IT was raining hard one Saturday morning when Mrs. B— called at my house, and wished me to see a poor woman, living in the same street as herself, who was very ill, and believed to be in distress as to the state of her precious soul.
It was not very long before I was seated by the bedside of the woman. She was dying, and there could be no doubt as to her anxiety to be sure of heaven. I assured her she had nothing to do FOR salvation, that the work was finished, and that the Lord Jesus 'had finished the work long, long, ago. I referred to the word of God, which also declares that “Whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
To my sorrow, she appeared to believe the word of God was not enough for her. She told me that her mother, when dying, beheld bright visions, and it was too plain that now the dying daughter, ere she would rest upon the finished work of Christ, was waiting for some vision to come before her. I saw with pain that this poor woman was unwilling to rest upon Christ Jesus alone, and to say in the words of the 62nd Psalm, “He only is my rock." Her anxiety increased, and, as with her bright black eyes she looked upward toward the ceiling, she most earnestly prayed, “O shut not the door against me! O do not let me die unprepared! “These words were uttered 'as only one dying could utter them.
I sat by realizing my own helplessness; and never before, I think I may safely say, had I been made so sensible as to how thoroughly God the Holy Spirit honors the work of Christ. He could and would have been pleased to have filled her “with all joy and peace “if she had been believing. It was a painful sight; and yet I could but adore the faithfulness of God to the finished work of His son. I saw so plainly, it could not be “the blood of Jesus Christ" and visions, but the blood alone. It was not that God was unwilling to save this soul, but she was unwilling to give the glory of her salvation to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reader remember, “Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). The rulers, elders, scribes, the high priest, and his kindred, were gathered together at Jerusalem, and set Peter and John before them, and questioned them by what power they had miraculously healed the man spoken of in the previous chapter. It is at this time that the noble Apostle unflinchingly tells them that it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and adds—" This is the stone set at rough by you builders, which is become the head of the corner." And to set Him at naught they must know that there is salvation in no one else. How solemn “neither is there salvation in any other" God has no other way. Reject this, and you can have no other. Think of that When Naaman, of Syria, who was a leper, was told by Elisha to wash in Jordan and he should be cleansed from his leprosy, he felt his pride wounded, and angrily replied, “Are not Abana and Pharpar better than all the rivers of Israel? May I not wash in them and be clean? “You can wash in them, Naaman, but you will not be cleansed. Jordan is the river; not the fine rivers of Damascus.
We warn the reader, most earnestly, that he can only be saved through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Without the 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).)
Neither is it the blood and something else, but the blood alone. One may choose his Abana of mere reformation; another his Pharpar of ordinances; and a third both, and ask, "May I not wash in them and be clean?”
Yes; clean enough, perhaps, for this sin stained world, but certainly not clean enough for that place of absolute purity, where the shadow of sin cannot enter.
It is not for one moment that one would make light of reformation of character, baptism, or the Lord's supper; far from it.
Who would not rather see a sober man than a drunkard? And what Christian is indifferent, whether what Christ instituted be despised or not? But what I do say is, you may be a sober and kind man, or a partaker of the Lord's Supper, and you may have been baptized, and yet after all be found amid the scorching flames of the lake of fire, which is the second death. Shall God give His son, and He pass beneath His judgment for sins, that we may be saved, and then be insulted by any who dare to say, or to think that that finished work is not enough? Alas! man thinks he must do something. Hear the word of God: "I know that whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it, and God doeth it that man should fear before Him (Ecc. 3:14).
It is certain all will not be saved, and it is as certain that everyone that is not saved will have to blame himself for it. Such a glorious provision has been made, by Christ Jesus dying the just for the unjust, that God welcomes all that come. None are too black; none too vile; none too guilty; none too wretched. By the redemption which is through the blood of Christ, those who believe, have the forgiveness of their sins; and this through the riches of God's grace. It is to the glory of God to save the vilest from their sins. He says, in the hearing of Satan, who stands at the elbow of Joshua (after leading him to do wrong) to resist him, “Is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?”
Should this paper come before the eye of one, who may think himself or herself at the very lowest round of the ladder, another step, and then a plunge into everlasting darkness!
Look to Jesus from the depths of your sinful condition. Do not try to save yourself. Let Him have the glory of your salvation, and remember He will not give His glory to another.
Look to Him, and Him alone, and peace shall be yours. At the birth of the Saviour, the angels praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Peace shall be the portion of those who put their trust in Him, who was delivered for their offenses, and raised again for their justification. And this, too, observe not at the expense of “Glory to God in the highest.”
Reader, let God be true, I pray you. True in what He says of His Son, and the work which He accomplished, and true in what He says of you. For the Saviour of sinners gave not up His Spirit before He had cried “It is finished." What was said to Israel, in the prophet Jeremiah's day, I affectionately would bring before you, " Give glory to the Lord your God, before He cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness" (Jer. 12:1616And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The Lord liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. (Jeremiah 12:16).) Give God the the glory now.