Still the Day of Grace.

“BEHOLD, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy that it cannot hear” (Isa. 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1)). Here we have a most blessed scripture, for it tells us of a God full of love and power; and it brings to mind that other beautiful passage, in 2 Corinthians 5:2020Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20), “As though God did beseech you by us; we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” Dear unsaved reader, there is a day corning when the Lord’s hand will be shortened, a day when His long-suffering kindness shall have come to an end, and when the door will be shut; and then you will cry, Open unto me open unto me! But His ear will be heavy, and your cries will avail you naught. He is now in an attitude to save; and, oh think, God beseeching you! There is judgment coming; but God, in His wondrous grace, has made a way of escape for you from judgment and the wrath to come.
Dear reader, if still unsaved, you are ungodly, without strength, and a total bankrupt in the sight of God, absolutely powerless to do anything to earn or merit salvation; and yet, just because you are such, you can lay claim to Jesus, and the salvation freely offered through Him, because God tells us that it was while we were yet sinners, ungodly, Christ Jesus died for us. And how blessedly God has opened the way for poor lost sinners. It is not for the good, nor for the righteous, but for sinners, Jesus came to die. And so that all may lay claim to this salvation, He has concluded all under sin (Gal. 3:2222But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. (Galatians 3:22)). Let not Satan deceive you, by telling you that you are too bad, or not bad enough. Read Romans 3. from the 10th to the 20th verse, and there you see how God looks at man by nature, and you and I are included in that. It is a photograph of God the Holy Spirit’s taking, and He cannot lie. Only bow to what God says about you; take God at His word, vindicate Him in taking sides with Him, and thus realizing your own utter nothingness, look unto Him who is “mighty to save,” ―Jesus, uplifted on Calvary’s cross, the One, and only One, who can save you. His hand is not shortened, and He says: ― “Whosoever cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out;” and that, dear reader, includes you, if you will but come.
Delay not then, hesitate no longer. Remember that “procrastination is the recruiting-officer of hell,” and tomorrow is the devil’s time. God’s time is now. He says: ― “Now is the accepted time” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). Ere tomorrow’s sun death may overtake you, or the Lord may come, and then your day of grace be over. Think of the man of whom we read in Luke 12:1616And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: (Luke 12:16), &c., &c., whose lands brought forth plentifully, so, plentifully that his barns could not contain it all. He meant to tear them down, and build larger ones, and lay up his fruits, as he said to his soul, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said unto him, “Fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” And so it may be with you. Remember the time, and the only time, God gives between now and the ending of this day of grace, is but the twinkling of an eye (1 Cor. 15:5252In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (1 Corinthians 15:52)). J. H. D. S.