As I was standing on the platform of one of the stations of the S.E. & C. Railway, waiting for the train to London, I noticed, amongst others who were also waiting for the same train, a gentleman, to whom had suddenly been handed a telegram, by, as I judged, one of his employees, who had hurried up to catch his master, and was standing by out of breath.
The master opened the envelope and read the telegram. Then, after saying a word or two to the man, who then left him, he quietly put the telegram into his pocket and remained still waiting A few minutes later, however, I observed him leaving the station, so that when the train came up he was no longer there. He had evidently changed his purpose, and so abandoned his original intention of going to London—at any rate by that train, for I did not see him again.
Now, I could not but reflect—why should the handing to him of a telegram have so changed the current of his mind. There had been no physical force brought to bear upon him. There was no secret electrical energy in that red paper so suddenly given to him. What was it then that effected such a change? We know not what the message was, but one thing is very clear—there was a message, and of importance. And this message he had not only read, but he believed it; and the effect was seen at once—that instead of going by the train for which he had, but a few minutes before, been waiting, he now considers it wise not to do what he had purposed, and so turns round and leaves the station, and is no longer an intending passenger. This is a simple incident, and one that we know has similarly occurred to many others at times. Then, why do I bring it before you? It is because I would ask you, my dear unsaved reader, to consider the wonderful "message" that God is now sending to you as you read this paper. This message is not sent you in a sealed envelope, but has been uttered by the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is this—"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
Perhaps you have often read or heard these words, but you have never yet believed them. For if you had, what a complete change in all your life would have followed. How is it possible to believe such a love as this and be unmoved by it? It is the sense of "His great love" which begets love in us to Him. "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:1010Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)). The believer can say, "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us," and "we love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:16,1916And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)
19We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19)).
And God has manifested His love towards us in the gift of His only begotten Son, that we might not only have now eternal life, but the everlasting forgiveness of our sins. For Christ "died for our sins," the just one for us unjust, and has been raised again for our justification. And it is by faith that we are "justified" freely by His grace.
The judgment of our sins must be borne. But if I am to answer for them I am eternally lost! Who then can answer? Jesus only—God's eternal Son.
Then indeed, will you have turned round, and no longer living to yourself, your joy and purpose will be to live to Him who died, and for us rose.
This you cannot do in your own strength, but "by the faith of the Son of God," of whom you can, believing, now say, "Who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). The Holy Ghost is given to them who have believed that we may now do those things that are pleasing in God's sight. "'Without faith," the scripture says, "it is impossible to please Him." May you then now, no longer delay but, believe and your soul shall live eternally. "He that believeth on Me," says the Lord Jesus, "shall never die." Believest thou this?
“Nay, but I yield, I yield;
I can hold out no more;
I sink, by dying love compelled,
And own Thee conqueror.”
E. G. G.