The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1919-03-28

Our text tells
us that what Jesus Christ was yester.
day, he is today, and what he is today
he viii be forever; and what he will
be forever he always has been. Let US
take these three expressions concern
ing our Lord, which divide time up In
to past, present and future, and permit
them to direct our thought concerning
ourselves and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First, there is the yesterday of ouz
lives. That covers all the past up to
the present moment. Looking back
over it, It seems almost infinite in its
reach, and yet we are told that the
longest lifa is after all only as the
span of mans hand, as vapor that
passeth away, or as tale that is told.
But what a sweep the yesterday of our
life seems to have, as we think of 1t.
SO much has happened, and SO much
In it has been imperfect and unsatis.
factory, and, let us speak 1t frankly,
sinful. Now 1t is behind us, and. so
far as we have any power over
1t, 1t is unalterable. We cannot change
it If we would, neither can We undo 1t,
= nor wipe 1t out. What we have been
and what we have done In the yester-
day of our lives is unalterable, and we
are absolutely helpless, of ourselves
concerning 1t.
It Is right here that the Lord Jesus
Christ is ready to come in, IL 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
from their past sins. No matter how
) vile or sinful a life may have been, he
has made ample provision by his death
on the cross for the yesterday Of that
life that accepts him as Saviour. sin
whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness Of SINS"
Second, there Is the today Of ouI
lives. That Is. the eternal now of life
that we call the present. Life Is no
simply a past record that need:
Strengthening out; 1t Is present thinl
that has to be lived, and every mo
ment, as 1t comes, is the now Of life
Even with the past cared for b!
Christ, we constantly face the presen
with Its problems, difficulties ant
temptations. Having lived In the past
we know that unless there be given u
some power in the present not foun'
In ourselves we shall not be able t
live so that when the present become
the past 1t shall not be as the deplor
able yesterday.
Thank God, the One who is willinl
and able to deliver us from the yestel
day of our lives Is just as willing an
able to deliver us today. Now, TIL
very moment, "He ever liveth to max
tntercession for u.s." The apostle put
1t clearly when he says (Roman
$40: "For IL when we were enemle
we were reconciled to God by tn
death Of his Son, much more bein
reconciled we shall be saved by hi
iife." What life? Not his past life Q
thirty-three years on earth. but by hi
present life, communicated to thos
who become united to him BY faith. 8
that he imparts to them his own liz
and thus saves them from their sin
This Is the present tense OF salvatio
which Christ provides those who tru'
him.
Third, there is the eternity OF OF
lives. That is the period when tin
for us Is no more. Life on earth hi
been finished, and we have entere
upon the ages Of the ages. What ther
who win be our Saviour Is there OF
able to save US in the future7 Ye
thank God, the very One who. IL v
have made him by faith our saviou
has saved Us from our yesterday, 81
il saving us today, win be our Savio'
forever. This Is the future tense
salvation, for Christ Il the unchane
able One who as able TO save to q
uttermost all who come unto God
him. This blessed fact Il plain
stated by the apostle: much mo
then. being now justified BY his bloc
we shall be saved from wrath throu'
him." We thank thee that thou :
unchangeable. o Christ. the same u
terday. today and forever our Savio'
Christian prcmise&