THESE are the days of high profession without Christ.
Almost every one we meet has some kind of religion. But religion will not save, and it will not stand the test of God’s inspired word. They remind one of that Scripture which says, “For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it; and the covering narrower than he can wrap himself in it” (Isa. 28:20). Listen to the conversation of professing Christians, and you will listen in vain to hear them say one word about Jesus who laid aside His glory and went to Calvary’s cruel cross, there to shed His precious blood, out of love to sinners.
Some can speak of their morality. They pay one hundred cents on the dollar, go to meeting on Sunday, and hold in their lands the Book which tells out man’s lost state by nature, and redemption by the blood; yet they cannot say they are saved from the wrath to-come (Matt. 3:7). Short beds, narrow clothing, means a Sunday religion without Christ. You may be quite serious in meeting, teach in the Sunday-school, listen to a nice sermon and high-sounding music, but on the week-days you are found at the parlor-games, donations, picnics, dances, etc. Oh, what short beds for weary sinners! (Ezek. 33:31, 32).
You may compare yourself with your neighbor who takes the sacrament, and say, “I am just as good as he is.” Quite true; but if your neighbor goes to hell, are you to follow in his footsteps? All who are not born again are on the way to join the rich man in his awful lamentation, “I am tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24). How solemn, to be going into eternity trusting to anything apart from Christ. He died, “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18)
Here is the testimony of one who found out her need as a poor, lost sinner. “When about nineteen years old I made a profession, got baptized, joined the church, took the sacrament, believed in the Bible; but I was not satisfied. I went on like this for forty long years, having no Christ, no joy, no peace. I came in contact with some who were born again, and I was warned to beware of them. However, the Lord directed me to board in the same house with them. I noticed that they were fond of reading the Bible, while I would far rather have a paper or magazine. It became quite plain to me that they had something which made them happy. I had not.
“After the family reading one night, I went to my room, but not to rest. I said my prayers, as I had been accustomed to do for the past forty years, but I could not go to sleep. The truth we had been reading about that Jesus had made peace through the blood of His cross’ came plainly before me (Col. 1:20). My false peace was gone — my soul was in danger! As I thought about what Jesus had done on the cross, the truth came home to me in power. Jesus died for me. I saw right there that Jesus had taken my place in death, and I was FREE. I got out of bed and got down on my knees, and for the first time in my life I thanked God for Jesus, Who loved me and gave himself for me’ (Gal. 2:20; 2 Cor. 9:15; Rom. 6:23).
“Next morning I went down and saw the man who had so often spoken to me of my danger and told me of the love of Christ, and I told him that I had good news for him. He said, ‘What are the tidings?’ I then told him that God had saved my soul from hell through trusting in Jesus, who bore the wrath of God for me on the cross. I saw that apart from Christ there is no new birth. Jesus said to a very religious teacher, ‘Ye must be born again’ (John 3:7).
“Wherefore hear the word of the Lord, ye scornful men, because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement, for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves” (Isa. 28:14-15).
A true picture of all mankind by nature is found in Romans 3. and Ephes. 2.
How awful sin must be when it required such a sacrifice! But how great was the love of God in giving up His own beloved Son to be the sacrifice for my sins. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
J. G.