IF you stopped the average “man in the street,” and questioned him as to his hopes for eternity, he would probably tell you that they were as good as those of most people; and that he was doing his best, in the hope that when the account of his life was closed, the balance would be found upon the right side. And if I could address you in person instead of by this paper, perhaps you would tell me exactly the same.
To say the least of it, this is most unsatisfactory. Too often sentiments such as these are the offspring of simple indifference. You neither know, nor care to know, and this because you have a lurking suspicion that to know would spoil your appetite for the pleasures of sin, and instantaneously dispel the fool’s paradise in which hitherto You have lived.
Surely you will not continue thus forever? Your stake in the matter is vital and immense, and its issues will be to all eternity.
But after all it is not merely unsatisfactory, it is totally wrong. It is, I daresay, quite true that your hopes for eternity are as good as those of most; but that you are “doing your best”— pardon me! — I really do not believe. Your BEST, mark you! That does not mean giving the matte now and again a passing thought, and occasionally attending a place of worship. You must, of course, pay due attention to your family and your business, but having done so, are your thoughts and all your choicest energies concentrated upon this one point, and do you labor for success with all your powers?
No! if the truth is told, the larger part of your spare time is frittered away in the pursuit of pleasure, which empties your pocket and does not fill your soul. That is not doing your best; and, further, were you doing your best, it would be of no avail. For the matter does not stand as you suppose. For instead of pointing you on to a moment when the balance of your life-history will be struck, God points you back to a moment when after thousands of years of testing, the true nature of the heart of man, and of every man, was plainly declared, and an exact and accurate balance arrived at. That moment was the cross.
Do not deceive yourself. God knows you, the state of your heart, and the value of your professions; and instead of your life being a time of probation, wherein God is testing to see whether or no you will merit His approval, the truth is that you have begun your history, and you continue it a lost and guilty sinner, and to you there appears as to Belshazzar, long ago, a mysterious hand that writes the word of judgment— “Tekel.”
“THOU ART WEIGHED IN THE BALANCES, AND ART FOUND WANTING.”
Nearly twenty-nine years have rolled away since in the town of Grimsby, one Sunday morning a young lady entered a “high” or ritualistic church for a “communion service.” She had been for some time a seeker for salvation; had previously nearly embraced Roman Catholicism as a means of obtaining it, and had now settled down with a round of good works and observances, such as the ritualists of the day advocate as a means of salvation.
She entered just before eleven, the hour of service, feeling good, in fact very good, for she had made diligent preparation for this “communion” with the aid of a certain book— “Steps to the Altar.” She had been “doing her best” with much more energy than most people.
The service proceeded, and a young curate mounted the pulpit to preach and announced his text. “Thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting” (Dan. 5:2727TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. (Daniel 5:27)). Of all that sermon she remembers nothing, the text itself directed by the hand of Almighty God, went crashing through her conscience like a shell. She saw herself weighed, wanting, and hopelessly undone, and at twenty minutes past twelve, without stopping for the “communion,” she walked out of that church, feeling, as she herself expressed it to me, “too vile to look up.”
Ah! did you but face the truth, my reader, as honestly as she, the result would be the same, for this has been just the experience of each and every one who has been in the presence of God.
Job was no ordinary mortal. Distinguished by God Himself for uprightness and patience, he stands in the front rank of men; yet when before God he said, “I am vile, what shall I answer thee?” (Job 40:44Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth. (Job 40:4)).
Peter was certainly in the front rank of the apostles, yet when he fell at the feet of Jesus, he said, “I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Luke 5:88When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (Luke 5:8)).
Weighed and found wanting was true of them, and it is true of you, but mark! it is upon this very ground that the gospel is sent to you by God Himself. It is not sent as many suppose, to help men to save themselves, but because it has been plainly proved that men are lost and cannot help themselves.
However, to finish my story. From the time she hurriedly left the church, she had no rest; about a month of soul anxiety and anguish followed, at the end of which time, casting herself upon her knees, she prayed that if there was mercy with God, and value in the blood of Christ, she might know it. There and then, peace entered her soul, and I have had her testimony today that peace has been her portion ever since, though years of trial and suffering, far beyond the lot of most, have rolled over her.
The gospel is for you today. It points not to yourself, but to another, Jesus, who now sits in heaven crowned with glory and Honor. There was a time when He was weighed—weighed in a life of suffering, and a death of shame; weighed by God Himself, and the verdict—
ABSOLUTE PERFECTION,
a true and even balance in every particular. Now He is presented to you as Saviour and Lord, and if you will but look to Him in faith you may know that His death avails for you.
One word of warning is necessary, lest, careless and indifferent, you pass on to that moment when you must meet God and stand before the great white throne, there to learn in bitterness of spirit the very fact which in unvarnished language this paper brings before you today. Then you will be found wanting, but not more so than you are now.
There will be this sad difference, however, that now we point you to the mercy of God, and the all-availing blood of Christ, whereas then the bombshell of divine truth will surely reach you, and leave you a shattered wreck to all eternity, without a Saviour, and without a hope. Had you not better come to Him now? Then would you sing—
“The more through grace ourselves we know,
The more rejoiced we are to bow
And glory in Thy cross;
To trust in Thine atoning blood,
And look to Thee for every good,
And count all else but dross.”
F. B. H.