The devil tells me I am unworthy, and that is a reason. But I always was unworthy, and yet it was no reason why he should not love me at first, amid therefore cannot be a reason why I should not have fellowship with him now. Why should I be left out? Now I am going to speak for the poorest here- I do not know where he is. I want to speak for you that have got the least faith; you that think yourselves the smallest in all Israel; you Mephibosheths that are lame in your feet, and yet sit at the king’s table; you poor despised Mordecais that sit at the king’s gate, yet cannot get inside the palace, I have this to say to you- Why should you be left there? Just try and reason. Why should I, Jesus, be left out in the cold, when the night comes on. No, there is a cot for the little one, as well as a bed for his bigger brother. Why should I be turned aside? I am equally bought with a price. I cost him, in order to save me, as much as the noblest of the saints: he bought them with blood; he could not buy me with less. I must have
been loved as much, or else, seeing that I am of so little worth, I should not have been redeemed at all. If there he any difference, perhaps I am loved somewhat better. Is there not greater, better love shown in the choice of me than of some who are more worthy than I am?
Why, then, should I be left out? I know if I have a child that is deformed and decrepit, I love it all the more: it seems as if I had a tenderer care for it. Then why should my heavenly Father be less kind to me than I should be to my offspring? Why should I he turned aside? He chose me: he cannot change in his choice. Why, then, should he cast me off. He knew what I was when he chose me; he cannot therefore find out any fresh reason for turning me aside. He foresaw I should misbehave myself, and yet he selected me. Well, then, there cannot he a reason why I should he left to fall away. Again, I ask, Why should I turn aside? I am a member of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones, and though I am less than the least of all his saints, yet he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Why should I turn aside? I have a promise all to myself. Has he not said, “I will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed”? Has he not said, “The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him in those who hope in his mercy”? If I cannot do more, I can do that.’ I do hope in his mercy; then why should I be turned aside? If any should think of doing so, it should not be I, for I need to be near him; I am such a poor plant that I ought to he kept in the sun: I shall never do in the shade. My big brother, perhaps, may manage for a little time without comfort, but I cannot, for I am one of the Ready-to-Halts.
I recollect how the shepherds of Mount Clear said, “Come in, Mr. Little Faith; Come in, Mr. Feeble Mind; Come in, Mr. Ready-to-Halt; Come in, Mary;” but they did not say, “Come in, Father Faithful; Come in, Matthew; Come in, Valiant-for-Truth.” No, they said these might do as they liked; they were quite sure to take their own part; but they looked first to the feeblest. Then why should I he turned aside? I am the feeblest, and need him most. I may use my very feebleness and proneness to fall, as the reason why I should come to him. Why should I he turned aside? I may fall into sin. My heart may grow cold without his glorious presence; and then, what if I should perish!
Why, here let me bethink myself. If I am the smallest lamb in his flock I cannot perish without doing the God of heaven a damage. Let me say it again with reverence. If I, the least of his children, perish, I shall do his Son dishonor, for what will the arch-fiend say? “Aha,” says he, “you Surety of the Covenant, you could keep the strong, but you could not keep the weak: I have this lamb here in the pit whom you could not preserve. Here is one of your crown-jewels,” says he, “and though it be none of the brightest, though it he not the most sparkling ruby in your coronet, yet it is one of your jewels, and I have it here.
You have no perfect regalia: I have a part of it here.” Shall that ever be, after Christ has said, “They shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand”? Shall this be, when the strong arm of God is engaged for my help, and he has said to me, “The Eternal God is your refuge; and underneath are the everlasting arms?” Jesus, turn me not aside, lest by my fall I grieve your Spirit, and lest by my fall I bring disgrace upon your name. Why should I turn aside? There is no reason why I should. Come my soul, there are a thousand reasons why you should not. Jesus beckons you to come. You wounded saints, you that have slipped to your falling, you that are grieved, sorrowing, and distressed, come to his cross, come to his throne again. Backsliders, if you have been such, return! return! return! A husband’s heart has no door to keep out his spouse, and Jesus’ heart has no power to keep out his people. Return! return! There is no divorce sued out against you, for the Lord, the God of Jacob says,” He hates putting away.” Return! return! Let us get to our chambers, let us seek renewed fellowship; and, oh, you that have never had it, and have never seen Christ, may you thirst after him to-night, and if you do, remember the text I gave you, “Him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.” Whoever you may be, if you will come to Jesus, he will not cast you out. “Come, and welcome sinner, come.” God bring you for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
