A word in season

‘When men are cast down, then thou shalt say, There is lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.’ Job 22:29

Suggested Further Reading: Lamentations 3:17–29

There is hope! He who said there is no hope is a liar and a murderer from the beginning, and the father of lies: there is hope because Jesus died; there is hope anywhere except in the infernal lake. There is hope in the hospital, where a man has sickened, and is within the last hour of his departure. There is hope, though men have sinned themselves beyond the pale of society; hope for the convict, though he has had to smart under the lash; hope for the man who has cast himself away. Able to save is Jesus still. ‘No hope’ is not to be said by any of the crew of the lifeboat while he sights the crew of the sinking vessel. ‘No hope’ is not to be said by any one of the fire brigade while he knows there are living men in the burning pile. ‘No hope’ is not to be said by any one of the valiant brigade of the Christian church while the soul is still within reach of the sound of mercy. ‘No hope’ is a cry which no human tongue should utter, which no human heart should heed. May God grant us grace whenever we get an opportunity to go and tell all we meet with that are bowed down, ‘There is lifting up.’ And tell them where it is likewise. Tell them it is only at the cross. Tell them it is through the precious blood. Tell them it is to be had for nothing, through simply trusting Christ. Tell them it is of free grace, that no merits of theirs are wanted, that no good things are they to bring, but that they may come just as they are, and find lifting up in Christ.

For meditation: It is a fact that those in the world who are without Christ are currently also without hope (Ephesians 2:12); but while they are still in the land of the living there is still hope (Ecclesiastes 9:4) that the whole situation can be reversed.

Sermon no. 731
11 June (Undated Sermon)