WHEN the Lord Jesus Christ was here upon earth, He one day entered the city of Jericho and passed through it. It was His last visit to that place, for He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He was about to suffer for sinners on the cross.
A man named Zacchæus lived at Jericho. He was a great man in his way, the chief amongst the publicans. These publicans were the tax-collectors, and even to this day in those Eastern lands are very dishonest in their dealings. The appointment of tax collector is put up to public auction, and the highest bidder obtains the post. After a few years they generally retire, having amassed large fortunes by their unrighteous exactions.
Zacchæus, we are told, was rich; but his riches had not been obtained in this corrupt manner. His riches, however, did not satisfy him; and whose heart was ever satisfied with wealth? Who, indeed, was ever satisfied with the world in any shape or form?
A lady of title, who has moved in the highest circles of this land, was recently asked a she had found complete satisfaction in the world. Her reply was, “There is no such thing as a satisfied heart amongst us.”
This is true of the world, but, thank God! the believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, who walks in communion with Him, knows what true happiness is. Zacchæus sought to see Jesus. But then his difficulties arose. The devil will always oppose the one who turns to the Lord Jesus Christ. He will set your friends against you; he will set the world on to ridicule and sneer at you. But the case is urgent; eternity is too important a matter to be trifled with. Burst through the opposition of the world; rise above the taunts and mockings of your comrades. They cannot help you when you come to stand before God’s awful judgment-seat; they cannot answer for you then; their own laughter will be turned into wailing and despair.
Do you want to see Jesus? Do you want to know Him for yourself? Do you want to have Him as your own personal Saviour? Then
be in earnest,
like Zacchæus was. He ran before and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him; for Jesus was to pass that way.
When Jesus came to the place, He looked up, and saw him. Yes, Jesus knew all about him: He knew where he was; He knew his very name. And, friend, Jesus knows all about you. Your sins, your sorrows, your struggles, your temptations, your resolutions, your failures — He knows them all, and He says to you, as He said to Zacchæus, “Make haste, and come down, for today I must abide at thy house.”
Make haste.
But why must we make haste? Of course nobody wants to be lost; nobody wants to go to hell; nobody wants to be shut out of heaven; nobody wants to be shut up with devils and the damned for all eternity. Is there not plenty of time?
No, no. The word to every unsaved reader of these lines is, Make haste! But why?
1. Because a terrible day of judgment is at hand. God has warned the world in no vague and indefinite manner of the judgment which is about to fall. But men scoff and sneer at these things. This is but a proof of the truth of the Bible.
“There shall come in the last days scoffers” (2 Peter 3:33Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, (2 Peter 3:3)). The more infidels scoff, the more clearly does it prove that we are drawing near to the time of the outpouring of the awful judgment of God.
They mocked at Noah
when he, a preacher of righteousness, warned them of the approaching flood. Nineteen hundred years ago God inspired His servant Peter to write, that in the last days of Christendom men should mock and scoff just as they did in the days of Noah.
Men would not believe Noah, and yet the judgment came. Men will not believe today, and yet they have less excuse for their unbelief now than then. Today it is the
ignorance of a hostile will.
Men WON’T believe. But the judgment is coming for all that.
Make haste, then; make haste, for the judgment day is at hand.
2. Again, make haste, for a full and free salvation is today within your reach. You might be saved now, on the spot. The work whereby any and every sinner may be saved is a finished work. The blood of Jesus has been shed; an all-sufficient atonement has been made; God has been glorified in every attribute of His nature; His justice has been vindicated; His righteous claims have been fully met.
“God is satisfied with Jesus.
Can you add―
Make haste, then, make haste; for the salvation which is today within your reach may tomorrow be impossible. Time is quickly passing;
eternity is drawing nigh.
3. Lastly, make haste, for God wants you to be happy here on earth, even before you reach the plains of heavenly glory to bask in the eternal sunshine of His love. There indeed will be fullness of joy; but here, you may have joy unspeakable and full of glory. Jesus is worthy of your heart’s trust; He is worthy of your soul’s adoration; He is worthy of all you have and are.
“Unseen we love Thee, dear Thy name;
But when our eyes behold,
With joyful wonder we’ll exclaim,
‘The half had not been told.’”
Yes; God wants to make you happy here. Zacchæus made haste, and came down, and received Him joyfully.
No one ever yet came to the Lord Jesus Christ and trusted Him as their Saviour without being infinitely happier than ever they were in their worldly days.
Reader, will you not make haste?
A. H. B.