“IT is finished.” What? Is it only the life of the Son of God that is finished? Is it only the climax of agony and shame that has been reached? Is it only the struggle with the powers of darkness that is over? Is it only that the heart that has been breaking so long is at last shattered completely? Ah, yes! all these; but more, in finitely more, It is, that “the work which thou gavest me to do” is finished in its entirety; that there is not one single act more to perform, one single agony more to suffer. The claims of a righteous God are met and satisfied. The blood has been shed, and the atonement is now made, and Judge and criminal are reconciled.
Sinner, does this concern you? If it does not now, it will ere long. Are, you trusting to the mercy of God? If so, you must obtain that mercy in God’s own way; and that is, by pleading the death of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. God has provided a way―only one way―whereby ‘we may obtain mercy. Would you find that way? Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)).
Reader, does this include you? You may think not; but unless you are washed in the blood of the Lamb, it does; and until you take the place of a sinner before God you cannot take the sinner’s Saviour. “For I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Matt. 9:1313But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)).
“All things are now ready.” Will you not come? Jesus is waiting, in patience and grace, pleading at the door of your heart. Oh, will you not open and bid Him enter? Life is short, and eternity is at hand; how near, we none of us know. Dare you refuse Him admittance anymore? He will not always be waiting. The time will come when He will say to those who refuse His invitation now, “I never knew you.”
“ ‘Too late!’ ‘Too late!’ will be the cry,
Jesus of Nazareth has passed by.”
Dear reader, pause awhile, and consider the love that prompted the God of glory to send down His Son―brightest and best in heaven to suffer and die for you, ―make it a personal matter, for you! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Will you turn away again, despising such love? Oh, my friend, by all that you hold dear in this life,—by the memory of those dear ones who have “gone before,” and as you value your soul’s eternal welfare,—I bid you rest no more until you shelter in the Rock of Ages. The way of salvation is so easy. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9, 109That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9‑10)).
May God by His Spirit enable you to lay hold of this blessed truth, ―that Christ died for you; and that God will not require your death also, if you plead Jesus as your substitute.
“Just as I am―without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O, Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am―and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot;
To Thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O, Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am―Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve!
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am―Thy love, I own,
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O, Lamb of God, I come!”
A. I. M.