Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-04-04

Our text tells
us 'has what Jesus Christ was yester
uiy' he Is today, and what he is to,lav
he VIII be forever. and what ba vii,
De forever he always has been. Let us
take THESE three expressions concarn-
li!S our Lord, which Iii vide, time I'm in.
10 Past. present and future. and permit
'hem to direct our Thought concerning
ourselves and the Lord Jesus Chris,
First. there is the yesterday Of orr
ilFPS. Ihat covers all the past IN to
ihe present moment. Looking back
over 1t, Ii seems ama-t infinite. in IFS
feach, and yet We are told that the
longest life is after Ill ONLY rs tho
span OF mans hand, as yaDor that
pa>Seth away, or as a tale that is told.
btit What Il sweep the Yesterday of our
HE seems TO have, as we think of if
80 much has happened, and 50 much
III 1t has been imperfect and unsati>-
factory, and, let us speak it frankly.
sinful. Now it is behind us, and. 80
rar as we have any power over
II, 1t IS ullalterable We cannot change
it if We would. neither can We undo if.
nor wipe it out. What we have been
and what we have done in the vestnr.
day of our lives is unalteruble. and wa
are absolutely helpless, of ourselves
concerning it.
1t IS right here that the Lord Jesus
Christ is ready to come in, it we will
only let him, and save us from the sins
OF our yesterday. What we cannot do
he IS able and willing to do for US.
These three expressions of time
concerning Jesus Christ are the three
lenses of salvation which he provides
those who trust him. He saves them
lfo.n their past sins. No matter now
vile or sinful life may have been, lie
mas made ample provision by his death
on the cross for the yesterday of that
life that accepts him as Saviour. "In
whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness Of sins"
Second. there is the TODAY Of our
lives. That IS, the eternal now OF lie
that we call the present. Life is no,
SIMPLY past record that needs
strengthening out; it IS present thing
tfat has to be lived, and every mo-
ment. as it comes, is the now of life.
Even with the past cared for hy
Christ. We constantly face the present
with its problems, difficulties and
temptations. Having lived in the past.
we know that unless there be given US
some power in the present not found
IN ourselves we shall not be able to
live SO that when the present becomes
the past it shall not be as the deplor-
able yesterday.
Thank God, the One who is willing
anu able to deliver us from the yester-
day of our lives is just as willing and
able to deliver us today Now, this
very moment, HE ever liyeth to make
lhtercessl0n for us The apostle puts
1t clearly when he says ROmans
o:lOO For if when We were enemies
we were reconciled to God by the
death of his Son. much more being
reconciled we shall be saved by his
life" What life? Not his past life Of
tnlrty-three years Oh earth, but by his
present life, communicated to those
VINO become united to him by faith, so
that he imparts to them his own life,
ana thus saves them from their sins.
i ms is the present tense Of salvation
which Christ provides those who trust
him.
Third, there is the eternity Of our
llveS. mat is the period when time
Tor us is no more. Life on earth has
been finished, and we have entered
upon the ages of the ages. What then ?
Who will be our Saviour? Is there one
able to save us in the future? Yes.
thank God, the very One who, il we
have made him by faith our Saviour.
mas saved us from our yesterday. and
is saving us today, will be our Saviour
forever. This is the future tense OF
salvation, for Christ is the unchange-
able One who rs able to save to the
uttermOSt all who come unto God by
him. This blessed fact. is plainly
stated by the apostle: 'Much more
then, being now justified by his blood,
| we shall be saved from wrath through
him." We thank thee that thou art
Interchangeable, 0 Christ, the same yes
| terday, today and forever our Saviour