Enduring Grace
Salvation is not granted to men as the result of anything they are, or do, or resolve to be, but it is the undeserved gift of heaven.
C.H. Spurgeon
One day in the 17th century a tired and weary sinner stumbled upon a book. Having wrestled much with sin and finding no respite for his guilt, a young John Bunyan found water for his soul. He wrote:
“Well, after many such longings in my mind, the God in who’s hands are all our days and ways, did cast into my hand one day a book of Martin Luther’s; it was his comment on the book of Galatians. It also was so old that it was ready to fall piece from piece, if I did but turn it over. Now I was pleased much that such an old book had fallen into my hands, the which when I had but a little way perused I found my condition in his experience so largely and profoundly handled, as if his book had been written out of my heart. This made me marvel, for thus thought I, this man could not know anything of the state of Christians now, but must needs write and speak the experience of former days…I do prefer this book of Martin Luther upon the Galatians, excepting the Holy Bible, before all books that ever I have seen, as most fit for a wounded conscience. And now I found, as I thought, that I loved Christ dearly. Oh, methought my soul cleaved unto Him; I felt my love to Him as hot as fire.”
Grace abounding, John Bunyan
“But you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
II Cor. 8:9
On this 500th anniversary of the Reformation, may we not only be thankful for men like Martin Luther that God has used to awaken the souls of so many, but more importantly may our love for Christ and His Word be kindled afresh that we too may cry out, “I felt my love to Him as hot as fire.”
Because of grace,
Tim
