ON one of the western Shetland Islands, a workman had been building a wall along the top of a steep cliff to prevent the cattle falling into the sea.
The wall was finished, and pronounced by the master to be quite safe. The workman, however, though one more stone was needed to make it complete, and forthwith proceeded to make this addition. The stone was raised and placed upon the wall, when lo, his foot slipped, and in a moment he was flying through a spice of some hundreds of feet into the great cavern beneath. Had he obeyed his master, who said the wall was complete, his life would have been spared. It was endeavoring to add to a work which needed no addition that brought him to so untimely an end.
Like him, many who read these lines are trying to add something to a finished work.
When Jesus died at Calvary, the victorious shout burst from His blessed lips, “It is finished.” God looked upon the work which He accomplished, was satisfied with it, and pronounced it perfect. So glorified was God about the question of sin, that He raised from the dead His beloved Son.
Redemption’s great work was completed, and the claims of the eternal throne fully met. Full atonement was there made for sin, and a righteous basis laid upon which God could receive and bless the vilest sinner.
“It is finished!” Heaven heard the shout, and opened wide the gates of glory to let the risen Victor in.
“It is finished!” Earth caught the words, and trembling sinners, who feared the sentence of everlasting doom, rejoiced to know the work complete.
“It is finished!” Sinner, hear thou the precious proclamation, and’ let those thrice blessed words assure thee the debt is paid, the work is done.
What need of thy works, when the atoning blood has flowed?
The once-crucified Saviour now adorns the glory-throne on high: blest proof that all is done, for God’s eternal glory, and our blessing.
May the Lord give you, instead of trying to save yourself, to rest upon what He has done. All your efforts to save yourself are of no avail, and not until you rest on Christ and trust His blood, will you find peace. Then trust Him now.
“Thy pains, not mine, O Christ,
Upon the shameful tree,
Have paid redemption’s price
And purchased peace for me.”
W. L.