“WHAT a sad character to give anyone,” some of my readers will say. Strange as it may appear to you, the person in question used these words to describe herself. I had lived near her for some time and feel sure that none of her neighbors would have spoken thus of her. She was known as a devoted wife and a loving mother. Neither had she neglected her “religious duties.”
What then could have led her to use such words? I will tell you. It was through hearing the Gospel preached! This may puzzle some of my readers, but it is nevertheless a fact. As she heard it preached week by week the conviction deepened that she was a sinner and therefore was unfit for God’s presence. She had often heard that “all have sinned” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)), and that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Tim. 1:1515This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)); but now it had become a personal question.—What must I do to be saved? (Acts 1623And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: (Acts 16:23) 30).
Then it was that the grand old answer came to her, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). She believed in Christ, took Him as her Saviour and has known ever since that she is “saved.”
One is led to value that word “saved” more and more as the days go by! It seems to speak of so much blessing to those who have come to Christ! How many like the one of whom I write have been content with something short of this, until God has shown them their need of a Saviour! It is to be feared that very many are resting in their religious observances, but nobody ever knew what it was to be “saved” in that way.
Reader! turn from your own poor doings and trust in Christ! Learn that God has a delight in saving those who are lost, ruined and helpless! Hence He loved and gave His Son. Think of the cost at which He has been in order that you might be saved.
The subject of this short paper will never regret the experience she has passed through. Humbling indeed it is to have to own that I am a sinner and unable to fit myself for God’s presence; but surely it is a blessed thing to know that God’s grace is fully adapted to meet my case. How important it is that souls should take their true place now, while it is the day of salvation! While one delights in the fullness and certainty of the gospel message, yet the thought that my readers may soon hear it for the last time forces itself upon one’s attention, That which is indeed the “blessed hope” of the believer—the coming of the Lord—will close the day of grace for all who now refuse the gospel.
Believe in Him now, own Him as your Saviour and Lord, and then may you wait for His coming from heaven to receive you to Himself.
“Watching and ready may we be,
As those that wait their Lord to see.”
C.W.