Jun 14
7
Solitude Sweetened – by James Meikle, 1730-1799
JUBILEE
Everything that was written of old, was written for our instruction, on whom the ends of the world have come. Now, Israel, when redeemed from Egyptian bondage, had both a sabbatical year appointed them, and the great Jubilee. The first was every seventh year; and the last when fifty years were completed. There was also a release, when, after six years service, the man-servant and maid-servant were set at liberty. All these Israel, by divine command, observed; and though their deliverance from Egyptian bondage was thereby commemorated, yet it respected a much diviner and more interesting liberty. In the year of Jubilee, the land was to rest In the Sabbatical year the laborers were rest. And by the third the lawful heirs returned to the inheritance of their fathers.
And, may not this prefigure, the deliverance of individuals from the slavery of sin, into the glorious liberty of the sons of God? Is not here shadowed out the salvation of the world, from the ignorance, idolatry, and darkness, that had overspread all nations?
But though the Jews had both their sabbatical year, and great jubilee, yet they could not be made perfect without the gospel-dispensation. Therefore, all their grand epochs were only typical of “the acceptable year of the Lord,” when the great High Priest of God, with the trumpet of the everlasting gospel, proclaimed liberty to the captives, the opening of the prison-doors to those who were bound, not only through all the land of Israel—but to the ends of the earth. It was not strange, that the saints who lived in the times of types and shadows, should not be made perfect without us; but it is strange that the saints who fall asleep in Christ, and so have past their week of trouble, and entered on the year of release, on the sabbath of rest, (so graciously has God connected things,) though possessed of all felicity, cannot, without us, who are expectants of the same state, be made perfect; as their souls wait for the resurrection of their bodies; that the whole man may exalt and enjoy him, who is very God and very man.
Now, though the seventh year Sabbatical was very pleasant and divine, yet the fifty year Jubilee in all respects excelled it very far, being proclaimed with loud sounding trumpets to the ends of the land, inviting the captive to liberty, and the impoverished heirs to their paternal estates.
But the Jubilee of the glorious gospel is the glad tidings of great joy to all people, and a general proclamation to disinherited spendthrifts and bankrupts to return, through their elder Brother, who has redeemed the mortgaged inheritance, to the full and ample possession of spiritual things, of which they shall never be again despoiled.
But the grandest and most glorious Jubilee of all, is the jubilee of glory—when the great trumpet of eternity shall be blown, and the saints, who now seem outcasts in the land of death, shall hear and assemble, and enter into the full possession of the everlasting kingdom. In this great and last Jubilee, all former deliverances shall be summed up, so that there shall be no after-mortgaging of the inheritance, as might take place among the Israelites, no fears of being dispossessed of the land of promise, which often vex the Christian’s bosom.
The blast of the ram’s horn was heard all over Israel, the sound of the gospel all over the world; but the last trumpet shall be heard in heaven, earth, and the grave! So that the saints in all ages shall be equal sharers in this jubilee—which shall end all their sorrows, and begin their everlasting joys. Then shall they enter, not into a sabbatical year, that can be succeeded by time—but into a sabbatical eternity, even an eternal Sabbath of rest which shall never have an end!
—
SALVATION TO THE UTTERMOST
“This is the resting place, let the weary rest; and this is the place of repose”—
“He is able also to save them to the uttermost.” Hebrews 7:25
What, to many, would all the other “three score and ten palm-trees” avail, if they had not this one to rush to for shelter?
The pressing, urgent question with thousands of anxious souls—overwhelmed with the weight of aggravated transgression, is this, “Can the God-Man-Redeemer be a Savior for us? A shelter for others, can these Palms afford sure refuge for the guiltiest?” It is the old controversy that Satan has with not a few, whom he first goads on to presumption, and then, when entangled in his meshes, he seeks to drive to despair. Many such has that relentless guard shut up in the deepest dungeons of “Doubting Castle”—gloomy cells, where the sunlight is forbidden to enter—and rung over them the knell of extinguished hope. The crushing thought of personal unworthiness—the memories of guilty bygone years, rise up before them like avenging angels.
What! this Savior and this salvation for me—it cannot be! I have plunged madly into sin—not, like others, because I have never been warned—never counseled—never known the tenderness of a mother’s prayers, nor the sanctity of a father’s entreaties, nor the privileges of a hallowed home. I have been oblivious of all these. Even now, I seem to listen (though in years long gone by), to voices which I have lived basely to scorn—to counsels I have trampled on—the retrospect all the sadder by the reflection that the lips which spoke them are hushed in the grave—and the arms that of old caressed me, as on Sabbath night I knelt by the beloved knee, are decaying in the tomb! What! Christ receive me, with all that diary of a misspent, godless, defiant life unveiled to His omniscient eye!—deeds of depravity—outbursts of fiery passion—malignant purposes of revenge; my own bark sunk—and worse it may be than this, miserable wrecks, for which I am guiltily responsible, strewing the shores. Mine is not, as it is with many, a mere upper layer of iniquity; but it is deposit on deposit—strata piled on strata—the mournful consolidation of a life of sin. Ten thousand echoes ring “lost!” along the dreary corridors of the past. “Surely my way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God!” There may be room and welcome for every weary traveler at Elim and its grove, except for me!
No, not so! As aggravated as your case is, it is never hopeless; you cannot hear your spiritual death-knell tolled, so long as you can read the golden letters which head this meditation—”Able to save completely.” You may have been a sinner to the uttermost. You may have gone the sickening round of all life’s follies—run riot of its whole enchanted circle—O Israel, you may have destroyed yourself—there may not be one redeeming feature in your case—not one apparent gleaning left for the grape-gatherer. You may be a stripped, defenseless, degenerate vine—fit only for the axe and the cumberer’s doom. But hear the words of God—”In Me is your help.” “I know the thoughts which I think towards you—thoughts of peace and not of evil!”
It is told of Bilney, in the time of the Reformation, that on obtaining Erasmus’ translation of the Greek Testament, he hurried away with it and shut himself up in his room in Cambridge. On opening its pages, his eye caught the words—”This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” He laid down the book, and meditated on the astonishing declaration. “What! Paul ‘the chief of sinners,’ and yet Paul is sure of being saved!” He read the verse again and again, exclaiming, “Oh assertion of Paul, how sweet are you to my soul!”
Downcast Pilgrim, in the dreariest of moral deserts! if, with true and sincere penitence of heart, you plead for pardon, “with the Lord there is unfailing love, and with Him is full redemption” (Ps. 130:7). What a wondrous utterance is that—a lustrous jewel sparkling in a dark setting—found in the 18th verse of the opening chapter of Isaiah’s prophecy! One would have supposed, after the dreadful indictment contained in the preceding verses, that any hope of forgiveness must be closed against the rebellious race—”The people laden with iniquity.” But, all at once, the tolling of the funereal bell ceases; and the joyful chime that has borne hope and comfort in many an hour of spiritual desolation falls upon the ear—”Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord—Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”
Or, take another declaration of similar import: “I, even I, am He that blots out your transgressions, for My own sake, and will not remember your sins.” “I—even I”—the very Being you have most deeply injured—whose Spirit you have grieved—I, the Almighty Creditor, am ready to grant and sign a full discharge—”Whoever comes to Me, I will never drive away.” The Stronger than the strong man armed, sounds the silver trumpet of jubilee, “He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound,” and blessed have been the millions who have heard that joyful sound! “How useless it is,” says an earnest thinker lately lost to the world, and who knew from deep-felt experience the truth of his own words—”How useless it is to tell the desponding, or those distressed by consciousness of guilt, of any remedy but a Savior’s blood. It is here that the true test and proof of the Gospel lies. It is light to the blind, strength to the weary, and consolation for the brokenhearted.”
“All in weakness, all in sorrow,
Savior God! I Thee implore;
Lifting up the sad petition
You have often heard before,
In the former days of darkness,
In despairing times of yore.
“For a present help in trouble,
You have never ceased to be;
Since, at first, a weeping sinner
Fell before You trustingly;
And Your voice is ever sounding,
Come, you weary ones, to Me!”
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” John MacDuff.
—
THE GREAT I AM
Exodus 3: 13-15
Christ revealed himself in the burning bush as God, saying, “I AM”. During his earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus declared himself to be God by saying, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.” (Jn 8: 58; 10: 33; 36; 6: 35) It means he is God in every aspect of our salvation. Here are seven things we need in order to be saved. These seven things the Lord Jesus Christ is as God, the great I AM.
Spiritual Life: The Lord Jesus said, “I AM the Bread of Life.” (Jn 6: 35) Every person reading this was born dead, without spiritual life. Christ is the Bread who gives Life and is Life. By his Spirit we are born again and we eat. We eat of the Bread of Life by faith, believing on Christ. (Jn 6: 28-29; 40-48)
Spiritual Light: The Lord Jesus said, “I AM the Light.” (Jn 8: 12) We are born in darkness in sin. If we would see, we must have Light; if we would have life we must have Light. Christ is the Light of the world. His Light, like the sun shining all over the world, shines into the hearts of his people, enlightening us to life wherever we are in the world. He that follows Christ shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of Life.
The Way, the Truth and the Life: Christ said, “I AM the way, the truth and the life.” (Jn 14: 4-6) The only way we know God is by Christ teaching us and being formed in us. He puts us in Christ the Way. He teaches us Christ the Truth. He gives us Christ the Life—“no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Entrance: Christ said, “I AM the Door.” (Jn 10: 7) All God’s people shall enter God’s presence one way, Christ the Door. If someone sneaks in through the window they are a thief, a robber. Christ’s sheep come through the door. (Jn 10: 8-9)
A Shepherd: Christ said, “I AM the good Shepherd.” (Jn 10: 11) The good Shepherd gave his life for a particular number of elected sinners whom the God the Father gave to him before the world was made. He did not lay down his life for the sheep but make it possible for goats to become sheep if they will just give their horns to Jesus. (Jn 10: 14-15) The success of Jesus Christ putting away the sin of his people, obtaining eternal redemption for us by his one offering, is where the very glory of God is set forth. (Heb 1: 3; 9: 12, 26; 10: 12 -14; Rom 3: 25) By laying down his life for his sheep the law is fulfilled for his sheep, justice is satisfied for his sheep, sin is put away for his sheep, righteousness is accomplished for his sheep, and redemption is obtained for his sheep. Now, the righteousness of God demands that they must be called by our gospel, regenerated and given faith in Christ Jesus and they shall.
Fruit: Christ said “I Am the true vine.” (Jn 15: 1, 5-6) He is the Vine in whom we live and bring forth fruit. He grafts us into the vine in divine election. His spirit is live flowing into us like sap from the vine to the branches. All fruit is by Jesus Christ. ((Php 1: 11)
Resurrection: Christ said, “I AM the Resurrection.” (Jn 11: 25-26) If there is one work a sinner cannot do then he must have Christ to do them all. Sinner, can you resurrect yourself from the dead? Then you must have Christ do all the work from A to Z. If we would be partakers of resurrection glory and eternal life, he who is the Resurrection and the Life must be ours.
Friends, you cannot find another Salvation for there is no other than Christ the great I Am. Salvation is of the Lord. How can I know this salvation is mine? How can I know this Savior is mine? “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (Rom 10; 9) – Clay Curtis.
—
The word ‘uttermost’ is a comforting description of the people Christ came to save. Christ is able to save the most sinful, most vile, most wicked, most impossible, most helpless, most useless, most distant, most perverted, most unbelieving, and most worthy of hell! Christ has the power, the will, and the right to rescue every sinner who’s utterly lost. In fact, He came to save only those who are LOST! Are you a lost cause? Are you the most wicked and unworthy of God’s mercy? Are you so perverted and corrupt that you suppose Christ cannot save you because you’re too far gone? Will you hear the word of God? “He is ABLE also to SAVE them to the UTTERMOST that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” He intercedes for those who come to God by Him. If you come to God by Him, it is because He has always interceded for you, long before you knew His blessed name. Eric Richards pastor of San Diego Grace Fellowship