“God says.” What a sure foundation indeed for the heart to rest upon. “GOD SAYS” ― the God who “cannot lie” ― “with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Yes, “God says, ‘Whosoever believeth should not perish, but have everlasting life.’”
Such were the words which cheered my heart not long since, gasped out slowly and with considerable effort, but with marked emphasis on the “God says,” by a young stonemason dying of consumption in the infirmary of the Union workhouse of the town I reside in. He had been discharged from the county and borough hospital as incurable, and taken into the Union until such time as it was decided which of two other Unions should shelter him during his last days upon earth; for there was some dispute as to what parish in an adjacent county was responsible for him. In this God had His purposes, and overruled all to His own glory and dear K―’s eternal blessing.
While in the hospital he had been often spoken to about his precious soul, God’s love to the world, and Christ’s “It is finished” work for sinners; but he left apparently unconcerned, like all such cases, thinking―hoping―the would recover. Among others who were interested in him was the house-surgeon, who asked me (thinking he was to be removed to a town at some little distance) if I knew of a Christian who would find him out and visit him in the Union there. I did so, and received answer that my friend would seek him out and put the truth before him.
Shortly after, while visiting the Union infirmary in my own town, in one of the wards I came upon a fine young man lying in a bed in a corner, to whom I spoke, asking him a few questions. All at once it flashed upon me this was the person I had asked my friend in another town to try and find out, and set Christ before. Asking him, “Is your name K―?” he replied in the affirmative.
I tried to point him to God’s remedy for man’s ruin―God’s Lamb―the One at His right hand. He did not seem to care much for this. Noticing upon the stool by his bedside one of those penny copies of the Gospel of John, I asked him where he got it? He said the house-surgeon of the hospital had given it to him. “Shall I write your name in it, and will you let me mark and underline some passages in it for you?” He willingly assented. I forget now what most were, but one, the 16th verse of the third chapter ― “For God so LOVED the world, that he GAVE his only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believeth on him should not perish, but HAVE everlasting life” ― I distinctly remember, and for a good reason, as will be seen.
K― was visited by others as well as by myself, and as far as one could judge, with no effect on his conscience or heart, his bodily strength gradually giving way under the terrible disease he was suffering from. It so happened I did not visit the Union for two or three weeks, absence from home being one of the causes; on my return the one who had given the little book told me, “You will find a change in K―.” I could but rejoice with trembling, knowing how apparently indifferent he had been to the blessed news―not actually rejecting what was said on one’s visits, but meeting the Gospel by what another has too well described by that dreadful “Yes.”
Oh, it does so dishearten when visiting, if one were not cast upon God to carry home His own word to heart and conscience, to be continually met with, “Oh, yes, I know all that, I believe what you say,” while there is no real concern, no anxiety, no sense of being a ruined sinner before a holy, holy God; for as soon as this is really owned, how easy, speaking after the manner of men, to pour in the wine and oil of the glad tidings.
Well, I went to the Union next visiting day, and at once to see K―. He was altered in appearance indeed, very much worse, so weak, and in great pain. I sat where I had often sat before, and asked him how he was. He said he was all right. ‘What makes you think so, dear K―?” With effort he replied, “God ― says ―’ Whosoever ― believeth ― shall not perish but ― have ― everlasting life.’” The Lord be praised! His own work ― His own word, not a syllable as to his feelings or his thoughts in anything. Again I tested the now dying man, and took his hand. “Are you happy?” He nodded, and again gasped out slowly, “GOD SAYS (emphasizing the God says) whosoever believeth shall not perish, but have everlasting life.’”
He took his hand out of mine and laid bold of the penny Gospel of John, which was turned back to back so as to have that pencil-marked and underlined verse open before him; he was too far gone to read it, but he knew and believed it. What a simple testimony to the power of the Word of God! What an unanswerable reason for the hope that was in him. “God says.” We rejoiced now without trembling, and I could praise God for what HE had wrought. I bade him farewell, not looking to see him in the body again down here; he grasped my hand and dozed off.
The next Wednesday, to my surprise he was still at home in the body, and so absent from the Lord; of course much weaker, scarcely able to move his lips; but on speaking to him he brightened up, and as I spoke of God’s love and His satisfaction in the work of His Son, I saw his lips move, and listening attentively, caught what he twice said in the faintest whisper, “Everlasting life, EVERLASTING LIFE,” and ceased, too weak for more. But enough.
Again, one bid him farewell, and we parted until that day when the trumpet shall sound the assembling shout, the Archangel’s voice be heard, the dead in Christ rise first, and then we which are alive and remain be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. He passed away the Friday following, now absent from the body, at home with the Lord.
Dear reader, may this simple account speak to your heart. “God says,” is the point, not what you feel or think. “God says, Whosoever believeth HATH everlasting life.” God also says, “He that believeth not shall be damned.” May it be with you now―today. “God says everlasting life.” God grant it.
S. V. H.