IT is ever God’s delight to establish the soul in the blessed grace of the gospel, for it is His desire that all men should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:44Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:4)).
On this point we cannot be too clear, nor can we urge with too great emphasis the fact that the gospel contains a world-wide invitation to “whosoever will.” There are no barriers on God’s side. There is no disinclination on His part to save the vilest sinner, to reconcile the most stubborn rebel, nor to pardon the most guilty. A righteous foundation has been laid in the atoning work of His dear Son, on the ground of which, consistently with every attribute of His divine justice, majesty, and glory, He can rescue from Satan’s hellish grip the guiltiest and blackest.
But there must be on the sinner’s part the acknowledgment of his guilt, and the owning of his lost condition.
It was when Isaiah’s confession rung out plain and clear, “Woe is me! For
I am undone,”
that God’s immediate and peace-giving answer sped its way on seraph wing— “Thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged” (Isa. 6:5-85Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. 6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. (Isaiah 6:5‑8)).
Yes, dear reader, the mighty work of atonement is accomplished — all is finished for God’s glory, and the sinner’s salvation. On God’s side there is no barrier―
“Returning sons He kisses,
And with His robe invests;
His perfect love dismisses
All terror from our breasts.”
But it is ever Satan’s effort to raise barriers, to create difficulties, and to stumble inquiring souls. And by no means is he more successful than by a misapplied truth. And such is the doctrine of election when taken from its proper place as a gem of priceless value in the believer’s casket of blessings, and thrown as a stumbling-block in the anxious sinner’s path to a Saviour God.
Some while ago, while traveling in the West of England with a Christian friend, an instance came before me of the comfort of this very doctrine when rightly understood.
The only other occupant of the carriage was a professional man busily engaged in official correspondence. Not a very likely subject, thought I to myself, for a conversation on the things of God, especially so absorbed as he was in business.
However, I soon observed my friend feeling in his pocket, as was his custom, for some gospel books, one of which he presently handed to the gentleman opposite.
To my surprise the little book was most politely received, and laying down his correspondence, our fellow-traveler read it right through, returning it to my friend with a genuine “Thank you, sir.”
A most interesting conversation followed, during which we found out that our traveling companion had only recently been converted. He had been an utterly careless and worldly man until three years previously, when God brought him to feel his need of a Saviour, and revealed Christ to his soul. He was full of joy, and it evidently gave him pleasure to speak of these subjects.
“And had you no thought about God until three years ago?” inquired my friend.
“No, sir; I think I may say I lived without any thought of Him.”
“And when did God first begin to think about you?” was the next question.
“Oh, I suppose He has been thinking of me ever since I was born.”
Slowly and thoughtfully came the words―
“According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world.”
“Now,” again asked my friend, “when did God first begin to think about you?”
Bible in hand, and with eyes fixed in evident amazement on the verse, came the reply, “Before the foundation of the world — why, that is wonderful; I never thought of that before.”
It seemed to fill him with a fresher and deeper comfort. The salvation of God he had appropriated to himself three years before. He had discovered then that he was a lost sinner, and that Christ was the Saviour of the lost. He trusted that Saviour and rejoiced in His salvation. Now he had learned that from all eternity he had been the object of the heart of God; that he had been chosen in Christ before even the worlds had been called into being. Nothing then could break the link that bound him to that Saviour, for nothing could ever frustrate the fulfillment of God’s purposes which were in Christ before time had begun to be.
Oh, what a comfort is this to the weak and fearful saint —
“The work which His goodness began,
The arm of His strength will complete;
His promise is Yea and Amen,
And never was forfeited yet.
Things future, nor things that are now,
Nor all things below nor above,
Can make Him His purpose forego,
Nor sever my soul from His love.
My name from the palms of His hands,
Eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart it remains
In marks of indelible grace.”
But perhaps the reader may ask, “How may I know that I am one of the elect of God?”
In the same way that this dear man knew it; in the same way, too, that the Thessalonian converts knew it. The gospel had reached them when they were lost in their sins; it told them of a Saviour who had suffered for their sins and risen again (Acts 17), and believing that gospel they were saved, so that the Apostle Paul could write to them―
“Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.”
The precious truth of election is therefore not to be used as a stumbling-block in the path of the anxious, seeking soul, but as a ground of confidence to the heart that has already tasted the joy of God’s saving grace.
A. H. B.