I was traveling the other day from Glo’ster to Stroud, when I found myself with a young man in the same compartment alone. I asked him as to the state of his soul, and whether he knew himself to be saved.
He replied, “I am a member of a church, and I was happy some years ago; but, if I must speak the truth, I scarcely know whether I am saved or not. I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and I try to do my best, and I hope I shall get my sins forgiven.”
Doing My Worst
I said, “You have overlooked one thing. God forgives them that have done their worst. If you look at the fifteenth chapter of Luke you will find the prodigal had not tried his best, but had done his very worst; and yet, as soon as he really came to himself, and owned before his father that he had done his worst, then immediately the father said, Bring the best robe and put it upon him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.”
The young man looked with great astonishment, and said, “I never saw that before.”
“Well,” said I again, “if you look in Luke 7, you have there two characters in the presence of Jesus. A man who thinks he had done his best, invites Jesus to dinner. And a woman, who knows she has done her worst, comes in and stands at his feet weeping. Now did Jesus say, Thy sins be forgiven, to the man who thought he had done his best, or to the woman who knew, and by her tears owned, she had done her worst? There you have the two opposite characters before you, and the words of Jesus to each. He sternly rebukes the one, He frankly forgives the other.”
Never Saw It Before
The young man exclaimed, “I never saw anything like that before;” and listened with great attention as I endeavored to show him how grace had thus come down to save the lost. I trust God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, shined into the heart of that young man, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Many more instances might be given in proof of this wondrous grace; a Mary Magdalene; a dying thief; a Saul of Tarsus.
Yes, it is certain, my reader, your case cannot be beyond such mercy as this. You may have vain dreams of some day beginning to do your best. But, may I ask, considering your privileges, can you take the place of having done your worst? Have you much or little to be forgiven? Have you rejected Christ? Have you turned a deaf ear to God’s forgiveness through His blood? Are you insulting God by setting up your own doings in the place of the, atoning work of Jesus on the cross? Or are you, like this young man, vainly trying to build on both a hope that you will at last find forgiveness?―believing on Jesus, and trying to do your best? Then look at the father rising to receive in forgiving love the prodigal who had done his worst. This is God’s way of receiving the sinner―God’s only way of receiving you. You may not have fallen into the same outward sins as the dying thief, the prodigal, or Saul. Neither would I have you suppose I mean to say that those sunk in grossest sins are on that account more welcome to God than others.
None Too Vile
But they are welcome. Blessed fact, you cannot be too vile. You cannot be beyond the reach of mercy; on this account God hath raised up Jesus again from the dead. He hath made that same Jesus, who died the atoning death of the cross, both Lord and Christ. That body once wounded and broken on the cross, is raised in glory far above the highest heavens. This is God’s guarantee that the sacrifice is infinite in value. And “through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins;” “and by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Jesus Has Done His Best
What a wonder is this! God tells you it is through Jesus He forgives the sins of all who believe on Him; for He was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. You may have done your worst. Jesus has done His best. He could not have done else. In dying, the just for the unjust, He has glorified God, He has finished the work which the Father gave Him to do.
And now, reader, what do you say? Will you still talk of doing your best (and you know that is mere talk), or do you now believe this wondrous grace that meets you just as you are, in the full knowledge of what you are, and what you have done; and meets you with the full, free, present, and everlasting forgiveness of all sins, and on such a ground? The full judgment of the holy and righteous God has first been borne by Jesus for sins and sin. I do say all this having been done first, gives such glory to God in commanding you to repent, that you may now surely meet God, and open out your whole heart to Him.
Hide Nothing
You don’t need to hide anything. You don’t need to say, “If I had been a less guilty sinner, then the blood of Jesus would have met my case.” When Jesus showed His hands and His side in resurrection, He did not tell Peter he was too guilty. Like him you may have even denied the Lord since you made a profession of His name. But as Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished,” so now in resurrection hear Him speak those precious words, “Peace to you.”
Can Jesus deceive you? As He speaks to that poor woman, so may He now speak to you, “Thy sins be forgiven thee.” Then go in faith, doubt no more, and no more vainly hope by doing your best to be forgiven. Forgiveness first, forgiveness through His precious blood, and then may body, soul, and spirit be wholly sanctified a thank-offering to the Lord.