“Why can’t they let us alone; they never come to the house without tormenting us about our souls, and I don’t see the fun of it at all?” So said a proud, unconverted young man to his mother. And possibly the reader of these lines has thought the same, if he has not said it.
Now, shall I tell you why we do not let you alone—why we speak to you, and why we write to you? It is because we see you standing upon the slippery brink of everlasting hell, yet unconscious of your danger! Every throb of your heart beats the death march to the grave; and you live as though you had a lease of your life, and could die when you pleased. You live as though there were no God to meet, no sins to answer for, no hell to shun, and no heaven to reach. And how can we let you alone? We should be cruel, heartless and inhuman if we did.
“Let us alone.” So said the poor, devil-possessed sinner to the Lord Jesus in the days of old (Mark 1:24). But Jesus did not let him alone, and he had to come out.
Just think of him, in his terrible misery, saying to the only One who could deliver him—and who came for that purpose— “Let us alone!” And yet men follow his example!
Reader, if still unsaved, thank God you have a body out of the grave, and a soul out of hell; and do not say to Him any longer, “Let us alone,” lest He answer your prayer.
Perhaps you dare to say, like many, “No hurry; I can take salvation at any time.” O, what a delusion of the devil this is! His first device is— “Let us alone!” then, when that fails, he says, “Plenty of time, plenty of time.” He is a liar from the beginning, and a murderer, too. No, my reader, no! you cannot be saved when you like. You may continue to live for some time after God gives you up.
“Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2). Tomorrow may be too late forever.
You have said a good many times to God, “Let us alone.” If you refuse His mercy today, He may say of you as He said of one of old, “Ephraim is joined to his idols, let him alone.” (Hos. 4:17). Then your doom will be sealed!
Listen to the cry of One who was “left alone” that you might never be left alone. “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? ~~~ O My God, I cry, ~~~ but Thou hearest not.” (Psalm 22:1, 2). Jesus was forsaken of God. And why? Because He was bearing sin. He was on the cross as the victim making atonement for sin; and God, the Holy One, could not look upon sin; therefore He turned His back on Jesus.
O my friend, consider how holy God is, and how sinful sin is; and read its terrible judgment in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. And then, if your heart trusts that Savior, read, likewise, your complete deliverance from its tremendous curse and shame, by the death of the Son of God.
Blessed be God! Jesus is no longer on the cross or in the grave. Sin was atoned for, and God was glorified in its perfect settlement by His Son at the cross. The believer’s sins, too, were put away forever, so that God can say to each, “Their sins and iniquities will I remember NO MORE.” Hebrews 10:17. And God has proved His satisfaction by raising Christ from the dead (Acts 13:30). Yes, Jesus is risen, and exalted to the right hand of God. He is not left alone now. The glory of God shines in His face (2 Cor. 4:6). What a proof that the sins are gone! Is it not? And whose sins? Every believer can say, MINE.
Now God says, “Be it known unto you, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and all that believe are justified from all things.” Acts 13:38, 39. Now notice three words there—