Offered and Taken”

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 5
 
She was an old lady, unsaved and puzzled by the very simplicity of God's way of salvation. To her it seemed incredible that the Lord means exactly what He says in John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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 unto life. (John 5:24): "Verily, verily, I say unto you, 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 unto life." Salvation simply through hearing and believing, without good works of any kind, was just too easy, too good to be true.
When I met the old lady, she said she was really anxious to be saved. I had given her a little gospel book, when I first met her, and then asked if she knew the Lord as her Savior. She answered that she was most anxious to be saved, and was praying for salvation.
"But," I said, "salvation is all ready for you; you have only to take it.”
I then asked her to give me back the little book I had just given her. Holding it in my hand, I said: "Now I am going to give the book back to you. But remember, when I offer the book to you, God is offering salvation to you in just the same way. The question is, Will you TAKE salvation?”
I then held out the little book to her, saying: "God is offering salvation to you. Will you take it?" At once the old woman put out her hand and took the book "Well," I asked, "what are you going to say?" To my joy she began to thank God for having saved her. "Are you saved?" I asked, incredulously.
At once I got a, decided "Yes." "What has He done for you?" I asked again. "He has saved me for time and eternity," was her answer.
"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12).
The old woman had so simply and readily received Christ that it seemed too good to be true. But a friend has since written to tell me that the old lady is still rejoicing in the knowledge of salvation. She told him all I had said to her, and that she had understood it quite plainly when I offered her the little book the second time. She had been anxious for years, and had been praying God to send someone to speak to her.
And now, reader, have you put out the hand of faith and taken salvation? God's message to you is: "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:1717And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17).