SUCH, Reader, were the words of Ehud to Eglon
“I can’t today; I have not time for these things.”
Indeed, why?
“Oh! I am too busy today; I wish to settle a few little matters of interest, and some of greater importance, connected with my occupation in life. These religious matters must be left for Sunday.”
Then the object of your interest, that which commands you for this day at least, is not anything which relates to eternity; it has only to say to time. What a solemn thought! You, a sinner, determining to spend this day―and that perhaps your last on earth―in business or pleasure, while the salvation of your immortal soul is neglected.
“But we must live, and I want to be free to enjoy myself at Christmas-time.”
Indeed? What do you mean by “Christmas time”?
“Oh, Christmas is the time of the year when they say Christ was born, and we all try to be very merry at that time.”
Quite so; and may I ask, Where is Christ now? Is He still here?
“No, certainly not; He died.”
How did He die? I thought He was the Lord of Life.
“Well, to tell the truth, He was killed―men put Him on a cross, and there He died between two thieves.”
Then, in plain language, men murdered Him?
“Yes; I suppose it amounts to this.”
Well, then, is it not a serious thing to be holiday-making in connection with this murdered man? Most surely. Nothing could be more solemn.
But I have a message from God to you about this rejected One. He is alive. The men the world prizes and does homage to are dead and buried. The only man God counts worthy of honor and glory is alive in heaven. His message to you today is about Him, the blessed Son of His love, the Lord Jesus Christ. He was dead once, for Him men “slew and hanged on a tree” (Acts 5:3030The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. (Acts 5:30)), “but God raised Him from the dead” (Acts 13:3030But God raised him from the dead: (Acts 13:30)). Of Him, Paul spake in ancient Athens, “wholly given to idolatry,” and seemed “a setter forth of strange gods because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection” (Acts 17:1818Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. (Acts 17:18)). He could say, and, sinner, you must remember, that then, “ignorance God winked at; but Now commandeth all men everywhere to repent; because He hath appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness, by that Man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead” (Acts 17:30, 3130And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:30‑31)).
Friend, have you repented? Have you ever yet truly bowed to the name of Jesus? Not yet? Then do not delay. God’s APPOINTED DAY draws near―how near you know not. Suppose IT dawned today. What a terrible state you would be in! Unrepentant, unforgiven, unprepared, uncleansed, Christless, LOST! O, dear soul, do not “mock” or say, like some in old Athens, “we will hear thee again of this matter” (Acts 17:3232And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. (Acts 17:32)). The mockers and the halters of that day were alike left to their own vanity and unbelief; for “Paul departed from among them” (Acts 17:3333So Paul departed from among them. (Acts 17:33)), and you, if you halt, or hesitate to receive the Lord Jesús as your Saviour, can count on nothing but this coming judgment; for He said, “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:2424I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. (John 8:24)), and, Scripture adds, “after this the judgment,” saying “and as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment; so Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Heb. 9:27, 2827And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:27‑28)).
Your portion is “death” and “judgment.” “It is appointed unto men.” Do you fear these two terrible consequences of sin? I have good news, “a message from God unto thee” a message of grace: “So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” “Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). God thus opens a door of escape for thee, dear soul, whoever thou art. None are too vile, or too far off, for Christ’s precious blood to meet. It cleanseth from all sin. He is alive. “He is risen” (Matt. 28:66He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:6)). “Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor. 15:33For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (1 Corinthians 15:3)), and “was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:2525Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)). His resurrection is the clear proof of the value of His blood, which: was shed in atonement for sins. “Raised up from the dead,” “alive,” “glorified,” He sits at God’s right hand, the exalted Christ and Lord. All things are His. All must soon own Him―every knee bow to, and every tongue confess Him. Do not wait for dire and awful, yea eternal judgment, to force from your lips a confession of His worth. Bow to Him now. Believe Him now, and the “salvation of God” is yours. To delay even for a day is folly, and may cause your eternal ruin. Procrastination is the thief of souls, as well as of time. Besides, this Lord may return. “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him” (Matt. 26:66Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, (Matthew 26:6)).
Do you say, “Where is the promise of His coming?” I reply, in God’s everlasting word, which further adds, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night!” (2 Peter 3:44And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (2 Peter 3:4).) Can you meet Him? Dare you, then, face Him as you now are, in your sins? No, sinner! No, thou canst not. Turn, then, to Jesus, now. Yes, this very day. “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). “Hear, and your soul shall live.” The Lord Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth my word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live” (John 5:24, 2524Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. (John 5:24‑25)).
What a blessed thing it would be if you were at once to come to Him. If you have reached so near the end of the year without His blessing, oh, I beseech you, do not let it close and leave you still unsaved. Let the closing hours of 1877 find you fully decided for Jesus. You have nothing to do but simply to trust Him. God bless thee, my dear reader! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,” and for eternity thou wilt remember with joy this
“MESSAGE FROM GOD UNTO THEE.”
W. T. P. W.