I desire to press upon you a pointed and solemn question. Do not, I pray you, hand it over to another for reply, while you yourself leave it unanswered. Are you saved? Now, I leave you to answer it to the God who loves you, and to your own heart and conscience, while, for the present, I would very briefly tell you of—
The Saviour
“God manifest in the flesh,” —the eternal lover of our souls! He came down from heights of glory. He assumed holy humanity. Eternal as to His existence, divine as to His being, and distinct as to His personality, down, down He came, traveling in the greatness of His love until the lowest point was reached—Calvary’s depth of woe—Himself the holy One, undefiled, spotless, and pure, He entered into a scene of unmixed anguish and woe, in which, if any of the sons of men had stood, it were impossible ever to pass into the light and glory of God’s own presence. His blessed feet stood in the raging flood. The billows of divine wrath spent themselves upon Him. His was the cry which told out the anguish of His soul when suffering for sin— “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Now, for all believing on God, Christ has made an utter end of sin, abolished death, annulled Satan; and, what is better still, glorified God. Jesus Christ of Nazareth, crucified, hath God raised from among the dead. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:1212Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)). Turn to Him now, dear reader; for, although in glory and His ear filled with praise, sweet and precious to Him is the cry and the coming of a sinner to Himself. Such is the Saviour.
Safe, or Saved?
The Hebrews in Egypt were groaning under the lash and cruel taskmasters of Pharaoh; and God heard their groanings, and beheld their affliction, and came down to deliver. Judgment must sweep through the land. And who could stand in that judgment? Could the covenant people? No more than the proud Egyptian. But God, ever rich in mercy, ever fertile in resources, meets the difficulty—moreover, it is righteously met. Judgment is not stayed; but it falls upon the Lamb instead of the Hebrew. Its blood shed, and then sprinkled, by the command of God, upon the lintels and doorposts of Israel’s dwellings was the divine answer to the act of judgment. “And when I (God) see the blood, I will pass over you,” was the pledge of assured safety. The blood stood between the sinner—Israelite and God the Judge. They were thus a “safe” people; the sprinkled blood being their alone security during that awful night of wrath and judgment. But they were not yet saved—being still in Egypt. Pharaoh—his chariots and horsemen were yet alive. The strength of Egypt was as yet untouched by the judgment.
They came to the shores of the Red Sea. Now they learn what “salvation” is. The Egyptian is behind, the deep waters of the Red Sea rolling on in front, and inaccessible mountains and rocks on either side. They encamp at Pihahiroth, which bears the significant meaning: “Opening of the door of liberty.” Here, for the first time in Scripture, we get the truth of that precious word, “salvation.” (Ex. 14:13-1413And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. (Exodus 14:13‑14).) “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever. The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.”
God is alone in His mighty work. It is His salvation. The waters part on either side, and the people pass over dry-shod. They stand everyone on the desert side of the river of death. The strength, the beauty, and excellency of Egypt follow, but the waters return, and all are engulfed in the mighty deep. “There remained not so much as one of them.” Judgment has cleared the scene of every hated foe; and “saved” Israel “saw the Egyptians dead upon the seashore.” Now the people sing. They could raise no song in Egypt; but now they sing the song of salvation—the song of triumph—the song of victory.
Have you known, dear reader, what it is to look back upon the cross and grave of Christ, and know that the passage of death has been traversed by you “in Him”? Can you not look behind and see every doubt, perplexity, and fear gone forever—every foe drowned in the depths of the Red Sea? Have you learned the song of salvation, “God for us”? That is salvation—not merely “safe” from judgment, but “saved,” and that for eternity.