The Great Separation # 6

The Great Separation # 6

1. Settle it down in your mind, that the things of which I have been speaking are all real and true. I do believe that many never see the great truths of religion in this light. I firmly believe that many never listen to the things they hear from ministers as realities. They regard it all as a matter of names and words, and nothing more - a huge shadow - a religious play-acting - a vast sham! The Bible, and Heaven, and the kingdom of Christ, and the judgment day - these are subjects that they hear unmoved. They do not really believe them.

If you have unhappily got into this frame of mind, I charge you to cast it off forever. The wheat, the chaff, the separation, the barn, the fire - all these are great realities; as real as the sun in the sky. For my part, I believe in Heaven and I believe in hell. I believe in coming judgment. I believe in the day of sifting. I am not ashamed to say so. I believe them all, and therefore I write as I do.

2. Settle it down in your mind, that the things of which I write concern YOURSELF. They are your business, your affair, and your concern. Many, I am sure, never look on religion as a matter that concerns themselves. They attend to the outward part, They hear sermons. They real religious books. They have their children christened. But all the time they never ask themselves, "What is all this to me?" They sit in our churches like spectators in a theater. But they do not say to themselves, "I am the man."

There must be an end to all this, if you are ever to be saved. I write to everybody who will read. It is on your soul's account that I am pleading. You are this very day either among the wheat - or among the chaff. Your portion will one day either be the barn or the fire. Oh, that men were wise, and would lay these things to heart! Oh, that they would not trifle, dally, linger, live on as half and half Christians, meaning well - but never acting boldly, and at last awake when it too late!

3. Settle it down in your mind, that if you are willing to be one of the wheat of the earth - the Lord Jesus Christ is willing to receive you. Does any man suppose that Jesus is not willing to see His barn filled? Do you think He does not desire to bring many sons to glory? Oh, you know little the depth of His mercy and compassion! He invites you to hear and live, to forsake the way of the foolish. If you never came to Christ for eternal life before - come to Him this very day! Come to Him with the penitent's prayer for mercy and grace. Come to Him without delay. Let this message be a word in season. Arise and call upon the Lord! Let the angels of God rejoice over one more saved soul!

4. Settle it down in your mind, that if you have committed your soul to Christ - Christ will never allow that soul to perish. The Everlasting Arms are round about you. Lean back in them, and know your safety. The same hand that was nailed to the Cross - is holding you! The same wisdom, the same power is on your side. The same love is pledged to keep you. Our faith may repose calmly on such a bed as Christ's Omnipotence!

You say that your faith is so small. But where is it said that none shall be saved except their faith is great? And after all, "Who gave you any faith at all?" You say your sins are so many. But where is the sin, or heap of sins - which the blood of Jesus cannot wash away? And after all, "Who told you you had any sins? That feeling never came from yourself." Blessed indeed is that one, who really knows and feels that he is a sinner!

Take comfort if you have really come to Christ. Take comfort, and know your privileges. Cast every care on Jesus. Tell every need to Jesus. Roll every burden on Jesus - your sins, unbelief, doubts, fears, anxieties - lay them all on Christ! He loves to see you doing so. He loves to be employed as your High Priest. He loves to be trusted. He loves to see His people ceasing from the vain effort to carry their burdens for themselves.

I commend these things to your notice. Only be among Christ's wheat now - and then, in the great day of separation, as sure as the Bible is true - you shall be in Christ's barn forever!

~J. C. Ryle~

(The End)