An Everlasting Salvation in Christ JESUS

"Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee." -Isaiah 49:15 [KJV]

Lord, remember David and all his afflictions, (Psalm 132:1.) How comprehensive is this short petition? What a holy boldness, what a filial confidence breathes in it! Yes, says a poor doubting dejected soul, but it came from an eminent saint, but I am a miserable sinner: I am afraid the Lord hath forgotten and forsaken me. Is your mind pained at the thoughts of this? That is a godly sorrow, which the wicked are strangers to. This is one of the afflictions of the righteous. Lord, remember me, is the prayer of faith, to a covenant God. Here is a precious cordial, a heart reviving answer from the Lord. 

Look at that woman with her smiling babe at her breast. See how fond she is of it, how delighted with it. It is part of herself. She bore it with pains, and brought it into the world with labour. Its innocent looks, and helpless cry, call for her tenderest affection and regard. Can she forget it? Can she refuse to shew compassion to it? Will she neglect to administer to its wants, and to preserve from danger the dear and tender son of her womb? Is it possible? Here is an image in nature, which strikes us with the most tender affection, in order to set forth the love and care of the Lord to His people. 

But strong and striking as it is, there have been, there may be such monsters in nature, who have not had compassion upon the offspring of their womb. Therefore, knowing the fears and surmises of our nature, the Father of love, and the Friend of sinners, as it were, corrects Himself; and says, “yea, they may forget”—the comparison fails—this image, yea, all nature is too weak to borrow a representation from. Yet will I not forget thee. 

O may faith take hold, fasten, and live upon this precious word. O may love be excited, and joy increased by it. As though our dear Lord had said, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love,” saved thee with an everlasting salvation, called thee by My grace, made thee know thy poverty and vileness, thy hopeless and helpless state: shall I ever be unmindful of thy distress, deaf to thy cry, and unwilling to relieve thy wants? Impossible! Is the tender infant part of its mother? Remember, “We are members of Christ’s body, of His flesh, and of His bones,” (Ephesians 5:30.) 

In pain and sorrow did the mother bring the infant forth? O what agonies did it cost our Lord to redeem us! Has He been at the pains, to bring us to Himself for salvation? After all this, will He leave us to perish by sin, to be overcome by the world, or to be a prey to Satan? If we think so, we must sadly forget Him Who says, “Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands,” Isaiah 49:16. 

 

My name from the palms of His hand, 

Eternity will not erase— 

Impress’d on His heart it remains, 

In marks of indelible grace.”

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)