A Loss That Was a Gain

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 3
 
A Christian gentleman was hurrying to catch a train, but through his watch being two minutes slow he lost it. The thought came into his mind:
"I'll walk on to the next station."
As he went he saw a young man walking from the rectory. He went up to him and asked him the question:
"Where is your rector?"
"He is dead," said the young man.
"And did he preach Christ?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Well, my friend, have you accepted Him?"
The young man seemed indignant, and there was doubtless a struggle going on in his mind.
"Now, my friend," said the Christian, "don't reason. 'Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above); or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring Christ up again from the dead). But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.' Rom. 10:6-96But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:6‑9). "Now," added the gentleman, "do you believe in Him? It is just as simple as that. Do you accept Jesus for your Savior?"
A strange light broke upon the young man's countenance. With his whole heart he replied, "Yes, sir, I do."
And, like the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8, "he went on his way rejoicing." One minute a lost sinner; the next saved, safe for ever, as the Lord Jesus said:
"He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death into life." John, 5:24. And again:
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16).
So may it be with you, dear reader: "Heareth"; "Believeth"; Hath"; "Shall not come into condemnation (judgment)"; shall not perish."