MY duties brought me some time since by the bedside of a young woman who evidently was fast passing out of time into eternity, and although I had been some time in the room, showed no signs of being conscious of my presence. I felt I could not leave her without putting that one great and most momentous question of all questions to her. So stooping down, I gently said—"If you die, are you saved? Do you know Jesus, whose precious blood cleanses from all sin, as your Savior?”
This poor woman now opened her eyes, and in a half conscious gaze looked into my face, replying, "Oh, sir, I have never thought about it!”
She lived a few more hours, when, whether saved or lost, I know not, she passed away. "The dust returning to the earth as it was; but the Spirit unto God who gave it" (Eccl. 12:77Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)).
And now with earnest desire for your soul let me ask you: Are You saved or lost? Do you, like this poor woman, say, "I have never thought about it"? Then you are a neglecter of that which seals your eternal destiny! "And how will you escape, if you neglect so great salvation" (Heb. 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)), as that offered you by God, against whom you have sinned, and before whom you must stand, and to whom you must give an account. Do you say you are no worse than other people, for all are sinners? This is one of the most common views, and quite true; it is God's estimate of you, and you condemn yourself (it may be unwittingly), in the admission; for while you are no worse you are certainly NO BETTER. "For there is no difference" (Rom. 3:22, 2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23)). And oh, dear reader, what a dreadfully solemn thing to be a SINNER, indifferent to your condition and position. Your sins and iniquities have separated you and God. You are alienated from God by wicked works, and He is too holy to behold iniquity. Where He dwells nothing enters that defileth, or maketh a lie.
Reader, what are you going to do? Are YOU going to think about it? Yes, surely more than this. Have to do with God about your condition now, for now is the accepted and the accepting time. Now is the time when He can be just, and the Justifier of those who believe in Jesus. Now is preached unto you remission of sins, and without the shedding of blood there could be no remission, but Jesus has shed His blood, and the blood of Jesus Christ... cleanses from all sill.
Reader, you are unmistakably a sinner, whether a great or whether a little sinner in your own estimation is not the point to be occupied with. If a sinner without the Christ of God, you are a LOST sinner, and God has provided, and offers you a Savior in His well-beloved Son so that He can in justice as well as mercy, pardon you, if you accept His salvation in His way. That is—through this man—the Man Christ Jesus, is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins, for God hath set Him forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood (Rom. 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25)), and there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby you can be saved. God can never set aside Christ, and His blood, to meet man's opinion of Himself, or his self. Your opinion stands for nothing! God has not revealed Himself as the God of Love who gave His only begotten Son as a ransom for poor sinners, to get their opinions. God has not given man His word—thus speaking to man, to get his opinion upon it. No, dear reader, don't be deluded thus.
It is God in condescending grace through the Scriptures telling you what He is as the Holy one, What He is in justice, what He is in love, and what you are, viz., a sinner; what His justice demands, and all man's opinions cannot alter His character, or man's state.
Dear unsaved reader, leave your opinion, and have to do with G-od as you are; as He is; 1n His own way, which will be to your eternal salvation.
You are a sinner, God says so, Jesus came to seek and to save sinners, Jesus is God's way to Himself! He says so. If you go thus to Him He will in no wise cast you out. G. E.