IN visiting from house to house in a place where I had been preaching the gospel, I came upon an aged man, who was “trying hard to get salvation,” and was doing his best. To the truthfulness of this statement his wife gave testimony, “that if ever anyone tried, he did.”
There are many, very many, like this aged man — persons who, not taking God’s word as to their condition, are trying to do something by which they hope to have a sort of claim upon God.
This aged one had been ill for some time, and as he thought of death he was awakened to thoughtfulness concerning his soul. He felt he was not in a fit state to die. He knew that he was a sinner, but he did not know that he was a lost sinner, therefore he was occupied with doing something toward the salvation. He hoped God would have mercy upon him, for he was “trying hard.” Seeing that though awakened and desiring to be saved, he did not know his condition, as a lost sinner, in the sight of Him with whom he must have to do, I read a portion of the third chapter of the Epistle to the Romans, beginning at the tenth verse, and ending with the words, “guilty before God,” and, after making a few remarks, I left.
The following week I made a second visit. In conversation with him I found it was still what he was doing, so I read the same portion of the word, ending with the same words, “guilty before God.”
Shortly after I visited him again, and found he was still “trying hard” — doing his best. He did not believe he was a lost sinner — helpless to do, but he hoped by continuance in the course he was pursuing, that he should, before he died, get salvation. I had spoken to him of the uselessness of his doings — had told him of Christ and what He had done, but as yet the old man was too busy with his efforts to receive the simple truth concerning the finished work of Christ as the ground, and only ground, on which God could receive a sinner; so I read as before, in Rom. 3, ending with the words, “guilty before God.”
When next I called I inquired concerning his bodily ailments, and then asked him about the state of his soul. It was with much difficulty he could reply, so feeble was he, but after an effort (pausing between the words for breath) he said, “I have nothing to say on behalf of myself.”
I was thankful to hear him express himself in this way. Hitherto it had been self and what he was doing, but God had now graciously applied the word, and at length the old man saw that he was a lost sinner “guilty before God.” “You have reached the right place now,” I replied.
There was no need now to read the Scripture I had read at other times. He had received the word as to how he stood before God, and his thoughts of “trying” and “doing” were gone. He had nothing to say now on behalf of himself, but gladly listened to the story of the grace of God, of Christ’s work all done, and of redemption accomplished.
I read in the thirteenth chapter of the Acts, 38th and 39th verses, “Through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses,” and spoke to him of the Lord Jesus as the One who had accomplished all that was needful to be done. Through Him is forgiveness of sins; through Him justification for all who believe. Those who believe God’s record concerning His Son, who have faith in Christ Jesus, are justified from all things. He listened with attention and eagerness to receive the truth, and as I continued to speak of the Scripture I read, he uttered the word “justified.”
The following evening, amongst those who came to see him was a “mate” of his, to whom he said, “Just fancy, Bill, the Lord has saved a big sinner like me, and I know it.”
“What about your sins!” one inquired. “They are all gone — not one left,” he replied.
Of course, if they were all gone there were none left, but such was the emphatic way in which he spoke: “The Lord has saved a big sinner like me, and I know it. My sins are all gone —not one of them left.” What a change! Before it had been what he was doing, now it was what God had done.
Reader, how is it with you? Are you “trying hard” and doing your best, not knowing that, as a sinner guilty before God, you can do nothing acceptable to Him Give up all such useless efforts; salvation is not of works, it is of grace. Take the place of “nothing to say on behalf of yourself.” Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, through whom is forgiveness of sins and justification from all things, and you, like the aged one spoken of in this narrative, will be able to say, “The Lord has saved me, and I know it;” and, as regards your sins, however many they may have been — hover long you may have rejected Christ, and neglected so great salvation, you will be able to say, “They are all gone — not one of them left.”
R. K.