The whole house of Cornelius was converted suddenly; for so Peter preached Christ to him and his company the Holy Ghost fell on them, and they were baptized. (Acts x.)
On the day of Pentecost three thousand gladly received the Word. They were not only converted, but they were baptized the same day. (Acts ii.)
And when Philip talked to the eunuch, as they went on their way, the eunuch said to Philip, "See, here is water: what doth hinder me to be baptized?" Nothing hindered. And Philip said, "If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest." And they both went down into the water; and the man of great authority under Candace, the queen of the Ethiopians, was baptized, and went on his way rejoicing. (Acts viii.
26-38.) You will find all through Scripture that conversions were sudden and instantaneous.
A man has been in the habit of stealing money from his employer.
Suppose he has taken $1,000 in twelve months; should we tell him to take $500 the next year, and less the next year, and the next, until in five years the sum taken would be only $50? That would be upon the same principle as gradual conversion.
If such a person were brought before the court and pardoned, because he could not change his mode of life all at once, it would be considered a very strange proceeding.
But the Bible says, "Let him that stole steal no more" (Eph. iv. 28).
It is "right about face!" Suppose a person is in the habit of cursing one hundred times a day: should we advise him not to utter more than ninety oaths the following day, and eighty the next day; so that in the course of time he would get rid of the habit? The Saviour says, "Swear not at all." (Matt. v. 34.)
Suppose another man is in the habit of getting drunk and beating his wife twice a month; if he only did so once a month, and then only once in six months, that would be, upon the same ground, as reasonable as gradual conversion. Suppose Ananias had been sent to Paul, when he was on his way to Damascus breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples, and casting them into prison, to tell him not to kill so many as he intended; and to let enmity die out of his heart gradually, but not all at once. Suppose he had been told that it would not do to stop breathing out threatenings and slaughter, and to commence preaching Christ all at once, because the philosophers would say that the change was so sudden it would not hold out; this would be the same kind of reasoning as is used by those who do not believe in instantaneous conversion.
Then another cla.s.s say that they are afraid that they will not hold out. This is a numerous and very hopeful cla.s.s. I like to see a man distrust himself. It is a good thing to get such to look to G.o.d, and to remember that it is not he who holds G.o.d, but that it is G.o.d who holds him. Some want to get hold of Christ; but the thing is to get Christ to take hold of you in answer to prayer. Let such read Psalm cxxi.; "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: He that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, He that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: He shall preserve thy soul.
The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth, and even for evermore."
Some one calls that the traveler"s psalm. It is a beautiful psalm for those of us who are pilgrims through this world; and one with which we should be well acquainted.
G.o.d can do what He has done before. He kept Joseph in Egypt; Moses before Pharaoh; Daniel in Babylon; and enabled Elijah to stand before Ahab in that dark day. And I am so thankful that these I have mentioned were men of like pa.s.sions with ourselves. It was G.o.d who made them so great. What man wants is to look to G.o.d. Real true faith is man"s weakness leaning on G.o.d"s strength. When man has no strength, if he leans on G.o.d he becomes powerful. The trouble is that we have too much strength and confidence in ourselves.
Again in Hebrews vi. 17, 18: "Wherein G.o.d, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for G.o.d to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the vail; whither the Forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec."
Now these are precious verses to those who are afraid of falling, who fear that they will not hold out. It is G.o.d"s work to hold. It is the Shepherd"s business to keep the sheep. Who ever heard of the sheep going to bring back the shepherd? People have an idea that they have to keep themselves and Christ too. It is a false idea. It is the work of the Shepherd to look after them, and to take care of those who trust Him. And He has promised to do it. I once heard that when a sea captain was dying he said, "Glory to G.o.d; the anchor holds." He trusted in Christ. His anchor had taken hold of the solid rock. An Irishman said, on one occasion, that "he trembled; but the Rock never did." We want to get sure footing.
In 2 Timothy i. 12 Paul says: "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." That was Paul"s persuasion.
During the late war of the rebellion, one of the chaplains, going through the hospitals, came to a man who was dying. Finding that he was a Christian, he asked to what persuasion he belonged, and was told "Paul"s persuasion." "Is he a Methodist?" he asked; for the Methodists all claim Paul. "No." "Is he a Presbyterian?" for the Presbyterians lay special claim to Paul. "No," was the answer. "Does he belong to the Episcopal Church?" for all the Episcopalian brethren contend that they have a claim to the Chief Apostle. "No," he was not an Episcopalian. "Then, to what persuasion does he belong?" "I am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." It is a grand persuasion; and it gave the dying soldier rest in a dying hour.
Let those who fear that they will not hold out turn to the 24th verse of the Epistle of Jude: "Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy."
Then look at Isaiah xli. 10: "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy G.o.d: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness."
Then see verse 13: "For I the Lord thy G.o.d will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee."
Now if G.o.d has got hold of my right hand in His, cannot He hold me and keep me? Has not G.o.d the power to keep? The great G.o.d who made heaven and earth can keep a poor sinner like you and like me if we trust Him. To refrain from feeling confidence in G.o.d for fear of falling--would be like a man who refused a pardon, for fear that he should get into prison again; or a drowning man who refused to be rescued, for fear of falling into the water again.
Many men look forth at the Christian life, and fear that they will not have sufficient strength to hold out to the end. They forget the promise that "as thy days, thy strength" (Deut. x.x.xiii. 25). It reminds me of the pendulum to the clock which grew disheartened at the thought of having to travel so many thousands of miles; but when it reflected that the distance was to be accomplished by "tick, tick, tick," it took fresh courage to go its daily journey. So it is the special privilege of the Christian to commit himself to the keeping of his heavenly Father and to trust Him day by day. It is a comforting thing to know that the Lord will not begin the good work without also finishing it.
There are two kinds of sceptics--one cla.s.s with honest difficulties; and another cla.s.s who delight only in discussion. I used to think that this latter cla.s.s would always be a thorn in my flesh; but they do not p.r.i.c.k me now. I expect to find them right along the journey.
Men of this stamp used to hang around Christ to entangle Him in His talk. They come into our meetings to hold a discussion. To all such I would commend Paul"s advice to Timothy: "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid; knowing that they do gender strifes." (2 Tim. ii.
23.) Unlearned questions: Many young converts make a woful mistake.
They think they are to defend the whole Bible. I knew very little of the Bible when I was first converted; and I thought that I had to defend it from beginning to end against all comers; but a Boston infidel got hold of me, floored all my arguments at once, and discouraged me. But I have got over that now. There are many things in the Word of G.o.d that I do not profess to understand.
When I am asked what I do with them. I say, "I don"t do anything."
"How do you explain them?" "I don"t explain them."
"What do you do with them?" "Why, I believe them."
And when I am told, "I would not believe anything that I do not understand," I simply reply that I do.
There are many things which were dark and mysterious five years ago, on which I have since had a flood of light; and I expect to be finding out something fresh about G.o.d throughout eternity. I make a point of not discussing disputed pa.s.sages of Scripture. An old divine has said that some people, if they want to eat fish, commence by picking the bones. I leave such things till I have light on them. I am not bound to explain what I do not comprehend. "The secret things belong unto the Lord our G.o.d: but those things which are revealed belong unto us, and to our children, for ever" (Deut. xxii. 29); and these I take, and eat, and feed upon, in order to get spiritual strength.
Than there is a little sound advice in t.i.tus iii. 9. "But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain."
But now here comes an honest sceptic. With him I would deal as tenderly as a mother with her sick child. I have no sympathy with those people who, because a man is sceptical, cast him off and will have nothing to do with him.
I was in an Inquiry-meeting, some time ago, and I handed over to a Christian lady, whom I had known some time, one who was sceptical. On looking round soon after I noticed the enquirer marching out of the hall. I asked, "Why have you let her go?" "Oh, she is a sceptic!" was the reply. I ran to the door and got her to stop, and introduced her to another Christian worker who spent over an hour in conversation and prayer with her. He visited her and her husband; and, in the course of a week, that intelligent lady cast off her scepticism and came out an active Christian. It took time, tact, and prayer; but if a person of this cla.s.s is honest we ought to deal with such an one as the Master would have us.
Here are a few pa.s.sages for doubting enquirers:
"If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of G.o.d, or whether I speak of myself" (John vii. 17). If a man is not willing to do the will of G.o.d he will not know the doctrine.
There is no cla.s.s of sceptics who are ignorant of the fact that G.o.d desires them to give up sin; and if a man is willing to turn from sin and take the light and thank Him for what He does give, and not expect to have light on the whole Bible all at once, he will get more light day by day; make progress step by step; and be led right out of darkness into the clear light of heaven.
In Daniel xii. 10 we are told: "Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried: but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand."
Now G.o.d will never reveal His secrets to His enemies. Never! And if a man persists in living in sin he will not know the doctrines of G.o.d.
"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant" (Ps. xxv. 14).
And in John xv. 15 we read: "Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his Lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." When you become friends of Christ you will know His secrets. The Lord said, "Shall I hide from Abraham the things which I do?" (Gen. xviii. 17).
Now those who resemble G.o.d are the most likely to understand G.o.d. If a man is not willing to turn from sin he will not know G.o.d"s will, nor will G.o.d reveal His secrets to him. But if a man is willing to turn from sin he will be surprised to see how the light will come in!
I remember one night when the Bible was the driest and darkest book in the universe to me. The next day it became entirely different. I thought I had the key to it. I had been born of the Spirit. But before I knew anything of the mind of G.o.d I had to give up my sin. I believe G.o.d meets every soul on the spot of self-surrender; and when they are willing to let Him guide and lead. The trouble with many sceptics is their self-conceit. They know more than the Almighty! and they do not come in a teachable spirit. But the moment a man comes in a receptive spirit he is blessed; for "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of G.o.d, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him" (James i. 5).
CHAPTER V.
_A DIVINE SAVIOUR_.
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living G.o.d."
(Matthew xvi. 1; John vi. 69.)
We meet with a certain cla.s.s of Enquirers who do not believe in the Divinity of Christ. There are many pa.s.sages that will give light on this subject.
In 1 Corinthians xv. 47, we are told: "The first man is of the earth earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven."
In 1 John v. 20: "We know that the Son of G.o.d is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true G.o.d, and eternal life."