IF you will take the trouble, dear children, to turn to Acts 17:30-31,30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31) and will read it carefully, you will see that God is commanding everybody to repent. Did it ever occur to you that the word "everybody" takes in you? And why is it, do you think, that God calls upon everybody to repent? It is because He is going to judge the world in which you live, and He has already appointed the day when this judgment will take place, and He has appointed the Man who will be the judge, and He would have you turn from your sins before that dreadful day overtakes you.
But some of you may not know what it means "to repent." Let me try to explain it to you, my dear young readers. All who have not been made clean through the blood of Jesus are guilty sinners before God, but there are many who do not realize this; and such are going on as if all were right, while fearful judgment is ready to fall upon them. They think that speaking kind words and doing kind things makes them good, and thus they justify themselves. But let us take a little picture from God's word, to see what His thought about this is. Please open your Bibles at the eighteenth chapter of Luke and read carefully from the ninth to the fifteenth verse. If you have done this, tell me which of these two men was justified before God?
It was not the proud Pharisee, who thought himself better than other people, and who thanked God that he was not as other men. No! It Was the poor publican, who felt that he was a sinner, and who smote upon his breast and asked God to be merciful to him; he was the one who went down justified. The Pharisee held up his head, thinking himself very good. because he did some things that were right according to God's word. He had no thought of owning himself a poor lost sinner. And many, many big folks and little folks are in the same sad, blind state today — satisfied with their own goodness, if only they are not found doing something very bad.
But when God looked upon the Pharisee, who thought himself so good, He saw a heart full of wickedness and corruption. The poor publican had also a heart full of wickedness and corruption; but in deep sorrow, and with bowed head he owned to God his sinfulness, and he had nothing to say about his good deeds.
Let me point out to you the difference between these two men. The Pharisee took his own part while God's word condemned him. The publican took part with God against himself, owning from the heart that he was a lost sinner, and deserving only of condemnation.
Which of the two are you like, dear young reader? It is the publican who gives us the picture of what repentance towards God is. Do you understand it? When you see your sins in the light, they will seem very hateful to you and you will sorrow because of them. Your thoughts will turn to God's great goodness in bearing thus long with you. Yes, your thoughts both about God and yourself, will be changed. You will see that God is good and that you are a sinner; you will see, too, that you have sinned against Him. And, sorrowing over your sins you will, like the poor publican, go to God about them.
Have you thus repented? Have you taken part with God against yourself, or do you think that you are good enough with, perhaps, a little more effort, to enter heaven? Do not forget that God tells us it is His goodness that leads us to repentance.
Ah! when you begin to realize God's goodness, and your sinfulness, you can go to Him, taking only your sins — not your good works. And you will not go in vain for God tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).) Can God, on righteous ground, cleanse us from unrighteousness? Yes. For Jesus suffered the punishment for the sins of those who believe on Him, and all such are made clean through His precious blood.
Again I ask, have you repented? The day of judgment is fast hastening on, and God is calling to you. Will you longer delay?
What are the words of Jesus, who in His love has opened a way of salvation? Listen! He says, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." Yes, He, too, calls upon you to repent — to repent and to believe.
As soon as you are ready to own that you are helpless sinners, God is ready to forgive you and to receive you as His own. When you believe on Jesus, God's dear Son, you will see that He was lifted up for you, and that your sins are borne and put away, never to be remembered more.
Does not such goodness, such love, such grace move your heart? I beseech you, take God's part against yourself; cease to think that your own goodness will ever win heaven; believe on Jesus as your Saviour, and the coming day of wrath will have no terror for you.
Jesus loves me, and I know I love Him,
Love brought Him down my poor soul to redeem,
Yes, it was love made Him die on the tree,
Oh! I am certain that Jesus loves me.
In this assurance I find sweetest rest,
Trusting in Jesus, I know I am blest;
Satan, dismayed, from my soul now cloth flee,
When I just tell him that Jesus loves me.
Messages of God’s Love 1/27/1901