10 Look and Live!

Look and Live!

"Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:22 There are two extremes in God’s universe — Heaven and Hell; and we appear to be situated between them.

There are two opposite states among God’s intelligent creatures — sin and holiness; and we are in one of them. Holiness is the only preparation for Heaven, sin qualifies for Hell; a sinner could not be happy in Heaven, and a saint would have no comfort in Hell. But sinners, as such, cannot enter Heaven — nor shall saints ever enter Hell. The passage of scripture at the head of this piece, is addressed to lost sinners. It is addressed to us. Let us consider it with seriousness and prayer. Observe,

First, theobjectto be obtained—salvation. This may include deliverance from temporal evils and earthly troubles — but it principally refers to the salvation of the soul.

Salvation is deliverance from the dominion ofSIN. We are by nature under sin’s power. It rules and reigns in our hearts. Like a tyrannical usurper, sin sways its scepter over all our faculties:
the understanding is blinded,
the conscience is stupefied,
the affections are carnalized,
and the will is perverted!

Sin has the power of a law within us, and we all yield to its authority.

Now, from this we must be delivered, before we can . . .
serve God acceptably,
be happy on earth, or
prepared for Heaven.

Salvation is deliverance from the vassalage ofSATAN. We are all led captive by him at his will. He works in all the children of disobedience. He has seized our persons. He keeps possession of us by artifice and power. We are his slaves. His temptations being adapted to our circumstances and constitutions — we naturally fall in with them. It is only for him to suggest — and we embrace; to solicit — and we obey. He leads us into sin, and in the way to Hell, by his devices. From the bondage of Satan, we must be emancipated.

Salvation is deliverance also from the WRATH OF GOD. This we deserve. Our sins have aroused it. We are threatened with it. Hell is but a display of God’s righteous wrath. Perseverance in sin increases it, therefore sinners are said to be "treasuring up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God will give to each person according to what he has done." Romans 2:5-6.

Secondly, thedirectiongiven. "Look unto me, and be saved!" Look away from everything else:
from your own inward feelings, and from outward works;
from religious services, and personal sufferings.

Look through all ordinances and means — to Christ alone. They cannot deliver. If you trust in them — you are undone. Nothing can remove the guilt of sin — but the blood of Jesus. Nothing can destroy the power of sin — but the Holy Spirit. Look therefore through the bible you read, the religious services you attend, and the prayers you offer — to Jesus alone. He says, "Look unto me!" Fix the eye on him.

Look intently, as the beggar does on the benevolent person from whom he expects to receive alms.

Look in faith, or believing that he will be as good as his word, and do as he has said.

Look and expect a full salvation as a free gift. He confers it as a favor. He gives it without money and without price. He bestows it on all who look unto him. No one can have a better reason to expect it than you have. He says, "Look unto me and be saved."

Look unto him continually. However guilty you may feel. However depressed your mind may be. However you may be tempted, tried, and harassed. Let nothing keep you from looking to him.

Look to him for all that you need. For righteousness to justify you. For grace to sanctify you. For wisdom to guide you. For strength to enable you to do, or suffer the will of God.

All that you can possibly require is in him. All is included in the word, "salvation." Look unto him, as the poor suffering Israelites did unto the brazen serpent, which Moses placed on the pole in the midst of the camp. They were all commanded to look, and every one that looked, lived! You are commanded to look, and if you look you shall live forever.

Thirdly, thepartiesaddressed. "All the ends of the earth." In Jerusalem Jesus was first lifted up, and every Jew that looked unto him received eternal life. But the blessing was not to be confined unto the Jews, for Jesus is for salvation unto the ends of the earth. The Gentiles therefore at the extremities of the world, are bidden to look and be saved. This reaches to us. We are the very people intended. We should conceive of this matter, as if God were personally addressing us. To us is the word of this salvation sent. The ends of the earth extend to the East, West, North, and South. It includes all. There is no exclusion. No previous qualifications are demanded. No conditions are required. It is simply, "Look and live!" "Believe and be saved." Whoever will, may come and receive this invaluable blessing freely. All are bidden, and all should look.

Reader, sin has placed you at the very mouth of Hell; one stroke — and you fall in and must perish forever! But lying as you do in this dangerous position, the Lord calls to you, he is addressing you at this moment, he says most distinctly; "Look unto me, and be saved." You need not perish, for I can save. Look unto me, and you shall not perish, for I will save you.

Fourthly, theencouragementheld forth. "For I am God, and there is none else."

"I am God." I am able to save — for I am omnipotent. My eye can see you. My ear can hear you. My arm can reach you. My grace can change you.

There is no difficulty in the way. I can save you with ease and with certainty. I will save you with pleasure, and rejoice in your deliverance.

"I am God," and have authority to save you, and to warrant you to look to me, and to be saved by looking. You are my creature. It is my law that you have broken. It is my justice that you have injured. It is against my government that you have rebelled. But I declare unto you, that if you will look unto me — that I will certainly save you.

"I am God," and I have wisdom to direct you; therefore listen not to Satan. Yield not to unbelief. Stagger not at the simplicity of the means. "I, the only wise God, say to you, my poor, sinful, foolish creature — that if you look unto me as I direct, you shall not perish — but shall have everlasting life."

"I am God," and this may answer for my sincerity. I am the God of truth. I mean what I say. My words are truth, and they are firmer than the pillars of Heaven. Heaven and earth may pass away — but my word shall not pass away. Can you not believe, when your God speaks? Will you not obey, when your God directs?

Ought you not to expect, when your God promises.

"There is none else" who can save you, therefore look unto me. My dear Reader, see the folly of looking anywhere, or to anything for salvation — but the Lord. He says, "I am Jehovah, and beside me there is no Savior." See also the impropriety of laying down conditions of salvation, for unless you call the direction to look, a condition — there is none. It is simply, "Look unto Jesus, and be saved."

Fix your mind on the simplicity of the gospel method. How much like all God’s works and ways. Here is nothing complex or difficult. It is simply, Look and live.

Observe also, the nature of unbelief. It is refusing to believe God’s promise, and to obey God’s direction. It is turning away the eye from him to someone, or to something else. He complains, "You have turned to me your back, and not your face."

What vast encouragement is here given to sinners — to every sinner who reads or hears this passage. And what an aggravation must it be to the torments of the lost, to think that by looking they might have been saved — but they would not! May this never be our painful reflection! To prevent it, let us look to Jesus; let us look and expect a cure; let us look until we are made whole and happy. Look and live is God’s merciful direction!