One Sunday afternoon in one of the wards of the Toronto General Hospital some visitors had finished singing and were going from bed to bed with a few words of cheer. I approached a young man who thanked me for our service of song. I asked him, "Do you know the One we have been singing and speaking about?"
"No," said the young man. "I am sorry to say that I don't."
"Then, why not?" I asked. "You surely realize the importance of becoming a Christian."
"Yes," he said, "I do; but it is of no use in my case. It is not for me."
I tried to show him that the gospel was for all, and that God was no respecter of persons. "But," he said, "it requires faith, and I have no faith. I know the Bible pretty well—I was brought up from childhood to read it. At least ten people, among them several ministers, have tried to explain it to me, and I cannot understand."
"I am going to make you a present," I said. "Will you accept it?" And taking some coins from my pocket, I selected the best looking quarter and offered it to him.
"Oh yes," said he, "I'll be glad to take it—if you want me to—but you only want to use it as an illustration, and then you will take it back again."
"Oh, no; I told you it was to be a present!"
He held out his hand and took the coin.
"Now," I said,
"Have you got it?"
Again he said, "Yes, but after your illustration you will take it back and I will be without." "But, surely you do not doubt my word."
Still holding the coin in his hand he said, "No, I have no reason to doubt your word, and you said that you gave it to me."
"Now, once again, may I ask: have you got it?"
"Yes, I have."
"Now, how did you get it?" I asked.
"Why, you gave it to me."
"And for what reason did I give it to you?"
"I don't know; you don't owe me anything. It must have been of your own free will."
"And you accepted it?"
"Yes."
"Now see," I replied, "Jesus offers you salvation in just the same way. It is a free gift. 'The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life.' Will you accept it?"
"Oh, I see it now! It is a gift and He doesn't take it back. Yes, I'll take it, and I'm saved! I'll always keep this coin in remembrance of this day."
Now, may I ask you a question: "Do you know this Friend, this Jesus? If not, why not?" It is "not of works, lest any man should boast." It is the free gift of God. He does not owe us anything.