THE “SAFETY FIRST” Society has done much to diminish all kinds of dangerous accidents in our crowded streets. Great publicity has been given to the subject on buses, trams, etc., and rightly so. Greater efforts to preserve life have been made of late, and no doubt a great measure of success has attended these efforts, for which we are devoutly thankful. And when we think of the awful loss of life through the great war, “Safety first” may well be our motto, and “Is it safe?” our Inquiry. Only the other week, in spite of such warnings, a woman stepped off the curb to cross the road, close to my house, and, alas, a motor-lorry crushed her to death in a moment. In spite of all warnings such things happen.
Dear reader, if this had been your case, what about another kind of safety ― soul safety? Even if we escape all such outward dangers, sickness comes to us all, and death may knock at our own door any day. Is it safe to go on as we are? Can we dare to leave the question of eternity unsettled? Are not our souls of infinite value? “What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:3636For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)). God has spoken to us in the gospel; and has unfolded all His love and grace in Christ.
Jesus, in infinite love and mercy, took upon Himself the whole question of our sins, and our sinful nature, and has finished the mighty work of redemption. He has died for the ungodly, for sinners, for enemies (Rom. 5:6,8,106For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
10For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10)). God has raised Him from the dead, and crowned Him with glory and honor. On the ground of His death and resurrection, God is now proclaiming a free salvation to all; and the Lord Jesus Christ is found to be a perfect Saviour by all who, having seen their danger and said “Safety first”, have put their trust in Him.
How safe, how eternally secure, are all who, as lost sinners, have put in their claim for the lost sinner’s Saviour! Noah and his family were safe in the ark, but judgment overtook all who were outside. Those ‘in Christ’ now are safe and safe forever; but only such. “I’m in Christ, and that’s everything,” said a beloved parent to me, ere he passed off this scene to be with Christ.
But, dear reader, it is not safe to put off this question of your soul’s salvation. If you are not yet saved, let me warn you of your danger. Let me beseech you to wake up from any false security. How true are those lines:―
“Time was is past; thou canst not it recall.
Time is thou last; then use the moments small.
Time future is not; and may never be.
The present is the only time for thee.”
Make sure first; make sure of your soul’s salvation now. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Commit yourself to Him as God’s perfect provision for your soul’s deepest need, and He will become your own personal Saviour. The value of His finished work, His death and resurrection, will all be yours. It will then not only be “safety first”, but eternal salvation, eternal life, eternal inheritance will all be yours. What folly it is, therefore, to go on without Christ; to allow the things of time to rob you of eternal bliss! Oh, delay no longer. “Behold, now is the accepted time. Behold, 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)).
T. E. P.