As I was walking along the streets of a large city, my attention was caught by a card attached to an old shoe that stood in the window of a shoe shop. On that card these significant words were written, "Past Mending.”
I stood and gazed at that old shoe and the words on the card. How like man's condition before God! The words of the Savior came into my mind: "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7). Man, natural man, is also past mending. He must be born again in order to be saved. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." John 3:66That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:6).
In the words of God's own Son we hear, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God," and "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:3, 53Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5).
“Ye must be born again!" This proclamation should be borne aloft so that all might see it, and with trumpet voice should it be preached so that all might hear it. It is the great necessity for man—a work wrought by the Holy Spirit and by the Word of God, "the incorruptible seed," for thus a new life which abides forever is given to the soul. Through this new life a spiritual nature, never possessed before, engenders in the soul feelings, desires, aspirations after God and holiness which it never had before. It is "born of the Spirit," and "is spirit.”
Reader, are you trying to "mend the old shoe" still? Then you are nearly two thousand years behind. The true Judge has said, "Past mending." This was His verdict after "mending" had gone on for four thousand years. Then Christ came; and He proclaimed that man is "past mending," and that he "must be born anew.”
Yes, Christ came! And He came with the one great purpose—to die to save poor, lost souls who were "past mending." And why? Why must He die? He was the spotless Son of God—the perfect Sacrifice needed to save sinners. We are sinners, and He must die to save us. He became our Substitute, bearing our sins, then rising again, that "whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
His death accomplished redemption, made atonement for our guilty souls, met the claims of divine justice and the need of man. "It is finished," cried the dying Savior. God has raised Him from the dead, blessed proof of His satisfaction and of the justification of all who believe in Jesus. He has and gives eternal life to all who believe in Him. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47).