Grace: None Too Young or Old

Free grace had destined one thief on the cross to be the first fruit of the New Testament Church. Very properly a minister, in a catechism class, observed that in the confession of this thief who was converted to God, there are five things noteworthy:

1. He admonished his neighbor: ?Dost not thou fear God?

2. He condemned himself and owned his guilt: We indeed justly.

3. He justified God, and accepted his punishment: We receive the due reward of our deeds.

4. He believed that Jesus was without sin and immaculate, for he said: But this man hath done nothing amiss.

5. He acknowledged Jesus in His Godhead and in His Kingship, for he prayed: Lord, remember me when Thou comest into Thy kingdom. Clearly the characteristics of saving faith manifested themselves in this thief, but it was also evident that he could not find life in the confession itself. He felt the need of the Savior.

However, not to enter any further into the conversion of this thief, we should consider the fact that in the Word of God there is but one example recorded, viz. of this man, who received grace in the last moments of life, and to whom heaven was opened and assurance was given of an entrance into Paradise.

Truly, it is Gods sovereignty to teach one man more theology in one hour than another during his whole life. However, it is not for us to venture on what God can do.

Nevertheless, all these divers ways which God employs in the gathering in of His people at different ages, shall prove to be to the praise and honor of Gods great and holy Name. Still, that example of the thief grants us liberty to preach the gospel and to show forth the way of salvation even till the end of a persons life. God is gracious and of great mercy in Christ to all that call upon Him in truth. There is just one thing in our life that counts, and that is whether God has made a beginning with us and whether it is true. If God has made a beginning, then He will undoubtedly perfect it. The end does not decide it, but the beginning. Clearly and distinctly the apostle Paul declared in Philippians 1:6, Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it (in the margin, will finish it) until the day of Jesus Christ.

And if it has been true in our heart that we have learned to know the time in which we were cut off from Adam and implanted into Christ; a time in which we learned to know a godly sorrow; learned to hunger and thirst after the righteousness of Christ, then the God of all truth in His time shall make it true in our hearts.

The times of our trembling, doubts, and fears may be many in our life; frequently we may be seized with sorrows and vexations, but God crowns His own work that shall be to His honor and glory forever. Those that are at ease in Zion and trust in the mountain of Samaria may indeed quake and tremble! What an awakening it will be, not only for all the unconcerned, but also for all that have journeyed and lived with Gods people, but who were never added to the Church by God Himself and who have never learned to know what was experienced by His people. To count on an entrance into heaven and then to plunge into hell, how dreadful it will bethat self-deception, that missing the mark forever!

There is no work, nor device, nor knowledge in the grave whither we go, and in the place of eternal woe the gospel shall never again be preached. When death enters, the time of grace ends. May the Lord yet open blind eyes, before it be too late forever. May God Himself bind the seriousness and the weight upon the hearts of young and old.

Boys and girls, do break with sin! Forsake the foolish and live; and go in the way of understanding. May God convert you and give you to abhor the world and sin, but may He also create in you a desire and love to walk in His ways.

No hearts are too young to be converted to God, and no hairs are too gray to take refuge unto God.

If there are souls that are fainthearted on account of their guilt and sin, and because they miss God, oh that they might be encouraged! May the consolations of the Holy Spirit become the portion of the disconsolate.

The door of grace is still open. It is still possible to be saved. Christ came to seek and to save that which is lost. The blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, cleanses from all sins.

No hearts are too young to be converted to God, and on the other hand, no hairs are too gray to take refuge unto God. Do not postpone until tomorrow, but Today, if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. It cannot but exceed your expectations if you might find grace in the eyes of God.

If you cannot pray, then groan; if you cannot breath any more groanings, then let your eyes be ever toward the Lord, Psalm 25:15.

Rev. Wm. C. Lamain, who died in November, 1984, was pastor of the First Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Grand Rapids, Michigan for 37 years.

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