The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-10-27

by such a standard. The Hgnt that
makes all things manifest has searched
him through and through, and forced
from his lips the cry. "Woe is me. for
| am undone; because / am man or
unclean lips'-a proper ltterance for
any man whose heart and conscience
have been penetrated by the light hat
streams from the throne of God.
How highly do men think of them
selves until they are brought face to
face with Cod Then they see them
selves as they are, for the hidden
chambers Of the heart are flung open
and the secret springs of action laid
bare.
In the light of Gods holiness Isaiah
saw himself guilty, ruined, helpless
sinner at an Unreasonable distance
from Him, and with no ability to meet
the claims of that holiness. He heard
the cry Of the seraphim, Holy" and
the only response was his contrite
one, "Undone"
But this is the first step to saliva
tion--the first essential thing for
blessing: to accept Gods estimate of
myself, to give up all pretension be-
fore Him and to receive His sentence
of utter condemnation upon all the
world. And to this, the light of Gods
throne brings every soul.
The Remedy.
But behold! The very instant the
contrite heart gives utterance TO the
conviction of its ruin, that instant the
mercy Of God provides a remedy. And
the very light that shows the sinners
ruin reveals the perfect remedy. Then
flew one of the seraphim unto me. hav-
ing a live coal in his hand, which he
had taken with the tongs from of the
altar; and he laid it upon my mouth
and said. Lo, this hath touched thy
lips, and thine iniquity is taken away
and thy sin is purgeG."
Simple, immediate and forever eff
fectual is the provision of grace. On
the sinners part is but the confession
of the ruin wrought by sin: on Gods
part, all the rest. No long, laborious
process Of cure; no conditions Inn
posed; no works Of self-help enjoined.
Mark the manner of It'll "Then
FLEW one Of the seraphim." How II
discloses the eager heart of God to
meet the need that He has revealed.
There can be no delay on His part,
and nothing can hinder the outflow Of
His grace to the self-confessed sim
ner.
God Himself can find nothing
against the sinner with whom His
grace has dealt
But how strange the means that are
used "A live COAL" red-hot with the
fire Of sacrifice. Gods own symbol Of
his wrath and indignation against sin.
"Our God Is a consuming fire." whose
wrath is revealed from heaven" and
though He love the sinner, love cannot
change His holiness. All, then, how
can that infinite holiness justify me
when stand in His presence, ruined
and undone through sin? 1t seems as
impossible as that q live coal should
purge instead of blasting. But see !
It Is a coal "from the altar" and "a
live coal" still, but being from the al
tar Of sacrifice, 1t does not blast. but
purges.
And when I turn to the epistle to
the Romans. / find the proclamation
of the truth that is pictured here:
Coos righteousness does not condemn
the believing sinner, but justifies him.
For the cross on Calvary, where d.
vine wrath was poured out to the ut
most upon Another. who was there In
my stead, Is the altar where the work
Of righteousness was done. There
Gods righteousness has been declared,
and though still antagonistic to sin.
It Is not against the believing sinner.
but on his side; because Its claims
have been met by the One who was
made sin for US, that we might be
made the righteousness Of God In
him"
The Result.
And here, as everywhere in these
Gospel stories, we are permitted TO
see the practical results in the whole
hearted conservation Of the cleansed
and forgiven sinner to the service of
God. Nothing had Isaiah to do for
salvation. but plenty to do for the
Savior, and in the Joy of conscious ac-
ceptance. upon hearing of the need of
messenger, he cries, Here am I;
send me-" The order. as all else. is
perfect. No service for God until the
throne and the altar have done their
work. The light Of the throne must
show you what you are. and the pro.
vision OF the altar must show you
what Christ Is before you can serve
Then there can be no withhold
ing of ones SELF Let me but
know what grace has wrought on m,
behalf. and the cry of my heart In