The Returning Dove
‘’HnilEN Noah put forth his hand and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.” The poor dove had found no rest for the sole of her foot. Weary with her flight — finding not a tree or bush to light on and not a grain of food to eat — the tired bird flies back to her old home. Noah watches her as she flutters toward the open window. So he puts forth his hand and catches the weary bird, and draws her in unto him into the ark. As we look at the pretty creature, eating its seed or curling its head under its glossy wing, we fall into a meditation about that bird.
It represents to us an uneasy, wandering soul. Perhaps it is a picture of your soul, kind reader! You have long been looking for rest. You have flown a great way after it. You have tried one pursuit after another, one place after another, or one pleasure after another; but none of them gave you a solid and substantial repose. None of them satisfied you. Perhaps you have tried money-making; but a full bank-book still left the soul empty. Perhaps you tried to draw one gill of pure happiness out of a cask of sensual pleasure; but tried in vain. Perhaps you flew up on a perch of political ambition; but found yourself to be as sadly off as that eminent British statesman, whose friends wished him a “Happy New Year!’7 “It had need to be a happier one than the last year,” replied the disappointed man; “for I did not see one happy day in it.77 Perhaps you sought in a bright home and hearthstone for a genuine heaven upon earth; but the angel of death alighted on the couch or the crib which held your household treasures, and you discovered that you could build a house, but could not find a rest.
Even a sorer uneasiness still may be troubling )7ou. Not only are your coveted treasures of earth unsatisfying; but your religious hopes hang on a spider’s web. You do not feel safe. You have no clear, well-grounded hope of final salvation, such as God’s inspired Word approves. You do not feel any confidence that your present mode of thinking, believing, or living is securing for you the highest usefulness, or can promise you a peaceful death and a glorious hereafter. “Do you feel at rest for time and for eternity?” I see you shake your head doubtfully. Then you are not at rest!
Let me tell you in one word just what you need. You need Christ! “Lord!” exclaimed that gifted young genius, Arthur Hallam — “Lord! I have tried how this thing or that thing will fit my spirit. I can find nothing to rest on, for nothing here hath any rest itself. Oh! centre and source of light and strength; oh! fulness of all things! I come back and join myself to thee!”
“He heard the voice of Jesus say,
Come unto me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon my breast.”
And Hallam’s soul found rest only when it returned to the Divine Satisfier, the Divine Surety, and the Divine Support.
When Noah’s dove found no rest for her weary foot, what did she do? We read that she ‘’returned into the ark.77 Here is your duty. God says: “Return unto me!77 This is both the command of the Divine Authority and the invitation of the Divine Love. When the dove returned, she brought nothing but herself. So you can bring nothing to Jesus except one poor, guilty, dissatisfied sinner. Do not bring excuses; bring yourself. Do not bring your sins. Do not bring your self-righteous merits; they will not pay for the transportation. Jesus only wants you. And you want Jesus. Then come to him just as you are, and just what sin has made you — a weak, crippled, and unsatisfied sinner. The “prodigal,77 in Christ’s matchless story, only brought one ragged, shoeless, hungry wretch to his father’s door; but that was all that the good old gray-head wanted to see. Jesus wants you!
Remember that there was only one ark for Noah’s dove to fly to. Beneath it was a drowned world. Around it spread the devouring deep. So God has provided only one ark for your weary, wandering soul. “There is none other name given under Heaven whereby you can be saved.” “Neither is there salvation in any other.” God has not provided a variety of religions, and left us to take our choice. He leaves us no alternative. To the prince and the peasant, to the genius and the ignorant boor, God offers alike everlasting life, through the atonement of his well-beloved Son. Jesus saves! This is a faithful saying, and worthy of your acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. And the winsome word of love he speaks to you is: “Come unto me, all ye who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Observe, too, that Noah’s ark had only “one window.” All the light and air came in through that one open casement. Beautifully does that single open window testify unto us the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Beautifully does it teach us that every soul which flies unto Jesus must come in through the drawing and the renewing influence of the Divine Spirit. Regeneration brings a sinner unto Christ; and regeneration is by God’s Spirit, and by him alone.
The window is open, my friend! The blessed Spirit is drawing you now. He is striving with you. Co-operate with him. Go whither he leads. Whatever he bids you, do it. Quit the sins you have loved, and with eager, determined faith hasten to Christ. In fact, the coming in through that open window into the blessed fulness and grace and strength and love of the crucified Son of God is saving faith. It is not the opinion, but the act that saves your soul. When you do what the poor weary dove did — when you give over every thing else in the wide universe, and just betake yourself to the one only ark of safety, and settle down there — your first vital duty is done!
The infinite Love will put forth his hand and draw you in! Into union with Christ! Into renewing grace and supporting strength! Into peace! Oh! wondrous peace; oh! sweet, satisfying peace; oh! peace of God that passeth understanding! No fears of death and hell invade the soul, for perfect love hath cast out fear. To every soul that enters this ark comes the assuring voice of Jesus:” Let not your heart be troubled. My peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth give I unto you.7’ This is the peace which the world can not give nor take away.