WE have frequently had submitted to us, in substance, the following questions and remarks, namely, “Why is it that, so many sincere Christians never get rid of doubts, fears, and questionings, as to the full assurance of their salvation? Sometimes they seem sure, and are bright and happy, but in a little while they seem depressed, doubt their interest in Christ, and are most unhappy. We know of some who are every now and then on the borders of despair, and even when they do find something like peace, they are in constant terror that it will not last long; so that it can never be said of such that they have true peace or rest.”
Such a state of things we know to be very common, and believe it proceeds from different causes in different persons, and in most cases the real cause seems hidden from the person's own mind. In many cases, perhaps, more than we suspect, a dark, fluctuating state of soul is the result of its faint and feeble desires after the knowledge of the Person of Christ.
How often, alas! are some almost entirely occupied with themselves, in one way or another, in place of Christ, occupied with their faith, their feelings, their clouds, or their gleams of sunshine. Still it is all and only self. The Person of the Lord Jesus and His wondrous love are but little dwelt upon, either in their thoughts or in conversation; and consequently He is but little known, loved, and valued. Thus the Spirit is grieved; Christ is not revealed to the soul, and darkness and feebleness necessarily follow. Could self only be set aside as good for nothing, and Christ become all in all to the heart, the soul would rapidly grow in grace, and speedily manifest the features of the divine nature, and become more like Christ Himself.
Again, there are others who, though they may not be occupied with self in that particular way, and may even have an assurance that they are saved, still know but little of the true peace of the gospel, and less of communion with the Person of Christ. They are taken up with something that is lower than Him. Service pre-occupies the mind. What we may call the things of Christ, or rather the things of Christianity, occupy them; and though in themselves right and praiseworthy things, these are allowed to come between the heart and the Person of their Lord and Master. This will prove sad work for the soul, and must lead to dryness, leanness, and unfruitfulness in joy, and peace. Oh! for more of the spirit of him who said, "For me to live is Christ." (Phil. 1:21, 2221For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labor: yet what I shall choose I wot not. (Philippians 1:21‑22)).
But, there is another class, and one to which we would more especially direct our attention. We refer to those who may, or may not, have been recently awakened, but who are earnestly seeking peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is now a numerous class, blessed be the name of the Lord. May it be increased a hundred-fold. Many are brought into peace, it may be, the same evening that they are awakened, but their enjoyment of it, in some instances, is interrupted at a very early stage of their new course. Here the enemy of our souls will seek to persuade the young converts that what was called conversion is all a delusion, and that they have neither part nor lot in the matter. Such fiery darts can only be quenched by the shield of faith; not by reasoning, or even by, referring to the date of conversion, but only by looking to Jesus, and trusting in Him. When the eye is kept fixed on Christ, Satan's darts fall quite harmless.
Others, again, in place of being brought into peace at once, continue for some time in distress, and pass through deep exercise of soul.
“But why is this?" our inquirer may ask. "Is this experience necessary to genuine conversion?”
The all-important questions for an anxious soul are not what it feels and what it thinks, but such as the following:
1. What is God to me, a guilty sinner?
2. What has God done to save me, a lost sinner?
3. What will God do for me, an awakened, seeking sinner?
4. What will God be to me, a believing sinner? To some of our readers, and especially our youthful readers, these questions may be subjects of interesting scriptural inquiry. And when the first is understood, the doubts and fears will be all gone, and the second, third, and fourth will be quite plain. So we will leave them, and give, in illustration of our subject, the substance of a recent conversation with a young man in deep concern about his soul.
“Do you really believe that God regards you as a great sinner?”
“Oh yes, indeed I do; I am sure of that.”
“But now, tell me, how are you sure of that?”
“Because I know it; I feel it. I have been a very great sinner.”
“But is there no other way that we may know it besides feeling it? Has not God told us in His word that we are all sinners?”
“Yes, I know He has, and I would give the world to know that I am pardoned.”
“Oh, you need not speak about giving; God is not asking anything; neither is He seeking to condemn you because of your sins, but to turn your heart to Jesus. But now, take the ground of faith as a sinner. You can only have to do with God now by faith. Know and believe that you are a sinner, not because you feel it, but because God says it. And then comes the important question, What is God to me, a sinner? Now don't look within, look to Himself, hear His word. What does it say? ‘But God commendeth His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)).
Can you receive the truth here so plainly stated, namely, that God is love to you a sinner?”
“The word says it, and we should believe it; I know that.”
“But should not you believe it now? Will it be truer to-morrow? Does not. God say He loves the sinner? And you say that's what you are.
Therefore He says plainly that He loves you.”
“That's what I want to believe, but I can't feel that He loves me; my sins seem so great.”
“Well, that's true, but in place of looking at your sins, as you know them in yourself, look at them in the light of this verse, and you will see that it is by means of these that you know how much God loves you. It was your sins that drew forth this wondrous love, in the gift of Jesus. God loved us, Christ died for us, ' while we were yet sinners.' Righteousness judged the sins, and love saves the sinner, through the sufferings and death of the blessed Lord Jesus. But not only has God manifested His love in giving Jesus to die for you a sinner, but the same love has followed you in all your wanderings, and followed you to this room to-night, and now He has laid His hand of love upon you, and is drawing you to His beloved Son. Be done, then, with your feelings and reasonings about yourself. Dwell on the love of God as it has been manifested in the death of Christ for you, and let your whole soul rest on the truth of that word, 'The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanseth us from all sin.' The moment you take your place among the us ' who believe, your sins are all cleansed away. The answer of Jesus to your very anxious look and earnest desire is, Thy sins which were many are forgiven. Go in peace.' "(1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7); Luke 7:36, 5036And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat. (Luke 7:36)
50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50)). “Well, I think I believe all that. I see it quite differently now. But I thought that I ought to feel it all in myself, before I could believe it was true to me. I now see I must not look to myself, but only to Jesus.”
“Yes, my dear young man, the only sure way of keeping our eyes off ourselves, is to keep them fixed on Jesus.”