IN many public gardens is found what is called a maze; that is, a number of high hedges planted in parallel lines near together, with paths between, and every now and then either a part of the hedge crossing the path, or apertures through from one path to another. In the midst of all is a small open space with a tree. Visitors enter the maze, and seek to reach the tree; but the windings of the path are such that, together with the cross-hedges and apertures, it is most difficult to thread one’s way through and to attain one’s object.
Numbers try it, and run to and fro and round about, and in and out, only to find, when apparently near the goal, and almost sure of reaching it, some unexpected hedge which blocks the pathway. And hence, weary and disappointed, they have been compelled to retrace their steps. And so they continue, winding their way in and out, in and out, till fairly exhausted, without attaining their aim.
Now near the tree in the middle of one of these gardens, which the writer well remembers as a child, was a man seated on a raised platform, to whom anyone could appeal for guidance who, discovering his own efforts to be unavailing, desired still to reach the goal. This man knew perfectly every turn of the way, and, obedient to his simple direction, the exhausted traveler at last found rest on a seat by the tree in the midst.
How strikingly this illustrates the vain efforts of sinners in this world to attain the heavenly goal—Christ Himself in the glory of God! The world, through sin, has become like a vast maze. Tens of thousands are striving in all kinds of ways to reach heaven, but without success. Satan has cultivated innumerable hedges—high and broad and strong; and opened innumerable misleading apertures into false paths. They face the sinner on all sides. There is no getting over the former, but it is very easy to go astray through one of the latter.
There is a way, however—a right way—but man in his fallen, sinful state does not perceive it. Strong in self-confidence, he is very loath to give up his own moral and religious efforts to reach the desired goal. Long and oft he spurns the direction of the only One who can help him. It is too humbling to his pride. He thinks he knows. He is confident of his final success. If only he continues to persevere, he feels pretty sure that all will be well in the end. And so you may see him, wherever you turn, working and striving, doing and trying, with fleshly energy and zeal. Tell him his efforts are useless, and he will probably consider you very impertinent, and reply that he knows quite as well as or better than you. Tell him he will never reach the goal without listening to the direction of the Lord Himself in glory, and you will very likely receive some such answer as that your idea is an old wives’ fable, and that he is sorry for one who has such a poor opinion of a creature endowed with such wonderful powers as man, or that the way he is traveling is the one his fathers trod before him, and so it must be right. If they went to heaven that way, it is good enough for him (?). So he continues to try, and try again, but he never reaches the goal.
Dear reader, what are you doing? Are you unconverted, though doing the best you can, as so many vainly say? (Not that you could not do very much better, if you tried. But your very best would not do for God, for “in all your doings your sins do appear” (Ezek. 21:2424Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered, in that your transgressions are discovered, so that in all your doings your sins do appear; because, I say, that ye are come to remembrance, ye shall be taken with the hand. (Ezekiel 21:24)).) Ah! you are still in the great maze, or, as the Germans call it, “the error-garden.” You are no nearer the goal than when you entered it. And if you pursue your course for the next ten, or twenty, or fifty years you will be only farther off than ever. Salvation is not by works of righteousness which we have done (Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5)). What can be clearer than that? Then why pursue this pathway of error any further?
Quite recently the writer of these lines spoke to an old man nearly eighty years of age, with whom, more than thirty years ago, he had often conversed on this momentous subject. Again asking as to his soul’s welfare, he received the same old worn-out reply, “I’m doing the best I can.” Poor man, he was still in the “error-garden.”
“Why, you were trying that road the last time I spoke to you, and you have not got any further; don’t you think it is time to give it up?” was the reply, followed by a presentation of the gospel of Christ. Poor man, he acknowledged the truth of what was said, but it appeared to have no power with him.
What suicidal folly to pursue such a course! Cease from your vain efforts. Cease now. Give up. Let your strivings and doings cease once for all. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jer. 6:1616Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. (Jeremiah 6:16)).
Stand then, and just where you stand, turn to the Man who is seated at God’s right hand, who only can direct you aright—Jesus, the Lord, the Son of the living God. He, and He alone, can, for He Himself is the way. He it is who says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). And again, “I am, the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.”
Respond, then, to the invitation of His love, and come unto Him. All the hedges that Satan ever planted will be of no avail to arrest you then, and you will give the go-by to all false paths. You will get the rest you need and want. He will give it you. It is by Him, in His presence now, and with Him forever when He returns. This is the only way out of the maze, this huge error-garden, the world which lieth in the wicked one (1 John 5:1919And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. (1 John 5:19)). He is the only way to the heavenly goal, Christ Himself in the glory of God. Now, now is the time to enter upon it. Believe on Him, and you shall be saved.
E. H. C.