MY little girl, one day, had a flower, which she seemed disposed to pull to pieces. One pretty bud she was just about to break off the stem, when I stopped her, and told her it was God who made it grow on the stalk, and if she pulled it off, she could not put it on again. She then asked me if God could not put it on again, but I told her He had put it on once, which was enough, and if she broke it off, it must remain so. Did you ever think, dear children, there are many things God does once that He never does again? It is a solemn thought, that every moment of our life is only given to us once, and, if not used for the right purpose, we can never bring it back to make it right. We have come into the world once, and it is appointed unto men, and children, too, “once to die.” If your life is wasted, and you die without having heard the voice of Jesus, the “Good Shepherd,” and become His sheep, you can never come back to hear about Him again. The blessed Lord Jesus “was once offered to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:2828So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:28)). If He did not fully bear them, and bear the punishment of them, instead of us, they never will be borne, for “there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,” He Hath appeared once “to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9:2626For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:26)). He has “once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” If the work is not perfectly done which puts away the sin, from God’s sight and brings near the sinner into God’s favor, it never will be, for “He died unto sin once,” and now says, “I am alive for evermore.” He will not suffer or die a second time.
“No,” you say, “I am sure Jesus will never ‘come down to die again; once was quite enough.” And you are right. Once the Son of man “must be lifted up,” again He cannot be.
But are you saved by this offering of the body of Jesus Christ once? your sins put away, and you brought near, into God’s family, to know Him as your own Father, and to wait for His dear Son Jesus to come from heaven to receive you unto Himself?
The cry has been made, “Behold! He cometh!” and He will soon come. The cry went forth once, and the next thing was that the Bridegroom came (Matt. 25). It was not repeated! “And they that were ready went in with Him; and the door was shut.” Shut once, and it could not be opened again. “When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut-to the door,” in vain will any knock and think to get it opened a second time.
God has spoken to you more than once about your need of the “great salvation,” but the last time will come; perhaps this once is the very last. Then, remember, dear young reader, or old one, it is the blood of Christ that God accepts as blotting out all your sin, if you believe in Him. That has been shed once-for-all, and will never be again. If it is imperfect, it will be so forever; if perfect, why should you not rest in it now?
W. T.