saved, let these blessed words of a dying saint sink into the very depths of your soul. In God’s estimation it is only the precious blood of His Son that can purge your conscience, cleanse your guilty soul, give you peace with God, or entitle you to a place in His blissful unsullied presence. Dream of no other way. “It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:22Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying, (Leviticus 17:2)). “Without shedding of blood is no remission” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)).
“And now I go in peace.” Go where? Into the blessed presence of his Lord and Saviour. He had a title without a blot; a prospect without a cloud; and a Friend that never changes.
Let me again quote his dying words in full: ―
“The blood of Christ, shed for me, a poor sinful man, has cleansed my conscience of all guilt, and now I go in peace.” Reader, could you so go?
E. A.