What Does It Mean?
O reader, have you given attention to that which is contained in the word SALVATION? O man, think of this; it concerns you more than all other objects taken together for which the whole world is in pursuit.
Salvation is worth a thousand times more than health of body, in comparison with which men consider money no object, and for the hope of regaining they lavish gold and greenbacks as free as dirt. Salvation is more to be desired than all the glory and pleasure that the highest honors of earth can yield. Yea, it places the soul upon a plane so elevated as to receive the admiration and adoration of heaven. “If any man serve me,” saith the Lord, “him will my Father honor.” (John 12:26) It places a man far above the highest object of earthly ambition. It gives him a kingdom greater than Alexander or Napoleon ever swayed scepter over. “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) Even the “kingdom of heaven.” “They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17) And this glorious reign is not located in some future age—John, writing to the seven churches in Asia, in the first century of Christian grace, declared that Jesus Christ, who is the faithful Witness, the Prince of the kings of the earth, him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, hath also “made us kings and priests unto God and his Father.” (Revelation 1:5-6) As again seen in this beautiful book of symbols, at the very opening of the plan of redemption, the blood-washed celebrated the praises of God with “a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10) And Peter calls God’s church “a royal priesthood,” (1 Peter 2:9) i.e., a priesthood of kings.
All who live in sin are slaves to their own lusts, and are not able to govern themselves. But salvation makes us kings in rule over our own selves; over our passions, appetites and desires. “He that ruleth his spirit [is better] than he that taketh a city.” (Proverbs 16:32) Salvation also places us in kingly triumph over all the elements of this world; over sin, fashion, and popular sentiments; over the devil himself (who claims to be the ruler of earth); a master of the situation of life, with a peace that nothing disturbs; and a joyful faith in God which sees all things working together for our good, and contributing to our happiness.
Salvation is greater riches than all the gold, silver, and valuable treasures of this earth summed up together. A treasure that never faileth; a wealth so great that, to the happy possessor, everything of earth is, in comparison, reduced to dust and dirt. O “the unsearchable riches of Christ!” (Ephesians 3:8) “Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9) How rich? “He that overcometh shall inherit all things.” (Revelation 21:7) “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32) Yea, has given. “For all things are yours. Whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come, all are yours.” (1 Corinthians 3:22)
So teaches the word of God, and so bear witness all who have tested His wonderful claims. Reader, look back over that long line of holy martyrs, who, in the possession of this great treasure, gloried in tribulations, and shouted for joy amid the flames. They disdained life, with all it could offer, when tendered to them as a compensation for their hope in Christ. There behold the eternal and incalculable value of salvation. If then, such unbounded wealth, such innumerable blessings, and such infinite bliss and happiness are all treasured up in salvation, who can afford to be indifferent to the glorious treasure? But again we ask, What does it mean?