6. We can escape now. While we can,
let us lift ourselves from the fall: let us never despair of
ourselves, if only we depart from evil. Jesus Christ came into
the world to save sinners. “O come, let us worship and fall
down; let us weep before Him.”
Ps. xcv. 6, LXX. The
Word Who invited us to
repentance calls aloud, “Come unto me all ye that labour and are
heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Matt. xi. 28. There is, then, a way of salvation,
if we will. “Death in his might has swallowed up, but
again the Lord hath wiped away tears from off all
faces”
Is. xxv. 8, LXX. of them that
repent. The Lord is faithful in all His words.
Ps. cxlv. 13, LXX. He does not lie when He says,
“Though your sins be scarlet they shall be as white as
snow. Though they be red like crimson they shall be as
wool.”
Is. i. 18. The great
Physician of souls, Who is the ready liberator, not of you alone,
but of all who are enslaved by sin, is ready to heal your
sickness. From Him come the words, it was His sweet and saving
lips that said, “They that be whole need not a physician but
they that are sick.…I am not come to call the righteous but
sinners to repentance.”
Matt. ix. 12,
13. What
excuse have you, what excuse has any one, when He speaks thus?
The Lord wishes to cleanse you from the trouble of your sickness and
to show you light after darkness. The good Shepherd, Who left
them that had not wandered away, is seeking after you. If you
give yourself to Him He will not hold back. He, in His love,
will not disdain even to carry you on His own shoulders, rejoicing
that He has found His sheep which was lost. The Father stands
and awaits your return from your wandering. Only come back,
and while you are yet afar off, He will run and fall upon your neck,
and, now that you are cleansed by repentance, will enwrap you in
embraces of love. He will clothe with the chief robe the soul
that has put off the old man with all his works; He will put a ring
on hands that have washed off the blood of death, and will put shoes
on feet that have turned from the evil way to the path of the Gospel
of peace. He will announce the day of joy and gladness to them
that are His own, both angels and men, and will celebrate your
salvation far and wide. For “verily I say unto
you,” says He, “there is joy in heaven before God over
one sinner that repenteth.” cf.
Luke xv. 7. If
any of those who think they stand find fault because of your quick
reception, the good Father will Himself make answer for you in the
words, “It was meet that we should make merry and be glad for
this” my daughter “was dead and is alive again, was lost
and is found.”
Luke xv. 32.