An Aftermath
WAR! How far-reaching are the effects of war! We are not thinking just now of the Great War that so many of us remember only too well, nor are we thinking of the Boer War, but we carry our thoughts further back still to the time when Queen Victoria was young. It was while leading a gallant charge in the Crimean War that Captain—fell dead.
Let us leave the terrible din and horror of the battle-field and betake us to a quiet country town in far-away England. We see a young woman, a wife, a widow now. Alas! for the effects of war, and alas! for the wee son who made his appearance into such a scene of trouble.
Poor baby! there is no father to give him a welcome, and his mother is in sore grief. He is small, so tiny that they clothe him in cotton wool; and he lives, yes, he lives and grows into a sturdy, handsome boy. Alas! again, how often he tells the old nurse, when she looks at him with pride, that he wishes she had not wrapped him in oil and wool and kept the spark of life in him, he exclaims that he would have been saved a lot of trouble if she had let him die then!
“AND he shall judge among the
nations, and shall rebuke many
people: and they shall beat their swords
into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift
up sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more.”
Unhappy Boyhood
POOR little lad! his mother was lonely, so she married again; brothers and sisters came, and Charlie, as we will call him, went out to earn his living when about eight years of age. No one understood this high-spirited boy, he was headstrong and self-willed, and so he was beaten.
“I was a bad boy, I was; my mother used to thrash me nearly every day. She would watch for me at the bend of the road with a stick in her hand, and as soon as I came near, dead tired after a hard day's work, she would lay it on—"this is what he told us.
Sometimes he was thrashed for his own faults, sometimes for his step-brother's misdeeds, and sometimes for the mischievous tricks of his pet jackdaw.
“Oh, Joey," he said one day in the soreness of his heart and of his back, "Oh, Joey! you naughty Joey, you naughty Joey!" and instead of stroking and playing with his pet as usual, Charlie tapped him with a little stick that he held in his hand.
Joey looked at him this way and that way, then with the sorrowful words, "Joey die, Joey die," off he flew, down into the shining water of an old butt that stood nearby he darted, and before Charlie's very eyes Joey did die.
“GOOD understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard.”
Seeing the World
ALAS! poor Charlie, he had one more trouble added to his unhappy life. There was no little friend now to accompany him to work in the morning, flying from lamp-post to lamp-post all the way along. And so nine more unhappy years went slowly by, while Charlie made up his mind that when he got the chance he would see the world.
And see the world he did. He saw it in the houses of royalty and nobility—in their drawing-rooms and in their kitchens, in public and in private life, where his tall, powerful figure, his great, broad shoulders and handsome face, won much notice. But Charlie's restless spirit was still ungoverned and uncurbed, and the houses of royalty and nobility were exchanged for the streets of London, where he paraded as a tailor's manikin; thus he saw a bit more of the world.
Then for seventeen years he saw the world on a millionaire's gambling ship, and after that he saw it in the bar of a country inn.
OH, lads! ask yourselves, Is it worth while to fulfill an ambition AT ALL COSTS at the risk of losing your soul?
Long Years After
LET us look at Charlie again; we must call him Mr. Charles now, for years and years have passed and he is now an old man, a handsome old man, still tall and erect, with a florid, jovial face.
He has traveled nearly the world over, and can tell us among other things about a visit to the king of Abyssinia, when he carried a bag full of gold in payment for ivory. He tells us of adventures on land and on sea, in America, Africa, France, and many other countries, and then we begin to speak of more serious things. We mention the Lord Jesus Christ. Will he listen? Does he love to hear the name that is above every name? Alas! no. See, he turns and walks away down the garden path; this is what he is saying: "I believe in God, always have done; God, a Supreme Being: any one can see there is a God by just looking around his garden.”
Poor Mr. Charles! how much he has missed all his long life through. He has not known the Friend that sticketh closer than a brother. "He does not know Jesus, the Son of God, by whom also He made the worlds, and that" all things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”
“GOD, who at sundry times and is divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son.”
Befalls All
A QUIET ward in hospital, not a large ward; there are only two beds in it, and it is not quite quiet, because someone is groaning. A big man tries to raise himself from his pillows, but his great broad shoulders are too heavy, and he falls back in the same uncomfortable position as before. He begs to be eased he begs to be taken home.
Poor Mr. Charles! He does not know the strength that is made perfect in weakness. He does not know the One who alone can comfort in every tribulation, who even now is looking on him with compassion, and longing to comfort him.
Someone sirs down beside him and reads aloud: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the Chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
What beautiful words! Does Mr. Charles see beauty in them? Ah, no! he pays no heed. He is ill, so ill they say he will die. He is too ill, too uncomfortable, too full of pain and weariness to think of anything else.
LADS! is it worthwhile to go on neglecting salvation? Is it worth while to put off the Lord Jesus every time He knocks at the door of your heart while you are young and strong? Is it worthwhile to think that you will wait until you are old and ill and dying before you let Him in?
Will He Forget?
“I CHEATED them that time, I did. I cheated the doctors and nurses; they all thought I was going under, and I thought so too, but I didn't, you see! If only this old foot of mine would heal, I should be as right as right. It gives me ' what for ' sometimes, but I don't mind that so long as I'm home!”
Yes; Mr. Charles did not die after all; through God's mercy he got better. Now that he is at home again and able to hobble into the garden, will he forget how near death he has been? Will he shut his eyes and turn his thoughts away from what lies after death? Is there still no glimmer of light in that self-satisfied soul?
But listen! someone is praying. An old gentleman who has lived as many years as Mr. Charles himself; one who thought it worthwhile to bow to Jesus as Lord in the days of his youth, and has devoted his long life to His glad service; this someone kneels down and prays with him and for him. Only God could see into Mr. Charles' heart, only He knew where and when the work started in his soul; but we who watched and waited, noticed a softening of the eyes and voice when he spoke of that prayer. Had one tiny ray of light pierced through that arrogant exterior? Had that tiny ray created a faint desire, a longing for something better after all?
All we know is that to the end of his life Mr. Charles never forgot that prayer, and always spoke with esteem and affection of the one whom he heard commit his cause into the hands of a faithful and merciful Creator, in the name and for the sake of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
HAVE you ever prayed for any one, lads? Have you ever prayed for yourself? Will you not ask now, today, for a drink of that living water that springs up into everlasting life, and that you may be a vessel prepared and ready for the Master's use, so that you too may carry a draft of that living water to some other needy soul?
“LET us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith with out wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 1:22-25.
Was It Worship?
GOOD morning, Mr. Charles, what a beautiful morning it is!" "Aye, it's glorious sunshine, and I have enjoyed my drive!”
“Your drive! Why, where have you been this Sunday morning?
“Been to church in the Forest.”
“In the Forest! What do you mean?”
“Well, I mean this: I know lots of folks who go to church, and those sorts of places, who think a lot better of themselves for it, but I know they're real bad 'uns, ratters! and I know plenty of good folk, not talkers, who never enter a place of worship, so-called; and of the two I'd rather have the last. Anyhow, there, I've enjoyed my drive; it was just lovely, and as I say, I've been to church in the Forest. I looked around; I looked at the trees and flowers, and the beautiful sky and glorious sunshine, and I saw God in everything; I saw Him in the beauties of nature." And Mr. Charles rose from his favorite seat near the gate, where he loved to sit and pass the time of day with neighbors, and hobbled slowly and carefully, with his two sticks and poor foot, up the garden path and into his front door.
Has he never meditated upon the words, "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst"? While he scorns to meet with others to worship God, despising them for their inconsistencies, is he content to lose a privilege himself?
“IF sinners ever were to know
The depths of love divine,
All Calvary's weakness and its woe,
Blest Savior, must be Thine.
God's righteousness is there proclaimed,
His mercy's depths are known,
While to the full Thou hast maintained
The glory of His throne.
God now is glorified in Thee,
In Thee, His only Son, His hand,
His house, His heart are free,
Because Thy work is done.”
C. A. C.
Alone
A FEW months later, through that same front door we enter; straight up the stairs we go to the very top, and into a large pleasant room. The dormer window is closed, for the evening is chilly, and close to the fire sits an old man, a big, strapping old man with broad chest and splendid shoulders. His face is drawn and haggard, and bears an expression of great suffering and weariness.
“Oh, I'm glad you've come! I'm so glad to see someone at last. It has been a long day, and I'm so lonely hour after hour all by myself. It's terrible, it is!”
“Poor Mr. Charles! has no one been to see you to-day? What do you do the day long all by yourself?”
Think!”
“Think! what do you think about? "
“What an old rascal I've been!”
“What an old rascal you've been? Why, Mr. Charles, you are the very man the Lord Jesus came into the world for. He came on purpose to save old rascals just like you. He said, I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance '! He came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
“FOR God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Father Saw Him
“WELL, He did take a job on then!" "Indeed He did! He came all the way from heaven to bear the punishment of your sins that you might go free. He shed His precious blood to cleanse you from all sin.”
“Just go downstairs, will you? and get that little book, the New Testament that dear old gentleman gave me. I don't know where it is, but I want you to read me some verses from St. Luke's gospel.”
The Testament is found and he hears the words: "And when he had spent all... he began to be in want.... And when he came to himself, he said... I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee.... And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.”
But Mr. Charles did not see the compassion on the Father's face; he did not feel those arms around him, or the kisses on his cheek. How could he? He only knew God as the Supreme Being, he did not know Him as Father, and he did not know Jesus, the Son of God, who came into the world to tell out the love of the Father's heart.
IT is not worthwhile, lads, to occupy yourselves with what is impure. It is not worthwhile to resist the strivings of God's Holy Spirit, to drown thought with that which is vile, which is unfit for contemplation. A day is coming when the word will go forth: "He which is filthy, let him be filthy still.”
Oh, lads, pray, pray now while you are young, that you may be found among those of whom it will be said:
“And he that is holy, let him be holy still.”
Rev. 22
Feeding on Swine's Food
“GOOD evening, Mr. Charles." Nothing but a preoccupied grunt in response. The hand, the only hand with any use in it, is not outstretched as usual with the grateful salutation, "So glad to see you." And why? This is why—because it holds a book before his eyes.
` Good evening, Mr. Charles, good evening! What an interesting book you are reading! I wonder what it is?”
“Oh, good evening! Yes, it's interesting, it's about... (We will not repeat what that book was about.) It's a horrible story, horrible!”
“Yes, it sounds like it—horrible! Why read it? A tale like that leaves a bad taste in one's mouth.”
“Yes, that's just what it has done, made a bad taste in my mouth. Ugh! a filthy story! but I must have something to take me out of myself.”
That was just it! The Testament had been tidied away, and so had the large-type Book of Psalms that was so easy and light to hold; the little books to help him in his distress of soul had also been tidied away, put out of sight, and instead, a novel, a dreadful, filthy story, had been put within his reach, to take him out of himself.
“BE not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
“He Came to Himself.”
OH, Lord, forgive my sins! “Ah! tonight the novel has gone, and he himself has come back; and so have his sins, sins of childhood, those mischievous pranks that he took pleasure in long, long ago, sins of youth, sins of manhood, sins right up to old age. Alas! why has he waited so many years without repentance and without forgiveness?
God in His mercy allowed Mr. Charles time to think, to consider. He allowed him to live his life over again while he was alone, alone with God. Vividly it passes before him, stage by stage. He does not now see other people's failures and inconsistencies; no, he is occupied only with his own. At last he is seeing the world in his own heart. "Oh, Lord, forgive my sins," is his cry.
Lads, are you taking time to think? or are you filling your life so full of business and pleasure of all sorts that you have no quiet time for thought—real, downright serious thought?
The enemy of souls is keeping people on the move in these days, keeping them running about hither and thither, so that they may not have time to consider He fills their ears with noise, with voices of this world; anything to stifle the thought of what lies beyond.
“The Sinner”
WE do not all live to grow old as Mr. Charles did; life is uncertain. Some are cut off early—suddenly. Is it wise to chance it? to risk being unprepared for death—for what lies after death?
When Mr. Charles was strong and healthy, young and active, he was no worse than those around him. A sinner? Oh, yes, he was just an ordinary sinner like everyone else. But now that his health has given way, and he feels his strength, his life slipping from him, he is the sinner.
What does it matter to him, the sinner, that he has seen the world? that he has played cricket with young princes, that he has run in a race carrying a baby princess on his shoulders, a princess who became a queen? What does it matter that he has seen lands beyond the seas? that he has piled up gold, shoveled it together from the gambling tables? He remembers all this well, and much more, too well, for with these scenes the sins that accompanied them come back to his mind with overwhelming distinctness.
Satan is a hard master, lads; but it was God who in His mercy allowed the arch-enemy to put his hand on Mr. Charles' body, that He might save his soul. That tall, splendid figure, those great, broad shoulders, his pride, those fine limbs that were not yielded to the Lord Jesus in youth, to be used in His service, are useless now. But ah! God is behind it all: He is watching, and the enemy cannot do more than he is allowed.
BLESSED be His name! He willeth not the death of a sinner.
“A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”
He Listens
“I DREAMED, and behold, I saw a man clothed with rags standing in a certain place, with his face from his own house, a book in his hand, and a great burden upon his back. I looked, and saw him open the book and read therein, and as he read, he wept and trembled; and not being able longer to contain, he brake out with a lamentable cry, saying, ' What shall I do? '
Now, I saw, upon a time, when he was walking in the fields, that he was, as was wont, reading in his book and greatly distressed in his mind; and as he read, he burst out, as he had done before, crying, ' What shall I do to be saved? '
“I also saw that he looked this way and that way, as if he would run; yet he stood still, because (as I perceived) he could not tell which way to go. I looked, and saw a man named Evangelist coming to him, who asked, 'Wherefore dost thou cry? '
“He answered, ' Sir, I perceive, by the book in my hand, that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment; and I find that I am not willing to do the first, nor able to do the second.' “AND as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).
“Then said Evangelist, Why not willing to die, since this life is attended with so many evils?’ The man answered, 'Because I fear that this burden that is upon my back will sink me lower than the grave, and I shall fall into Tophet. And, Sir, if I be not fit to go to prison, I am not fit, I am sure, to go to judgment, and from thence to execution; and the thoughts of these things make me cry.'”
“TO day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts”
He Listens Still
“THEN said Evangelist, If this be thy condition, why standest thou still?’ He answered, Because I know not whither to go.' Then he gave him a parchment roll, and there was written therein, Flee from the wrath to come.'
“The man therefore read it, and looking upon Evangelist very carefully said, Whither must I fly?’ Then said Evangelist, pointing with his finger over a very wide field, Do you see yonder shining light?' He said, I think I do.' Then said Evangelist, Keep that light in your eye, and go up directly thereto, so shalt thou see the gate; at which, when thou knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do.' So I saw in my dream that the man began to run. Now he had not run far from his own door, but his wife and children, perceiving it, began to cry after him to return; but the man put his fingers in his ears, and ran on, crying, 'Life! life! Eternal life! ‘So he looked not behind him, but fled towards the middle of the plain. The neighbors also came out to see him run; and as he ran some mocked, others threatened, and others cried after him to return; and among those that did so there were two that resolved to fetch him back by force.”
“You'll bring that book with you next time you come, won't you? I want to know how that chap got rid of his burden.”
“Oh, yes, I'll bring it. Good-night, Mr. Charles, good-night.”
I WILL leave this text for your pillow tonight:
“The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
He Listens Again
HAVE you brought that book with you this evening, that Pilgrim's Progress?”
“Yes, I've brought it all right; here it is.”
“I want to know how that fellow lost his burden.”
“Now I saw in my dream, that the highway up which Christian was to go, was fenced on either side with a wall, and that wall was called Salvation. Up this way, therefore, did burdened Christian run, but not without great difficulty, because of the load on his back. He ran thus till he came to a place somewhat ascending, and upon that place stands a cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulcher.
“So I saw in my dream, that just as Christian came up with the cross, his burden eased from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to till it came to the mouth of the sepulcher, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.
“Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart, He hath given me rest by His sorrow, and life by His death.' Then he stood still awhile to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his head sent the waters down his cheeks. Now as he stood looking and weeping, behold, three Shining Ones came to him and saluted him with, ' Peace be to thee.'”
The Only Way
“WHO'S this? the Pilgrim. How! 'tis very true
Old things are passed away, all's become new.
Strange! he's another man, upon my word—
They be fine feathers that make a fine bird.”
“Then Christian gave three leaps for joy, and went on singing—
‘Thus far did I come laden with my sin;
Nor could aught ease the grief that I was in
Till I came hither: What a place is this!
Must here be the beginning of my bliss?
Must here the burden fall from off my back?
Must here the strings that bound it to me crack?
Blest cross! blest sepulcher I blest rather be
The Man that there was put to shame for me!‘”
“You see, Mr. Charles, he could not by any means get rid of that burden himself, nor could anyone else relieve him of it, however anxious and willing they might be to help him. There is only one way, only one Person who can release us from the weight of sin, the Lord Jesus Christ. One look in faith to Him is sufficient, for He has made peace through the blood of His cross.”
“SO the first said unto him, Thy sins be forgiven thee'; the second stripped him of his rags and clothed him with a change of raiment; the third also set a mark on his forehead, and gave him a roll with a seal upon it, which he bade him look on as he ran, and that he should give it in at the Celestial Gate. So they went their way.”
He Waits and Watches
“HE'S not been yet!" "He's not been! Who do you mean, Mr. Charles?”
“Why, that gentleman you told me about. You said he would come to see me, and he hasn't been.”
The words were spoken quietly and with much difficulty. Our poor old friend is very weak now. Entirely helpless, his sufferings are distressing to see, and his patience marvelous; but here is a bitter disappointment! The weary eyes have watched the door all day in the hope of seeing "that gentleman" come in. He has strained his ears moment by moment to hear his footsteps on the stairs, and he never came!
Lads, have you ever thought what it must be to lie hour after hour, day after day, night after night, week in and week out, unable to do anything but endure?
Have you helped one of those long, lonely hours to pass a little more quickly? one of those dull, all-the-same sort of days to be a little brighter? Listen to what weary old Mr. Charles is saying, "If he'd known how much I missed him when he didn't come, he would have come!”
In those busy, happy days and evenings of yours, have you ever had the pleasure, just for a few minutes even, of seeing a tired face light up at the sight of you? Have you had a feeble hand press yours, while a quiet voice says, "So glad you've come"?
“AND the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”
He 'Listens Once More
“SURELY he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
“That's beautiful; beautiful!”
“Yes, Mr. Charles, it is beautiful. Isn't it wonderful that the Lord Jesus Christ took our sins, our iniquities, on Himself? He bore the punishment in our stead, so that we might be able to say, ' with his stripes we are healed.' "If He hadn't a' done it, nobody else could have!”
“No, nobody else could have done it, because Jesus is the only One pure enough, holy enough, humble enough, and great enough to bear the wrath of a righteous, sin-hating God; He bore it all, and so made peace by the blood of His cross.”
ARE you rejoicing that at the end of all the days you will hear the words, "I was sick and ye visited me.... Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"?
“Have You Peace?”
“HAVE you peace with God, Mr. Charles?
“I don't know.”
“Oh! Mr. Charles, will you not rest on the finished work of Christ? When those sins of yours come crowding before you again, when Satan worries you with them will you not tell him that the Lord Jesus settled about them long ago, that He paid the penalty for them, He has made peace by the blood of His cross, so that all is clear between your soul and God?”
Jesus is no longer on the cross or in the grave, He is risen, He is at God's right hand, where He lives to make intercession for us. God looks at those who believe in Jesus for the salvation of their souls, through Him. Instead of seeing a sinner full of sin, He sees Jesus with the nail-prints in His hands and His feet, and the spear wound in His side, and He says of the sinner: “Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.”
“THE blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”
The Need Is Now
TWO or three more weeks of distressing suffering patiently borne, without even the power of speech, only just a movement of the hand and a pointing upwards to, show us that he was going to be with the One whom he had learned to speak of as "my Savior," and then there was nothing more to be done but to lay the poor worn body out of sight, to await that day when the trumpet shall sound, and "this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality.”
Lads, you need salvation not only for eternity, but now, for time. You need saving from temptation, you need saving from evil, you need saving from yourself.
You need a Friend beside you all the way along, you need a strength beyond your own.
Mr. Charles was punished for his faults in early life, but we do not know that he ever had the narrow pathway that leads to life pointed out to him. He may never have had a warning given to him as you have through this little book. He may never have had his eyes directed to the only One who can cleanse from sin.
But we do know that it took months of invalidism, much pain and discomfort, and hours of loneliness, to bring him to see himself a sinner who needed a Savior.
How good of God to give him time to think!
OH' lads! you who have not yet lived your life, we entreat you not to waste that life. "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God," before you grow old, before you may be cut off suddenly and that without remedy.”
He Missed Much
IN his great need Mr. Charles turned to Jesus, the only One who could give relief, the One who died for sinners, for the ungodly when they were yet without strength, the One who said, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
But oh! how much he missed all his long life through because he did not come to Him in his youth.
Lads, will you not bow the knee to Jesus now, before you go a step further on life's journey? Every knee will bow to Him and every tongue own Him Lord presently, because they must. Will you not do so now willingly?
“There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth," but think what it will be to have an "abundant entrance" into the kingdom, and to hear the words:
“Well done, good and faithful servant... enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”
“'THERE is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
JUST as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidet me come to Thee,
Oh, Jesus, Lord, I come.
Just as I am, Thy love, I own,
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
Oh, Jesus, Lord, I come.
Signed—
A Wanderer
I THOUGHT long ago that I was I converted, and so did those who knew me then; but since going amongst other people I have dropped all that sort of thing—don't believe in it.”
You are not happy then, you could not be, because you have lost the joy you ought still to have.
You gave yourself to the Lord Jesus once, you knew that you were a sinner and He the only Savior, and you committed your soul into His keeping. Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and none is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.”
You have left off listening to His voice, you have left off following Him, but you can never get yourself out of those hands. However much you may try to shake yourself free of that clasp, you cannot do it; nor can those other people that you have been amongst, or "any" else, drag you from those strong hands.
But when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, how will you answer for these years of unfaithfulness? Why not tell Him everything now? Why wait till then? Tell Him all about what you have been listening to and what you have been following. You may have turned your back upon Him, but He has not forsaken you, He loves you still with faithful, unchangeable love.
All you have been going in for is uncertain and wavering; unstable things of this life have come in between your soul and your Lord, but He is the Rock, His way is perfect. Cry to Him as did the king of old when he had sinned, "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”
“LET no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.”
1 Corinthians 3:18-29.
“FOR my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”
“I tried the broken cisterns, Lord, But, ah! the waters failed!”
Who Are “They”?
“BUT now they say..." Who are these people, lads? the "they" who say these things? “ ... ... ”
I see, they are the ones who have gone into things, searched them out, examined them from their beginnings; but why not go back farther than that, farther than the beginnings? "They" themselves had a beginning, so why not appeal to some One who never had a beginning, who was before all things. Surely He would be a better authority.
“In the beginning was the Word." Now that Word always was, there was no beginning there, therefore that Word is the first and last Word to believe. It does not matter about any other word that does not agree with that Word; we need not disturb ourselves about it or even consider it at all. We can just quietly put aside every word that does not uphold that Word, because it is not worth thinking about or taking account of.
“Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.”
“IN the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
“And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”
“And God Said”
THE WORD "is one of the names by which the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is spoken of. He came in flesh to make God known to man; but long centuries before He came, in order that we might know what He would have us know about the beginnings of things, He, who was in the eternal ages before time began, and who will be, all through the eternal ages after time is over, caused this to be written:" In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
How dignified and yet how simple it is! "And God said." And it was so." “And God saw that it was good.”
Good, this earth and everything on it, God saw that it was good; and then, "God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth." God swept the earth clean then by a mighty deluge, and He will sweep it clean again, for the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”
Alas! for those who listen to the word, "Yea, hath God said?" for it is a word suggested by the devil himself. "It had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”
“IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made." "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”