IT was one summer morning, in the beautiful Scotch holiday resort of D —, that we set out for a walk to some rising ground in the rear of the town from which a good view is obtainable. Not being in a hurry, we took a seat by the roadside for a little while. We found the seat already occupied by an old lady, whose appearance and manner betokened the typical Scottish housewife. Formalities, such as are the rule in bigger towns towards the south, being dispensed with, it was not long before we got into conversation, and were not slow in finding out that the old lady was a happy believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, who had known the Saviour for many a year, and now, nearing the end of her earthly pathway, was looking forward to meeting the Saviour whom she loved.
The old lady recounted with joy how the Lord had found her. She told us that in her young days she had been very busy, as she thought, working for her own salvation, and doing the works which she thought would curry favor with God. One day, however, the words of the Lord Himself, in John 6:29,29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29) were brought prominently before her “This is the work of God, that ye believe in Him whom He hath sent.”
She thought, “Here am I, trying to do the work of God, and I have never believed on Him whom He has sent.” She then turned to the Lord Jesus in true heart-acceptance of Him as Saviour, saying, like one of old, “Lord, I believe.” From that moment the peace and joy, which flows from simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, filled her soul, and she was, as we found her, rejoicing in the grace that saves and keeps.
I wonder if any of my readers are of the same mind as the old lady was, that through some works of their own they can merit the favor of God. You have never yet done the works of God in truth, because you have never yet taken the first step, and “believed in Him whom He has sent.” Faith in Christ must come first; then life-works follow.
Perhaps, however, some who read this may be laboring under another delusion, besides that of thinking it possible to win heaven by their own efforts and good deeds. Satan’s emissaries are everywhere, and the pretty town of D—was no exception. The old lady told us that some preachers had visited the place, who had been proclaiming that although people might die in their sins, yet they would have another chance of salvation after death.
How captivating to the natural mind such a suggestion as this is! “Now then,” they will say, “we need not trouble about religion. We can just go on and enjoy ourselves, and have a good time, because we shall have a chance after death, and that will be good enough.”
But our old friend proved to be too deeply grounded in grace to be caught by such a seductive doctrine as this. Meeting her brother, who was also traveling on the road to glory with Christ, the new doctrine was at once discussed. “What is this we hear about people having a second chance after death? We will take the first chance.”
Wise decision! Let it be yours. If you have put off deciding for Christ, and trusting in Him as your own personal Saviour up to this moment, consoling yourself with the idea that it will all be right in the end, wake up while it is time, and “take the first chance.” “When is my first chance?” you may say. Your first chance is NOW. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (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)). God does not promise you tomorrow. Still less does He promise you a second chance after you leave this world.
Do you think that men, if they were offered something in this life, which would be greatly to their advantage from a financial point of view, and the offer was only open for a limited time, would wait until it was withdrawn, saying they would get another chance at some other time? No, they would study their own interests, and take the first chance. If it is important to take the first chance in that which affects us only for a brief number of years, how much more important when our soul’s eternal destiny depends upon our taking the first and only chance.
Come to the Lord Jesus Christ NOW. He is ready and waiting to bless, and will welcome every sinner who turns in faith to Him. Do not be deluded by any suggestions of the enemy that you will have another chance when you leave this world, or even a chance later in life? Take God’s offered mercy NOW.
“Thou Holy One of God!
The Father rests in Thee,
And in the savor of that blood
Once shed on Calvary,
The curse is gone―through Thee we’re blest;
God rests in Thee―in Thee we rest.”