SUPPOSE you were very poor — half-starving, and did not know how to get any food for yourself, much less for your family; and, as you were sitting at home groaning over your misery, a neighbor came in to comfort you, and told you of some rich gentleman, who lived close at hand, and who never sent anyone away empty who came to him for relief. And suppose that you refused to believe it, even though you knew that your neighbor had once been equally wretched with yourself, but had remained rich and happy ever since he went to this gentleman for help. Now would you not be very foolish, and even wicked, if you persisted in making yourself miserable, instead of brightening up and going at once with a heart full of gratitude to your kind neighbor and of hope for the future? Certainly you would.
And yet are you sure that you are not treating Jesus in this way? You know that you are a sinner, and, perhaps, you are very unhappy, for you have a starving soul. Your christian friends tell you that they were once quite as miserable as you are, and you know that they are perfectly happy now, yet you still refuse to come to your loving Saviour, who is waiting, who is longing to forgive you everything, and make you joyful. Oh, come, dear sinner, today! Jesus Christ died on the cross for sinners. You may be freed from the burden of your heaviest sins.
But suppose that you did believe what your neighbor told you, and set off to visit the gentleman, and, as you were a long way down the street, he saw you from the door of his house, where he was standing, and came to meet you with a smile of welcome, holding out a sovereign. Would you not be mad if you still continued to be sad, and refused to take it, groaning out, “Do help me; I am so poor”?
But, oh! how many treat the Lord Jesus in a way like this, and stand begging with tears for what He is offering at this very moment! And oh! how full of marvelous love He is! He is waiting patiently. Do not grieve this love another moment. Come and take the gift of pardon to-day: to-morrow may be too late.