Nothing to Pay!

Francis Bourdillon, 1873

There is a medicine which can cure all. It not only will make them better, but fully cure them—make them quite well. This medicine is for rich and for poor, and is free to all. It may be had for the asking. The good Physician who has it to give—gives it for nothing. There is nothing to pay.

A book has been written to tell people about it. Besides that, there are men whose special work it is to draw attention to this book, to explain its meaning, and to persuade the sick to go to the good Physician and seek His medicine.

Yet numbers do not go. They are acquainted with what the book says; they have heard those men speak many times; they know about the Physician and the medicine, and they are aware that no payment is asked. Yet they do not go.

But perhaps they are not sick?

Yes, they are sick, and that of a most deadly disease! Their very life is in danger. If they do not get cured—their sickness will certainly bring them to death.

Yet possibly they do not feel pain, or do not know that they are so ill. Perhaps that is the reason why they do not go? Yes, that is indeed the reason. They have often been told of their illness and danger—as well as of the cure; for this also is written in the book, and the men whom I have mentioned often speak of it. But these people do not feel it, or believe it. At least they do not really believe it. Many of them say they do, but it is too plain that they do not really—or they would surely go for the medicine.

Numbers feel no pain from the disease at all; and many more, though they feel some pain—yet are not aware what causes it. But we know well that a disease may be of the most serious kind, and yet cause little or no pain.

There are such diseases. A person has been known to drop down dead in the street, though he seemed perfectly well. But when he was examined after death, it was found that he had had a deadly disease for years, which might have killed him at any moment. Such is the disease of which I am speaking. Numbers have it, and yet feel no pain from it. This makes it all the worse—for if it hurt them, then they would be more likely to seek the healing medicine.

However, so it is. Millions are suffering from this sickness and are in constant danger of death—yet they do not go to the Physician or seek the medicine.

Do you know what I mean?

Sin is the disease.

Sinners are the sick people.

Jesus Christ is the Physician.

His atoning blood is the medicine.

The Bible is the book.

Ministers and other teachers are the men who explain it.

There is nothing that can cleanse the soul, but the blood of Jesus. Without this, the sinner must be lost forever. But Jesus is willing to apply His blood to every soul that will seek Him, and this will take away all guilt. Jesus asks no price. He came and died on the cross on purpose to save sinners. He willingly came, and nothing could turn Him away from the work. And now He offers to save all who will come to Him, and the terms are "Without money and without price!"

Men do not go to Him because they do not feel themselves to be lost sinners, in danger of eternal death. Conscience is asleep, or its voice is not listened to. The heart is hard and careless. The evil of sin is not seen or felt; its danger is not regarded. Men may be unhappy, but they do not know, or at least they will not own that sin is the cause. Therefore they do not go to Jesus—the blessed Savior Himself complained, "You will not come to Me, that you might have life" (John 5:40). 

That is true of millions now. I do not mean the heathen, who have never heard of Christ, but those who are brought up in Christian churches, and have heard of Him perhaps all their days.

Reader, is it true of you? Have you ever gone to Jesus? Have you ever sought His all-cleansing blood for your soul? Have you ever learned your need of Him, your sickness, your guilt, your danger? Oh if so, at least hear once more (and may the Holy Spirit speak it to your heart!) that you are a lost sinner, that you are in danger of eternal death, that Jesus died to save sinners, that He is willing now to save you, that His blood is ready to take away all your sins, and that this great salvation is "Without money and without price!"

No sick man needs a healing medicine for the body—as much as you need the blood of Jesus for your soul. And this medicine for the soul is to be had for the asking, to be had now, to be had by you!