THE Book of Proverbs tells us the way to real happiness is by Wisdom; and we are also told that Christ is God’s Wisdom. God has spoken in His Son. Warnings are given in the Old Testament to keep men from going to destruction: in the New we have His final entreaties to repent, and His loving invitations to come to Him for blessing and rest.
Wisdom crieth in the broadways, wherever people congregate together, in the entry of the gates, and in the city she uttereth her words, “Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is unto the sons of men.” The simple, the scorner, and the fool are warned to turn at the reproof. Those who repent receive the spirit of wisdom and soon believe the glad tidings of salvation; but those who do not turn are warned of the judgment to come. Their fears will be terrible and their destruction certain. In awful distress and anguish they will call upon the Lord, but He will not answer (Prov. 1:20-2820Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying, 22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. 24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; 27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: (Proverbs 1:20‑28)).
Reader, be warned. Death and eternal judgment are realities. God’s grace provides an acceptable time to receive the gracious entreaties of Jesus, and to believe God’s glad tidings concerning His Son; but in one moment this may come to an end. What then? Every ray of hope gone, God’s grace and mercy squandered, and nothing to look to in the future but the blackness of darkness and a horrible doom under the eternal displeasure of the eternal God. Such must be the end of “them who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:88In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:8)).
The penitent thief, in Luke 23:39-4339And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. 40But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? 41And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. 42And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. 43And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (Luke 23:39‑43), presents to all men a truly converted one, having listened to Wisdom’s warning during the last hours of his life. Along with the other thief he found himself in the grasp of the Roman power for breaking the laws of the land. Both were suffering the consequences of their evil deeds, and were condemned to crucifixion. But Jesus was at the same place, and was about to establish the will of God in obtaining an eternal redemption, so that all men who believe might have forgiveness. What a contrast! Christ obedient unto death to glorify God. As to men, He always did them good. His death upon the cross showed God’s love to all. On the other hand, the thieves ‘had been disobedient to God, and in the eyes of men were not fit to live because of their wickedness.
Every kind of dishonor was being done to Jesus. The hearts of all men were fully exposed by their attitude toward Him. One thief remained in his awful wickedness. The penitent thief rebuked him, and said: “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man Hath done nothing amiss.” His conscience was reached; he began to fear God; he learned wisdom from, Christ. His request to Jesus was: “Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” Jesus heard his appeal. The Lord in His rich mercy gave him more than he asked: His desire referred to the future, according to the faith of a true Jew. He believed that the kingdom would come, and that Jesus was the Christ. But the Lord, in virtue of an accomplished redemption which He completed, fitted this believer for being in Paradise with Himself that very day. To be with Christ involved his future blessing in the coming kingdom.
What a change! Away from all the consequences of his sins and the reproach he brought upon himself by his evil ways, to be in Paradise with Christ!
As to outward appearance, most people would conclude that the penitent thief died as he lived. He had no power to reform, or alter his life outwardly, but the inspired account proves that deep, real exercises were going on in his heart; and, having believed, he confessed with his mouth the Lord Jesus. The result was that he received the certainty of present and abiding blessing from the Lord Himself.
Salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast. What works could a man do while bound to a cross to die? It was all the Lord’s mercy. The purpose of Jesus Christ coming into the world was to save shiners. The penitent thief was a sinner, and could do nothing but call upon the Lord in his trouble. The Lord Jesus proved He was the Saviour of sinners.
This case shows that a person can be an outcast of society owing tb bad behavior, and yet the Lord’s grace is not withheld. Christ met the judgment of God for sin; He died and rose from the dead now He lives on high at the right hand of God “a Prince and a Saviour, to give repentance and remission of sins” to everyone that believes. “The Lord is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Reader, if you have not heard the voice of Wisdom you had better listen now. Grace, abounds to the chief of sinners. Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor of God’s people, found mercy from the Lord. Thousands have learned that the Lord is gracious. He said Himself, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
The one great thing to learn is that you are guilty before God. Although God must be just, yet He justifies those who believe in Jesus. On the ground of the blood of Christ and His death and resurrection, God will clear you completely from all your guilt. He will count you righteous the moment you believe. Trust Him now. Call upon Him, and He will answer. D. D.
Cleansed and Forgiven. ―Are you working hard to wash away your sins by praying and trying to be good, because you want God to forgive you? You cannot wash away one sin that you have done. The blood of Jesus alone can wash away sins. Nothing else can.
“What can wash away my stains?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
So that not one spot remains?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!”