ABOUT a mile outside the town of N—lies an extensive common, covered far and wide with furze and heather, but almost bare of trees. Several roads traverse it in various directions, and a goodly number of persons are found crossing it, to and fro. Some distance down one of these roads, stands a rude hut, built of wood, surrounded by a small garden, inhabited by an old couple named W—.
The roadways being very, exposed, it often happens in stormy weather, that people are glad to run there for shelter. Whether this is the reason, or whether on account of its having been originally conveyed on wheels to its present resting-place from a former site in the adjacent town I know not, but it has become to be generally known by the name of "the ark.”
One evening, a Christian in the neighborhood was walking past with his wife, and being anxious that the poor old people should be safe in the True Ark, called to leave them a little paper about God's salvation.
The woman invited them into her hut to see her husband, as he had been taken very ill. They soon discovered that she was a Christian, and anxious about the state of his soul.
Sitting down by his bedside, they told him the blessed story of God's boundless grace and love, apparently at the moment without effect, as he seemed to be full of his own doings.
Rising to leave, one of them pressed upon him the words of the Lord Jesus on the Cross, "It is finished.”
Many times after, this visit was repeated by one or the other. The poor old man seemed much impressed, but though gradually letting his own righteousness go, he could not for some time lay hold of the blessed truth that Christ bore His sins in His own body on the tree. As his wife expressed it: "He seems different, ma'am; but he can't quite lay hold of it.”
The light, however, dawned more and more brightly upon his soul; and at last he could rest on Christ and His "finished" work; so that one day, when another visitor had been in to see him, and occupied him with his works and his prayers instead of Christ, he called out as he left the room, "IT IS FINISHED" (John 19:30.)
Yes, he had laid hold of the precious truth that Christ once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18.) He was now safe, eternally safe in the True Ark of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
It often happens in the very dry weather, that the furze on the common catches fire, and large tracts are burnt; but the Lord graciously protected the poor old couple. He cares for His own; His eyes are over the righteous; they are the purchase of Christ's own precious blood. (1 Peter 1:18, 19.)
The old man recovered from his illness, and though still feeble, manages sometimes to do a little work. Times are hard with them, but grateful to the Lord for the portion they receive, they look with joy for the moment when they shall leave their "ark" in this wilderness world for the prepared place in the Father's house on high (John 14:1-3.)
Dear reader, what say you to the words, "It is finished"? Are you going on with your own doings and efforts to save yourself, or are you resting on Christ?
"It is finished, yes, indeed,
Finished every jot;
Sinner, this is all you need;
Tell me, is it not?”
Jesus finished the work, glorifying God perfectly, and His precious blood cleanseth from all sin (1 John 1:7.)
It was enough for poor W—! Then why not enough for you? Where is Jesus now? On' the throne of God. What more do you want? He was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 4:25; Rom. 5:1.) sinner, this is all you need; now tell me, is it not?