It is a precious thought to the anxious soul, that the weakest touch of faith, the touch of the very hem of the garment of Christ—the feeblest apprehension of His work—brings instant and perfect salvation to the soul. It is not how much one has realized of Christ, or His work; but the fact that the soul has, as it were, touched Him by faith, that renders it most blessedly secure in His hand. One hears the expression, “O! if I had the faith of such a one, I could then know I was saved.” What a mistake to think that it is the amount of faith which saves me instead of the fact that it is Christ, in whom I have faith, who does this. I would press this upon any poor anxious soul, hitherto, perhaps, searching its own poor heart, to find strong faith in order to make that a resting place. The soul will, doubtless, grow in the knowledge of Christ, and His work and all its glories-will grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus, when occupied in heart with him. All this may confirm, its faith, and make it stronger and stronger; but the feeble touch of faith it is which brings instant and perfect salvation. There is a living link wrought between the soul and Christ, which nothing can snap—a link commenced in time, but made for eternity!
This is illustrated in various ways in the Word of God. Take the case of the two disciples of John Baptist (John 1:35-4135Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples; 36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. (John 1:35‑41)), to whom John had pointed out the “Lamb of God.” They did not realize, at the moment, Jesus by that glorious title, the “Lamb of God;” but they apprehended Him in the humblest of all His glorious titles—the most earthly; and they say, “We have found the Messias!” and, consequently, they possessed all that he was. Again, the woman of Samaria, in John 4 She was unable to grasp at the glories of the person of Jesus, the Son of the Father, who had come from heaven, to reveal the Father in grace to the world, and to give the Holy Spirit. But she had heard of a Messiah who, when he was come, would tell her all things; and the Lord in his grace meets her in the lowest place, where she could apprehend him, and said, “I that speak unto thee, am he!” It is a blessed thought for the poor anxious soul, that it is not how much I know, that saves me; but the Christ whom I know, who does so.
I heard of late a striking illustration of this truth, which may be a blessing to the heart of some dear, anxious soul. As far as I can remember the story, it was as follows: —A brother in the Lord, who, with the spirit of an evangelist, wished to let others know of the Christ whom he had learned for his own soul, was requested to call and see an aged woman at R., who was ill. He had been enjoying some time previously, the beauties of the Shepherd’s seeking love for the lost sheep, and Father’s reception of the returning prodigal, and other of the varied beauties of that well-known chapter, Luke 15. He naturally thought that she would have enjoyed them as much as he had himself; and, with such a thought, he read the chapter over and over, and rehearsed to himself the beauties in it which he had so enjoyed; and then went to pay his visit to the woman. On arriving, he produced his Bible, and read the chapter, expounding, as he went on, each part. He stopped for a moment, when he had not got far, and asked the old woman, “Is not that beautiful?” She replied, “O yes, it’s beautiful; and sure He says, “Come to me all that are sick, and sore, and sorry, and sad, and I’ll give you rest.” My friend then went on with his chapter, and after a little more explanations, ha again asked, “Is not that beautiful?” Again the old woman replied in the same words, “O yes, it’s beautiful; and sure He says, “Come to me all that are sick, and sore, and sorry, and sad, and I’ll give you rest” This startled my friend, and he could not make out what she meant, by using the same words twice; still he went on, and when he stopped, to his astonishment, the old woman said exactly the same words! All of a sudden the truth struck him.
The old woman had not apprehended his expositions of the chapter in any wise; but she had some time or other heard those precious words of the Saviour, in Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28), “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy leaden, and I will give you rest.” Those words had quickened her soul to life; His voice had pierced her inmost heart. A living link was wrought in time between her soul and Christ—a link which was formed for eternity. The words were life to her soul. She could just apprehend that one little truth, that He had invited her thus. She knew Him but in that one little word; apprehended no more of Jesus than this; and yet her soul was saved. It was Christ she knew. Her knowledge of Him was confined to this; and the Christ she knew was her Saviour.
Is there a link—a feeble one it may be, dear reader—between your soul and Jesus Has your poor weak faith but “touched the hem of His garment,” as it were? If so, remember this,—it is not the extent of your apprehension of Him; but it is that Christ, whom you have but touched, who is your Saviour, and who has earned that title by His own blood; and you are saved.