"Look"
Here we have another of those expressive little words which embody so much in their brief compass, and open up a wide field of truth before the vision of the soul. We have a lovely instance of the use of this word in Isa. 45 "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." v. 22.
In the preceding verses we have a very fine statement of the character of the One to whom we are told to look. "Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray to a god that cannot save. Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside Me; A JUST GOD AND A Savior; there is none beside Me."
Here then is the One to whom we are told to "look." He is "a just God." But if this were all, a guilty sinner dare not look to Him for anything but judgment and eternal condemnation. The only possible issue of a meeting between a just God and a guilty man, is the lake that burns with fire and brimstone. A just God must punish sin. He cannot pass over a single speck or stain. It would involve the denial of His nature and the overthrow of His government were He to pass over the smallest atom of sin. It cannot possibly be. "He is of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity." Sin, wherever it is found, can only be met by the just judgment of God.
But mark the beauteous and most marvelous combination! Blessed be His name, we are not called to "look" merely to "a just God." This would be terrible. Yes, it would be inevitable destruction. But when we listen to the other title which grace has linked on to "a just God," all is changed. He is not only "a just God," but "a Savior." Precious fact for us poor sinners!
But how can God be just and a Savior? The cross yields the glorious answer. There justice had all its very highest claims answered. There the majesty of heaven was vindicated. There sin was thoroughly condemned. There all the demands of the throne were perfectly met. There all the divine attributes were gloriously harmonized. There the most convincing evidence was afforded to all created intelligence, that God could never let sin into His presence.
In one word, then, the cross is the only platform on which we can behold "a just God and a Savior." There we see how God can be just and the justifier of him that believes in Jesus. The atoning death of Christ forms the righteous ground on which God can receive back His "banished." Christ bore the just judgment of God against sin, in order that as a Savior He might receive to His bosom the very vilest sinner that simply looks to Him.
But who are they that are called to look? Is it some special class? No, thank God, it is not His way to limit His gracious invitation. Theology does this, but God never does. Hear the precious words once more: "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth." Such is the wide aspect of God's salvation. When God spoke as a law-giver, He addressed Himself to one people; but when He speaks as "a just God and a Savior," He addresses Himself to "all the ends of the earth."
And may anyone "look"? It is not only that he may, but he ought—not only is he permitted, but commanded. It is a command issued to all the ends of the earth. This includes every one who hears the message. It includes the reader of these lines. Whoever you are, you are this moment commanded to "look... and be saved." Before you can refuse the application of this word to yourself, you must prove that you do not come within the range of "all the ends of the earth."
Theology says, "Some"; God says, "All." All are commanded to "look." True, they will not; but that is their awful responsibility. Theology says, "Man cannot look, and hence it is only deceiving him to tell him to do so." Does a just God deceive people? Will theology dare to say so? Well, it is God who commands "all the ends of the earth" to "look" unto Him "and be... saved."
Yes, reader, one look at a Savior God is salvation. Never mind theology, or the puzzling, withering dogmas of theologians. Hearken to God. Remember He commands you to "look unto Me, and be ye saved." You cannot get over this. You cannot shake off your solemn, personal responsibility to look this moment to a Savior God. Leave theology and theologians to settle their questions with God; but do you remember that you have a never-dying soul to be saved, and the only way of salvation is to hearken to the gracious commandment of "a just God and a Savior" who says to you, "LOOK UNTO ME."