Thomas Hooper was a young heathen from one of the islands of the South Seas. Through an English missionary he had heard the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God come down from heaven to save sinners. He had believed the message, and his heart had been won to the Savior.
Longing to tell others of this wondrous salvation, he went two years to a school for missionaries in England.
On his return journey with a friend, it so happened one evening they found themselves in the company of some distinguished persons, mostly unbelievers. The group was much entertained by questions which a brilliant lawyer was asking Thomas, and by the simple answers the young convert was giving.
At length Thomas said: "I am only an unlearned heathen to you, sir. It is quite natural that you should find my answers amusing, expressed as they are in faulty English; but you shall all someday find yourselves in a larger company than this. Every one of you will be there, and to each will be addressed one question: 'Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?' For myself I have answered: 'Yes, I love Him; He is my Savior.' But you, sir, what reply will you make?”
The lawyer was silent, and his silence spread over the whole company. After a long pause, some one proposed that a portion of Scripture be read. Then Thomas prayed. In a few simple words he addressed himself to God, praying earnestly for the learned lawyer who was so ignorant of the most important thing of all. He besought God to show him the way of salvation in Christ.
The lawyer's heart was touched, and he was made aware of his lost condition. After the prayer the company separated; but the lawyer, when alone, felt his anguish of soul increase. The words of Thomas sounded unceasingly in his ears: "But you, sir, what reply will you make?”
He paced up and down his room. The Spirit of God had effectually aroused his conscience. He had neither peace nor rest until he turned to God and found by faith in Christ the pardon for his sins. Then he could say with Thomas: "Yes, I love Jesus: He is my Savior.”
Can the reader make the same response to the question, "Do you love the Lord Jesus?”