A SERVANT of the Lord was visiting an elderly Christian in the small town of S―, when, after a few minutes’ conversation, another respectably dressed woman entered the room, and sat down. Turning towards her, he began to speak on the subject of her salvation. The following is the substance of the conversation which then ensued — an example of the difficulties that many souls get into, and the uncertainty in which they live as to the future, so that it is often hard to discern whether such are really trusting in the Saviour, or no. If any in a similar case should read these lines, may the Lord in His grace use them to your deliverance and peace.
“Well, Mrs. ―, and are you saved?”
“I don’t know what I should have done if I hadn’t had the Lord to comfort me in my afflictions.”
“But have you peace with God?”
“I often feel that the Lord has begun a good work in me, and He will carry it on. I often feel He hears me in my prayers.”
“But you must not be guided by your feelings, Mrs. ―; they are like the wind, always changing: you must not depend upon them at all.”
“I think that’s a beautiful verse: —
“‘Tis a point I long to know,
Oft it causes anxious thought —
Do I love the Lord, or no?
Am I His, or am I not?”
“Beautiful verse, you call it. Oh, no; no indeed, it is all wrong together, and most dishonoring to Christ. You would never use such language to a dear relative, how much less to the Lord. It ought to be a settled thing. You ought to be quite sure you are His, by faith, and enjoying His love, and not occupied with your love to Him.”
“But you cannot always feel sure.”
“There, you are returning to your feelings again. No wonder that you are not sure. As one has remarked, you are casting your anchor inside the ship, instead of out. You must rest on God’s Word. ‘Christ was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification: therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.’” Rom. 6:25; verse 1.
“But I cannot help doubting sometimes.”
“You will no longer doubt if you rest on His Word.”
“I heard a preacher the other day tell us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, but that, if we did not, we might be damned tomorrow. But you cannot believe if God does not make you.”
“Where do you get such a thought as that? You are responsible to believe God.” “But Satan is always so busy.”
“True; but what saith the Scripture? ‘Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.’ If he troubles you much, it shows you fail to do so.”
“I heard another preacher say that the spider begins his web and finishes it, and the Lord will do the same.”
“True, again; perfectly true: but you must not rest on that for peace. It is impossible to obtain it by being occupied with the work of the Spirit of God in you, important as that is, but by believing on Christ, and His finished work for you.”
“I knew a woman who prayed with me once, when I was anxious, and after she had done, she said, There, if I had I prayed another five minutes for you, you would have been saved.’ And I prayed too.”
“I expect you were like many more, thinking you were to be saved by the earnestness of your prayers. Prayer, of course, is perfectly right in its place: but we are not saved by prayer, but by believing on the Son of God. The Scripture does not say, ‘Whosoever prayeth,’ but, ‘Whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.’ Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43). ‘He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.’” John 3:3636He 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. (John 3:36).
“Ah! but I cannot agree with a religion that tells me not to do anything to be saved.”
“I am not speaking about religion, but about salvation. Salvation is one thing, religion another. You need salvation first, and then religion follows. Salvation is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and what He has done. Then comes religion, and pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.’ James 1:2727Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27). So that we are saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:88For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)), and religion is doing, not to be saved, but when we are saved. God presents Christ to the soul. He never tolls you to wait till He works in you, but that ‘whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.’ Romans 10:1111For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Romans 10:11). Believe; rest on the Word of God. It altereth not. His word is forever settled in heaven.” Psalms 119:8989LAMED. For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. (Psalm 119:89).
“But we must wait for God to do it.”
“That is your own thought entirely, and as long as you indulge in your own thoughts you will be miserable. There is the operation of the Spirit of God in the soul, of course; but if you desire peace with God, you can only have it by taking Him at His word. Then, will you?”
How sad to see a soul thus hampered, enshrouded in clouds of difficulties, all through failing to believe what God says. How utterly helpless the servant of the Lord feels to meet such cases. The Word of God seems to fall powerless upon the ear, and nothing else can deliver.
But how different the state of soul in a dear old saint of God, with whom the following conversation took place a few moments after in a cottage close by:—
“You have been brought to the Lord some time, have you not?”
“It is forty-two years since I got the blessing, sir, and was saved.”
“How do you know you are saved?”
“Because God says so.”
“What does He say?”
“He tells me that He gave His Son to die for my sins on the cross.”
“Where does He tell you that?”
“In His Word. Many rest on the work of the Spirit in them instead of the work of Christ for them.”
“Did you ever know anyone who found peace by trusting in the work of the Spirit?”
“All I can say is, I didn’t.”
“How did you find it?”
“Through the testimony of God’s Word about His Son, and what He suffered for me upon the cross. Nothing else will do to trust to, but the finished work of Christ. I don’t say I never had any stumbles on the road. But I heard a man say that the devil sometimes gets a saint down, but the Lord won’t let him keep him down. When I fail, the Holy Spirit points me to Christ for restoration. But the Holy Spirit’s work will never save a sinner: Christ’s work does that. That’s my faith, sir.”
Beloved reader, and may I ask, What is your faith? Are you full of difficulties through self-occupation, or have you taken God at His word? The work of the Holy Ghost in the soul is indispensable, but nowhere does God tell us to rest therein for salvation and peace. Thousands are trying, striving, working, doing, praying, feeling, hoping, and yet remain perfect strangers to peace. But look out of self to Christ. Believe God, and peace with Him will be yours. Romans 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1). God hath made peace by the blood of the cross of His own Son.
‘Tis vain to seek for peace with God
By methods of our own;
There’s nothing, save the Saviour’s blood,
Can bring us near the throne