The Manner of God’s Saving Work (3)

In my preceding letter I wrote something about the thief on the cross, who according to God’s sovereignty, was plucked as a firebrand out of the fire. To be sure that man was a striking example of sovereign grace.

The one thief remained what he was: a wicked scorner, for he even reviled the Lord Jesus. True, he was willing to be delivered out of his misery, but his sin was no burden to him... if only he could be rescued from the cross.

Free grace had destined the other 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 deed.”

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, no, 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 his life, and to whom heaven was opened and assurance was given of an entrance into Paradise.

Truly, it is God’s 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 God’s 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 person’s life. God is gracious and of great mercy in Christ to all that call upon Him in truth.

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 makes it true in our hearts.

The time 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 God’s 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 be: that 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 the blind eyes, ere it shall be too late forever. May God Himself bind the seriousness and the weight upon the hearts of young and old. The times in which we live are so dark. God does so withhold His Spirit, and the hardening of hearts increases steadily. The consideration of the growing carelessness should cause our hearts to tremble and shudder. May God have mercy on us and on our children. Impressions of death and eternity are as it were obliterated in many. Hearts and thoughts are filled with games and sports. Generally speaking, the cry is for eating and drinking and playing. What will become of us if God gives us over unto ourselves?

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.

If there are among us souls that are faint-hearted on account of their guilt and sin, and because they miss God, oh that you 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 breathe any more groanings, then let your eyes be ever toward the Lord (Ps. 25:15).

Rev. W.C. Lamain (1904-1984) pastored the Netherlands Reformed Congregations of Leiden (1929-1932), Rotterdam-South (1932-1943), Rijssen-Wal (1943-1947), and Grand Rapids, Michigan (1947-1984).

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