03.03. "Give Your Hand to Fortune"

3. "Give Your Hand to Fortune."

I don’t know why it is, but it is a curious fact that the clergy receive innumerable circulars, inviting them to invest money in every conceivable project, and to risk it in all sorts of ways. A little while ago I received one from Hamburg, setting forth the advantages of a grand lottery under government control. Six marks were to be paid for a share, and this would give a chance of a splendid prize. I thought I would read over the circular, though I have a perfect horror of lotteries, whether put forth in this way, or taking something of a charity form, such as in bazaars. I believe this and every form of gambling to be an unmitigated evil, and that to indulge in it, as a habit, is one of the surest means of ruining a young person. In fact, in my judgment, it is only a refined way of putting your hand in other people’s pockets — or allowing them, if clever enough, to put their hands into yours.

I wish I could get every young friend who reads these pages to side with me in this matter. You may save many a one from a broken heart, perhaps from suicide, by using your influence against this terrible vice of gambling. It has been computed by those who have carefully studied the matter that there is about one suicide a week through the whole year in consequence of the public gambling-tables still allowed in one place in the South of Europe, Monaco, one of the fairest and yet the most fatal spot on the whole Continent. Set your face, my young friend, against this evil. Whether in a rubber of whist, billiards, betting on horses, speculation, or in any other way, use the power you possess to discourage it. It has been truly said that if man is the head, woman is the neck that turns it; and I am sure a young lady might do a vast amount of good, if she tried, in checking this fruitful cause of untold misery. In this particular circular I was struck with one phrase, "Give your hand to fortune." A very poor way, thought I, of giving your hand to fortune, but perhaps a better way might be found. So I noted it down for future use, and perhaps it may serve a turn in suggesting something for the help of those for whom this book is intended.

"Give your hand to fortune." How is this to be done? When I was a boy I remember rather a curious valentine being sent to a young lady who lived near us. She was wealthy, attractive, and accomplished, so that it was not to be wondered at if a good many young men liked to visit at the house, if they had the chance. The valentine was something of a satire upon this. It gave a picture of the house where she lived, and represented not a few young men on the doorsteps leading up to the front door. Some were just going up and knocking. Others were coming away, and they seemed to be returning in sore disappointment at the failure of their suit.

Now it seems to me that young ladies, whether rich and attractive or not, have many suitors for their hand. Or I might put it in another way. I might refer to the old story of Rowland Hill and the lady in her carriage. She had stopped the carriage to listen, as she passed the place where he was preaching. The moment he saw her, he thought how he might win her soul. So he directed his words to her, and said that a lady’s soul was to be put to auction, and there were three bidders. Then he put it that the devil came and offered such and such things, and the world came and offered its delights and varied pleasures — but then Christ came and offered far more, even peace, salvation, and eternal life — and so carried off the prize. Take which illustration you will, whether as bidders or suitors — there are those who lay siege to a young lady’s heart and endeavor to carry it off as their prize.

Here comes Fashion, and, in its train, dress, and show, and jewelry, and whatever ministers to vanity and pride.

Here comes Mammon, with its presents of gold and silver, and perhaps a home where there is every luxury and comfort — but where there is no room for God.

Here comes Music, with its enchanting strains, taking the first place, becoming a ruling passion, perhaps bearing sway even in the House of God, occupying the whole attention, robbing God of the heart, shutting out all true, spiritual worship, and any earnest heed to the Word of life.

Here comes Pleasure, assuming a thousand forms, the dance, the drama, the theater, and I know not what else beside — alluring with its siren voice, deadening religious impressions — leading the soul far away from Olivet, Calvary, and Mount Zion.

Here comes Ambition, perhaps making use of intellectual gifts, perhaps of other means, to rise high in the scale of society — but with no thought of using such a position for the glory of God.

Here comes even Vice, clad in some fair disguise, fed by ideas taken from the light reading of the day, and beguiling the restless and unwary into paths of unspeakable peril. No doubt each and all of these have much to say for themselves, and will not resign without a struggle the effort to make you their prey. Have you given your heart or hand to one or another of these? Or, if not this, have you permitted any one of them to exercise such influence over you, that you have been hindered in serving and following Christ? I am sure you will find disappointment in either course. In the first, the present gratification may seem to be worth something — but what about the dregs of the cup? What will they leave behind when health or circumstances prevent your further enjoyment? In the second case, they will surely rob you of the true peace which Christ is willing to give you.

I have read of a lady in America who could not get the water to spring up in her garden. There was moisture and evidence of water, but no well-spring to refresh it. At length, in digging, she came upon an old under-drain, a hollow tree placed some distance beneath the surface which carried all the water away into the valley beneath. Ah, there is often the under-drain, the yielding to some earthly pursuit or amusement, that the soul is robbed of the real joy and gladness which would otherwise rise up and fill a young life with its overflow of peace and usefulness.

Some few years ago a young lady came to the Savior full of deep sorrow for sin, and asked Him to wash her in His precious blood. He did not cast her out, and she could rejoice that for her sins, He died upon the tree. But she made a great mistake. She trusted Christ as her Savior — but she did not take Him for her portion. She did not look to Him as the source of all her comfort and joy. It may be, she looked to Him for a few crumbs of happiness, but she tried to get most of it from the world. She took one draught of the living water, and then went back to the broken cistern. She wanted to be Christ’s — but she loved the world, and was reluctant to give it up. She tried all the while to think she was right, but down in the bottom of her heart she knew she was not. But the Lord chastened and humbled her, and led her to see where she had gone astray. She learned that what the world calls pleasure scarcely deserves the name, and very soon dries up like a brook in summer, but that Jesus is a fountain always near and overflowing with joy that never fails. So her heart was satisfied, and she could tell others of the comfort and help she had found.

"Give your hand to fortune!" I know of but one way in which you can really do this. I know of but one worthy suitor who may well claim your hand, your heart, your life, your all. Only yield yourself to Him in genuine sincerity, only give yourself to Him without the very least reserve, and you can never be disappointed, nor fail to secure the very best that your heart can desire.

Give your hand to the Heavenly Bridegroom! Take Him as your one chosen portion.

Marriage is a frequent type of the spiritual union which exists between Christ and His Church. In the Old Testament we have frequent reference to this, as in Psalms 45:1-17 : "Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear; forget also your own people, and your father’s house; so shall the King greatly desire your beauty" (Psalms 45:10-11). He betrothes to Himself His Church in righteousness, in judgment, in loving-kindness, in mercy, in faithfulness (Hosea 2:1-23.)

He nourishes and cherishes His redeemed Church. He gave Himself for it, that He might present it to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. And that which is true of the whole Church, is true also of each believer. In this spiritual union, he gives Himself to each and to all. So that the humblest member of His body may say, "My beloved is mine — and I am His!"

Give your hand to Jesus! Think of the honor and exalted privilege which this union brings with it. Who is Jesus?
The Son of the Most High God,
the Lord of life and glory,
the Ruler of all worlds,
the Almighty King,
yes, the Creator and Preserver of the whole universe! And who are you?
A child of dust, the creature of a day, a thing of nothing. Yes, worse than this, you are a sinner, sinful by nature, sinful in practice, and unable of yourself to remove a single stain!

Yet this merciful and gracious Redeemer stoops even to you. He comes to take you into closest union with Himself. He makes you His very own, and calls you by His own name. In this union of Christ and the believer, it is a spring of exceeding consolation that both are regarded as one in the eye of the Law.

Among ourselves we know that the husband becomes responsible for the debts of his wife, and the wife shares the property that belongs to the husband. And with Christ and the Christian, there is the exact parallel to this. When you come to the Savior and trust your soul to Him, then both are one. Your debts are Christ’s debts. Your sin is reckoned to His account. And he says, "All your debt — all your sin I bore on the cross! The terrible score was settled once and forever. No more can the Law ever require either of me or of you." Henceforth "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus." But more than this. All that belongs to Christ, belongs to you! His righteousness,
His white robe,
His Spirit,
His kingdom,
His glory,
all things that the Father has given to Him
— all are yours, for you are His!

What a storehouse of eternal treasure is here! Who can tell the riches of Him who is Head of all things, and into whose hand all things are committed? Nor can this union ever be broken. God hates divorce. When people are joined together in marriage, the hand of one is placed in that of the other, and the words of Christ are repeated, "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder."

If you are Christ’s indeed, not by outward profession only, but by inward faith — you will consecrate yourself entirely to His service, and He will surely keep you even to the end.

You may remember the story of the old Christian who bade his daughter fetch the family Bible, and find the words, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8:35.) Then putting his finger upon them, he said, "I have breakfasted with you here on earth — but I shall sup with Christ in glory," and so entered into rest.

"Give your hand to the Heavenly Bridegroom." But you ask, How can I do this? How is the marriage tie cemented? How is it that people, once perhaps altogether strangers to each other, are knit together in a life-long union? Is it not by mutual consent, founded on mutual knowledge? When the two parties have learned to know and trust in each other, when this knowledge leads to affection, then there is the mutual "I will." The "I will" on the part of the bridegroom is met by the "I will" on the part of the bride. On both sides there must be willingness. If either refuses, there can be no marriage. Here, then, is the very hinge of life and salvation. Christ knows you, all your sin and unworthiness — and yet, out of His own deep tender compassion and love, offers you . . .
Himself,
His free forgiving mercy,
His righteousness,
His grace,
His heart,
His home in glory!

Every sin, all the evil in you and about you, is known perfectly — and yet He stretches out His pierced hands — hands full of precious gifts of grace.

He says to you, "Give me your heart, your life, your all. I will save you, I will bless you, I will be to you your all-sufficient and everlasting Portion!" What is your reply? Have you learned so much the goodness and love of Christ, that you truly, heartily, accept His gracious offer?

It was said by Dr. Chalmers, "I never have so clear and satisfactory a view of the Gospel salvation, as when I look at it in the light of an offer on the one side, and the acceptance of that offer on the other." Be assured that upon the acceptance or rejection of this kindness on the part of Christ — everything depends for time and eternity. Which is it? Is there a voice within which responds to the appeal of Christ? Do you say, "Gladly, joyfully, O Lord, do I take your offered mercy. I am poor and needy, I have nothing but poverty, misery, and sin — yet just as I am — Your promise and Your call is for me. I take You at Your word. I look for all from You. I trust myself wholly to Your care and keeping. Henceforth I am no longer my own, but Yours — Yours to do Your work below, Yours to dwell with You forever above."

Just as I am, Your love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Yours, yes, Yours alone,
O Lamb of God! I come.

If this is so, if you thus by faith accept Christ and yield yourself to Him — then you must not question that all the privileges of this union are yours. In Christ’s death you have died — and no more can guilt be charged against you. In Christ’s life you live, and through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit you have life-giving power and all the grace the Spirit brings. You are risen in Christ to newness and holiness of life. In Christ you are even now exalted to heavenly places. He has sat down in His kingdom, and in Him you are to reckon yourself as already dwelling in Mount Zion (Hebrews 12:1-29).

Moreover, you are to rely upon His tender sympathy in all your cares, trials, and difficulties. You are never to look upon yourself as left alone to bear the very least of them, but to remember you are one with Him, and He knows and provides, and will order all for good. Nor are you to forget that there is one very special duty linked to these privileges. You are separated unto Him. The worm at the root of half the religion of the present day is, that Christians come down to mingle too much with the children of the world. You ought to be courteous and considerate to all. You ought to be congenial and kind and bright and pleasant wherever you go. But mind that you do not step out of Christ’s pavilion, to sit down among His enemies, or among those who turn their back on Him. That word of Christ, thrice repeated at the most solemn hour of His life, ought to be often pondered by His own loved ones, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world" (John 15:19, John 17:14, John 17:16).

Whatever others may say, be faithful to your Lord. Cleave only to Him. As many a young lady has been willing to go far from former acquaintances in company with one to whom she has been united; and if the object of her choice is really worthy of her, she is happier far than ever before — so must the duty of the Christian to Christ be paramount above every other consideration. He never bids you immure yourself in a nunnery, or take vows of celibacy, but He does bid you be separate from evil, and whatever tends to evil or to hinders your service to Him. A few lines of a recent Christian hymn point out the deep, the abiding joy which is found in Christ alone:

O Christ! in You my soul has found,
And found in You alone,
The peace, the joy, I sought so long,
The bliss until now unknown.

Now none but Christ can satisfy,
No other name for me;
There’s love and life and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee.

There is a matter of great practical importance to young Christians very closely connected with this subject. Union with Christ is the very hinge of life and salvation — and both in cementing this union and maintaining it, much precious help may be found in the use of various means of grace.

Holy Communion, received in faith, is a blessed means of maintaining unbroken your fellowship with Him. It brings you nearer to His cross. It reminds you of His matchless love. It tells you that He is always near. It points you to His glorious appearing. When you come to His table from time to time, He meets with you, and breathes upon your heart His gentle Spirit. He strengthens your faith, and feeds you with the heavenly manna. He recalls to your recollection His faithful promises, and you renew your covenant with Him.

I do not forget that, by prayer and meditation in His Word, He likewise mightily works in the hearts of His people, and of these means I have spoken elsewhere. But you can afford to lose no help, and therefore never neglect His dying command, never be ashamed to confess Christ at His table. Never turn away with those who refuse His grace and mercy.

See, the feast of love is spread,
Drink the wine and break the bread,
Sweet memorials, until the Lord
Call us round His heavenly board;
Some from earth, from glory some
Severed only until He comes!