EARLY in the day of April 8, 1865, the welcome words, for which weary hearts had been waiting for four years, were flashed over the United States, “Richmond is ours!” At once the nation gave vent to its enthusiastic joy. In the cities bells were rung, and flags flung to the breeze, till the streets were festooned throughout with bunting. Over and over again the short dispatch was read, amidst tears of gladness, and huzzas and shoutings. Steam whistles, bells, and lungs gave their utterance to the wild rejoicings. Everywhere, men, women, and children were gathered in groups, in crowds, in masses, congratulating each other, as though it were a personal blessing, more welcome than gain, more important than labor. The scenes of the day were suggestive of two or three thoughts as to the nature and effect of faith.
1. None of those thousands, so radiant with happiness, had seen or taken part in that act over which they exulted. They simply heard and believed an announcement. It was given in very few words. It was a bare assertion, once only made, and yet no one doubted it.
2. The cause of this belief was the perfect reliability of the testimony. It was from the highest authority. The Lieutenant-General in the field telegraphed to the President, and the Secretary of War gave the word to the country in an official bulletin. It was not a guess, or a theory, but a proclamation by those who would not deceive, of something absolutely done.
Even so, the good news from God concerning Jesus Christ is the announcement of something done. “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” He hath “made peace by the blood of the cross.” “He hath made him sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
How simple the message, and yet how full of meaning! The testimony here, too, is wholly reliable. We know that He is true. God cannot lie. He has said, “I am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isa. 43:2525I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (Isaiah 43:25)). “If we receive the witness (testimony) of men, the witness (testimony) of God is greater.” How strange would the question have sounded on the 3rd of April, “What is it to believe?” And yet multitudes, to whom the precious record comes that “Christ was once offered, to bear the sins of many,” that it is Christ “whom God has set forth to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, that he might be just and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus,” are propounding this question. What is it, but to receive, as true, the testimony of God concerning His Son, that “by his stripes we are healed?”
Again, the effect of believing the testimony of the President was joy. So, being justified by faith, we have peace; believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable. Peace and joy come only from belief.
Another result of the news was, that loyalty was confirmed, and a new desire to do something for the Government sprung up. So, believing that we have eternal life in Christ transforms the whole life into service. We love Him, because He first loved us. This, then, is the order in the gospel: first, the good news; then, the news believed; then, walking in Christ as we have received Him. The grace of God that bringeth salvation teacheth us, “that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.”
Reader, do you believe the good news from God? Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. M. T.