I FIRST thought there was some great thing to do in order to be saved, and for months I wrought as hard as ever I could, in good works and religious duties, to attain, if possible, to the standard. But I was still uncertain whether or not I had reached it. After a good spell of religious duty, I thought surely this must be enough―but still the doubt remained. I was not at rest; how could I when I sought salvation where it is not to be found. I sought it by works, and God has distinctly said, it is 'not of works, lest any man should boast' (Eph. 2:99Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:9)). It took long to convince me of this My own restlessness, together with a secret consciousness that there was something still awaiting caused me to go here and there, listening to preachers of various shades of opinion, in the hope that I might get further light. But I found the opinions of men were just as unsatisfactory as my own. Some said one thing; some another. It was perfectly evident that a number of the preachers I heard were as much in the dark as I was. I could gather from what some of them said, that they were in the same difficulty as myself, and had no certainty of their salvation. I spent months of anxiety, at times bordering on hopelessness, and wondered if ever I would see the light. I knew full well that some whom I met occasionally were possessed of a peace to which I was a stranger. They spoke with certainty of their salvation. They were not afraid to confess they were the children of God. O how I longed to be as they were. I would have given all that I had to be sure of my eternal salvation. In the providence of God I was led into the company of a young woman―a simple servant maid―whom I met on the road one evening, and we began to speak of the things that concern the soul. Frankly, and with a simplicity I had never seen before, she told me that she had known the Lord, and rejoiced in His salvation for several years. ‘It was the story of the serpent lifted up in the wilderness that showed me how simple the way of salvation is,' she said. I used to think I had some great thing to do,
and some great change to feel, but I saw from that simple type that there was nothing to do at all, only to look and live. Jesus has been lifted up upon the Cross: He has finished the work. Now, whoever looks to Him, or believes on Him, receives life eternal. ‘I LOOKED: I LIVE.' In a moment, just as the dear girl uttered these words, I saw what I had been longing to see for years. Jesus had done the work; nothing was left for me to do. I had only to look and live, and, blessed be God, like my fellow-traveler I can say―'I LOOKED: I LIVE!’”