ABOUT thirty years ago Cleopatra’s Needle was raised upon its pedestal on the Thames Embankment. In the core of the pedestal was placed a jar containing copies of the Bible in four languages, and of one verse in two hundred and fifteen languages.
“Thirty-three centuries ago,” says Mr. Canton, in his history of the Bible Society, “the obelisk was cut in the red granite quarries of Syene. Under clouds of gnats, driven hard by the rods of the taskmasters, long files of captives dragged it on sledges to the sacred river, while gangs of water-carriers poured a flood of water under the runners to keep the groaning wood from catching fire. It was floated down the Nile on a ship of war, and was erected with infinite labor before the splendid Temple of the Sun in the city of On.”
Asenath, the daughter of the priest of On, became Joseph’s wife, but by the time the obelisk was transported thither Joseph had lain in his painted coffin for some years. But it is quite possible that his grandchildren looked upon the monument. Moses must have seen it in his boyhood. Menephtah the Pharaoh who oppressed the children of Israel, inscribed the hieroglyphics we see today on each side of the previous inscription of Thotmes III. The heart of Menephtah was hardened, the Ten Plagues fell upon the land, centuries swept by, but “the obelisk stood changeless, amid the wreck of war and the fall of dynasties.”
“Is it not a strange coincidence,” asks Mr. Canton, “that after a lapse of three millenniums the Bible should have been committed to the care of this same obelisk, whose gold-capped summit flashed out to the far pastures of Goshen in an age in which the story of Exodus had scarcely yet begun to be lived?” It is indeed, yet not more strange and wondrous than the whole story of the Book.
Men may come and go, empires rise and fall, literatures grow and fall into disuse, but one thing is permanent amid all the change and decay, one book lives as much today as when the Pen was dipped into the ink to write its last line, and that is the Bible. That a collection of Eastern books, written by various authors―kings, peasants, fishermen, &c.―could be bound into one volume, each book answering as a part to the whole, and maintaining such a hold upon the best and purest of mankind, winning its triumphs amongst bigoted Jews, cultured Greeks, and heathen sunk in unutterable darkness and idolatry, is a miracle stranger than fiction, and proving beyond a doubt that the Book is God-inspired, and contains His message to His creatures.
Other so-called sacred books have a limited circulation, and have been translated at least into the English language more as literary curiosities than as bearing a vital message without which we should be undone, but one Society alone has published the Bible, in whole or in part, in over four hundred languages, covering a circulation of over two hundred million copies.
And in the course of its history what persecutions the Bible has undergone, in the persons of those who have been transformed by its message. The catacombs of Rome, the Inquisition’s cells in Spain, the fires of Smithfield—all bear testimony to the natural enmity of man’s heart against the Book, which flatters no man, yet bears within its covers the offer of God’s wonderful grace and redeeming love. The laborious but futile efforts of the higher critics bear witness to the same ceaseless enmity against the Book.
But to return to Cleopatra’s Needle, we ask with deepening curiosity what verse, translated into two hundred and fifteen languages, has been deposited within the core of its pedestal. I venture to say that it is the best known verse in the whole Bible, and more used in bringing blessing to souls than any other in Scripture. Martin Luther called it the Miniature Bible. Its words, in the Latin language, were the last that fell from his dying lips. It is fitting that God should be the first word in it, love its theme, Christ its gift, life its offer, and the world its scope. The wit of man could never have conceived it. Here it is, speaking for itself in all its majesty and fullness: ―
Words, not for one nation, but for all; not for the civilized alone, but for the heathen also; words for the strong young man on the threshold of life, as for the bowed and aged on their death-bed; words the sovereign on the throne cannot afford to ignore, yet whose blessing is as free to the beggar by the wayside; words for―you. Wonderful words! Wonderful message!
There are four great things in the verse, two on God’s side, two on ours. (1) God loved. (2) God gave. (3) I believe. (4) I have.
(1) God loved. Ay, and He expressed it. The rich give out of their plenty and don’t miss what they give. But God expressed His love by doing that which cost Him more than tongue can tell.
(2) God gave. What did He give? Some give their money, others’ their time, but God gave His only begotten Son. But this involved His death, and what a death! Think of that bitter cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Think of all the judgment that He endured at God’s hands on the cross of shame that you might have the offer of pardoning love. Think of how gloriously He accomplished that work Ind is now in glory, proof indeed that God is well satisfied. What remains for us to do?
(3) I believe. Only believe. “Be not afraid, only believe,” said the Lord to one of old, and He says the same words to you now by this printed page. You may ask, Do you mean to tell me that I have nothing to do but believe? What say the Scriptures?
They are plain enough. Bow to them. “To him that worketh not, but BELIEVETH on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:55But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Romans 4:5)). “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:2828Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28)). “By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). Only believe. Launch yourself on God’s mercy. Come as you are without waiting to turn over a new leaf, without delay. Venture wholly. That is faith. And in believing on Christ (and how wide is the door flung open, “whosoever believeth on Him”) eternal life is your portion.
(4) I have. “That whosoever believeth in, him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” There can be no doubt as to it, if only I believe on Christ. Eternal life is my possession. God says it. Faith believes it. Oh! what a dishonor to God when a believer on the Lord Jesus cannot say that he is sure of salvation, sure of forgiveness, sure of eternal life. It is as much as to say that the work of Christ is not sufficient, to doubt that God is fully satisfied with it and expects something added to it by you. Fancy what the Holy Son of God could not complete, God asking a poor sinner to finish! Away with such a thought. And further, it is as much as to say that God’s Word is not reliable. When God states explicitly that every believer on the Lord Jesus has eternal life, have they got it or not? Why, surely, without the shadow of a question, eternal life is the portion of every believer. Then be as simple as a little child, and believing on the Lord Jesus say, “I have eternal life.” Such language is not presumptuous but on the contrary God-honoring―the language of faith.
Reader, have you received the wonderful message which this verse reveals? Are you one of the whosoevers that believe, and in believing have eternal life? The message is for you. It will be your own folly if you pass it by.
And how reliable is the message out of “the Book that never dies.” “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away” (Matt. 24:3535Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)).
A. J. P.