How unlike the man who by grace has turned to Christ and left the world's fellowship behind, who can truthfully say, “The Lord is my portion, saith my soul” (Lam. 3:2424The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. (Lamentations 3:24)). To such, what sights on earth yield greatest joy? Not in the things that perish are they found, but in those alone in which the Lord is interested.
The Word of God gives a double proof of this interest. Nearly 1850 years ago, in the “City of Damascus," the Lord's eye rested on an awakened sinner. Such a sight, doubtless, yielded joy to the heart of Jesus; yet in such He would have deeper joy, and for this purpose He spake in a vision to a disciple named Ananias, saying, " Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire 'in the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus: for behold, he PRAYETH, and hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might 'receive his sight" (Acts 9:11,1211And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (Acts 9:11‑12)).
The street, the house, and position of the man in earnest about his soul, are described. What a sight for the ONE that, in patient grace, had followed the PERSECUTOR hitherto; and how fully it shows He desires others, dear to Him on earth, to share with Him the joy such a sight yields.
Ananias knew him as "Saul of Tarsus," the persecutor of the "Church of God," not as the humbled penitent crying for deliverance. Yet, believing the Lord's Word, he " went his way and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him, said, Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus that appeared unto thee in the way as thou, earnest, hath, sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales; and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized" (Acts 9 17, 18).
And now faith in Ananias is changed to sight; he not only shares with Christ the joy of seeing the persecutor bowed in agony of soul under ills power, but the joy too of deliverance, through the conscious knowledge of sins forgiven,-that very joy which finds its source in the Father's heart, flowing down to the hearts of others on earth.
It matters not who the sinner may be, whether like Saul of Tarsus, the noted persecutor, or like Nicodemus, the quiet going prominent professor. Christ's loving heart, bending over all, is still expressed in these words, "Not willing that any should perish;" “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." How graciously He follows such in the POWER Of UNWEARIED LOVE! Unconverted Saul, He knows where you dwell. Does He find you now, a poor despiser of that love, or bowed under a sense of such grace? Are you in earnest about your soul? To magnify that grace, I will tell you of one who, a short time ago, owned his lost condition before God.
In a cottage meeting where many were gathered to hear the gospel, some awoke to their present need of a Saviour. While JESUS was being preached as such for lost sinners, a man of middle age fell clown on his knees crying out in agony of soul, “I'm lost! I'm lost!" and looking up through his tears, he said to some near him, “This is a warning to you." He came down where God could and did bless him; "For the Son of Inn is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)).
Thus Jesus and the lost sinner are put together. For such He came to Calvary's Cross, and "offered Himself without spot to God." And when a sinner truly owns his lost condition, he is thus closed in to Christ; so with this man, in a few minutes he rejoiced, believing in Jesus as a Saviour for him.
What of you, dear reader? Have you believed God's word about yourself, a sinner by nature and practice? (Rom. 5:1212Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Romans 5:12).) Thus spiritually ruined, and bad enough to be lost forever, unless cleansed from your sins in the BLOOD OF JESUS, what will a mere outward profession avail, when you know that underneath it there is nothing real for eternity? Perhaps your religious belief does not embrace the word "LOST." The fashionable believer of today leaves it behind; but remember, there is no word better known in HELL, and none will be better known in the "LAKE OF FIRE" forever; its deepest meaning will be fathomed there, when no Saviour for the lost can be found.
Thank God, to-day Christ is near, pressed home on you as a love-gift. Sin-burdened, and helpless in yourself, by faith look outside, and behold the question of sin and sins settled ONCE FOR ALL on the CROSS. And know this, that the MAN charged by God on that "CROSS OF CALVARY" with the whole question of sin, is NOW on the "FATHER'S THRONE" as the "lamb newly slain," "able to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)).
Surely such a SAVIOUR is worthy of your acceptance NOW. Will you have Him? P. D. O.