(Luke 19:1-10.)
There is one priceless lesson lying on the very surface of the interesting story of the chief publican of Jericho, namely, that it matters not what a man’s position or circumstances may be, if he be in earnest about his soul’s salvation—in earnest in the pursuit of truth—in earnest in his desire after Christ, he shall, most assuredly, get all that he seeks for, and much more beside. The earnest seeker is sure to become a happy finder.
This, we repeat, is a priceless lesson for the soul, at all times, but especially at a moment like the present, when there is such an amount of cold indifference, heartless profession, and dead religiousness.
Zacchaeus was a rich man—a rich publican. He had grown rich in the exercise of a most odious calling amongst the Jews, even the collection of taxes. Now, our Lord tells us, in the preceding chapter, that “It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” “How then,” the enemy might say to Zacchaeus, “can you ever get into the kingdom? How can you possibly be saved? Your circumstances, your calling, your position, all present an insuperable barrier to your soul’s salvation.”
The enemy might suggest such reasonings; but faith can take up and use effectively the precious words of Jesus which tell us that “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” God can do much harder things than passing a camel through a needle’s eye. He can save publicans and sinners.
But then He makes them in earnest about the grand business of their salvation. Zacchaeus was thoroughly in earnest—so in earnest as to shake himself loose from his circumstances, and rise above his difficulties. True, he lived in Jericho, the city of the curse. Moreover he was rich—a rich publican. But he was an earnest man, and “he sought to see Jesus.” There was reality—that rare, that precious gem, reality. A real soul will surmount all sorts of difficulties: indeed we always find that difficulties only tend to bring out reality where it exists. A slothful careless soul will plead, “There is a lion in the way,” when there is nothing of the kind; but an earnest soul will face a den of lions.
Thus when Zacchaeus “sought to see Jesus,” he was met by two real difficulties—difficulties which would have deterred and driven off ten thousand heartless professors. He “could not for the press, because he was little of stature.” Thousands would have found in these two facts ample grounds for giving up all idea of seeing Jesus. They would have argued thus, “It is evident that I am not called to seek Jesus. It is wholly out of the question. Providence has plainly put a double barrier in my way. It is impossible for so small a man, in such a crowd, to get even a glimpse at Jesus.”
But how perfectly delightful to mark Zacchaeus overcoming his difficulties! Was there a crowd? He could “run before” it. Was he little of stature? He could climb up into a sycamore tree. Yes; and had there been a thousand difficulties instead of two, this earnest, real, thorough—going man would have surmounted them all in that energy of purpose which grace had wrought in his precious soul. The very difficulties which furnish the careless, the indolent, the half-hearted with excuses, only furnish the earnest, the real, the true-hearted with occasion to manifest their earnestness and reality.
In point of fact, there is no excuse for anyone. All are welcome. “Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” Those who make excuses do not want to come; and it would be far more honest to declare plainly that they do not want to have anything to do with God, with Christ, with holiness, with heaven, than to put forth such flimsy excuses, or to plead difficulties which would be esteemed as nothing if they were really bent on an object. “We may set it down as an absolutely settled fact that there is no reason in all this world why the soul should not come to Christ now—no proper excuse, none that will stand good in the light of eternity—no sound argument whatsoever against the immediate salvation of any soul that will only come just as he is, to the Savior. There is no insurmountable difficulty—no circumstance or set of circumstances—no hindrance of any kind presented by God, to prevent the sinner, this moment, coming to Jesus, and finding full salvation in Him. Jesus is as ready now, as He was in the days of Zacchaeus, to save all who come to Him. “Him that cometh unto me, I will, in no wise, cast out.” For no reason, on no ground whatsoever, will the blessed Savior cast out or refuse anyone who simply comes to Him. It is impossible for words to be more simple—for assurance to be more solid and satisfactory. “I will in no wise cast out.”
So Zacchaeus found it in his day. But he was in earnest. He did not fold his arms and plead excuses. He did not say, “If I am to be saved, I shall be saved; there is no use my troubling about the matter. If I am one of the elect I must be saved; if not, I cannot: I can do nothing.” This sort of reasoning could not satisfy Zacchaeus, or any one of his stamp. He had a soul to be saved—an eternity before him in the light of which present things were lighter than the small dust of the balance.
In short, he was in earnest thoroughly, unmistakably, solemnly in earnest, as every man, woman, and child ought to be about the momentous question of the soul’s salvation. Hence, “he sought”—“he ran”—“he climbed.” He was bent upon his object. He was bent upon Jesus, and Jesus was bent upon him. “And when Jesus came to the place he looked up.” Why did He look up? Because there was an earnest seeker amid the branches of that sycamore tree. It was not Adam running to hide; it was Zacchaeus climbing to seek. And “Jesus looked up and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.”
What an answer! What a reward for the seeking, and the running, and the climbing! What a moment! Zacchaeus was looking down, in earnest faith, and Jesus was looking up, in infinite grace; their eyes met, and a link was formed which shall endure throughout the countless ages of eternity.
What an occasion! How little did that dear earnest man expect to hear his own very name pronounced by the lips of Incarnate Deity! How little did He anticipate having as a guest at his house, the Son of God, God Himself blessed forever! Could it be true? Was he, a rich man, a publican, to be thus blessed, thus privileged? Could it be possible? Had the camel forced his way through the needle’s eye? Ah! far more than this. An earnest sinner and a loving Savior had met. Difficulties were removed, barriers swept away. Jesus when He looked up recognized in Zacchaeus one that had been drawn by the Father, and He, as it were, said, “I shall have that man in heaven spite of earth and hell.”
“Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house. And he made haste, and came down and received him joyfully.” Not a word about his riches; not a word about his position: no reference whatever to his circumstances: no placing him under conditions; nothing whatever of this sort. A sinner and a Savior had met, and what was this but “salvation?” Yes, salvation full and free. The salvation which Jesus carried with Him was the salvation of God, and therefore was it in every way fitted to meet the need of Zacchaeus. Men might murmur at this. Man’s religious mind might rebel against it; but that could not hinder the bright beams of God’s salvation from shining upon a poor lost and guilty sinner.
“This day is salvation come to this house, for so much as he also is a son of Abraham.” And this not because of half the goods given to the poor, nor because of the fourfold restoration; but because “the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” It is a present, and a personal, and a perfect salvation, flowing from the very heart of God, in the Person and work of Jesus, brought nigh and pressed upon the acceptance of “whosoever will.”
Oh! reader, art thou unsaved? Art thou uncertain? Art thou unsettled? Be in earnest about thy soul’s salvation. God beseeches thee to be in earnest. Be not hindered by difficulties. Let nothing, we entreat thee, hinder thee in coming now—just now, just as thou art—to that loving Savior who stands waiting for thee, and who will meet thee, just as He met the publican of Jericho, with a full, a free, and an everlasting salvation.
Haste thee on from grace to glory,
Armed by faith, and winged by prayer,
Heaven’s eternal day’s before thee,
God’s right hand shall guide thee there;
Soon shall close thine earthly mission,
Soon shall pass thy pilgrim days,
Hope shall change to glad fruition,
Faith to sight, and prayer to praise.