BERTIE had grown into an unhappy, irritable boy, and was becoming a sorrow to his mother and sister.
He had left school and had started life in a military college. Born to wealth and high estate, he would one day be in a position to influence the lives of his fellows; and his gentle mother, who loved all that was good and truly great, was much distressed by his selfish, rude behavior. How could he influence others rightly when he could not control himself?
Of what use was it to be clever at books and a first-class athlete if he had not learned to master his own evil passions? No doubt his mother often thought of this, and the words of the wisest of men: "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls," and longed that he might prove the happy side of the question, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”
One Saturday afternoon, when alone with Bertie, she said to him, "should like you to go with your sister to take the Lord's Supper tomorrow"; but to her grief he replied in the short rude way he had recently adopted, "Then I just shan't." No more was said. His mother left the room and no doubt took the matter to God and told Him about it, and counted on His power and mercy to act for her son.
Does it not say, "Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us." (Psa. 62:88Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. (Psalm 62:8).) This was indeed a sad time for her, but God, her God in whom she had trusted, would come in for her in His own way and time. Bertie knew how he had grieved his mother, but he was rebellious and contrary.
When they were alone again, his mother said, "Bertie, I have been thinking over your words, and I feel it would be better, in your present state, to remain at home tomorrow, and not to take the Lord's Supper." Imagine her sorrow when he answered angrily, "Then I just shall.”
Sunday came, and Bertie, still self-willed and careless, went off with his sister.
It was an awful thing to attempt to remember the Lord Jesus in such a spirit, but as Bertie sat there God spoke to him and gave him to see the wonderful love of Jesus in dying for him, and something of the wickedness of his own heart; his heart which, like yours and mine, is "deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" ' and he cried to God for mercy. He hardly heard the words of the speaker, for God took possession of his heart and showed him something of His own great goodness in giving His Son to die.
He showed him a sight which Bertie had never before seen-Jesus, dying on the cross for his sins; Jesus, suffering untold agonies from the hand of God and man that he, Bertie, a sinful boy, might be brought home to God.
His soul was humbled, swept of its wrong thoughts against God, for the goodness of God had made him repentant. He had heard from his babyhood of the death of Jesus, and knew that He had suffered for the sin of the world; but now he saw that it was for himself that Jesus had died, and he walked home saying in his heart, "The Son of God... who loved me and gave himself for me." A wonderful change had taken place, for he knew that God for Christ's sake had forgiven him.
A new life had begun for him, and he was not ashamed to confess it. He was happy because, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." He was free too, because Satan was no longer his master, but the Lord Jesus Christ.
As the days went on Bertie learned many lessons which gave him increased gladness and joy in God; lessons which would last through eternity, for what God teaches us is forever.
He' was one day, as a young lieutenant, marching by the side of his men along the country roads, when God showed him another wonderful sight.
He had thought much of the cross and the sufferings of Jesus, and had realized a little what His death had meant for him; but as he walked along thinking of verses he had been reading from his New Testament that morning, God showed him where Jesus now is—not on the cross, but at the right hand of God in heaven. He showed him heaven opened and Jesus at the right hand of God.
This was a fresh vision to Bertie and the glorious sight linked his heart with a living, exalted Savior, who had all might and power and dominion, who would sustain him day by day in his conflict on earth. He saw that he was no longer linked with a suffering Christ on the cross, but with One who had risen and had annulled the power of Satan and of death.
Forgiveness he had; but now his soul was filled with peace and an overflowing joy. He had learned that Jesus was delivered for his offenses, now he saw that He was raised again for his justification. (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25).)
He saw too that his links were to be with heaven, not with earth, for Jesus was there, not here; and other wonderful lessons which are too many to be told now.
Do ask yourself as you read this, Have I seen these visions? Have I seen Jesus dying on the cross for me? Have I seen Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ, living in the glory for me? Bertie was so full of joy that afterward he wrote the following lines:
Peace with God, for Christ in heaven
Object is of faith to me;
Peace with God! the Lord is risen!
Righteousness now counts me free.
Peace with God—for Christ's in glory,
God is just and God is love;
Jesus died to tell the story,
Foes to bring to God above.