Short Bed, Narrow Clothing

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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. 28:2020For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it. (Isaiah 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. 3:77But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 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, 3231And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 32And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not. (Ezekiel 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 16:2424And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for 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. 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 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. 1:2020And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. (Colossians 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. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20); 2 Cor. 9:1515Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15); Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 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 3:77Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:7)).
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 1:2929The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)).
J. G.