CHRISTIAN gentleman was sitting by the bedside of a dying friend, a successful business man, and a humble believer on the Lord Jesus Christ. In the same room was the family lawyer, who had been employed in drawing up the will of the dying merchant, and receiving various instructions as to the disposition of his property.
The lawyer was not a converted man, and for his benefit the two friends were conversing in audible tones.
“Mr. A., said the visitor, you have often expressed yourself confidently with reference to the future, but do you not sometimes have doubts and fears as to it?”
“No,” replied the dying Christian, “I do not; why should I? The Word of God says: ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.’ Now I do believe on Him; I trust Him as my Saviour. Can there be any doubt, then, about my future?”
The lawyer was evidently listening. As he and the other gentleman left the house together, he referred to the conversation, saying: “I never saw anything like it. Mr. A. is JUST AS CLEAR in spiritual matters as he always was in business matters!”
“Just as clear.” Yes, this is what the Christian is entitled to be, and what God would have him be, and what the Scriptures enable him to be.
In the ordinary matters of life it is well to be clear as to what we have to do, how to do it, and the result of doing it. To have one’s affairs in a “muddle” is to court disaster, To have no clear idea as to what one is about means, in nine cases out of ten, failure.
How much more important is it that in spiritual matters we should be clear what we are about! Yet how many are utterly careless as to how they stand, utterly negligent of their eternal interests.
The worldling; the man who has never opened the door of his heart to Christ; the woman whose religion consists in nothing further than a formal observance of certain ceremonies—these may all be perfectly clear what their end will be: “Whose end shall be according to their works.” (2 Cor. 11:1515Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:15).)
And he who has put his trust in the Saviour need not lack the clear certainty of what the future will bring for him. God does not keep His children in doubt as to how they stand with regard to Him. He has made ample provision that all who have fled to Christ for refuge may know that they are saved forever. This assurance is given by the simple witness of the Scriptures, speaking, as they do, so emphatically and unequivocally on the subject.
For instance, there is the well-known passage which affirms that “all that believe are justified from all things.” (Acts 13:3939And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:39).) May not one whose faith rests wholly upon Christ receive the assurance of his justification from this positive statement? If he accepts the words as the very words of God (which indeed they are), can he be otherwise than clear as to the fact of his clearance from guilt in God’s sight?
Take another Scripture: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36).) With his eyes resting upon such a plain, unmistakable utterance of the Word of God, how can one who believes on His Son be otherwise than clear as to his present possession of everlasting life?
It was upon passages of Scripture such as these that the dying merchant staked his confidence. It was their sure and unmistakable witness that gave him the certainty that seemed so remarkable to the lawyer, and that led him to exclaim: “Mr. A. is JUST AS CLEAR in spiritual matters as he always was in business matters!”
And why should not you possess the same clear certainty? God’s gifts are free to all! No hard conditions are imposed. If you really want the priceless boon of salvation and eternal life, you may have it. You have but to come, a sinner confessed, empty and helpless, good-for-nothing and hell-deserving, to the Lord Jesus Christ.
By His atoning work upon the cross He satisfied the claims of justice. Justice will not stand in the way of your receiving mercy. He who died at Calvary now lives again, and all power is His—power to save, power to bless.
There is no time like the present. Why not face this great question just now, and get it settled forever through taking that one step, the step to Christ?
H. P. B.