"Poor Jack!"

A few years ago it pleased the Holy Spirit to work a saving change in the heart of a poor sailor, while out at sea.

Jack knew nothing of real religion, nor had he one on board with him to whom he could open his mind.
 
Convinced of sin, afraid of hell -  he was terrified and alarmed, and knew not what to do.

He prayed, obtained a Bible, read it, and sunk still deeper into distress of soul.

At length all hope that he could be saved was taken away, and self-despair seized him.

He considered his case to be singular, and was now tempted to drown his convictions in the intoxicating cup, and then to end his miserable life by suicide.

At length, when he had done business in these deep waters of despair for a time, the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to his soul as an able and willing Savior...

And, committing himself entirely to Jesus, to be saved wholly by him...he found peace, and was filled with unspeakable joy.

In this state of mind he reached the port, and soon inquired where he could hear the Gospel.

He was directed to a place of worship, where a friend of mine was preaching.

When Jack entered, he was all eyes and ears.

The first hymn was full of Christ, and poor Jack felt his heart swell.
 
In the prayer, the minister appeared to speak the very feelings of his soul.

As sweet as the first hymn was - the second appeared to be sweeter, and the tears flowed down poor Jack's cheeks!

At length the minister arose to announce his text, which was Colossians 3:11, and fixing his eyes on the poor sailor, he emphatically pronounced the words, "Christ is all!"

When the minister once more said, "Christ is all!" Jack could contain himself no longer, and at the top of his voice, Jack shouted..."And poor Jack's nothing at all!"

This was just the poor sailor's religion..."Jesus Christ all in all and poor Jack is nothing at all!"

And this is the religion of every one who is taught of God!

The work of the Holy Spirit has a twofold tendency...to humble the sinner, and exalt the Savior!

And just in proportion as we are taught by the Spirit of God, shall we have low views of ourselves and high thoughts of Christ.

As the sinner sinks...the Savior rises in his estimation.

Christ is all that the sinner needs and all that the saint desires.

He is a perfect Savior and an infinite portion.

Christ has all, and gives all we can need:

His blood procures our pardon...

His righteousness secures our justification...

His Spirit sanctifies our nature...

And his fullness supplies all our needs!

He is just suited to the sinner and the sinner is just suited to Him.
 
He loves to save, to save freely, to save perfectly, and to save forever...

And the sinner who is taught of God, feels that he needs just such a Savior.

And this makes the Gospel so sweet and precious to every truly convinced sinner...

Because it proclaims as from the mouth of God, that the Lord Jesus is a perfect Savior...

A present Savior...

A willing Savior...

Who never did, and never will, cast out one that comes to Him.

Reader, are you truly saved?

If so, is your religion the same as poor Jack's?

Can you say, I am a poor sinner and nothing at all...

And Jesus Christ is all in all!

You must be brought to this before you can be saved...

For salvation is entirely of grace, and grace only saves the unworthy.
 
Grace will save you...if you feel you are lost, and unable to do anything toward your own salvation...

And are willing to be saved gratuitously through simple faith in Christ.

Anyone may be saved in this way...

But there is no possibility of being saved in any other way...

For there is no other name under heaven given among men whereby we can be saved.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him! John 3:36

~James Smith

It Is FINISHED!

John 19:30  When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost

Though the life of Jesus had been so short, He was Quite Ready to go when the end came. 

 

He had done each day the work given to Him to do that day, and when the Last Hour of the last day came there was nothing that He had left undone.

We ought to learn the lesson, and live as Jesus lived, so as to have every part of our work finished when the end comes. 

 

But what was it that was finished, when Jesus bowed His head on the cross?

A famous picture represents Christ lifted up, and beneath Him an innumerable procession of the saints advancing out of the darkness and coming into the light of His cross.
                                               
There can be no doubt that He had such a vision of redemption while He hung there, for we are told that He Endured The Cross, despising the shame, Because Of The Joy Set Before Him.

It is finished, was therefore a shout of victory as He completed His work of suffering.

He went into the grave, But Not To Stay There. 

 

He came again, a Glorious Conqueror...

 

And because He lives, all His people shall live also.

~J. R. Miller~

An infallible Test!

1Co 16:22  If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.

If you truly love the Lord Jesus Christ-then you earnestly study and endeavor to please Him by a life of universal obedience. 

Love is always desirous to please the person beloved; and it will naturally lead to a conduct that is pleasing. 

This, then, you may be sure of, that if you truly love Jesus-then it is the labor of your life to please Him.

The only way to please Jesus, and the best test of your love to Him-is obedience to His commandments. 

This is made the decisive mark by Christ Himself:
 
John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
 
John 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
 
Jesus repeats this theme over and over in different forms: John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

John 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

This is love for God, says John; that is, it is the surest evidence, and the natural, inseparable effect of our love to God, that we obey His commands. 

John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

1John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 

That is, they will not seem grievous to one who obeys them from the principle of sincere love.

Here, then, you who profess to love the Lord Jesus-here is An Infallible Test for your love! 

Do you make it the great aim of your life to keep His commandments? 

Do you honestly endeavor to perform every duty which He has required-and that because He has commanded it? 

And do you vigorously resist and struggle against every sin, however constitutional, however fashionable, however gainful-because He forbids it? 

And is the way of obedience pleasant to you? 

Would you choose this holy way to Heaven, rather than any other-if it were left to your choice?

Your not loving God-If it continues, will certainly lead you to Hell. 

You are fit for no other place! 

Where should the enemies of God be-but in an infernal prison? 

There is the same propriety in throwing you into Hell-as in shutting up madmen in bedlam, or rebels in a dungeon! 

Why, you are devilized already!  

You have the very temperament of devils! 

Enmity to God is the grand constituent of a devil-it is the worst ingredient in that infernal disposition...

And this you have in your hearts, and, as it were, incorporated with your habitual temperament! 

And what do you think will become of you? 

Judge for yourselves-must you not be doomed to that everlasting fire, which was prepared for the devil and his angels-whom you resemble?

1Co 16:22  If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. 

~Samuel Davies

Fly Into The Bosom Of Christ For Refuge And Safety

Mat 18:4  Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

It is very sweet just to nestle down in the bosom of Christ... 

To be as a little child with Him.

Those who come otherwise do not get near to Him...

But the child-like always find a close place in His heart.

So the more like children we can be in our trust and in the simplicity of our faith, in humbleness of disposition, in willingness to do His will and to learn of Him the nearer to Him shall we get, and the more shall we enjoy of His love.

Some years ago, as I was passing along one of our streets one afternoon, I heard a fluttering of birds over my head and, looking up, saw a little bird flying wildly about in circles, chased by a hawk!

The bird flew down lower and lower, and then darted into my bosom, under my coat. 

I cannot quite express to you, the feeling which filled my heart at that moment...that a little bird, chased by an enemy, had come to me for refuge, trusting me in time of danger.

I laid my hand over the bird, which nestled as quietly and confidently under my coat, as a baby would in a mother's bosom. 

I carried the little thing along for several blocks until I thought the way was clear of danger, and then let it out.  

It flew away into the air again, but showed no fear of me.

Ever since that experience, I have understood better what it is to fly into the bosom of Christ for refuge and safety in time of danger, or in time of distress.

All this helps me to understand better what it means to Jesus when we, hunted and chased by enemies, or suffering from weakness or pain...fly to Him and hide ourselves in His love.

That is all we need to do...just to creep into the bosom of Christ, and lie down there, with no fear, no anxiety, but with simple trust.

The lines of Wesley's old hymn have meant more ever since:

Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to Thy bosom fly, While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.

Hide me, O my Savior, hide,Till the storm of life is past; Safe into the haven guide; Oh, receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none, Hangs my helpless soul on Thee; Leave, ah! leave me not alone, Still support and comfort me.

All my trust on Thee is stayed, All my help from Thee I bring...

Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of Thy wing.

~J. R.  Miller~