THE town crier was well known some years ago as the proclaimer of important and interesting news. Wherever he went in his rounds about the town, or village, ringing his bell, men, women, and children stood at open doors and windows, or gathered near him in the streets, to listen to his public announcements.
I recollect just such a scene some years ago, in a Yorkshire town, one Guy Fawkes’ day. The town crier stood, surrounded by a crowd. After he stopped ringing his bell, amid the silence of that large company, he loudly cried: “Hear ye, hear ye, all ye people.” Then he made the announcement of the coming of some important person connected with the Government, to visit the town, with other news of interest. Concluding with these words, “Hear ye, hear ye, all ye people,” the town crier walked away.
It is now a long while ago since I saw that, to me, peculiar sight. It was the first and the last time the “town crier” was seen by me, but I never forgot him.
And again, in a dream recently, I dreamed of this town crier and of his proclamation. In the dream the question was asked, “Lord, what does this mean, and what is the interpretation thereof?” In a calm but powerful voice, full of tenderest love, the answer came: “Be as that town crier, and say to all, ‘The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.’ Tell sinners this, and say to them that they have sinned against God; but also tell them that ‘God so loved the world; that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Therefore be ye also ready: ‘for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.’” And I awoke, and it was a dream.
Reader, in accordance with this word, which is, I believe, from the Lord to you as His crier, His gospel crier, the cry is herewith sounded out, and hear it — oh! take careful note of it: “The coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” Yes, Jesus is coming again. He said He would (John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)), and His word can never be broken. He will surely come.
“All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)). In that little word “all” you are included. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Rom. 3:1010As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: (Romans 3:10)).
In that scriptural statement you are included. Therefore you are “lost” and “guilty” before God. And there is no other way of salvation but through the crucified Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. At Calvary Jesus died, His own self bare in His own body on the tree the sins of all those who believe in Him (1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24)). None, no, not one, can be saved by good deeds, nor by “resolutions.” But, “be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that 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)).
There is forgiveness of sins, justification, and salvation to all that have faith in the blood of Christ, for He hath declared that “by Him all that believe are justified from all things,” and have eternal life, and shall never perish (John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28)). What if the Lord Jesus should come now, and find you in your sins? What if He should come now, and find you unsaved? Be not deceived; in that case you would be eternally lost, and left outside of heaven, to be banished to hell throughout eternity, and, worst of all, never to know or enjoy the Lord.
Because of the certainty of terrible judgments to come upon the world (Luke 21:25, 2625And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. (Luke 21:25‑26)) after the Church is caught up out of it to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:1818Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:18)), we entreat you to repent, and believe the gospel concerning our Lord Jesus Christ now. If you have not believed in Him as your Saviour, when He comes for His Church, you then would surely be left behind, to endure these terrible judgments. And this is not all, for afterwards the Lord will come with the saints, who shall have been previously caught up to meet Him in the air, to “execute judgment upon all.” It is then “the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:7-9,7And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; (2 Thessalonians 1:7‑9) and Jude vs. 14).
Reader, if you have not believed in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, just come to Him with all your sins, and believe in Him, yea, believe that He died for you, and you shall be saved (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
Hear ye, all peoples of every land, of every tongue, of every race, and of every class and rank: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)), for “the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” W. E. S.