NO, we have not made any mistake in writing our title as shown above. There are numberless people who, when spoken to about the all-important matter of their-sours salvation, reply something like this: ―
“I am doing my best; I pay my way; do my duty; seek to live an exemplary life; attend divine service, take communion, etc., etc. And, pray 1 what more can a man do? and what more can God expect?”
If the foregoing more or less accurately describes your way of looking at things, let us ask you to look back over your life, shall we say since the last twelve months? Are you absolutely satisfied with every moment of that period, and with the minutest detail of your life during that time? Has there been a thought, the remembrance of which troubles you? Have you uttered a word that you would rather have left unspoken? Has there been an act that you wish you could recall? In other words: ―
ARE YOU SATISFIED?
Frankly, we have never yet met a person such as we have described, who would not at once reply honestly: ― “Oh no. I am not by any means satisfied, but I am doing my best, and no man can do more than that.” You cannot do more than your best, but the fact remains that having done your best, you are not satisfied. We are quite sure Nicodemus was not satisfied, therefore, he came to Jesus by night. We are equally certain that Saul of Tarsus was not satisfied, for after having done his best―and if ever a man did his best, he did―he discovered that he was the chief of sinners. This is not all, however. The still more anxious question is:
IS GOD SATISFIED?
How can He be? If you are not satisfied with yourself, how do you expect God to be satisfied with you? Do you imagine that He is more easily satisfied than you are? or that the standard by which He judges is lower than yours? To ask these questions is to answer them.
This seems to show then―does it not? ― that you are on the wrong track and, if so, it will be wisdom on your part to discover where you are wrong, and to get on to the right track with all speed. The first question to consider is, obviously, How can God be satisfied? Let us say right away: ―He is not satisfied with any one of us: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)).
Nor is He satisfied with anything that we do, for
While still more drastic is the statement that
It is no good our arguing about it or giving our opinion. There it is and nothing can alter it. That being so, it at once becomes apparent that even if we were so conceited and foolish as to be satisfied with ourselves,
GOD IS NOT SATISFIED
Say! friend, have you realized that yet? Have you accepted God’s verdict concerning yourself? If so, then thank God, there is hope for you. How glad we are to be able to tell you that
GOD IS SATISFIED.
Not with you, but with Christ; not with your deeds, but with Christ’s finished work. Read this again and again, and rest your soul upon it: ―
There we learn the mystery of divine love and the glory of redemption. The Eternal Son of God became Man, went to the cross, and once and forever settled the sin-question to God’s entire satisfaction and to His eternal praise and glory. Do we hear some one inquire: “How do you know that?” Read the last verse of 1 Peter 3, and there learn that Jesus Christ
“Is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God: angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.”
The fact that He, who was on the cross as the Sin-bearer, is now “on the right hand of Gods” is the incontestable proof that God is satisfied. The empty cross, the vacant sepulcher, and the occupied throne bear eloquent testimony to that transcendent fact. Now we are going to reverse the questions at the head of this paper, and ask:
IS GOD SATISFIED? ARE YOU SATISFIED?
We have already answered the first of these questions. When the Lord Jesus Christ died, was buried, was raised from the dead, and exalted at God’s right hand, that showed that God was glorified and Satan was defeated, sin was put away and death was annulled, the power of the grave was broken, and the forces of the enemy were vanquished. So that now, those who “believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead” can say: ―
That means that if you believe, then you are satisfied, and you can sing, and sing with great joy: ―
“Sweetest rest and peace have filled me,
Sweeter peace than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus,
I am satisfied as well.”
Let us beseech you, as we close, stop looking in cease looking around but here and now, look up. Behold Him who fills God’s throne, and who fills God’s heart. Believe in His Name, rest upon His finished work, learn the cleansing power of His precious blood, and then forgiven, justified, saved, brought to God, it will be yours while life lasts, and in ever increasing measure, throughout eternity, to be a sharer with God in His satisfaction with, and His delight in, His own beloved Son, our adorable Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
W. BRAMWELL DICK.