RIGHT opposite the office where we are writing there is a steep street, where, during a great storm, it has been the joy of hundreds of young folks to enjoy numerous slides or toboggan rides. As we stood and watched them, what a variety of ways the attempts were made to reach the bottom without a fall; and we learned one lesson—the boy who ventured came off best.
Did you ever try to slide? Of course you have. What boy or girl has not? How queer you felt at first when you thought of trusting your precious body to that piece of wooden plank! How you kicked and pushed, started and stopped, till at last you ventured on it altogether. and off you went merrily down the glassy slope, and landed safely at the foot. You never enjoyed the ride till you trusted fully.
Did you ever try to skate? Now, what boy hasn't tried at least? And if you did not give in, but "try, try again," you remember the peculiar pleasure of the first moment, when, with the vast expanse of ice all around, and the narrow steel beneath, with every muscle in operation, you felt you could skate, and might have done it much sooner had you trusted instead of doubting. You never half enjoyed the skates till you ventured wholly.
Can you swim? Don't say "yes" if you can't, for many say they can, and if tried at sea or in deep water it would be to the bottom they would go. But you really can! 0! didn't we try and try? With one foot at the bottom, or with toe on sand, we did it. No! No! When we fixed on the big rock a few yards out; when we took the header into the deep; when we ventured out of our depth: then, to our astonishment, we swam.
Just like this some of us remember how we got saved. We tried one foot on self and the other on Christ, one to on our good works (shifting sand) and the other to move heavenward, but it would not do, till, in our despair, we said of CHRIST:
"SINK OR SWIM, I'LL TRUST HIM." And, marvel of marvels, that moment we were "saved."
How strange that boys and girls can trust themselves to a piece of wood, or a bar of steel, or to the briny deep, and cannot trust themselves to Jesus, the eternal Son of God.
Are you saved? That's a Gospel question right enough, but can you give it a right enough answer? Can you say, "Yes?" Or do you say—like those who cannot slide, or skate, or swim—
"I wish I could?"
Would you like to be saved? Then remember, you will never know the joy of going to heaven, or the blessedness of calling God your "rather" until you cease trusting in self, or feelings, or tryings, but VENTURE WHOLLY on Jesus and His finished work. He says,
"Venture on Him, venture wholly, Let no other trust intrude."
Messages of God’s Love 2/14/1932