RETURNING from preaching the gospel in Glasgow a few nights ago, I found two young men the only occupants of the compartment of the train I was in. To each of them I gave a different little book, viz., "The Two Alexanders," and “The Young Doctor," but each narrating God's grace to a young man in the old Edinburgh Infirmary, now pulled down. They each read their respective book carefully, and at the first stopping-place one young man got out, first requesting that he might keep the little book, as he would like to read it again, a request I was only too glad to comply with.
Left alone with my other fellow-traveler, who had been reading “The Young Doctor," I said, " Well, could you die like that young doctor?”
“No, indeed, I couldn't; I wish I could though." “God’s grace it was that saved him: can it not save you also?"
“I’m sure I don't know. I wish it could. I know I'm not saved, and though I think about it sometimes I can never see through it; I can't get to the bit somehow."
“Then evidently you have sometimes thought seriously about your soul, and eternity, and that you have to meet God some day?”
"Yes, and I have had some solemn warnings too." “What were they?"
“I work a steam crane, and twice I have fallen off a great height and been badly hurt; and during the summer, the rocks where we were working were struck by lightning. The smell of brimstone was awful, but I was not hurt."
“And did you not feel that God was speaking to you in all this?”
" Yes; and for a while—about three months—I did my best to be a Christian, but then the impression wore off, and I gave way to temptation, and I'm as bad as ever."
“That is sad! but I fear you were trying to be religious as many do, and that's a grand mistake."
“Perhaps I did; but, any way, I know 'I'm all wrong."
“That is the first step to getting right, my friend," I replied; and then putting the gospel simply before him, I trust he was led to see that Christ saves the lost out-and-out without any doings on their part, and was led to simply trust in Him.
This young man is just a sample of thousands around us,—perhaps the counterpart of your history, my dear reader. Is it so? Have you not had warning after warning from God? How have you heeded them? Have you been endeavouring to turn over a new leaf and lead a better life, in the hope—oh, how vain!— of fitting yourself for God's presence? No greater delusion could possibly possess your soul. It will be a great day in your history when you wake up to say, "I know I'm all wrong!" It was the moment of blessing for the prodigal when, in the far country, he said, “I perish with hunger." Friend, have you ever yet "come to yourself" with this appalling discovery,” I'm all wrong”— not partly wrong, but “all wrong "? When you discover this, you are at one with God's thoughts about you, for He has said, " There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none that doeth good, no, not one; for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God " (Rom. 3).
Let me beseech of you, if you have never yet judged yourself according to God's Word, so to do without one hour's delay. This year of God's grace is fast fleeting by, let it not go past you, and leave you as it found you, “all wrong." Oh, do come to Jesus. He is waiting to bless and save you. Only trust Him simply. He has done the work that can blot out all your many sins; all you need to do is to cast yourself simply on Him. “Acquaint now thyself with him and be at peace, thereby good shall come unto thee." To delay is folly of the deepest kind. Who can count on to-morrow? A lease of your house, your shop, your farm, you may have; but not of your life. So put not off until to-morrow what, if you are wise you will do to-day, viz., come as you are to the Saviour, and let Him save you. Own your guilt, your need, your misery, and then taste His grace, His love, His mercy. Think not to bring anything, all He wants is an empty heart, that He may fill it with His love,—a burdened conscience, that He may purge it with His blood.
May you be enabled, dear reader, to simply trust Him, and then, truly tasting " that the Lord is gracious," pass on your way no longer " all wrong," but all right, happy in His love, and waiting for His coming!
The Lord Himself fill you with the sense of His grace and love; and, in conclusion, with all my heart can I say, " Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.
AMEN."