A young fellow met a friend of his who was an earnest minister of the gospel. In the course of their conversation his friend spoke to him about his soul and his need of the Saviour.
Dick the young man told his friend that he wasn’t such a bad fellow and added: “I have been doing a great many good things lately.”
“Well,” said the other, “I have no disposition to dispute that, but your good acts will not earn you salvation, nor are they evidence that you are a Christian.” The young fellow was quite surprised, but his friend went on.
“You own that horse over there, don’t you?” he asked.
“Yes, I do,” replied the youth. “Does he not do many good acts?” “Why, yes!”
“Is your horse a Christian?”
“Well,” replied the young fellow thoughtfully, “about as much of a one as I am, I guess.”
He saw the point, and admitted that a good act in man or beast is a good thing, but nothing more. It is nature and not grace, mere virtue and not holiness. A good character is a good thing, education may be a good thing, clean thoughts and pure acts are a good thing; but these things, good as they are, will not carry a man to heaven. Until we turn to God and are cleansed from our sins in the blood of Christ, there can be nothing for God to put to our account.
What a sinner needs is the Saviour and the robe of righteousness which God Himself provides for all who come to Him in faith, owning their unworthiness but trusting in His mercy. All is found in Christ.
ML-04/24/1966