HAVE you, dear reader, ever thought of the responsibility of having God's Word in your possession? We are privileged to have free access to the Word of God, and therein to read what God has to say about ourselves, our sins, and above all about His beloved Son. Yet many to-day care little or nothing for these divine communications.
May I ask you just to turn to a few scriptures, and ask yourself the question as to your attitude towards them?
Firstly, with reference to ourselves, God's Word declares in Rom. 3:23, ROM 3:23 “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Secondly, with reference to our sins, we read in Rom. 6:23, ROM 6:23 “The wages of sin is death.”
Thirdly, with reference to His beloved Son, we find in John 3:35, 36, JOH 3:35-36 “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. 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.”
These words are true, and every living soul will prove it is so sooner or later; but oh! the blessedness of having to do with God now, and believing the testimony God has given us of His Son, while it is "the day of salvation.”
I was much struck by an incident that happened lately in France, told me by a friend.
A colporteur was selling portions of God's Word to some soldiers, and he came to a sergeant, and endeavored to sell him a New Testament. This young soldier refused, when a comrade near suggested that he might find the paper useful for lighting his pipe; so he decided to have it, and paid the money and took the book.
Time went on, and the colporteur, being in the same district again, called on the parents of the young man. On making inquiries he heard that their son had died from wounds received in action, but he died quite happy, and they had only recently discovered the cause of his happiness.
Evidently he had read the Testament he had bought, for it was found under his pillow, and at the end the following words were written: “Despised, rejected, disbelieved"; and underneath, " Read, rejoiced in, believed in, I die happy.”
The whole of Matthew was torn out, which he had evidently used for the purpose his comrade suggested. But he had been led to read the rest of this blessed book; and not only that, but to believe and rejoice in it too.
Now, dear reader, I would ask you again, What is your attitude towards the truth of God? He tells us we are sinners, and that “it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment” (Heb. 9:27). HEB 9:27He reveals to us our true and guilty condition; but He does not leave us there. He then shows us how in love He gave His own beloved Son to die in our stead, to bear the punishment of our sins; as we read in 1 John 4:10, 1JO 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." And again in 1 Peter 3:18, 1PE 3:18"Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.”
Have you ever thought of the love of God expressed in that wondrous Gift, and then the love of the Lord Jesus Christ shown in bearing the wrath of God for sinners? Now, what is your attitude towards such love, such truth?
Can it be said, You despise it, reject it, disbelieve it?
Solemn words these, true alas! of so many; for there can be no doubt of the final doom of such, if they still continue in their unbelief; as we read in Rev. 21:8, REV 21:8" But the fearful, and UNBELIEVING ... shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Oh! I trust those three words, “Despised, rejected, disbelieved," are not true of you, but that you may know the blessedness of the Word being "Read, rejoiced in, believed in,” and you will then live happy, and should death overtake you, you can die happy.
By reading the Word of God you find out what you are, and what He has done, and when you believe it, you will prove that the God of hope will fill you with all joy and peace in believing (Rom. 15:13). ROM 15:13
W. E. S.
A young friend of mine, a bright young Christian not seventeen years old, recently fell asleep in Jesus. His sufferings were great, during the last few days of his illness. He knew to Whom he was going, and a few hours before he passed away his father said to him, “It is all peace and joy, dear F., is it not?”
“Oh," he replied,” it has been peace and joy all along, but now it's overflowing.”
Think of that! overflowing peace and joy in the midst of suffering, and with the certainty of death close at hand. A scene such as that makes the possession of Christ a wonderful reality.
A. P. G.