“WHAT is the difference between you and me? “a lady once asked me,” I believe in Christ, I believe every word in the Bible and yet I know there is a difference.”
“Is it not,” I asked, “that you believe in Christ as you do in Julius Caesar, or in any other historical personage? but I trust Him wholly, for time and for eternity.”
“Yes,” she said, “I think that is it.”
Twenty years have passed away and I have never seen her since; I can only hope that she too, has learned to trust herself wholly to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We might divide people into these two classes, those who trust Christ and those who do not. The great apostle Paul bonged to that first class, he puts himself among those who “first trusted in Christ,” and in his wonderful letter to the saints at Ephesus he puts them into the same place, saying to them “In whom ye also trusted” (Eph. 1:12, 13).
Some have objected that this is too easy a way of salvation, that it is necessary to do what we can to keep the law, to lead a good life, etc. But this objection arises from not understanding the ways of God.
My reader has perhaps heard his Christian teachers speak of dispensations, and possibly, has no very clear idea of the meaning and use of the word in the Scriptures. Shall we change this long word into very simple words which may convey the meaning to us? and say, the house-law or the law of the house. We understand in earthly things that there must be the rule of a house, the house without rule or law is a house in confusion. A dispensation then is the law of the house for the time then present, the rule to which God has put man under obedience.
The first, I need hardly say, was the garden of Eden, and the rule or law was that Adam was to keep the garden and dress it, but not to eat of one tree.
Again, to Noah, just emerged from the ark after the flood, the command was to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and the fear and dread of him was to be upon every beast, every fowl, and upon all fishes.
Israel was given a law which was, as the apostle Paul tells us, “holy, just and good,” with God as their King. Then later, when they desired a king another dispensation was ushered in, and a kingdom was established, three very simple rules being given to the king.
The result is, alas I too well known. Adam ate of the tree; Noah could not rule himself; Israel broke the law before the tables of stone containing it reached them; Solomon, the king, in all his glory, proceeded to break all three rules as quickly as possible.
What can be done with such rebellious people? God, in His great love, has brought in a new dispensation of which the one simple rule is that we should TRUST CHRIST, and yield allegiance to Him. Can it be supposed that God will go back to the dispensations which have passed away and permit man to try again any of the ways in which he has so utterly broken down? Impossible.
To bring in this new dispensation the Lord Jesus died on the cross and forever settled the question of sin and rebellion for those who trust Him. It has been well said, God has made the way so simple for the one who trusts, but to do this it cost the Son of God The suffering and shame of Calvary. Who will dare to add ought to such a work as this? Surely the only answer to Him is loving adoration, heartfelt trust, unquestioning obedience.
To trust Christ is, as we have seen, the beginning of the Christian life—to trust Christ is the unfailing resource for the Christian path in how many blessed ways has He revealed Himself. Are we sad at heart because the way is long and difficult?
Let us trust Him, “the good Shepherd” who gave “His life for the sheep” (John 10:11), and who gives unto them “eternal life” (John 10:28), the “great Shepherd of the sheep” risen from the dead (Heb. 13:20): “the chief Shepherd” who is coming again (1 Peter 5:4).
Are we discouraged because of infirmity and failure? The remedy is the same, let us trust Him, our great High Priest, “touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Heb. 4:15).
Are we conscious of sin? He is the “Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous” (1 John 2:1).
Are we doubting and distressed because the best and wisest men do not agree in their opinions and teaching? do we long for one to teach us the way of God? He alone meets this need saying, “I, your Lord and Master [or Teacher]” (John 13:14).
Are our hearts troubled in any way from any cause? He draws near and says, “Let not your heart be troubled, ... I will come again, ... I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:1, 2, 6). Yea, He is all these and much more—the Son over God’s house, the Son who came to reveal the Father, and to introduce us into His Father’s house, for our present joy and to be our eternal dwelling place.
Someone reading these simple thoughts may say “Yes, it is all very well, but He is gone so far away.” He has anticipated this also and has sent down that other Comforter, the Holy Spirit, to dwell in our hearts, and to bring Him to us, and us to Him in blessed and abiding “remembrance” (John 14:26).
L. R.