November 20

“God, who quickens the dead.” Romans 4:17

THE commencement of spiritual life is sudden. We are far from confining the Spirit to a certain prescribed order in this or any other part of His work. He is a Sovereign, and therefore works according to His own will. But there are some methods He more frequently adopts than others. We would not say that all conversion is a sudden work. There is a knowledge of sin, conviction of its guilt, repentance before God on account of it; these are frequently slow and gradual in their advance. But the first communication of divine light and life to the soul is always sudden—sudden and instantaneous as was the creation of natural light—“God said, Let there be light, and there was light.” It was but a word, and in an instant chaos rolled away, and every object and scene in nature was bathed in light and glory—sudden as was the communication of life to Lazarus—“Jesus cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth!” it was but a word, and in an instant “he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave-clothes.” So is it in the first communication of divine light and life to the soul. The eternal Spirit says, “Let there be light,” and in a moment there is light. He speaks again, “Come forth,” and in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the dead are raised.

Striking illustrations of the suddenness of the Spirit’s operation are afforded in the cases of Saul of Tarsus and of the thief upon the cross. How sudden was the communication of light and life to their souls! It was no long and previous process of spiritual illumination—it was the result of no lengthened chain of reasoning—no labored argumentation. In a moment, and under circumstances most unfavorable to the change, as we should think—certainly, at a period when the rebellion of the heart rose the most fiercely against God, “a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun,” poured its transforming radiance into the mind of the enraged persecutor; and a voice, conveying life into the soul, reached the conscience of the dying thief. Both were translated from darkness into light, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” How many who read this page may say, “Thus it was with me!” God the Eternal Spirit arrested me when my heart’s deep rebellion was most up in arms against Him. It was a sudden and a short work, but it was mighty and effectual. It was unexpected and rapid, but deep and thorough. In a moment the hidden evil was brought to view—the deep and dark fountain broken up; all my iniquities passed before me, and all my secret sins seemed placed in the light of God’s countenance. My soul sank down in deep mire—yes, hell opened its mouth to receive me.”

Overlook not this wise and gracious method of the blessed Spirit’s operation in regeneration. It is instantaneous. The means may have been simple; perhaps it was the loss of a friend—an alarming illness—a word of reproof or admonition dropped from a parent or a companion—the singing of a hymn—the hearing of a sermon—or some text of Scripture winged with his power to the conscience; in the twinkling of an eye, the soul, “dead in trespasses and sins,” was “quickened” and translated into “newness of life.” Oh blessed work of the blessed and Eternal Spirit! Oh mighty operation! Oh inscrutable wisdom! What a change has now passed over the whole man! Overshadowed by the Holy Spirit, that which is begotten in the soul is the divine life—a holy, influential, never-dying principle. Truly he is a new creature, “old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” For this change let it not be supposed that there is, in the subject, any previous preparation. There can be no preparation for light or life. What preparation was there is chaos? What preparation was there in the cold clay limbs of Lazarus? What in Paul? What in the dying thief? The work of regeneration is supremely the work of the Spirit. The means may be employed, and are to be employed, in accordance with the Divine purpose, yet are they not to be deified. They are but means, “profiting nothing” without the power of God the Holy Spirit. Regeneration is His work, and not man’s.