(ii) ONE WHO RETURNED
Kenneth Turner
Isaiah 51: 11-12 (“… that comforteth you”)
Our beloved brother was one who returned. We should all, no doubt, take that place, that we have returned. I knew him, as probably some others here, when he was a young man, over fifty years ago, and then there was a gap, and then later our brother returned. He returned to his own father, literally he returned to his own father, but he also returned to God. I have no doubt that he heard the preaching many times in that little room in Barrow on Humber, but later he returned to his beloved father, and he returned to the Saviour, the Saviour God. He came into the joy of being ransomed, being redeemed. There is a way of return through the blood of Jesus: he came that way and returned. He was of the ransomed who returned, the ransomed of the Lord Jesus and came under the control and sway of the Saviour, the Lord Jesus. He came to know the One who had died for him who, “gave himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2: 6); he embraced that and returned, not only to his own father, but to God, His Father, and to the Lord Jesus, coming to know Him as His Saviour, and Lord.
And, as has been said, he was a preacher. At one time I went to Barrow and his father entertained me when I was preaching, and we have entertained him when he has come to Rotherham to preach, we have enjoyed having him and loved him. Now there is gladness and joy for him. He came into gladness and joy through the glad tidings and that will be his portion for ever. He is already with Christ, which is very much better, away from all the sorrow and sighing which belongs to this poor world. For he is in the presence of Jesus, he is in paradise with the One who died for him. That is a wonderful thing but what is to come is even more wonderful. Our brother has mentioned Zion, and sovereign mercy, and he will enjoy mercy forever in the bright realms above as a vessel of divine mercy, “before prepared for glory”, Rom. 9: 23.
May we just be encouraged and comforted as to our brother. It has been a great comfort to find someone who returned. We do hear of persons going away, but perhaps not so many returning. We would like to see some return, including some that are here today. Come back, return to God, your Maker, “Jehovah thy Maker”, Isa 51: 13. He created us for His own glory and for His eternal praise. Why should we not have part in it now? Why should we not have part in the joy now, the joy that we are going to have? Our brother knew something of eternal life, here. He will have it in eternity, what a blessed portion is ours, and we shall be with him then and surrounding the One who made the way through for us, our blessed Saviour, “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”, John 1: 29. Have we all trusted Him? Have we all bowed the knee to Him and come into this joy now, the joy and peace in believing? May the Lord bless the Word.