Sinners Seeking Christ
SlIK IHK loRD WHILE He MAY BE FOUND; CALL YE UPOM
Hm WHILE He is near.” — Isaiah lv. 6.
[ tLyvE been speaking about the Son of Man seeking the lost; out now I want to take up the other side of the case — man’s side. I have learned this, that when any one becomes in earnest about his soul’s salvation he begins to seek God, and it does not take a great while for them to meet; it does not take long for m anxious sinner to meet an anxious Saviour. What do we read in the 29th chapter of Jeremiah, 13th verse?” Ye shall seek Me and find Me when ye shall search for Me wifA all your heart’’ These are the men who find Christ — those who seek for Him with all their heart. I am tired and sick of half-heartedness. You don’t like a half-hearted man; you don’t care for any one to love you with a half heart, and the Lord won’t have it. If we are going to seek for Him and find Him, we must do it with all our heart. I believe the reason why so few people find Christ is because they do not search for Him with all their heart; they are not terribly in earnest about their soul’s salvation. God h in earnest; everything God has done proves that He is in earnest about the salvation of men’s souls. He has proved it by giving his only Son to die for us. The Son of God was in earnest when He died. What is Calvary but a proof of that? And the Lord wants us to be in earnest when it comes to this ^reat question of the soul’s salvation. I never saw men seeking Him with all their hearts but they soon found Him.
It was quite refreshing, one night, to find in the inquiry -room a young man who thought he was not worth saving, he was so vile and wicked. There was hope for him because he was so desperately in earnest about his soul. He thought he was worthless. He had got a sight of himself in God’s looking-glass, and when a man does that he has a very poor opinion of himself. You can always tell when a man is a great way from God — he is always talking about himself, and how good he is. But the moment he sees God by the eye of faith he is down on his knees, and, like Job, he cries, ‘’Behold, I am vile.” All his goodness flees away. What men want is to be in earnest about their salvation, and they will soon find Christ. You do not need to go up to the heights to bring Him down, or down to the depths to bring Him up, or to go ofi” to some distant city to find Him. This day He is near to every one of us. I heard some one in the inquiry-room telling a young person to go home and seek Christ in his closet. I would not dare to tell anyone to do that. You might be dead before you got home. If I read my Bible correctly, the man who preaches the gospel is not the man who tells me to seek Christ to-morrow or an hour hence, but now. He is near to every one of us this minute to save. If the world would just come to God for salvation, and be in earnest about it, they would find the Son of God right at the door of their heart.
Suppose I should say I lost a very valuable diamond here last night — I have not, but suppose it — worth $100,000. I had it in my pocket when I came into the hall, and when I had done preaching I found it was not in my pocket, but was in the hall somewhere. And suppose I was to say that any one who found it could have it. How earnest you would all become! You would not get very much of my sermon; you would all be thinking of the diamond. I do not believe the poHce could get you out of this hall. The idea of finding a diamond worth $100,000! If you could only find it, it would lift yoy out of poverty at once, and you would be independent for the rest of vour days. Oh, how soon everybody would become terribly in earnest then! I would to God I could get men to seek for Christ in the same way. I have got something worth more than a diamond to offer you. Is not salvation — eternal life — worth more than all the diamonds in the world y Suppose Gabriel should wing his way from the throne of God and come down here, and say he had been commissioned by Jehovah to come and offer to this assembly any one gift you might choose. You could have just what you chose, but only one thing. What would it be? The wealth of this city, or of the worid? Would that be your choice.? Ten thousand times, no! Your one cry would be, “Life! eternal life!”
There is nothing that men value as they do life. Let a man be out on a wreck that is fast going down. He is worth a million dollars and his only chance is to give up that million dollars just to save the life of the body. He would give it up in a moment. “Skin for skin; all that a man hath will he give for his life.” I understand some people have been afraid to come to this hall because there might be a cry of “Fire! fire!” and a panic, and they might lose their life. Yet there are twenty doors to the building; I do not know that I ever saw a building that you could get out of easier. Yet people seem to sleep, and to forget that there is no door out of hell. If they enter they must remain, age after age. Millions on millions of years will roll on, but there will be no door, no escape out of hell. May God wake up this slumbering congregation and make you anxious about your souls. People talk about our being earnest and fanatical — about our being on fire. Would to God the Church was on fire; this world would soon shake to its foundation. May God wake up a slumbering Church! What we want men to do is not to shout “Amen,” and clasp their hands. The deepest and quietest waters very often run swiftest. We want men to go right to work; there will be a chance for you to shout by-and-by. Go and speak to your neighbour, and tell him of Christ and heaven. You need noi go a few yards down these streets before you find some one who is passing down to the darkness of eternal death. Let ui haste to the rescue! ’
What we want to see is men really wishing to become Christians, men who are in dead earnest about it. The idea of hearing a man say in answer to the question. “Do you want to become a Christian? ““Well, I would not mind.’’ My friend, 1 do not think j’<?w will ever get into the kingdom of God until you change your language. We want men crying from the depths of their heart, “I 7/”^;?/ to be saved.” On the day of Pentecost the cry was, “Men and brethren, what shall we do y “These men were in earnest, and ihey found Christ right there; three thousand found Him, when they sought with all their hearts. When men seek Christ as they do wealth, they will soon find Him. To be sure, the world will raise a cry that they are excited. Let cotton go up ten or fifteen per cent before to-morrow morning, and you will see how quickly the merchants will get excited! And the papers don’t cry it down either. They say it is healthy excitement; commerce is getting on. But when you begin to get excited about your soul’s salvation, and are in earnest, then they raise the cry,” Oh, they are getting excited; most unhealthy state of things.” Yet they don’t talk about men hastening down to death by thousands. There is the poor drunkard, look at him! Hear the piercing cry going up to heaven! Yet the”^Church of God slumbers and sleeps. Here and there is an inquirer, and yet they go into the inquiry-room as if they were half asleep. When will men seek for Christ as they seek for wealth, or as they seek for honour .?
I am told that when the war broke out on the Gold Coast, though it was known that the climate was a very unhealthy one, and a great many who went there would never return, yet hundreds and thousands of men wanted to go. Why.? They wanted to get wealth, and from wealth, honour. And if there is a chance of going to India, no end of men are willing to go. To get a little honour they will sacrifice comfort, pleasure, health, and everything. What we want, is to have men seeking the kingdom of God, as they seek for honour and wealth.
As I said, if life is in danger, how terribly in earnest men become. That is right; there is no doubt about that. But why should not men be as much in earnest about their soul’s salvation? Why should not every man and woman here wake up and seek the Lord with all their heart? Then, the Lord says, you shall find Him.
There is a story told of a vessel that was wrecked, and was going down at sea. There were not enough lifeboats to take all on board. When the vessel went down, some of the lifeboats were near the vessel. A man swam from the wreck just as it was going down, to one of the boats; but they had no room to take him, and they refused. When they refused, he seized hold of the boat with his right hand, but they took a sword and cut off his fingers. When he had lost the fingers of his right hand, the man was so earnest to save his life that he seized the boat with his left hand; they cut off the fingers of that hand too. Then the man swam up and seized the boat with his teeth, and they had compassion on him and relented. They could not cut off his head, so they took him in, and the man saved his life. Why y Because he was in earnest. Why not seek your soul’s salvation as that man sought to save his life?
Will there ever be a better time? Will there ever be a better time for that old man whose locks are growing grey, whose eyes are growing dim, and who is hastening to the grave? Is not this the very best time for him y “Seek the Lord while He may be found’’ There is a man in the middle of life. Is this not the best time for him to seek the kingdom of God! Will he ever have a better opportunity y Will Christ ever be more willing to save than now? He says, “Come, for all things are now ready.” Not going to ^^, but are now ready. There is a young man. My friend, is it not the best time for you to seek the kingdom of God? Seek the Lord, you can find him here to-night. Can you say that you will find Him here to-morrow? Will anyone rise up in this hall and say that? Young man, you
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know not what to-morrow may bring forth. Do you know that since we met here last night 43,000 souls have passed from time to eternity? Do you know that every time the clock ticks a soul passes away? Is not this the best time for you to seek the kingdom of God?
My boy, the Lord wants you. Seek ye first the kingdom q God, and seek Him while He may be found. Over twent’ years ago, a great, revival swept over this land. A great man men stood and shook their heads; they could not believe it was a healthy state of things. The Church was not in its normal state! The Church from Maine to Minnesota, and on to California, was astir. And as you passed over this great republic, over its western prairies and mountains, and through its valleys, as you went on b»y train, and as you passed through its cities and villages, you could see the churches lit up; and men were flocking into the kingdom of God by hundreds. And in a year and a half or two years there were more than half a million souls brought in. Men said it was false excitement, wildfire, and it would pass away. But, my friends, it was grace preceding judgment. Little did we know that our nation was soon to be baptized in blood, and that we would soon hear the tramp of a milion men, that hundreds and thousands of our young men, the flower of our nation, would soon be lying in a soldier’s grave. But, oh, my friends, it was God calling his people in. He was preparing our nation for a terrible struggle.
And now, it seems to me that there is another wave of blessing passing over this earth. Tidings are coming from all parts of the world, telling us of the great work God is doing. The last tidings from India, told us of a blessed work going on there. The last tidings from Japan and from other places — we have the same good news of God pouring out his Spirit. It was only the other day that two men came up here from a town of 50,000 inhabitants, and wanted us to go there; but we could not, and we told them to go home and get to work themselves To-day one of them told us that tney had sixteen last night in the inquiry-room. God is pouring out his Spirit everywhere.
Everywhere men are putting in the sickle and bringing their sheaves and laying them at the feet of the Master. I believe we are living in the days that our fathers prayed for. The heavens are open, and the Spirit of God is descending upon the sons of men.
Now, this time of revival is a good time to seek the Lord. Will you ever have a better time? The tidings from every city is this — the people are praying. It is a question in my mind if there was ever so much prayer going up to God as at the present. Not only here, but all around the world, we have God’s people making their hearts burdened for the salvation of souls. And is it not God working? Will there ever be a better time for you to seek the kingdom of God than the present, when there is such a great awakening, when there is such a spirit of expectation; when the Church of God is coming up as one man, and the spirit of unity prevails y Think of the praying ones here. Do you believe there were ever so many men and women praying for your soul as there are here to-night? Look over this audience — what are these Christians doing now! They are silently praying to God. I can see they are praying. There is a young man with his mother sitting by his side. That mother is pleading, “God save my boy to-night!” May it go down deep into his soul! “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found.”
Now, let me ask you a question. Do you believe that the Lord can be found here to-night? I appeal to these ministers present at my side; do you believe He can? They answer “Yes.” My friends do you believe it? Another Yes comes from the audience. Well, if He can, is it not the height of madness for any man or woman to go out of this hall without seeking Him? If He can be found, why not seek Him? Young lady, why not seek Him with all your heart? Young man, why not seek Christ to-night with all your heart? Why not say, “I must be saved?” There is nothing so important as this great question of salvation.
Supposing you could win the world, what would you do with it? Would it be worth as much as Christ? Let everything else be laid aside, and make up your minds that you will not rest until you have sought and found the Lord Jesus. I never knew any one make up his mind to seek Him but he soon found Him. At Dublin a young man found Christ. He went home and lived so godly and so Christ-like, that two of his brothers could not understand what had wrought the change in him. They left Dublin and followed us to Sheffield, and found Christ there. They were in earnest. But, thanks be to God, you have not got to go out of this hall. Christ can be found here to-night. I firmly believe every one here can find Christ to-night if you will seek for Him with all your heart. He says, “Call upon Me.” Did you ever hear of any one calling on Christ with the whole heart, that Christ didn’t answer y Look at that thief on the cross! It may have been that he had a praying mother, and that his mother taught him the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. He had heard Christ pray that wonderful prayer, “Father, forgive them.” And as he was hanging on the cross that text of Scripture came to his mind, “Seek the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near.” The truth came flashing into his soul, and he says, “He is near me now; I will call on Him. Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom.” No sooner had he called than the Lord said, “This day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” That was his seeking opportunity, his day. My friends, this is your day now. I believe that every man has his day. You have it just now; why not call upon Him just now? Say, as the poor thief did, “Lord remember me.” That was his golden opportunity, and the Lord heard and answered and saved him. Did not Bartimeus call on Him while He was near? Christ was passing by Jericho for the last time, and he cried out, “Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” And did not the Lord hear his prayer, and give him his sight? It was a good thing Zaccheus called — or rather the Lord called him, but when the Lord called he came. May the Lord call many here, and may you respond,” Lord, here am I; you have i
called and I come.” Do you believe the Lord will call a poor sinner, and then cast him out? No! His word stands for ever, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out.”
I was glad when that man I told you of, said he felt as if he was too bad. Men are pretty near the kingdom of God when they do not see anything good in themselves. At the Fulton Street prayer-meeting a man came in, and this was his story. He said he had a mother who prayed for him; he was a wild, reckless prodigal. Some time after his mother’s death he began to be troubled. He thought he ought to get into new company, and leave his old companions. So he said he would go and join a secret society; he thought he would join the Odd Fellows. They went and made inquiry about him, and they found he was a drunken sailor, so they black-balled him. They would not have him. He went to the Freemasons; he had nobody to recommend him, so they inquired and found there was no good in his character, and they, too, black-balled him. They didn’t want him. One day, some one handed him a little notice in the street about the prayer-meeting, and he went in. He heard that Christ had come to save sinners. He believed Him; he took Him at his word; and, in reporting the matter, he said he” came to Christ without a character y and Christ hadnt black-balled
himr
My friends, that is Christ’s way. Is there a man here without a character, with nobody to say a good word for him? 1 bring you good news. Call on the Son of God, and He will heai you. Call on Him to-night.
I was at a meeting for ministers the other day. Up in the gallery there was one solitary woman; she sat there alone. When the meeting was over and I was passing out, she came and said, ‘* Mr. Moody, do you remember me? ““Oh, yes,” I said, “1 remember you.” Where had I met her? Mr. Sankey and myself were leaving Dundee for the north of Scotland. There wa a lady who had come from London and brought her two boy all the way to ejet blessed; they must have been about eighteei;
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or nineteen — twins. That mother’s heart was burdened foi their salvation. The last night we had a meeting there, one oi the sons yielded himself up to Christ, and the mother went back next morning with her two boys, rejoicing that they had asked and found peace in believing. Some people may say that she was a great fanatic for going all the way from London to Dundee with her boys to get a blessing. But last Friday she says, “My boy who found the Lord in Dundee, died three weeks ago.” And as she pressed my hand as I left the meeting, I said to myself, “Was it not a good thing that mother took her boy to Dundee?” My friends, let us be in earnest about the salvation of our children and of our friends. Warn that young lady. Yes, mother, speak to that daughter of yours. Father, speak to that child of yours. Wife, speak to your unconverted husband; husband, speak to your unconverted wife. Do not let a man go out of this house saying, “Nobody cared for my soul.” I never saw a mother burdened for her children but they soon became anxious. Oh, may there be many a sinner seeking the kingdom of God with all their heart!
Before I close, I want to ask you once more, “What are you going to do? If the Lord is near, won’t you call upon Him? Don’t let that scoffing man next you keep you out of the kingdom of God. There is a scornful look upon that man’s face, perhaps he is making light of what I am saying. Don’t mind him; don’t look to him; but just look right up to God, and ask Him to save you. Now, every true friend — and you all have friends — every true friend, if you could get his advice to-night, would tell you to be saved now. Ask that minister sitting next you, “Had I better seek the kingdom of God to-night?” What does he tell you.’* “By all means, don’t put it off another minute.” Ask that godly praying mother, by your side, “Is it best to seek the kingdom of God to-night?” Does she say. Put it off one week, or put it off one month? Do you think that mother would say that? There is not a Christian mother in this hall who would say it. I doubt if there is an unconverted mother even here whose advice would be to pui off becoming a Christian. Ask that praying sister of yours, ask that praying brother, ask any friend you have here — if you are sitting near one — whether it is not the very best thing you can do. And then cry up to heaven and ask Him who is sitting at the right hand of God, and who loves you more than your father or your mother, or anyone on earth — who loves you so much that lie gave Himself for you; ask Him what He will have you do, and hear his voice from the throne, ‘” Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” And then shout down to the infernal regions, and ask those down there, and what will they say? “Send some one to my father’s house, for I have five brethren, that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place.” Heaven, earth, and hell unite in this one thing, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” Don’t put it off. Call upon Him while He is near. And if you call upon Him in real earnest He will hear that call.
You may call too late. I have no doubt that those who would not pray when the ark was building prayed when the flood came, but their prayer was not answered. I have no doubt that when Lot went out of Sodom, Sodom cried to God, but it was too late, and God’s judgment swept them from the earth. My friends, it is not too late now, but it may be at twelve o’clock to-night. I cannot find any place in this Bible where I can say you may call to-morrow. I am not justified in saying that. “Behold, now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation.” Those men of Jerusalem, what a golden opportunity they had, with Christ in their midst. We see the Son of God weeping over Jerusalem, His heart bursting with grief for the city, as He cried, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem! thou that stonest the prophets, how often would I have gathered thee as a hen gathereth her brood, but ye would not.” He could look down forty years, and see Titus coming with his army, and besieging that city. They called upon God then, but it was too late, and eleven hundred thousand people perished. To-night is a time of mercy. It may be I am talking to some one to-night whose days of grace may be few, to some one who may be snatched away very ya SINNERS SEEKING CHRIST.
soon. There may be some one here to-night who may never hear another gospel sermon; some one who may be hearing ihg last call. My friend, be wise to night. Make up your mind that you will seek the kingdom of God now. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” Christ is inviting you to come — “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Oh, may we all find rest in Christ to-night! Do not let anything divert your minds, but this night, this hour, make up your mind that you will not leave this hall until the great question of eternity has been settled.