SOME years ago, at the seaside, in conversation with a young barrister, the gospel of God’s salvation was pressed upon him for present acceptance. He had heard it preached often, and talked of too. He was the subject of a mother’s prayers. He seemed thoughtful and serious. There was conscience-work in progress, and there was burden of soul too, although he knew of the words of welcome, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He knew that he ought to believe, but he halted, and was without peace.
Three months later (I had not seen him in the interval), on going into his office, he exclaimed, “I’ve got it. It is so simple. But the very simplicity of it I stumbled over, and there halted. I felt I had something to do, but what I knew not — wanting to know and willing to do — I halted. But now I see it all, and see it all done for me. It is so simple! Just to receive it.”
Now this illustrates the case of many hearers of a preached gospel, and doubtless also many readers of the Gospel Messenger. But for those who still think there is some great thing to do, there is another illustration and example at hand. It is that of a more notable person of a former day. He was a great captain — Naaman, the Syrian — of lordly estate and dignity, but he was a leper. Many circumstances were in his favor, but there was one great characteristic circumstance against him, not of his surroundings, but of his personality, of that which was essentially himself. He was a leper, beyond remedy in himself. But he heard by means of a very simple little missionary, the little captive Israelitish maid, of the prophet of Jehovah, who had power to heal even the leper. What then? Human resources and power must be invoked. King must appeal to king, so the King of Syria sends a letter to the King of Israel to have Naaman healed. God is not in thought at all. But the King of Israel knows better, so he rent his clothes and said, “Am I God?”
Now it is well to have knowledge, but there is responsibility with it, and here we see the difference between the two kings, and also between the young barrister and the great captain. In the distress of Israel’s king the prophet of God appears. What dignity there is in conscious acting for God, and in speaking for Him. Paul and other preachers of the Word well knew this. If really acting or speaking for God, there need be no haste nor discomposure. So Elisha, the man of God, sends to the king saying, “Let him come now to me, and he shall know that there is a prophet in Israel. So Naaman came with his horses and his chariot, and stood at the door of the house of Elisha. And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go, and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean” (2 Kings 5:1010And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. (2 Kings 5:10)). He was thus told God’s way, but he wanted his own way.
Now read 2 Kings 5:11-1411But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. 12Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage. 13And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? 14Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. (2 Kings 5:11‑14). Mark how the moment God’s way is taken, there is salvation. From this and other scriptures, therefore, we preach a free, full, present, and perfect salvation to all who take God’s way of it. It is always simple and gracious to the sinner, and glorious as regards Himself. How simple it is, but the simplicity of it is seen when God’s way, not man’s way, is taken, and only then.
Now let me have a personal word with you, my reader. Are you “seeking salvation” — “seeking the Lord” as it is sometimes called. It is a great thing for such a one to get the first lesson, that the Lord is seeking you much more than you are seeking the Lord. Naaman’s case was a grand lesson of grace. Acting unaided and alone, grace bestows and need receives. God offers, and the sinner accepts. That is all, and it is that which makes it so very simple. Self is set aside as having no activity or part in the transaction. He that humbles himself in thorough self-judgment, as of sinful nature, and as without strength to do, is the one who becomes exalted. What but unjudged self is it that goes about “to establish a righteousness of its own, not submitting unto the righteousness of God”?
The publican of Luke 18 judged himself and submitted, when, with eye on the propitiatory and smiting his breast, he said, “God be merciful to me, the sinner,” and he was therefore justified. “For to him that worketh not” (the Pharisee proclaimed himself to have worked and was not justified), “but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Surely then the feet that have been busy going about, and the hands that have labored working in vain for salvation, may well stand still and see, and simply as God’s gift accept God’s salvation. Thus Naaman yielded.
Reader, do you still hold to your notion that you yourself have some “great thing” to do? How dishonoring to the grace of God that has brought His salvation to you for your acceptance. The salvation is ready at hand to be accepted, and does not need prayer nor entreaty to God for its bestowment, not any works of toil nor of merit (read Rom. 10:8-118But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That 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. 11For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:8‑11)). But on the contrary, the halting, unbelieving, unwilling sinner is besought to accept it (read 2 Corinthians 5:20, 2120Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:20‑21); Matt. 11:28-3028Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28‑30)). More than that, you are actually commanded to accept now and at once God’s salvation (see Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31); 2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). So that it is at your peril, for it is in disobedience that you refuse, or neglect, or even longer delay. Salvation is God’s proffered-gift to you Now, and you are called upon to accept the gift and rejoice in its possession. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life — the one now due, but the other now offered.
It is neither working nor praying even, but believing and accepting. Then whenever God’s salvation is once really accepted, it is known to be possessed, and is rejoiced in. And it is believed and accepted by just the same process of mind and heart that you believe any other message or accept any other offer. It will not do, nor excuse you to say, “I cannot believe,” for you are a believing creature — too credulous sometimes, even to the believing of lies (believing the old serpent’s lie rather than God’s truth — Genesis 3), believing man’s testimony and man’s messages every day; but God’s testimony about His Christ and God’s messages to you, you have not yet believed. Do you ever think of the patience and forbearance of God with you. It is a Marvelous exchange which is proposed to you — life for death. But that is God’s grace, and God’s grace cannot be otherwise than simple. The word which from God to the sinner characterizes this dispensation of grace — while grace is reigning — is “Come,” “Come now.” Trace that word in the Scriptures. The word “Depart” is not yet brought into use. “Come.”
“It is so simple.”
T. M. T.
MERELY asking for forgiveness, and the confession of sins, are two different things. Confession involves real exercise, and brings with it blessing. The mere asking for forgiveness is often only skin-deep. Confession must be individual. It is the individual who has failed, and he confesses his sin to his Father.
W. T. P. W.