PREACHING in the neighborhood of N—lately, after the meeting one evening, having set forth the finished work of Christ, and the results flowing from it, I went up to a young woman who was looking very sad, feeling that God had a message for her soul. Sitting down beside her, I asked her, "Well, my friend, have you accepted God's Christ yet? Are you saved.”
"No, sir, I am not." "Why should you not be? has not Christ finished the work, and glorified God?" "Yes, he has." "Then tell me, if Jesus Christ has done it all, what is there left for you to do?" "Nothing." "Then do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?" Yes, I do believe from my heart that Jesus Christ bore my sins on the cross.”
Opening my Bible at 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), I let her read, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." "Now," I asked, "what does God say of those who believe on His Son?" "They have eternal life." "Will you tell me then if you believe on the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ?" "Yes, I’m sure I do." "Then what does God say of you?" "I have everlasting life," she replied. "I never saw it before. I was always trying to be good, and hoped to be saved. And I was afraid when I heard of Jesus Christ coming back, for I was afraid I would be left behind. Now I see that Jesus has done it all; He has finished the work, and we are just to believe on Him. I'm so glad I came here to-night, for if Jesus were to come now I should go with Him, but I never heard it put that way before." The sad look had left her face now, and it was lit up with a happy smile, while her soul was filled with joy and peace in believing.
And now, dear reader, let me ask you ere you lay down this little paper—What about your soul? have you accepted God's Christ yet? Are you saved? If not, why not? Oh! I do pray you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Perhaps you are trying to be good, but you have no peace yet. Cease from your own doings; take the place of a lost sinner, and receive the lost sinner's Savior. Yes, I say, believe on the Eternal Son of God, and this moment God will make good to you the whole of the finished work of His Son. Don't delay; time is short. Eternity is coming fast upon you; that pale horse with his grim rider (Death) may be close upon you, his sword may be unsheathed to plunge in your bosom, and hell follows with him. Think of spending a Christless Eternity,—and where? In the Lake of Fire! Oh! shelter in Jesus now; think of God’s love in giving His Son; think of that sorrowful death of the Son of God on the cross; think how you have resisted the Holy Ghost, whom Jesus sent down, and who has been pleading with you. Do not do so any longer.
Jesus said, "It is finished" (John 19:3030When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost. (John 19:30)). Oh! believe it. God has not only been satisfied, but glorified about the question of sin, and now the One who bore the fierce wrath and judgment of God against sin has been raised from the dead and glorified in Heaven, by the same God that poured out His wrath upon Him on the cross, and God can now be just and justify the man that believes in Jesus (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)). On the ground of the finished work of Christ, God can bring you to Himself in righteousness; not only forgive you your sins, having crucified and set aside forever the nature from which the sins spring, but bring you into a new creation, and give you the Holy Ghost to dwell in you forever, linking you on to the Man in the Glory. Oh! reader, what a place God wants to give you. He wants you to find your delight in the very same object He has found His in, even Christ, and all on the ground of the finished work of Christ. Will you have it? May God the Holy Ghost reveal these things to you. Remember, if you die without Christ after reading this paper yours will be a deep, deep hell. The Lord save you from it. W. E.