He was sitting in the park reading the Word of God, an unusual sight in this day of skeptics and freethinkers. "You are reading the best of books," I remarked.
"Yes," the young man responded; "and I prove its value more each time I read it." And he then quoted the familiar words of the poet:
"Man's books with heaps of chaff are stored,
God's Book doth golden grain afford;
Then blow away the chaff,
And spend thy time
In gathering up the golden grain.”
"But why," said I, "do you value that Book?" "Oh," he replied, "because it was from its pages I first learned how to be saved.”
"But are you saved?" I asked.
"Yes, by God's grace," said he; "and if you will sit down I will tell you how it happened. It was two or three years ago. I had been going on very carelessly, and was indifferent about my soul's salvation. My father and mother were not Christians, and did not seem to trouble themselves about me. But I began to grow weary of the pleasures of sin, and of the pursuit of that which could not satisfy me. Satan, however, seemed to say, 'You have not tried this,' and 'Why don't you go in for that? The best is to come.' So for a time I yielded to him, though I came home night after night feeling disappointed with the continual mockery of worldly pleasure.
"One evening I determined to stay home for a change. Taking a book from the shelf at random, I found it was an old Bible. As I idly turned over its pages, my eye was suddenly attracted by a verse which had been heavily penciled round by a former reader. There I read: “‘Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.' Rom. 5:12.
I said to myself: "Can that be true? I know I have done many things called sinful; but does that mean I am a sinner? And if I am, must I surely die?”
"I turned the page back, and in the third chapter, twenty-third verse I read: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.'
"The thought troubled me. The Word went straight as an arrow to my heart, and convicted me of my sinful condition. I closed the Book and went to bed very unhappy, but I could not sleep. I was afraid I might die in my sins. Finally I hurriedly dressed and went downstairs, and again opened the Bible. This time I found comfort as my eyes rested on the words: 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' 1 Tim. 1:15.
"Gladly I acknowledged in my heart, 'Then He came into the world to save me, for I am truly a sinner.' Eager for more light, I turned over the pages, and God by His Spirit directed me to several other portions, all equally enlightening.
"It was all rather complicated to me, for I knew little of gospel truth; but the words took hold, and I was able to rest in them. Of course, the light was only dawning upon my awakened soul, so I sought out a religious friend whose company I had previously shunned. Humbly I asked him to explain what I had read.
"I shall never forget my joyful eagerness when I read the simple statement: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.
"I sat long and listened to the gospel from this kind friend. Through him I heard of the death of my Savior for my sins, of His finished work, of His resurrection from the dead, and of His exaltation to glory. Then he told me that Christ is coming again. Oh, I have so much to learn! From that day the blessed Book has been my constant companion; I don't know what I would do without it.”
My reader, have you found that you are a sinner in God's sight? Then seek the comfort of the Scriptures, for they are indeed able to "make thee wise unto salvation." 2 Tim. 3:15.