What Shall I Do with Jesus?
(Matt. xxvii. 22.)
PILATE had Jesus on his hands, and he must do something with Him. So must you. He has been offered to you, and you must accept or reject Him. Now which will you do?
Will you take sides with His enemies? Pilate was not base enough to do that, and surely you shrink in horror from the bare suggestion. Will you treat Him with silent neglect? Then answer this question: ‘How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?” To neglect Him is to die.
Do you answer, “I have not time to settle this question now?” What occupies your time more important than the salvation of vour soul? Is it taken up with making money or seeking pleasure? If so, please solve this problem before you go a step further: ‘What shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul; or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” How much do you suppose the rich man in hell would give for three minutes on earth, in which to prepare for the beyond? Would he let his purple robes and sumptuous feasts weigh a moment against the value of his soul, which he has found to be so infinitely capable of misery?
Are you waiting for a more convenient season? It will never come, for God has said: “Now is the accepted time: now is the day of salvation.” To-morrow is Satan’s time. Now is God’s time. To-morrow is a thief; it has stolen many golden opportunities. To-morrow isa liar; it has deceived thousands. To-morrow is a murderer; it has killed more immortal souls than all other agencies combined. Will you trust a thief, a liar, a murderer?
In a quaint old book Satan is represented as calling around him his advisers of the pit, to consult with them as to the best means for preventing men from turning to God. One suggested intemperance as the thing to use. Another pride, another lust. After listening to their views, Satan rose and said: ‘ You are all mistaken. The thing to doisto go to the earth, and persuade men to put off repentance just one day longer;” and all the fiends shouted approval. This myth has in it a fearful truth. Most men expect to be saved some time. We entreat you, reader, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” now, ‘‘and thou shalt be saved.” The thing to do with Jesus is to accept him as Saviour; then obey him as King, and follow him as guide. “He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
Another question worth considering is, “‘ What will Christ do with me if I come to him?” MHewill forgive me. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” He will cleanse me. ‘‘The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” He will keep me. “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast him out.” “The Lord is my keeper.” He will deliver me in temptation. He “will not suffer you to be tempted above that ve are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape.’”’ He will, in his own time, take me to heaven. “TI will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am there ye may be also.””’ He will make me like himself. ‘Now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”