When walking along a lane in the country some time ago to visit some cottage folk, I saw an old woman sitting on the bank making pot holders. Though longing to speak to her about her soul, my courage failed me as I passed. She did not speak as I had hoped she would; but after going a little way, I turned back and spoke to her about her work. She gave me a pleasant answer, and I felt encouraged to ask if she were saved.
"No," she replied. "That is the very thing that is troubling me, and has been for a long time. I've asked many people. One told me one thing and one would say another. Not one could tell me how to be sure I am saved.
"At one time," she continued, "I even went to the minister. I thought surely he would know all about such things. But he told me to pray, and to do the best I could, and so on. This did not satisfy me, and I am more miserable than ever."
I said to her: "The best thing we can do is to see what God says about it." I sat down beside her, and we opened our Testaments together. She had a little one that she always carried in her bag. We read in John 3: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up... that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."
We marveled together at God's love, and the way in which He had provided a Savior, His own Son, who had gone to the cross and borne the wrath due to our sins. He had borne it all, and glorified God so perfectly about it, that God had raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand up there in the glory, for poor sinners to look unto and be saved. Then we read, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
She sat quietly drinking it in for some time. Then she put her worn old hands together, and lifting her eyes to heaven, she said slowly: "I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and so I must have everlasting life. That's what I wanted! Now I can go on my way happy in the Lord."
We then thanked God together for His love to us; and for a long time we sat talking about that precious Savior and what He is now doing as the High Priest who is passed into the heavens. He is bearing our names ever before God on His breast, and sustaining us down here in the wilderness through all the weakness and sorrow of the way. He has given us the blessed hope of His coming again to take us to be with Himself in the glory.
It was a happy time for us both under that wayside hedge. When we parted, I gave her my address on an old envelope, and about six months later she came to see me. She said she wanted to see me again and to tell me she had never lost her peace with God since. She had been quite happy, and was looking forward to being with Him who had saved her.
Perhaps you, dear reader, are like this old lady. Are you longing to know that you are saved? Then, like her, you must see what God says; and when God speaks, do not doubt His Word.
Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ? Then, dear friend, God says, "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life"; and He also says, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away."
Are you careless about these things? Then, may God arouse you! For the Word of God also says, "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."
"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation."
Believe His word, and know your sins are forgiven and that you are destined for heaven.
"Come, for angel hosts are musing,
O'er this sight so strangely sad,
God beseeching, man refusing,
To be made forever glad.
From the world and its delusion,
Now our voices rise as one,
While we shout God's invitation,
Heaven itself re-echoes, Come!"