THE LORD JESUS, as He entered into a certain village, was met by ten lepers, but they stood afar off, for God’s command was that such should “dwell alone, without the camp.”
They see Jesus, the reputed “Friend of publicans and sinners,” so they venture to call to Him from their place of distance for mercy, thus owning their need of it.
He heard that heart-felt cry, and heeded it.
“Go, show yourselves unto the priests,” He said; “and, as they went, they were cleansed.”
It needed not the priestly touch. Jesus did it all. He had compassion on those lepers in their solitude and terrible condition, and He spake the word, and they were made clean.
Now, most people know that in the Word of God leprosy typifies sin; therefore, my reader, these lepers are a picture of your awful case, ― “unclean,” and “afar off” from God. But the rays of His piercing eye are concentrated upon you. He knows all your evil ways; and remember, all are recorded in those books which will be opened to seal your damnation in the last day, if you go on as you have begun!
Take care, lest you find yourself “afar off,” and without hope, like the rich man who was tormented in the flames!
God sees you “a great way off.” He waits and watches to see you turn right about, that He may “run” and embrace you, and bring you “nigh” by the blood of Jesus.
Hell is a reality, sinner; and know this, that in your present state you are the dupe of the devil; and the older you grow, the more firmly is he entwining his chains around you, until finally he lands you in that hell, the home of desolation and damnation!
You will then have plenty of time to think of the rejected Christ, of the great love of God who made you, against whom you spent your life sinning, but who, in His matchless grace, offered you salvation at the expense of the Son of His bosom.
Regrets on earth are painful enough, but what will they be in hell, where no ray of hope can ever enter, or spark of light fall to vary the monotony of the blackness of darkness of that pit of terrors! Why will you die in your sins, poor soul? Is the gospel too simple for you to believe? Its simplicity is its charm.
Be like the dying gipsy boy, who, when told of God’s love for him, “that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” took Him at His word, believed with joy, and said, “I ‘turn Him many thanks.”
You stand convicted of sin before God; you had better own it, this is your only hope. Let God justify you, ungodly sinner, but seek not to justify yourself. If you do, you will die in your sins.
Be warned in time. The dark clouds are gathering, the vials of judgment are filling, the voice of the archangel and the trump of God are about to sound, and what then for you?
“‘Almost persuaded,’ harvest is past!
‘Almost persuaded,’ doom comes at last!
‘Almost’ cannot avail;
‘Almost’ is but to fail!
Sad, sad that bitter wail―
‘Almost’ ―BUT LOST.”
A. G. T.