“HAVE you learned to trust Christ since you have been to the school?” I asked of a girl who told me that she liked our school better than any other to which she had been.
She replied―and there was a sorrowful little ring in the tone of her voice, as though she spoke of happier days gone by “I trusted Him once.”
“Do you believe that you were saved then?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“Well, E―, cannot you say as much now?”
A shake of the head was her answer.
“Do you think,” I asked, “that the change is in you, or in the Lord Jesus?”
“I know it must be in me,” said she, and I knew that her answer was true.
How many boys and girls there are who are unhappy like poor E―. It may be that one will read this, and think, “That is just as I feel. I remember the time when I was so happy, and believed my sins were forgiven; but my happiness has gone.” Your life, since the time you believed, has been like some days we see; the sun rises, and all is bright and beautiful, everything seems to rejoice, but the clouds gather across the sky, the sunlight is hidden, and the day grows dark and gloomy. Let us trust that the warm rays of the sun may pierce the clouds, and that all may be fair and smiling again.
I write especially for boys and girls who are troubled like E―, and they are many. Let us start with this, that there is no change in the Lord, it must be, as E―said, in us.
But the question faces us, How is it that some, even true believers, become so unhappy? When I was a boy I got into just such a state as that I have mentioned. A gentleman said to me, “Well, my boy, I believe it is either because you are not resting in Christ, or because you are going on with some sinful habit you may have fallen into before your conversion.” These words helped me, for I found that I was not really “resting in Christ,” and God enabled me as a poor sinful boy, to trust in the Saviour, and to believe that He died for sinners―my only hope. Perhaps these two reasons, given by one who knew a great deal about boys and girls, may account for your unhappiness.
Are you resting in Christ? Many boys and girls are troubled soon after their conversion, because instead. of keeping in mind the fact that Christ is the Saviour of sinners, they look at themselves in the hope of finding nothing but good, only to be disappointed. They are so happy in the first knowledge of the love of Christ, and their affection is so drawn out to Him that it seems a simple and easy thing to always live in such a manner as to glorify Him. But they find that the old evil nature is present, and one little thing and another prove that the heart is still deceitful above all things. Sinful thoughts rise unbidden in the mind; that hasty temper, that unkindliness of manner still show themselves, leaving behind them doubts of the Saviour’s love and patience. Can He care for those who are so little better for all His love? Surely, they think, they are too bad for Him to save. Thus peace takes to itself wings and flies away, and the poor boy or girl is left with the racking doubt as to his or her salvation. My dear child, this is not resting in Christ. The judgment which these sins deserve has been borne by another by Him who was mighty to save. He was able to bear it all, and, as a proof of this, He rose triumphant from the grave, a glorious Victor, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God. Do not dishonor Him by doubts of His power or His love, but go to Him, tell Him what poor thoughts have filled your mind, and do rest in Him, trust in Him. Rather ask Him to help you do this, for it is His gift, but He will never withhold it from one who seeks it.
Does your unhappiness arise through sinful habits? I trust not. With the apostle Paul we may say, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein?” Oh, if indeed it is any way of wickedness in you which is marring your peace, I do entreat you by all that Christ has done, by all that He suffered in the Garden and on the Cross, do not go on with it. May He who died for you touch your heart at the remembrance of His grace, and bring you upon your knees before Him. And “if we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).
W. J.