IN a seaport town in China a missionary stood one day on the quay, while a large trading vessel was unloading. The captain, a godless man, recognizing the missionary by his garb addressed him somewhat as follows: “Look here, sir! there’s a chap aboard my ship, and if you can convert him, I will believe there is something in your religion after all.”
“I cannot convert him, but God can; where is he?” was the quiet rejoinder of the servant of God. Having learned his name, he went aboard, made his way down the companion, and found the object of his search, a formidable and repulsive-looking fellow, sitting sewing.
“Good morning, Jack; I have a message for you,” said the missionary cheerfully. With a scowl on his face and an oath on his lips the sailor asked, “Who have you a message from?”
“From God,” said the visitor. With a still more dreadful oath the man retorted, “I don’t believe in God.” Taking no notice of this remark, the wise fisher of men, repeated very slowly and solemnly, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way.” He stopped, looked at his man, and to his delight he saw tears trickling down those weather-beaten cheeks, and a moment later Jack exclaimed in broken accents, “God knows that’s true.”
The Word of God applied by the Spirit of God had done its work; he was a convicted sinner, and it was happy work then to repeat to him the remaining portion of that magnificent verse, “The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)). In simple faith Jack rested on the finished work, and trusted the One who accomplished it, and he was indeed converted―converted by God; converted from being an infidel to a rejoicing believer, from a sinner to a saint, from a child of wrath to an heir of glory.
Reader! are you converted? No matter what may be your social status or your ecclesiastical connection, whether young or old, rich or poor, if out of Christ, you are lost. The Word of God declares it, and, as with our sailor friend, your conscience attests it But oh, transcendent news! God, against whom you have sinned, has laid on Jesus “the iniquity of us all.” His claims have been met, His righteousness has been vindicated, His glory has been maintained, and now His grace flows out and carries with it the one thing that you need, and that is, SALVATION.
Today, yea, while you read this paper, you may know your sins forgiven, your soul saved, and your title to glory secure. You may be set free to revel in God’s love now, and you will bask in the sunshine of it forever and ever if you simply believe in His Son. His Word declares, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)).
W. B. D.