William Pattison Nicholson has been called the
’tornado’ of the pulpit. He was mightily used by God in Northern Ireland at the beginning of the 20th century. Nicholson was as Irish as the turf and as rugged as the hills of Donegal. But Holy Ghost power rested upon him. In the Belfast shipyard they had to erect a special shed to house stolen tools that converted workers were returning as revival blessing swept through the country. They called it the
’Nicholson Shed’. Men who had broken the eighth commandment were brought to repentance and faith in Christ through ’Billy’ Nicholson.
Notice three things relating to theft:
1. THE WIDESPREAD OCCURRENCE
(a) In scripture
Adam and Eve. Jacob stealing Esau’s blessing. Achan. Absalom stealing the hearts of the men of Israel. Ananias and Sapphira.
(b) In society
Burglary. Car theft. Stealing cashcard PINs. Withholding rent from landlords. Not doing an honest day’s work. Gambling. Kidnapping e.g. Madeleine McCann. Racketeering. Tax evasion. Absence from church services is stealing time from God. How many people go AWOL from God’s house!
2. THE WICKED ONE
John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy". Satan is the biggest thief of all.
(a) He steals seconds
He tries to steal the sinner’s time and the Christian’s time.
(b) He steals seeds
Matthew 13:19 "When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side".
(c) He steals souls
But he has no right to them. They are the property of Jesus. They have been bought at Calvary. Here is the great doctrine of general atonement.
3. A WONDERFUL OBITUARY
Luke 23:39-43. The dying thief.
Died AD 33. As result of crucifixion.
(a) A critic who was silenced
(b) A criminal who was saved
Here is a ray of hope for those who have stolen in some way or other. You need a Saviour just as much as the dying thief did. And that Saviour is offered to you today.
The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in his day;
And there may I though vile, as he,
Wash all my sins away.
