“SIR,” said a gentleman, who was seated in a railway carriage, to one who entered in a state of perturbation, believing that he had just been cheated, “have you made the wonderful discovery that you are an object of interest to the heart of God?” A quiet moment had arrived; at the hearer’s request the question was repeated; more conversation followed.
On the next Sunday a clergyman, on entering his pulpit, began his address by saying that since he last stood there he had realized a marvelous truth, had learned that he, personally, was an object of interest to the heart of God.
Are you, my reader, familiar with this blessed fact? Let me remind you of five proofs of the interest and love of the heart of God, which is independent of yourself, and of what you are, personally.
He gave His Son.
He bruised His Son.
He raised His Son.
He sent His Spirit.
He recorded His love in the Scriptures.
Let us consider God’s object in calling attention to Himself. His object is blessing.
Suppose a stranger accosted you with the question: “Do you owe anything in this town?”
You would not understand the object of his inquiry; you would almost certainly feel affronted, and I think that you would reply, “What is that to you?”
Suppose that the stranger goes on, “I conclude from what you say that you have no debts.” Perhaps you would return, “I did not say that; why do you wish to know?”
“I wish to know in order that I may pay your debts,” says the stranger. And now you understand the motive of the questions put to you, and you regard them in a different light.
In the eighth chapter of the Book of Acts, four conditions of men are mentioned, and we find that different servants of God are equipped and sent to meet those conditions. In verse 4 we read that the Church at Jerusalem having been scattered because of persecution, “they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word.” The good news, in its wide aspect, was proclaimed, according to the counsel of God that the Gospel should be preached to every creature under heaven.
In verse 5 we are told of Philip, a true evangelist subject to God, and therefore guided by God; he goes down to Samaria, and there preaches Christ. Now the Samaritans had already been made acquainted with Jesus, as the Messias for whom they looked. The woman to whom our Lord had spoken at Jacob’s well had bidden the men of the city, “Come, see a man who told me all things that ever I did.” Many complied with the request; and after Christ had tarried with them two days, they “believed because of His own word; and said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” (John 4:41, 4241And many more believed because of his own word; 42And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:41‑42)).
But no doubt the Samaritans had heard that He whom they had learned to regard as their deliverer had been crucified at Jerusalem.
Their hopes must have been dashed to the ground, and they needed to learn that the same Jesus who was crucified had now been exalted to the right hand of God, as a Prince and a Saviour. No wonder, then, that there was “great joy in that city,” when Philip went down and preached the risen Christ.
There was more still for the Samaritans to be taught, and the needed vessel for their instruction must be prepared of God. So Peter goes down and preaches to them the word of the Lord (vs. 25).
These Samaritans, who had known and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, were objects of interest to God. And thus it was that He sent, first Philip, to tell them of the risen and exalted Christ, and then Peter, to reveal that Jesus was also Lord—One to whom they owed allegiance, and in whose Divine hands all power was placed in heaven and in earth. To the Samaritans Christ was presented under His full title as the Lord Jesus Christ, and the truth preached to them is much needed today. Christ, as Saviour, is received by many; Christ, as Lord, is less often acknowledged.
In the same chapter (Acts 8) we see God’s interest shown in the poor Ethiopian eunuch, who, feeling an unsatisfied need in his soul, takes the long journey to the house of Jehovah in Jerusalem―the house at the dedication of which Solomon had prayed (2 Chron. 6:32, 3332Moreover concerning the stranger, which is not of thy people Israel, but is come from a far country for thy great name's sake, and thy mighty hand, and thy stretched out arm; if they come and pray in this house; 33Then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to thee for; that all people of the earth may know thy name, and fear thee, as doth thy people Israel, and may know that this house which I have built is called by thy name. (2 Chronicles 6:32‑33)): “Concerning the stranger which is not of Thy people Israel, but is come from a far country, for Thy great name’s sake... if they come and pray in this house, then hear Thou in heaven, Thy dwelling place, and do according to all that the stranger calleth to Thee for.” This “stranger” had come to the house of God, but he had come too late; already the doom had been pronounced, “Behold your house is left unto you desolate.” But God will never allow a seeking soul to go away unblessed. And so Philip is taken away from the scene of blessing in Samaria; and as a subject servant, without questioning why, he goes into the desert, there to meet one who is an object of interest to the heart of God. He finds the eunuch reading the word of God, not ashamed to do so before others, as so many seem to be in the present day. Directed by the Holy Spirit, Philip interrupts the reading man at the very word which is suitable. Had the eunuch gone on to the next sentence, his thoughts would have been diverted to other channels. At this point God spoke to him; at this point Philip preached unto him Jesus. Jesus as sin-bearer, Jesus who meets the sinner’s need, was the Saviour whom he needed; and the effect upon the Ethiopian, when he learned of Him “whose life was taken from the earth,” was instantaneous. His desire was to follow the Saviour into death, and this, by figure, he did in baptism. Now, the eunuch begins to learn something of a new and risen life; now he finds himself not only saved from sin, but the possessor of a Friend in the central glory of God, and he “went on his way rejoicing.”
That rejoicing may be yours, reader, if you turn to the Saviour whom God has provided for sin. Only believe the wondrous truth that the heart of the Eternal is deeply interested in your welfare. God desires you to know Jesus as sin-bearer, to know Christ as the exalted One, and to know the Lord as Him to whom your allegiance is due. Never forget the touching truth that God is interested in you personally, that He knows all about you and desires to bless you. E. C―P.