Now, it is an illustration you can all understand; there is no one here but knows what it means. When a man offers himself, the woman must do either of two things—either receive or reject him. So every soul in this hall must do one of these two things—“receive” or “reject” Christ. Well, if you receive Him, that is all you have to do, He has promised power.
THE RICH HUSBAND.
There was a shop-girl in Chicago, a few years ago; one day she could not have bought a pound’s worth of anything; the next day she could go and buy a thousand pounds’ worth of whatever she wanted. What made the difference? Why, she had married a rich husband; that was all. She had received him, and of course all he had became hers. And so we can have power, if you only receive Christ. Remember, you can have no power without Him; you will fail, fail constantly, until you receive Him into your heart; and I have Scripture authority to say that Christ will receive every soul that will only come to Him.
SEEKING A WIFE.
You know that Abraham sent his servant Eliezer a long journey to get a wife for his son Isaac. When Eliezer had got Rebekah, he wanted to be up and off with the young bride; but her mother and brother said, “No, she shall wait awhile.” When Eliezer was determined to go, they said, “We will inquire of the damsel.” And when Rebekah appeared, they said to her, “Wilt thou go with this man?” That was a crisis in her life. She could not have said “No.” Undoubtedly it cost her an effort; it would, of course, be a struggle. She had to give up her parents, home, companions, all that she loved, and go with this stranger. But look at her reply; she said, “I will go.”
I have come to-night to get a bride for my Master. “Wilt thou go with this man?” I can tell you one thing that Eliezer could not tell Rebekah; he could not say, “Isaac loves you.” Isaac had never seen his bride. But I can say, “My Master loves you!”
HE GAVE HIMSELF FOR YOU.
Ah, that is love! But bear in mind, my friends, that the moment Rebekah made up her mind to accept Isaac he became everything to her, so that she did not feel she was giving up anything for him. Ah, what a mistake some people make! They say, “I’d like to become a Christian if I hadn’t to give up so much.” Just turn round and look at the other side. You don’t have to give up anything—you have simply to receive; and when you have received Christ, everything else vanishes away pretty quick. Christ fills you, so that you don’t feel these things to be worth a thought.
When a bride marries a man, it is generally love that prompts her. If any one is here that really loves a man, is she thinking of how much she will have to give up? No; that wouldn’t be love. Love doesn’t feed upon itself, it feeds upon the person who is loved. So, my friends, it is not by looking at what you will have to give up, but by looking at what you will receive, that you will be enabled to accept the Saviour.