IF you listen today to what men are saying, you will hear continually what, in their opinion, ought to be.
A man finds something which offends him; he at once denounces it, and proclaims what should be.
Another looks carefully into affairs, and sees many things wrong radically, and sighs for what might be — if people would only alter.
A third takes another view, and tries to look at the best side of things, and hopes for what he imagines will be — someday.
But how vain is all this talking about what should be or could be — how useless to a man who may die tomorrow!
You cannot help a man by telling him what he ought to be or what he might be. It is foolish to speculate as to what will be, since we know not what a day may bring forth.
The great and important question for us all today is — What is there in the way of help and certainty?
And amidst all the confusion of voices and disputations around, God’s Word tells us plainly not merely what should be, but what there is — what for me; what against me. And first—
“There is — one God” (1 Tim. 2:5),
who is the God of truth, He is the living God, the King of eternity (Jer. 10:10).
Oh! how many seem to have forgotten that, as ever, “the Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven,” and that “His eyes behold, His eyelids try, the children of men” (Psa. 11:4).
Here then is One — supreme — untouched by the clamour of earth’s confused cries, and He is taking account of the whole scene — One at last who can tell me the truth of all that is so perplexing around — for “He is the God of truth.”
Nor dare any contradict what He says, for “He is God, and there is none else: there is no God beside Him” (Isa. 45:5).
Reader! have you ever stopped to heed what He says about matters which will eternally affect you? And what does He say?
First, He tells us of Himself, that He is God — “a just God — and a Saviour” (Isa. 45:21). Next, He tells us of ourselves, and declares―
“There is — none righteous,
no, not one;” “There is none that doeth good;”
“There is no difference;” “All have sinned and come short of His glory” (Rom. 3:10-23).
This is solemn; for you are taken account of here — excluded from amongst the righteous, included amongst sinners. It is not merely what you or I may think of things here on earth. God has Himself considered all. And what does He find with man? Sin, guilt, sorrow, death in abundance, but “none righteous, no, not one.”
Man, do you now look to God! After hearing truth’s verdict, it is useless looking to yourself, and remembering what you ought to be for God. You cannot recall the past; you will not do better in the future. There is nothing acceptable in you to God. Look now, and see what there is in Him for you.
And yet shall a guilty sinner look to a holy God! What can there be there for a sinner — except wrath? Yet turn once more to this Book which represents you such a sinner and read—
“There is — forgiveness” (Psa. 130:4).
How wonderful! Sin in man’s heart against God; forgiveness in God’s heart for man! How rich, how grand is this! The grace exceeds the sin. But how can a just God forgive? It is because
“There is — a Mediator
between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:5, 6).
And thus this wonderful Book tells me of
A God who delights to forgive;
A sinner who needs to be forgiven;
A Mediator who gave His life a ransom.
Reader, mercy allows you to approach and take a place here.
Now we see how it can be declared that “there is forgiveness.” The just God must in justice measure out wrath against sin. The guilty sinner must bear this wrath eternally unless a substitute can be found. But Jesus, the “one Mediator,” has come in love and “given His life a ransom.” The wrath has been poured out upon Him. He has consumed that wrath which should have consumed the sinner. He has tasted death; has entered the tomb and spoiled the grave; has risen a mighty Victor over every foe, and is exalted by God “a Prince and a Saviour” (Acts 5:31).
And now through Him” is preached... the forgiveness of sins, and by Him all that believe, are justified from all things” (Acts 13:38, 39). The Word testifies to no improvement in man or his doings. But “to, Him give all the prophets witness that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43).
How different is this from man’s gospel! He hopes there may be forgiveness in the judgment day if he does his best. God declares “there is forgiveness” now, in the day of grace, though man has done his worst. Tell me, then, no longer what to you seems right, or what you imagine is the best way to prepare to meet God. Remember
“There is — a way which seemeth right
to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Prov. 14:12).
Man’s shrewdest thought could never devise an escape from perdition, nor has he power to carry into effect any project formed. The fact is, salvation is not to be obtained by the life of any man, however well he may deem it lived; but by death, the death of Jesus, “the Lamb of God.” And further, God tells us “there is no salvation in any other, for
there is — none other name
under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
Do you trust to Jesus, and to Him only?
“He that believeth hath everlasting life” (John 5:24). And what blessed assurance He gives to those who trust Him, for
“There is — no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
Hold it fast, dear fellow-believer, for thy heart’s confidence. Not all the doubters in the universe can disprove it; not all the demons of hell can shake it. For “the God of truth” has spoken it; “the spirit of truth” has recorded it.
“There is no condemnation.”
How precious for the believer! But what of the unbeliever? This―
“There is — wrath.”
And “because there is wrath, beware lest He take thee away with His stroke: then a great ransom cannot deliver thee” (Job 36:18).
The day of grace is closing; the shades of that night of wrath will soon enshroud the earth. Once more the Holy Ghost speaks — the last message from heaven—
“Yet — there is — room” (Luke 14:22).
Yes, the Saviour has made room in heaven for the sinner, though the sinner made no room on earth for the Saviour.
“And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17).
H. E. B.