IN greater or less degree these three words enter into I every true conversion. But we wish to show that, without the last, the first two are worthless.
“Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” asks the risen Man of power; and at this exposure of his daring wickedness the mad persecutor, the very champion of Christ-despisers, trembles. “Who art thou, Lord?” he inquires. And oh what grace and tenderness are found in the exalted One’s answer! “I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” Saul is “astonished” at this wondrous grace, for the One whose power had just smitten his body down to the earth could as easily have smitten his soul down to hell. But instead of this He there and then declares Himself to be the sinner’s Savior. “I AM JESUS!” Well might the apostle say afterward, “The grace of the Lord surpassingly overabounded” (1 Tim. 1:1414And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:14), R. V).
What is the sequel? This glorified Savior becomes, forever after, the one controlling attraction of Paul the apostle.
But there may be trembling under the preaching of the Word without attraction of heart to Christ. Witness the case of Felix. Though he trembled, it could only have been the trembling of natural fear; for there was, with it, no desire after the One whom the apostle preached. It was not like the jailer’s “trembling,” which was accompanied by the inquiry, “What must I do to be saved?”
Again, there may be astonishment without either the trembling or the attraction. The Jews, in Mark 6:22And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? (Mark 6:2), were “astonished” when they heard the words, and saw the works of the Lord Jesus; but with their astonishment there was no trembling as to their own sad state, and instead of being attracted to Him they were “offended at Him,” as we see immediately afterward (Mark 6:3, 63Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. (Mark 6:3)
6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. (Mark 6:6)).
Then, what trembling and astonishment will there be in the day of judgment, but no conversions there! “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all the kindreds of the earth will wail because of Him. Even so, Amen” (Rev. 1:77Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)). Reader, do you ever think of it?