A PRISONER, condemned to death, hoped for a reprieve to the very last. Half an hour before the time fixed for the execution the governor of the jail entered his cell, saying, “I have a communication from the Secretary of State.” Upon hearing those words a smile of hope played over the pallid countenance of the condemned man; but the governor had not finished all he had to say, and added, “But in that communication there is nothing said respecting YOU; you must therefore die!”
Unconverted reader, we also have a communication to make, not from man, but from God; and we think you will find that in it there is something said respecting you. But judge for yourself. “He that, being often reproved, hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy” (Prov. 29:1). Is there nothing in that message respecting you? Read it again, and think seriously before saying “No.”
Once more. “As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of Himself to God” (Rom. 14:11,12). There is certainly something there respecting you. Take it to heart. “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23); and “he that believeth not is condemned already” (John 3:18). “He that is not subject to the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36, New Trans.).
But listen again; for the message has a bright side. There is love in it, salvation in it. Thus it runs: “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet SINNERS, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save SINNERS” (1 Tim. 1:15).
Is there not something there of deep importance concerning you? Is not your own name there? Fall then, at once, low at the Savior’s feet and confess it.
“Humbly own your name,
Boldly the blessing claim.”