February 4, Evening

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Your refuge from the avenger of blood." — Joshua 20:3 · KJV

In the land of Canaan the cities of refuge were so placed that any man could reach one of them within half a day at most. Even so the word of our salvation is near to us: Jesus is a present Savior, and the way to Him is short — it is but a simple renouncing of our own merit and a laying hold of Jesus to be our all in all. The roads to the city of refuge were carefully kept: every river was bridged and every obstruction removed, so that the fleeing man might find an easy passage. Once a year the elders went along the roads and put them in order, so that nothing might hinder anyone's flight and cause him, through delay, to be overtaken and slain. How graciously the promises of the gospel remove stumbling-blocks from the way! Wherever there were side-roads and turnings, sign-posts were set up reading, "To the city of refuge!" This is a picture of the road to Christ Jesus. It is no roundabout road of the law, no obeying of this and that and the other; it is a straight road: "Believe, and live." It is a road so hard that no self-righteous man can tread it, yet so easy that every sinner who knows himself to be a sinner may by it find his way to heaven. As soon as the man-slayer reached the outskirts of the city he was safe; he did not need to go far within the walls, for the suburbs themselves gave protection. Learn from this that if you only touch the hem of Christ's garment you shall be made whole; if you only lay hold of Him with "faith as a grain of mustard seed," you are safe. A little genuine grace ensures the death of all our sins. Only waste no time, do not loiter by the way, for the avenger of blood is swift of foot, and it may be he is at your heels this very hour of evening.