The above words were put up by an earnest Christian man at a race track. Perhaps he never knew the result of his humble service, but a day is coming when it and every effort for Christ’s glory will have its reward.
The message reached the conscience of a young prodigal. Giddy and careless, he pursued the path of pleasure and sin, and eternity was something he did not care to think about. But amid the gay scene with its noise and excitement, the plain solemn words of warning did their work, and the young man left the crowd to go its way. He could go on no longer on the road of death.
Earnestly he tried to make himself fit for God, but all his efforts at reformation did not meet the demands of his conscience.
How could he prepare to meet God, was the question in his mind. After all his endeavors and failures, his feelings could be well expressed by the words of the hymn, as he cast himself on Christ for salvation:
“No preparation can I make,
My best resolves I only break,
Then save me for Thine own name’s sake,
And take me as I am.
“Helpless I am and full of guilt,
And yet for me Thy blood was spilt;
And Thou canst make me what Thou wilt,
And take me as I am.
“Behold me, Saviour, at Thy feet,
Deal with me as Thou seest meet;
Thy work begin, Thy work complete,
But take me as I am.”
Thus at last he found joy and peace in believing. He rested on Christ, and knew that his many sins were blotted out and that He was now on the way to heaven. Soon after, he became a proclaimer of the grace of God which had rescued him.
Some people think that there are many ways to heaven, but the Bible speaks of only one way, the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, “I am the Way... no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:66Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6). Church-going, trying to keep the Ten Commandments, doing works of charity and good deeds will never gain entrance to heaven, for “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9).
ML 09/06/1959