The Invisible Thread.

IT is a matter of solemn interest that everyone who has really listened to the gospel message has “turned.” But there are two ways of turning. The Thessalonians heard the gospel and “turned to God,” as the apostle reminds them in his letter to them (1 Thess. 1:99For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1 Thessalonians 1:9)); but the same apostle, writing to the Hebrews, speaks of a turning in the opposite direction. Mark his words: “See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more ‘shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven” (Heb. 12: 25). Now, my dear reader, you have turned; but which way, to God or from God? You have heard the gospel testimony: how have you treated it?
Many, many years since a servant of Christ was privileged to speak to thirty or forty people who, up to that point, had turned a deaf ear to the heavenly message. Thus he addressed them: “Suppose you should see coming down from heaven a very fine thread, so fine as to be almost invisible, and it should come and attach itself to you. You knew, we suppose, that it came from God. Should you dare to put out your hand and thrust it away?” Then he added, “Such a thread has come from God to you this afternoon, and you can easily brush it away: but will you do so?”
Now what did this servant of Christ mean by the tender thread that had come down from God and attached itself to them, and which they were in danger of defiantly brushing away? It was what the apostle spoke of when he said to the unbelieving Jews at Antioch: “It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles” (Acts 13:4646Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. (Acts 13:46)).
Mark this well, my reader: whatever is known of you on earth, you are known in heaven: either as one who has gladly welcomed the gospel, and believed it for yourself; or as one who has been glad to brush away the thought of God’s message from your mind, so that you might, without any interference, pursue the bent of your own will. How do you stand as to this?
In the following chapter (Acts 14:1515And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: (Acts 14:15)) we find the apostle beseeching another company to “turn from these vanities unto the living God.” Have you turned from the vain idols of earth-idols which can neither console you in the dark day nor satisfy you in the bright? Have you turned to the God who can fill your heart with food and gladness (vs. 17); who satisfies, nay, more than satisfies—who floods the heart that comes near to Him with the light and joy of His own blessed presence? Of this we have tasted for ourselves, dear reader, and therefore can speak of it. And to you we would say with fervid earnestness, “O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him” (Psa. 34:88O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalm 34:8)). But you must taste it for yourself. We cannot taste it for you, nor do we pretend to. We have proved its sweetness for ourselves, and you must do the same. God has expressed His love in a sinful world; and, by the very act which declared His utter hatred to sin, has expressed His love perfectly. He has given His Son to be a sin-bearer; and now, through His precious blood, He is able to point you to the Risen One, and say, “Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)).
Once more has this tender, golden cord been stretched toward you, and it may be the last time it will ever thus reach you. What, then, are you going to do with it? Remember where it comes from. It comes from God. It touches the glory of Christ; it is brought to you by the Spirit of grace; and your salvation or damnation for eternity may be determined by the way you treat this very message. If in the past you have “turned to your own way,” be now persuaded to turn to His. If you have turned from God, turn now to God. It is Christ you need. In Him alone can any heart find satisfaction.
Only through His precious blood can a guilty conscience find rest.
If you still refuse to turn to God through Christ, both His Spirit and His servants will, sooner or later, turn from you to find elsewhere more fitting guests for the heavenly feast. He who said, “None of those men which were hidden shall taste of My supper,” said also, “Go out quickly into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that My house may be filled.”
“God’s house is filling fast,
Yet there is room.
Some guest will be the last,
Yet there is room.
Yes; soon salvation’s day
To you may pass away;
Then grace no more will say,
Yet there is room.
If you still turn to “your own way,” we can only warn you that it will not be the last turn you will have to take. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, with all the nations that forget God.” Therefore we cry with the prophet, “Turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?” (Ezek. 33:1111Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? (Ezekiel 33:11)).