W. T. P. Wolston.
Extracted from "From the Far Country to the Father's House"
- "Grace and Truth" Gospel Series.
Publisher: Morrish. CBA8836.
Such, Reader were the words of Ehud to Eglon (Judges 3:20). It was a message of DEATH. Mine to you is a message of LIFE! Do you care to hear it? Stop! Don't fling it away; you may never have another. Pause a moment!
"I can't today; I have not time for these things."
Indeed, why?
"Oh! I am too busy today; I wish to settle a few little matters of interest, and some of greater importance, connected with my occupation in life. These religious matters must be left for Sunday."
Then the object of your interest, that which commands you for this day at least, is not anything which relates to eternity; it has only to say to time. What a solemn thought! You, a sinner, determining to spend this day — and that perhaps your last on earth — in business or pleasure, while the salvation of your immortal soul is neglected.
"But we must live, and I want to be free to enjoy myself at Christmas-time."
Indeed? What do you mean by "Christmastime"?
"Oh, Christmas is the time of the year when they say Christ was born, and we all try to be very merry at that time."
Quite so; and may I ask, Where is Christ now? Is He still here?
"No, certainly not; He died."
How did He die? I thought He was the Lord of Life.
"Well, to tell the truth, He was killed — men put Him on a cross, and there He died, between two thieves."
Then, in plain language, men murdered Him?
"Yes; I suppose it amounts to this."
Well, then, is it not a serious thing to be holiday-making in connection with this murdered man? Most surely. Nothing could be more solemn.
But I have a message from God to you about this rejected One. He is alive. The men the world prizes and does homage to are dead and buried. The only man God counts worthy of honour and glory is alive in heaven. His message to you today is about Him, the blessed Son of His love, the Lord Jesus Christ. He. was dead once, for Him men "slew and hanged on a tree" (Acts 5:30), "but God raised Him from the dead" (Acts 13:30). Of Him, Paul spake in ancient Athens, "wholly given to idolatry," and seemed "a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached to them Jesus, and the resurrection" (Acts 17:18). He could say, and, sinner, you must remember, that then, "ignorance God winked at; but NOW commands all men everywhere to repent; because He has appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that Man whom He has ordained; whereof He has given assurance to all men, in that He has raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31).
Friend, have you repented? Have you ever yet truly bowed to the name of Jesus? Not yet? Then do not delay. God's APPOINTED DAY draws near — how near you know not. Suppose IT dawned today. What a terrible state you would be in! Unrepentant, unforgiven, unprepared, uncleansed, Christless, LOST! O, dear soul, do not "mock" or say, like some in old Athens, "we will hear thee again of this matter" (Acts 17:32). The mockers and the halters of that day were alike left to their own vanity and unbelief; for "Paul departed from among them" (Acts 17:33), and you, if you halt, or hesitate to receive the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, can count on nothing but this coming judgment; for He said, "If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins" (John 8:24), and, Scripture adds, "after this the judgment," saying, "and as it is appointed to men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and to them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin to salvation" (Heb. 9:27-28).
Your portion is "death" and "judgment." "It is appointed to men." Do you fear these two terrible consequences of sin? I have good news, "a message from God to thee" — a message of grace. So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." "Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God" (1 Peter 3:18). God thus opens a door of escape for thee, dear soul, whoever thou art. None are too vile, or too far off, for Christ's precious blood to meet. It cleanses from all sin. He is alive. "He is risen" (Matt. 28:6). "Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3), and "was raised again for our justification" (Rom. 4:25). His resurrection is the clear proof of the value of His blood, which was shed in atonement for sins. "Raised up from the dead," "alive," "glorified," He sits at God's right hand, the exalted Christ and Lord. All things are His. All must soon own Him — every knee bow to, and every tongue confess Him. Do not wait for dire and awful, yea eternal judgment, to force from your lips a confession of His worth. Bow to Him now. Believe Him now, and the "salvation of God" is yours. To delay even for a day is folly, and may cause your eternal ruin. Procrastination is the thief of souls, as well as of time. Besides, this Lord may return. "Behold, the Bridegroom comes; go ye out to meet Him" (Matt. 25:6).
Do you say, "Where is the promise of His coming?" I reply, in God's everlasting word, which further adds, "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night!" (2 Peter 3:4.) Can you meet Him? Dare you, then, face Him as you now are, in your sins? No, sinner! no thou canst not. Turn, then, to Jesus, now. Yes, this very day. "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2). "Hear, and your soul shall live." The Lord Jesus said, "Verily, verily, I say to you, he that hears my word, and believes on Him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life. Verily, verily, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live" (John 5:24-25).
What a blessed thing it would be if you were at once to come to Him. If you have reached so near the end of the year without His blessing, oh, I beseech you, do not let it close and leave you still unsaved. Let the closing hours of 1877 find you fully decided for Jesus. You have nothing to do but simply to trust Him. God bless thee, my dear reader! "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," and for eternity thou wilt remember with joy this
"MESSAGE FROM GOD UNTO THEE."
W. T. P. W.
"Grace and Truth" Gospel Series. Publisher: Morrish.
1. Beacon Lights along the Shores of Life.
2. From the Far Country to the Father's House CBA8836
3. Believe and Live
4. Whither Bound?
5. Building on the Rock
6. The Great Invitation.
7. Wrecked but Rescued.
8. Far above Rubies.
9. The Captive Freed.
10. Saved and Satisfied.
11. The Valley of Blessing, and how many enter it.
12. Life Streams from the Riven Rock.