"Well, is it all settled for Christ?”
“No, indeed. I wish with all my heart that it were." This was the sad reply I got to my query. The speaker was a tall, well dressed young man, about twenty-five years old. We were leaving a large hall in the south part of London where I had been speaking on the Lord's second coming. His grave and intelligent face was marked by deep emotion denoting the soul-exercise he was passing through.
He had listened intently to the tale of grace which the Spirit of God unfolded that night, and had been deeply moved by the solemn appeals to the unconverted. I had presented, to them the possibility of the Lord's immediate return and of the sure fate of eternal woe that must be the portion of every unprepared, unsaved soul.
Arrested by my question he stood still as if inviting further conversation. Encouraged I went on: "But, if you wish the matter settled, why is it not settled?”
“I really don't know; but I fancy I don't understand it.”
“Tell me, now," I asked, "do you take your place as a really lost sinner before God? Are you anxious to be saved?”
“Indeed, I do. I am most anxious to be saved.”
“Are you willing to receive Jesus as your Savior, just where you stand"?
“I am most willing. I wish heartily I could say He is my Savior. I am quite prepared to receive Him.”
“Do you think He is willing to receive you?”
“Ah! That is just the question. If I were only sure of that, I would have peace.”
"My dear fellow, rest assured on that score. Have you never read, 'This man receiveth sinners'?”
Further conversation followed, but still he saw not the truth. Finally fancying that he might be in business and that an illustration might help him, I said: "Are you in business?”
"Yes.”
“What line?”
"Woolen goods—wholesale," he replied, rather astonished at the sudden change from things eternal to earthly matters.
"Suppose I turned up at your warehouse tomorrow. Would you be prepared to do business with me?" "Certainly.”
“Well, suppose that I come wanting so many bales of cloth of a certain quality and price. You would be prepared to sell them?”
“Most decidedly.”
“And when I have agreed to take and pay for, and you to sell and deliver these goods, what would you say about the matter?”
“I would call it settled.”
“And settled by what?”
“Mutual agreement," was the reply.
“Exactly so! I agree to take and you to deliver. Now, see here. You stand and tell me you are willing to receive the Lord Jesus as your Savior, and God's Word says He is willing to receive you, a 'sinner.' What do you call that?”
“I should call that mutual agreement, also," was his slow but firm reply.
“Yes! Christ has agreed to receive you, and you have agreed to receive Him. Are you not at one in this matter? Are you not both of the same mind?”
“Oh, how simple that is," he cried. "I see it all clearly now. Thank God, I just receive Christ simply by faith, and He receives me!”
“That is just it. Exactly as it is in John 1:11-1311He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11‑13), 'He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God.' You believe on His name, don't you?”
“Yes, I most sincerely believe in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
“Then God says that is how you receive Him; and receiving Jesus, you become a child of God; for again it is written, 'Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.' Gal. 3:2626For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26). The moment you believe in Him really, you receive Him, and become a child of God.”
The cloud disappeared from his face and the anxiety departed. His face lit up with a new-born joy. Seizing and wringing my hand most warmly, he said: "Thank God. Thank you, too. I see it all. It's so simple. It's a mutual agreement. He receives me, I receive Him; and now I'm a child of God. Goodbye, and God bless you!”
Reader, can you say "it is settled"? If not, why not? It must be that you are not willing, because Jesus is. He said to some who listened to Him once, Ye "search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of Me. And ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:39, 4039Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. (John 5:39‑40).