YOUNG men don’t much like reading tracts―they don’t care to be bored about religion― don’t want to be sermonized. They think that religion has only to do with the heaven and the hell of the future. They live for the present, Ind say, “We want to be happy here―we want to be free―to enjoy life―to be manly.” Have you not often such thoughts as these?
I know what young men are; and it is because the very things you want are to be found in Jesus Christ, and in Him alone, that I long for you to know Him as your Saviour, and rejoice in His favor and friendship―even now, while in this world. The gospel has not to do with the future alone, it has to do with the living present. The word of God teaches us that it is not only a thing to die by, but a thing to live by as well. The believer in Jesus, it is true, is safe from hell― “shall not come into condemnation,” and is sure of heaven― “is passed from death unto life.” But that is not all; he has present blessings―the very things your inmost heart can desire. (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).)
YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY! There is true joy in trusting to Jesus. Through faith in Him is proclaimed full pardon and complete justification, and, “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Many young men, seeking pleasure in the world, have told me that they believe true Christians to be happier than they are: and as a young man, one of yourselves, I tell you I never knew what true joy was, till I rested upon Jesus as my Saviour.
YOU WANT TO BE FREE! Not to be trammeled with the fetters of religion, as you think them. But you are utterly wrong. The worlding is fettered, bound hand and foot, a slave, while the Christian alone is a free man. God’s word describes both; the unconverted as “in the snare of the devil, and taken captive by him at his will;” the child of God as “free.” “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36).)
YOU WANT LIFE! God says, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life,” but is “dead in trespasses and sins;” nay, more, “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” You cannot know what true life is till you know Jesus, and are united to Him by faith.
YOU WANT TO BE MANLY! You don’t like the namby-pambies of religion, as you call it―good enough for old women, but you want to be a man. Isn’t that it? Not so fast, my good fellow. It is Christ you have to do with. Was He namby-pamby? Have you read His life in the days of His flesh, and marked His character, and dare you say that He was not a man, while God, still perfect man―the great mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh―a noble man, a manly man? If you would be a true man, you must be made like Jesus. You must be saved through His blood, have His Spirit dwelling in you, be made a “new creature” in Him.
Now don’t you see that the very things you want―true joy, true liberty, true life, true manliness―are all to be found in Jesus, and they are to be found in Him alone. Have you ever come to Him for them? Oh, don’t turn away from Him whom God in His rich, free love, offers to you in the gospel. See, here is the whole matter in the very words of the living God: “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.” “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” “Neither is there salvation in any other.” “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but be that believeth not shall be damned.”
I write this as one young man writing to another, and in true friendship. “I know whom I have believed,” and I long that you should share the blessings of God’s great salvation.
W. P. L.