Several years ago I was passing through a village and distributing gospel leaflets by the way. I noticed an old man engaged in mending the road. Speaking to him, I inquired how matters stood about his soul. Stopping his work and leaning on his rake handle, he gave me, with evident self-complacency, an account of his own goodness. He went regularly to his church; he was honest; he always paid his debts, he did not tell lies, curse, nor swear, and he was always ready to do a kind turn for a neighbor!
Poor fellow; how blind he was! I endeavored to show him that all these things, good and right in themselves, formed but a foundation of sand on which to build for eternity! However, his pride in doing could not be shaken and, feeling sad at heart, I had to leave him.
Just a little farther on I encountered an old woman. She was bent with the weight of years; and, toiling feebly along, she was supported partly by a stick and partly by the arm of a younger woman. I soon caught up with these, and said: "Well, friend, you seem very feeble. Evidently you have traveled long and far upon the road of life. Tell me, are you on your way to the bright home above?”
Her eyes sparkled at the question. "Oh, yes!" she replied.
"Well, have you a reason for saying so? How do you expect to reach there?”
Only through the precious blood of Jesus!”
Truly, my heart leaped to hear these words. They had the ring of being genuine. After further interesting conversation, I found that she was indeed a dear old pilgrim, journeying Zionward. How refreshing it was to meet one like her, exalting only the Savior, just after talking to the other one, whose confidence was in his own self-righteous doings!
A word to you, my reader. That old man was brimful of himself! It was all the great big capital letter "I". I do this; I do that; or else I don't do this or that! Not a syllable about the Savior! As to the dear old woman; with her it was exactly the reverse. Not one word about herself. No; she spoke of in "Jesus only!”
Answer this plain, loving question: On what foundation are you resting? Is it Self, or is it Christ?
Off the coast of Kent lie the Goodwin Sands. What are they? Most dangerous quicksands. Many a gallant vessel has been stranded and wrecked on those perilous shoals, her hull gradually sinking until at last it has disappeared entirely from view. Many a poor mariner has miserably perished there! But Satan has his more terrible quicksands of self-righteousness, on which myriads of deceived souls are resting. Like a ship on Goodwin Sands, they are sinking down, lower and lower, until they land in an eternal hell. Dear reader, are you able to say, in the words of the well-known hymn:
"On Christ, the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand"?