The Traveller's Guide

[Frances]

64 –Only two Ways

Only 2 ways:- the broad and the narrow. One downward, the other upward. One to destruction, the other to Life. One taken by many, the other by a few.
Which is yours?

Only 2 sorts of people:- Saved sinner, or unsaved sinner. The chaff and the wheat. The sheep and the goats. The Living or the dead. Which are you?

Only 2 deaths:- That of the righteous and that of the wicked; that of the Saved and that of the Lost. Which are you?

Only 2 futures:- either ‘Come ye blessed to eternal Life’, or ‘Depart ye cursed, to everlasting punishment.’ What will be yours? You can settle it now, tomorrow may be too late.

[Frances]

65 – Cancelled and Nailed

Among the Orientals there is a beautiful custom that tells the story of Christ’s atonement on the cross very clearly. When a debt had to be settled, either by full payment of forgiveness, it was the custom for the creditor to take the cancelled bond and nail it over the door of him that had owed it, that all passers by may see that it was paid. O, blessed story of our remission! There is the cross, behind which we, a bankrupt world, lie in hopeless debt to the Law. See Jesus, our surety, coming forth with a long list of our indebtedness in His Hand. He lifts it up where God, and angels and men may see it, then as the nail goes through His Hand it goes through the bond of our transgressions to cancel it, forever blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us. O Sinner, you cannot wash out your Sins by tears, or atone for them by good works, but look at Jesus on Calvary, and see God saying “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sin.”

[Frances]

66 – Safe, then Happy

“Oh, sir, I think I understand the Gospel now, and believe it, yet I am not as happy as I expected.”
“Why, friend, you are away after your feeling. Remember, it is not written, ‘he that believeth, and is happy, shall be Saved’ but ‘whosoever believeth shall be Saved’ whether they are happy or not. The greater thing is to be safe rather than happy; but when we know that we are safe in Jesus, we are sure to be happy. Suppose that you were in debt, and in fear about not being able to pay it, what is wanting is to know the debt is paid; when that is done you are safe, and then are sure to be happy. Has not Jesus paid your debt and answered for your crime? Is not Jehovah satisfied with the Work of Christ? What has satisfied Him aught to satisfy you.

[Frances]

67 – Satan Repulsed

Luther said, ‘Once upon a time the devil came to me and said “Martin Luther, you are a great Sinner and you will be damned.”
“Stop, stop” said I “One thing at a time. I am a Sinner, it is true, though you have no right to tell me of it. I confess it. What next?” “Therefore you will be damned” “ That is not good reasoning. It is true I am a great Sinner, but it is written, ‘Christ Jesus came to Save Sinners’ therefore I shall be Saved. Now go your way” (1 Peter 5:8)
‘The devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.’

[Frances]

68 – The Astonished Slave

A British merchant, who had taken his passage in a Turkish vessel on the Levant, had his attention drawn, during the voyage, to an interesting slave, a Mussulman. He got into conversation with him and found him intelligent and quick and of strong, lively affections. He drew from him some particulars of his history, and found that he had been free-born, but had been made a captive of war. The merchant began to entertain the thought of effecting his release. Cautiously enquiring as to the sum requisite for this purpose, he found it was greater than the mercantile profit of the entire voyage. However, an offer was made and, at last, accepted.
The slave, who had overheard part of the conversation, cried out “And you call yourself a free-born Briton, and enemy to slavery, and yet purchase me? Have I not as much right to freedom as you have yourself?” He was continuing in this strain of burning invective, when the merchant turned his eyes affectionately upon him, and said “I have bought you to set you free”. Immediately the storm of passion was hushed; the slave fell at the feet of his deliverer and said “You have taken my heart captive. I am your willing slave forever”.
Reader, when you heard of One who would have you for His own, did you rebel? How little you realised it was out of pure love for you! Does not your heart break as you think of these words “to set you free” the price was paid; and can you but say to the One who gave His life for you “I am your slave forever”? God says you are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20) “purchased with His own blood (Acts 10:28) “Redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:19).

[Frances]

69 - In A Ring of Fire

An ungodly European was once trying to convince a Christian convert in India that his religion was of no use, and that he never would be any better for it. “What has your Jesus ever done for you” asked the scoffer. “He has Saved me” said the native. “I will show you. Step with me to the door” said the native. He made a large circle of dry leaves and placed a worm in the centre of the ring. Forthwith he applied a match to the dry leaves surrounding it. As the heat of the fire approached the worm it began to writhe but could not escape the fire. The man plucked the worm out of it’s dangerous position and placed it on green grass out of danger. “That is what Jesus has done for me. Jesus rescued me from Hell by dying for my Sins, snatching me as a brand from the burning, and has given me a place near His heart.” Can you, thus, speak of yourself as saved by the death of Jesus? Are you able to say ‘He Saved me’? If not, take shelter in His blood, and you will be delivered from the wrath to come. “When we were yet without strength, in due time, Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6) “Ye were as a firebrand plucked from the burning.(Amos 4:11).

[Frances]

70 – For the Ungodly

Do not suppose that because Christ died for the ungodly all the ungodly will be Saved. Such reasoning would be very shallow. Were the king to charter a fleet of ships to take all the poor to New Zealand free, and then send forth a proclamation that on a certain day the ships would sail, we know that all the poor would not go, though it was open to them to do so. Many might; but others would prefer to remain in poverty. In the same way Christ died for the ungodly but His death only shields from Judgement as many as believe, accepting Christ as their substitute.

[Frances]

71 – Learning to Float

There is a story told of a young man, who was seeking after the knowledge of eternal security and Peace with God. The friend to whom he had confided his difficulties, discerned very quickly that he was striving to attain everlasting life by his own efforts. He spoke of ‘sincere prayers’ and ‘heartfelt desires’ after salvation, but continually lamented that he did not feel ’any different in spite of it all’.
The friend presently enquired ‘Did you ever learn to float?’
‘Yes I did’ was the surprised reply.
‘And did you find it easy to learn?’
“Not at first’ he answered ‘because I could not lie still; I could not believe or realise the water could hold me up, without any effort of my own, so I always began to struggle, and went down at once.’
‘And then?’
‘Well, then I discovered that I must rest and give up all struggle. It was easy enough after that; I was able to lie back in the fullest confidence that I would not sink.’
‘And is God’s Word not more worthy of your trust than the changeable sea? He does not bid you wait for feelings. He commands you just to rest in Him, believe His Word, and accept His Gift. His message of Life reaches down to you in your place of ruin and death, and His Promise to you is “The Gift of God is eternal Life , through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
“They shall never perish and none shall snatch them out of My Hand’ (John 10:28)

[Frances]

[72 – The Seven Wonders

What are the seven wonders of the world? How is it that everyone does not know all about them? Some are heathen temples or statues of false gods. What are they to us? Some of them are crumbling to ruin, and those that remain will be of small account in the day when God says ‘heaven and earth shall pass away.’ Has knowledge of them ever brought comfort to a troubled heart or peace to a dying bed? Have tears been dried, or the rest of heart been given by the recollection of seven such wonders? Why, half the people in the world have never heard of their existence, and many of those have forgotten their names! But we have another wonder to tell you about, one that infinitely surpasses any wonder of earth; one that concerns you – a wonder that can bring joy to you now, and that can supply all your future need. It is that ‘God so Loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting Life.(John 3:16). Why should He Love the world, this black, lost, ungrateful world? One of you might take up some vile degraded stranger from the streets and lavish kindness on him, but you would not love him, especially if he repaid your kindness with base ingratitude, hating you, often seeking to drag your name in the dust – in an oath. Nay more, would you, if this wretch incurred the penalty of the law and forfeited his life for some crime – would you give your only child to take his place? The picture is not half drawn; it is only a feeble outline of the real fact – the wonder of the world – that we have to tell you about. That you are the lost wanderer, the ungrateful wretch; and it is the God of heaven who gave His only Son for you, when you have so fairly earned the wages of Sin – which is Death – the Lord Jesus gave His blood as your substitute, and died in your stead. The greatest wonder of the world.
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[Frances]

73 - Life in a Look

There is life in a look at the crucified One,
there is Life at this moment for thee;
Then look, sinner look at Him and be Saved;
unto Him who was nailed on the tree.
Oh, why was He there as the bearer of Sin,
If on Jesus thy Sins were not laid?
Oh, why from His side flowed the Sin-cleansing blood,
If His dying thy debt has not paid?
It is not thy tears of repentance or prayers,
But His blood that atones for the soul;
on Him then, who shed it, thou mayest at once
thy weight of iniquities roll.
Then doubt not thy welcome,
since God hath declared
There remaineth no more to be done;
that once in the end of the world He appeared,
and completed the work He begun.
But take, with rejoicing, from Jesus at once,
the Life everlasting He gives;
and know, with assurance, thou never canst Die,
since Jesus thy righteousness Lives.

[Frances]

74 – Wise for Time, a Fool for Eternity

Men may live without Christ – but they cannot die without Christ. You may scoff at heaven and hell but they are realities, God’s Plan. It seems foolishness to you, but ‘the foolishness of God is wiser than men’ and if you are not determined to die as a fool, you must bring your foolishness and reasoning and intellect to this, and thus get pardon. If you reject so great a Salvation there remains nothing for you but fearful Judgement. Remorse, anguish, despair! Why, these words don’t half describe what will be in those regions where hope will never come. But why come to this when the Son of God who Loved you and gave Himself for you, is even now beseeching you to believe that He has died in your stead? And it is not only pardon that Christ offers you today, but with it He gives all the good things which you have sought in vain from Satan.

[Frances]

75 – The Broken Safe and Discovered Will

The son of a wealthy Christian man in America, had become wayward and extravagant in his habits; and finally quarrelling with his father, because he had refused him all the money he demanded, had left home in anger, and given himself up to a reckless life. For a long time he continued an abandoned wanderer. Becoming at one time very straightened, and being brought to the verge of desperation, he determined to break into his father’s house in the absence of the family, thinking since he knew well where the valuables were kept, that he could find means to relieve his necessity, thinking his father owed him a living. He succeeded in effecting and entrance into the house, and safe, and began his search and found among some papers his father’s Will. With curious eye he began reading that Will. To his utter astonishment he found his name among the heirs, and a large bequest set against it. The father against whom he had cherished such bitterness, intended to give him a portion with the rest. He realised that in spite of the dishonour he had brought on his father he was still ready to treat him as a son. Such was the effect of this realisation that they were the means of bringing him to repentance and reconciliation with his father. Have not your thoughts about God been just the same? Have you tried to shut God out of your thoughts, or have only thought of Him as One who was angry with you? How did you come to have such mistaken ideas? If you only knew He is waiting to embrace you, and to assure you of full and free Forgiveness of all, and to tell you of all the bright inheritance which is waiting for you, if only your will claim it. Yes, Peace if found not by praying, not by repenting, not by reforming, not by feeling, but first by hearing and then by believing God’s message – by simply realising what Jesus has already done for you.

[Frances]

76 – More Than a Friend

An incident took place at a soldier’s grave in one of the southern states of America. A person was seen decking it with flowers, and a stranger asked, with a tone of sympathy if his son was buried there. The answer was ‘no’. ‘Whose memory then may I venture to ask, do you thus so sacredly cherish?’ Pausing a moment from emotion he replied ‘When war broke out, I was drafted for the army. Just as I was leaving home to report for duty, a young man came to me and said ‘You have a large family to support. I am a single man and have no one dependant on me – I will go for you. ‘ He went. In the battle of Chickamauga the poor fellow was dangerously wounded, died, and was buried here. Ever since his death I have wished to visit this place and today I have found his grave.’ He planted the rest of the flowers, then taking a board he inserted it at the foot of the grave. On it were written these simple words “He Died For Me”. I know your heart will glow when you think of that noble fellow’s generous and self-sacrificing love for his friend. Does it not glow when you think of the One who died for you? Is that deed forgotten and not one loving, grateful thought given to his dear memory? Jesus died for you, and far more so. And how have you treated Him? He knew you did not love Him, not care for your soul. The soldier might have returned, but Jesus knew He went forth to die for you. He knew you would be lost if He did not. He died a most agonising death – all for you.

[Frances]

77 – Just Stop Doing

Yes, just stop ‘doing’ and begin to trust Christ to do all, and you are safe. A man is rowing a boat on a river just above a dreadful cataract. The current begins to bear him downward, the spectators on the bank give him up for lost. But in another moment a rope is thrown towards the wretched man; it strikes the water close to the boat. Now how does the case stand? Do all the spectators call upon him to row harder to reach the shore? Oh no; their eager united cry is ‘Drop the oars, catch hold of the rope.’ So all the sinner’s hope lies not in struggling to save himself, but in ceasing to struggle; for while he tries to accomplish the Work of Salvation he will not look to Christ to do it for him. It is not ‘doing’ but ‘yielding’ that is required.

[Scooby_Snacks]

77 – Just Stop Doing

Yes, just stop ‘doing’ and begin to trust Christ to do all, and you are safe. A man is rowing a boat on a river just above a dreadful cataract. The current begins to bear him downward, the spectators on the bank give him up for lost. But in another moment a rope is thrown towards the wretched man; it strikes the water close to the boat. Now how does the case stand? Do all the spectators call upon him to row harder to reach the shore? Oh no; their eager united cry is ‘Drop the oars, catch hold of the rope.’ So all the sinner’s hope lies not in struggling to save himself, but in ceasing to struggle; for while he tries to accomplish the Work of Salvation he will not look to Christ to do it for him. It is not ‘doing’ but ‘yielding’ that is required.

I just love this.