A warm discussion was in progress in the hotel barroom. Several guests were voicing their opinions. One, however, listened in silence, although he evidently was deeply interested.
The subject of discussion was: Are the merits of Christianity greater than other religions? Two dissenters said that, while Christianity had its own excellencies, it was merely one religion among many; its value was due to the greater number of people who had accepted it as their faith.
After listening for some time, the silent man arose, and approached the disputants. His flushed face and glassy eyes, his very motions as he staggered forward showed that he was under the influence of liquor. Yet he seemed perfectly calm, and spoke with seriousness.
"Gentlemen," said he, "I daresay I know more about Jesus Christ than any of you, yet I am willing to sell my claim to Him for five dollars.”
This strange offer startled the company. They realized the man's condition, and some sneered and ridiculed him. But one man said: "Do you really mean it? Would you sell out for five dollars?”
"Yes," was the reply. "For five dollars cash,—and that's cheap, mighty cheap.”
"Are you ready to sell me, here and now, for five dollars, all your right and claim to Jesus Christ?" "Yes, that's exactly what I said.”
"Very well, I'll buy.”
"Where's your money? Hand over the five dollars and you may take my rights. I renounce in your favor all claims to Christ Jesus forever.”
"Here's your money," said the buyer, showing a five dollar bill; "but you must sign a written agreement.”
"Draw up the agreement and I'll sign.”
An agreement was written and handed to the would-be seller. He carefully read it.
"For the sum of five dollars, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, I, John Jones, now and forever sell my right and claim to Jesus Christ as my Savior. I further agree not to trust in Him at any time, nor pray to Him, nor even ask anything of Him through others; neither will I accept anything He may offer me; neither will I, in any way whatsoever, own Him as my Friend. This agreement is for eternity.”
Taking the pen from the writer of the agreement, the other seated himself at the table to sign his name.
As he again read the document, his hand was stayed. Then he read it again and raised his hand from the paper. After the third reading, he laid the pen aside. Then with trembling hand he took up the agreement and read it aloud.
Next he laid down the paper, leaned back in his chair, folded his hands and fixed his eyes on the document.
"Why don't you sign?" asked an impatient spectator.
"Sign that? Sign that paper? Did you hear it? Sign such an agreement as that? No, sir, never! Would you have a man—yes, or even a savage—I might sign my death warrant, but not that agreement! This is for eternity. That would settle my doom without a possibility of hope, much less escape." Then turning to the buyer, he said: "I do not want your money. I will not take it. If there is a forfeit, I will pay it; but never will I sign that paper.”
The bystanders saw that the man was now cold sober and deeply serious as well, and they listened in silence as he told his story.
"Gentlemen, I had a Christian mother. She taught me in my childhood to pray to God, and to look to the time when I would receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. Before she died, she begged me to prepare to meet her in heaven. Never, until a few moments ago, when in the debauchery of drink I offered to sell all my hopes of future bliss, have I lost the prospect of meeting my mother there. To sign that agreement means that I break all the promises I made to her. It means that I make useless and vain all that I know Jesus has done for me, and render void forever all the prayers that have gone up for me.
"But I came near doing it! One more glass of liquor and my soul would now be doomed for eternity. Just one more, gentlemen! Who says that one glass will do no harm? A single glass more would have doomed my soul for eternity. If liquor will lead a man to sign away his Savior and the hope of his soul, then I am forever done with drink. I have swallowed my last drop. Good-by, gentlemen. I will not sign that paper! I dare not drink again! I cannot remain here. My soul, my eternal future, an eternity of bliss with the Lord Jesus Christ are too precious for me to risk losing them again.”
Without another word the now thoroughly sobered man hurried away. He never returned to that hotel, and from that day he refused liquor. Best of all, it was not long till he became a true Christian.
After he left the barroom that night, the guests of the hotel stood silent. Their faces showed that they had witnessed the great transaction from a farce to what was almost a tragedy. Without a laugh, without a sneer, each man quietly sought his room. The bartender wondered what change had happened to his guests, for no one who had listened to the reading of that agreement drank again that night.
Beloved reader, how easy it is to sell out to Satan! The "pleasures of sin for a season" are deceitful gain—the devil's own snare to your soul. Beware lest he entice you into "the way that seemeth right unto a man; but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 14:1212There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12).
“Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin; and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." James 1:14, 1514But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. (James 1:14‑15).