Around the Wicket Gate: or, a friendly talk with seekers concerning faith in the Lord Jesus ChristSpurgeon, C. H. (Charles Haddon)
Religion
Around the Wicket Gate: or, a friendly talk with seekers concerning faith in the Lord Jesus Christ
Spurgeon, C. H. (Charles Haddon)
Christian life; Faith; Salvation
How unprofitable is the diligence which busies itself in finding out
reasons why faith in our case should not be saving! We have God's word
for it, that _whosoever_ believeth in Jesus shall not perish, and
we search for arguments why _we_ should perish if we did believe. If
any one gave me an estate, I certainly should not commence raising
questions as to the title. What can be the use of inventing reasons why
I should not hold my own house, or possess any other piece of property
which is enjoyed by me? If the Lord is satisfied to save me through the
merits of his dear Son, assuredly I may be satisfied to be so saved. If
I take God at his word, the responsibility of fulfilling his promise
does not lie with me, but with God, who made the promise.
But you fear that you may not be one of those for whom the promise
is intended. Do not be alarmed by that idle suspicion. No soul ever
came to Jesus wrongly. No one can come at all unless the Father draw
him; and Jesus has said, "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast
out." No soul ever lays hold on Christ in a way of robbery; he that
hath him hath him of right divine; for the Lord's giving of himself
_for_ us, and _to_ us, is so free, that every soul that takes him has a
grace-given right to do so. If you lay hold on Jesus by the hem of his
garment, without leave, and behind him, yet virtue will flow from him
to you as surely as if he had called you out by name, and bidden you
trust him. Dismiss all fear when you trust the Saviour. Take him and
welcome. He that believeth in Jesus is one of God's elect.
Did you suggest that it would be a horrible thing if you were to trust
in Jesus and yet perish? It would be so. But as you must perish if you
do not trust, the risk at the worst is not very great.
"I can but perish if I go;
I am resolved to try;
For if I stay away, I know
I must for ever die."
Suppose you stand in the Slough of Despond for ever; what will be the
good of that? Surely it would be better to die struggling along the
King's highway towards the Celestial City, than sinking deeper and
deeper in the mire and filth of dark distrustful thoughts! You have
nothing to lose, for you have lost everything already; therefore make
a dash for it, and dare to believe in the mercy of God to you, even to
you.
[Illustration]
But one moans, "What if I come to Christ, and he refuses me?" My answer
is, "Try him." Cast yourself on the Lord Jesus, and see if he refuses
you. You will be the first against whom he has shut the door of hope.
Friend, don't cross that bridge till you come to it! When Jesus casts
you out, it will be time enough to despair; but that time will never
come. "This man receiveth sinners": he has not so much as begun to cast
them out.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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