The beginning of better days was when Elisha came to Jericho. The
farmers did not lose a chance. They would not allow the prophet to leave
them without having a proof of his skill. They told him their trouble,
and this was all he needed. Doubtless he as a farmer's son saw the
barren fields, and sympathised with them. And does not Jesus look at us
with pity? Is he not waiting to save now? But he will not save where
desire does not turn to prayer. If the men of Jericho had left the
matter where it was they would still have had to suffer loss, but they
stirred themselves to call on one who was mighty to deliver. Is not this
the secret? Are not some of us profitless and barren because we are too
indolent to pray?
But let us pause a moment to consider what a lesson there is here to the
pulpit. Elisha said, "_Bring me a new cruse_." The dish did not cure
the waters, but it had to be used, and therefore must be clean! God is
pleased to use human beings as the instruments of conversion. As the
prophet needed something to contain the healing salt, so preachers and
teachers convey the saving truth. We have no description of the dish, as
to its shape or colour; but being new, it was undefiled. We have this
treasure in earthen vessels, and if we are to be useful, we had better be
cracked, if clean, than entire, but vile.
Mark you, preacher, it is not enough that you are a cruse; you must be
filled with that which heals. Have we salt? It is not a question as to
the quality or style of pottery; it is salt that is needed. A common
flower-pot filled with salt was better than a vase of classic mould if
empty!
Elisha did not waste time by trying to heal the stream. "He went forth
TO THE SPRING." What expense and trouble are thrown away by vain
attempts to heal the water lower down! We shall never succeed in keeping
the tongue from bitter words if the heart is left to itself. It is
useless for men to think blue ribbon will save them from drink if they do
not look to God to take the selfishness out of the heart. It is a wise
prayer, "Cleanse Thou the thoughts of our heart by the inspiration of Thy
Holy Spirit." Is it not strange that men do not see that an impure
fountain cannot be cleansed by either altering the course of the stream
or using remedies lower down?
III.--And then we have THE RESULTS OF CONVERSION. "_The waters were
healed_." Mark you, the prophet took care there should be no mistake as
to the cause. It was neither he, nor the cruse, nor the salt: "_Thus
saith the Lord_, _I have healed these waters_." "It shall be to the Lord
for a name." Let the crown be on the Head. So the waters were healed.
What a change in a short time! But the results would not be seen all at
once; it would take time to prove the _realness_ of the change, yet each
season would only prove the grand conversion that had happened. If we
have received Christ into our hearts, the results will be shown; and
there are no evidences of Christianity better than these true
conversions, which change a man's life, and make it evident that he, like
the fields around Jericho, has passed from death unto life. The other
day, a Lancashire coal-miner was killed in the pit; only a minute before
he was killed he was overheard praising God. He had been a sad drunkard;
his home was wretchedness itself. Money was in his hands only helpful to
hellish enjoyment. But the grace of God changed his heart and life. His
home and family were soon made happy. He became a preacher, went about
from village to village testifying of God's saving grace. In one place
he said: "When I was here last, I won 20 pounds by jumping, but my wife
and children were no better for it; the publican got it all, and I was
locked up into the bargain." He was buried with every sign of respect;
hundreds followed him to the grave, and everyone felt that the world was
the poorer now that he was gone. These are the evidences we want; these
proofs of the truth of the Bible close the mouth of the infidel and
scorner. If you would help on the cause of Christianity, love the truth,
and make the fields, once barren, bloom with beauty; so shall the name of
the Lord be magnified. Shall we not all join in Charles Wesley's
prayer?--
Jesus, Thy salvation bring,
Cast the salt into the spring,
In my heart Thy love reveal,
Nature's bitter waters heal;
Let the principles of grace
Bring forth fruits of righteousness:
Then the barren curse is o'er,
Sin and death are then no more.