"There Is"; What?

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. 2:5⁵For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:5)),

who is the God of truth, He is the living God, the King of eternity (Jer. 10:10¹⁰But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. (Jeremiah 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. 11:4⁴The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. (Psalm 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. 45:5⁵I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: (Isaiah 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. 45:21²¹Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (Isaiah 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. 3:10-23¹⁰As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ¹¹There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. ¹²They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. ¹³Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: ¹⁴Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: ¹⁵Their feet are swift to shed blood: ¹⁶Destruction and misery are in their ways: ¹⁷And the way of peace have they not known: ¹⁸There is no fear of God before their eyes. ¹⁹Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. ²⁰Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. ²¹But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; ²²Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 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. 130:4⁴But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 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, 6⁵For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ⁶Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 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 5:31³¹Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. (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, 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)). 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 10:43⁴³To 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. 14:12¹²There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 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 4:12¹²Neither is there 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 5:24²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto 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. 8:1¹There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 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 36:18¹⁸Because 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 14:22²²And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and 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. 22:17¹⁷And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17)).

H. E. B.

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