IT was at the close of a gospel preaching last September at Ll―, on the Welsh coast, that I noticed a middle-aged lady with a curious set expression on her face lingering behind, so, taking a seat by her as the people dispersed, I asked her whether she had stayed to be spoken to about her soul, when she burst out with an intensity that left no doubt as to the reality of the soul exercise within, “Oh sir, I am without strength”
“Thank God for that,” I replied; “if that is the case you are just the one for Jesus, for God declares, ‘that when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.’ (Rom. 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6).) Are you ungodly?”
“Oh sir,” despairingly, “I am lost.”
“Thank God again for that,” I replied; “you are just the one for Jesus, for He said, ‘The Son of Man 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).)
“Well,” she said, “I am lost, but I’ve just one ray of hope. I heard you preach last Sunday on the Passover, showing how the only place of safety was beneath the blood, and I knew I was unsheltered by it, and have been, oh, so wretched ever since; but there was one thing that you said that has been to me a ray of hope and comfort in the midst of it all, and that is, you told us that while God hated the sin He loved the sinner, and I have clung to that ever since.”
And you who read these lines, how is it with you? Have you taken your place before God, and seen yourself vile in His eyes, as this poor woman did?
“Oh,” you say, “I have been religiously brought up; I am not like that.”
“Like what? Are you a sinner?”
“Oh yes, of course I am a sinner.; we’re all sinners.”
“Well, are you a lost sinner?”
“Oh, dear no, I should be very sorry to think I was a lost sinner.”
“Well, then, from the bottom of my soul I am sorry for you.”
“Sorry for me! Why so, pray?”
“Because the Son of Man came to seek and save that which is lost. You do not own that you are lost. There is no Saviour, no salvation for you if you are not lost.”
“But do you mean to tell me that the fact that I have been religiously brought up, and have never been guilty of any great sin, and have always regularly attended my place of worship, will count for nothing?”
“My dear friend, it is not what I say or think. Unless you have judged yourself in His presence, and taken shelter beneath Christ’s blood, you are lost. But, blessed be His Name, He does not leave you there; but shows you how He has provided a Saviour for the lost, for in due time Christ died for the ungodly, and is the Saviour of al who see themselves as such.”
Well, to return to our friend at Ll ―. She saw she could do nothing to help herself; she owned she was lost. Do you think God left her there? I say it with all reverence, He would not be the God of low I know Him to be if He had. No, the ray of hope, kindled by the thought that while He hated her sin, He loved her, the sinner, brightened into perfect peace, when she saw that while His righteousness demanded her death, His love provided the Substitute, who took her place and died that she might live; for “God so loved the world (sinner, fellow sinner, He so loves you!) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever (good religious person, hardened sinner, blatant infidel alike!) believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Reader, do you believe it? For He has “made peace through the blood of His cross.”