Dr. Walter Wilson
THREE GREAT THINGS
T hree common and yet unusual topics occupy our thinking for this message: a gate, a stone and a day. All three of these are found in Psalm 118. Incidentally, did you know that Psalm 117 is the shortest chap ter in the Bible? Psalm 118 is the middle chapter in the Bible. Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bi ble. In my reckoning, the middle verse in the Bible is Psalm 118:8, “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” How true is that wonderful statement we need to have oft repeated. In the 22nd verse of this same chapter we read, “The stone which the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner.” This, of course, refers to the Saviour. Verse 20 declares, “This gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter.” Again the reference is to Christ." Finally in verse 24 the statement is, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Here are the three lovely things about the Saviour. In the first place the way to enter into life eternal is by the gate. Thank God for this gracious opening. God wants you to be with Him forever in heaven. The gate, which is Christ, is always open. There are no specified hours; the way is constantly avail able to you. If you could keep all of God’s commandments you would be quite a person, accomplishing that which only Christ in actuality was able to perform. There are 625 com mandments in the Bible and most of us break a number of them every day. They can never save you; it is only through the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ that salvation is obtainable. He is the only Saviour of sinners. The reason we should en ter through the gate is because we are lost. We are bom sinners. The only way to become a part of God’s family
is by Christ (John 14:6). Jerusalem had 12 gates at the time of Nehe- miah. God wanted the people to get in and out. He has also provided a gate to glory for He is not willing that any should perish. The Lord wants to take us through and then to guide us in the way of peace and righteousness. In the 22nd verse there is that interesting reference to the stone which the builders refused. This is a stone because of its strength, dura bility, power, and firmness. When I was 15 years old (now I am 83) I came to the Rock, Christ Jesus. He is just the same today as He was then. He hasn’t varied a bit. He is the stone on which you may safely build your life, not only for time, but also for eternity. This stone became the headstone of the corner. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes” (verse 23). What have you done with the Stone? God has given you the Lord Jesus for a foundation on which to build for eternity. How sad it is that there are so many people in the world who have stubbed their feet and fallen over this precious stone. The worst enemies of the Cross are found in religious circles today. In the pur suit of money, people in so-called Christian America have no time for the things of God. Fathers, have you tried to bring your boy to the Lord Jesus? Or have you taken this step for yourself? Our country is headed down hill fast because we are raising a group of young people who are ig norant of God's Word. It is pitiful. How few people know anything about the Rock of Ages. We consider too that “This is the day which the Lord hath made.” This refers to Christ who is our Sabbath. The word means “rest” which is ex actly what the Saviour wants to bring to individuals in this sin-weary world.
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