A Minister's Experience
By Rev. G. P. Mackay
SOME years ago a friend of mine in Yorkshire wrote to me saying he had heard I had taken hold of some strange views regarding the doom of the finally impenitent, and he would like to know what these were. I replied that it was quite true that my mind had been changed on this sad subject. I no longer believed in the eternity of future torment, but held that the wicked would be cut off everlastingly after the judgment of the great day. I said that this light that had broken out upon me from God's Word had made our Father in heaven dearer to me than ever, and the Bible a clearer book than it had been before. My friend immediately answered that he was satisfied with the orthodox belief upon the matter, and he was sure I ought to be. In order to win me back to the old path he would like to have a debate with me by correspondence. And as I much appreciated his candor, kindness, and Biblical knowledge, I at once asked him to begin the discussion by proving from the Bible the natural immortality of man. This would be the right course, I said, as he was going to take the side of orthodoxy, and that affirmed that all men shall live forever. In a day or so a note came informing me that my proposal was accepted, that there were many passages in God's Word which stated man was an immortal being, and that he would prepare a list of them for me. I knew full well that he could not produce such a list; however, I waited patiently to see what he would further say. About a fortnight after, I received a letter inviting me very urgently to go to see my friend, for he found himself in dreadful difficulty regarding the task he had undertaken. Being able to arrange it soon, I paid the requested visit; and never shall I forget his look when he said that, to his amazement, he could not find a single verse in all the Book which declared man to be immortal; on the contrary, in his search many turned up which taught the mortal nature of mankind. He further said that the few passages which at all gave plausibility to the ordinary view of future punishment appeared now most unsatisfactory to him; and a little further conversation revealed to me the fact that he already had received the truth of immortality in Christ alone. How Had He Come to See It?
Simply by searching the Scriptures on the subject. “These,” said Jesus, “testify of me.” My friend had gone to them with the theory that he had received from the instructors of his childhood, and had searched for it in vain. Then throwing all prejudice overboard, he had sought for truth, and was rewarded. He was by the truth made free from former error, and is now rejoicing in the knowledge that the God of love shall mercifully prevent the wicked living forever, but proffers immortality to those who obey the gospel. Now Why Tell This to You?
First, because truth on all subjects should be published. The world is not suffering from an overstock of knowledge, and he who has any word to speak that will benefit his fellow men should out with it. Truth may at times be unfamiliar and unpalatable to the hearers of it, but he who knows he has it must still not keep it back. In the second place, if you are a Christian, you will be thankful to have this truth presented to you; because it vindicates your God, and mightily exalts your Saviour. By unbiased study of the Word of God you will find—- That man is nowhere styled immortal.
- That he is always represented as frail and perishing.
- That to prevent him from perishing, our Lord appeared.
- That life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel.
- That these are granted on condition of repentance and faith.
- That the disobedient shall, after judgment, die eternally.
The whole is presented in that well-known passage: “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23. Again: if unconverted yet, I tell it you that you may perceive your danger, and flee from it. So long as you think yourself immortal, you are inclined to hope that somehow or other you will get out of future retribution. I tell you, Nay; except you believe upon the Son of God, you shall surely die, and that forever. O, accept him as your Saviour, now, and rejoice with us in “life in Christ.”—Rev. G. P. Mackay.