SUCH was the identical question addressed by two Christian workers to two souls, desirous of being saved. Yet the question in the one case produced distress and difficulty; in the other, decision and peace.
How was this? you inquire. Simply by the emphasis being placed on different words of the same sentence.
One worker said to the seeking soul, “Why can't you trust Jesus? The result was to turn the eye inward, to inquire if there was faith enough and trust enough, and to leave the enquirer in distress and difficulty.
The other worker said, “Why can't you trust Jesus? The result was to turn the eye outward, to occupy the mind with the Savior, and the result was decision and peace.
I turn to my anxious reader.
Why can't you trust JESUS? It is not the question of how much you trust, but whom you trust. You may have implicit faith in the wrong object—the Brahmins and Buddhists have—and you will find the strongest trust in the wrong object is the sure road to ruin.
On the other hand, you may have the feeblest faith in the right object, and all will be well. And the way for your faith to grow, and God wants it to grow, is not by examining the extent of your faith, but by occupation with the trustworthiness of the Savior.
Why can't you trust JESUS? Millions have, and not one has been disappointed. The dying thief the woman who was a sinner; Saul, the chief of sinners, found in Him an all-sufficient Savior. He has saved "the chief of sinners." Why not you?
Why can't you trust JESUS? He has satisfied God. He has met all the claims of His holiness and righteousness. At Calvary He proved His ability to save. If He was able to do the mighty work of salvation on the cross, surely He is able to undertake your personal salvation. You will be but a tiny unit in the ranks of the redeemed, and He has saved them all. Why not you?
Why can't you trust JESUS? He has never refused a seeking sinner. "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out," are His own words, and they are literally true. No sinner is too old or too vile for such a Savior. Look at the wounds in His hands and His feet and His side; see the crown of glory on His brow, placed there by God, proclaiming Him indeed to be the victorious Savior, and then give me your answer.
Why can't you trust JESUS? You tell me you cannot. Tell me rather that you will not. If you die without trusting Him, then He died in vain for you. That precious blood, which might have cleansed away your every sin, will call for vengeance from the ground. Refusing, neglecting the Savior, you seal your doom forever. Apart from Him there is no salvation. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12.) "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation" (Heb. 2:3.)
Christ is the Ark of Salvation, the City of Refuge, the Savior for sinners. Oh! take your true place before Him. Give Him the confidence of your heart. Let His precious blood cleanse away your sins. Hear His assuring words, " Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28.) A. J. P.