You are a young convert. You have come
to Christ, and have been saved by Him. God knows this, and you know it; but God
wants you to let others know it. He wants you to own that you belong to Christ.
This is what is meant by “confession”.
Take your stand for Christ!
Wherever you may be, in the
barracks or trenches, on the battleship, in the office or at the bench, and
above all at home, take your stand for Christ at once. Keep close enough to Him
to be at a long distance from an evil man, a foolish jest or a wicked story.
Proverbs 14:9 Fools mock at sin, but
among the upright there is favour.
From the side of Christ down to the
company of fools who make a mock at sin, is a deep descent indeed, and you
will find the return difficult and sorrowful. Be careful what you laugh at.
Christ, the living Bread, which came down from heaven, is your daily food
John 6:35 And Jesus said to
them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and
he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
Do not let the ungodly suppose that you
have a relish for unholy talk. If Christ is your life, then say with Paul: “To
me to live is Christ.”
“What’s your name, Doctor?”
It was on the battle-field. A soldier
lay bleeding to death. Seeing a surgeon passing near, he faintly called,
“Doctor, please.” The surgeon dismounted, attended to the man, gave all
possible relief, and ordered him to be conveyed at once to the hospital. As he
was leaving, the wounded man asked, “What is your name, doctor?”
“Oh! No matter.”
“But doctor, I want to tell my wife and
children, who saved my life.”
Surely that was becoming gratitude, and
do you not think the Lord Jesus deserves as much from you? Does He not say to
you as He did to another,
Mark 5:19 “Go home to your
friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He
has had compassion on you.”
Tell it out, dear young believer.
It will strengthen you. It will be a safeguard to you. It is more likely you
will stand from if you openly confess the name of Christ.
Is confession easy? No, it is not. And it becomes no easier
because it is postponed. Today you may confess Christ with blushes and
awkwardness, with blunders and stammering lips. Never mind; better to confess
Christ so than be silent. Tomorrow it will be much easier, and soon you may be
strong in His strength that you cannot help saying with the Psalmist “Come
and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul”
Psalm 66:16
After all, you will not have to lay down
your life to seal your witness for Christ. It is your confession brings
suffering, which many have endured before you. The history of confession is
written in blood and flame, and tender boys and girls have their record on its
pages. During a massacre of Christians at Marash in Armenia, some years ago, a
young lad was given the option death or of denying Christ, and was instantly
beheaded. When his headless body was taken to his mother to terrify her, and to
convert her to Mohammedanism, she kissed the dead son’s hand, and said, “Rather
so, my son, than living to deny our Lord and Saviour.”
Do not be a coward, but follow in the track of
such brave confessors, who are passing heavenward, led by Christ Himself. You
have countless blessings, may you not miss this one:
taken from The Journey and its End,
compiled by A. J. Pollock
