An evangelist was once invited to deliver an address to young men in one of the churches. Seeing the few men in the room when the hour of service arrived, he said,
“You have invited me here to speak to young men. This was kind on your part, but you see there are not many young men here; we will go on with the exercises, and after we are through here, we will go where the young men are.”
He then spoke to the people gathered in the church, and at the close of the service invited all who would to join him in holding a meeting on the public square. It was a beautiful evening and many, including people from the other churches, were on the streets. By the time they had sung a few gospel hymns a large crowd of young men and others had gathered. The evangelist quoted with a loud strong voice the verse which embodies the whole gospel of Jesus Christ,
For some reason, not known to him at the time, he was led to repeat his text often; and out over the square in the stillness of the summer evening, rang the words
The evangelist’s voice sounded up an incline into a resident part of the city as if spoken into a trumpet. A banker sitting on his porch heard the verse given, as he supposed out of the sky,
The banker was startled, but concluding it was his imagination, he had resumed his quiet again when the same voice, and the same words were repeated. Although he was a most exemplary man in all outward things, and respected by the community, he was not a Christian. The repetition of these words impressed him: the Holy Spirit used them to pierce his heart.
He went into the house and retired to his room, but had a restless night.
At the breakfast table the next morning the banker related to his family the experience of hearing a voice out of the sky speaking to him about God and eternal life. He spoke of the troublesome night, and stated that he was still in a disturbed condition of mind. His son explained how the evangelist had spoken the words down at the square; and a few hours later he was sent to find the evangelist, if still in the city, and to bid him visit his father at the bank, for God had fastened the words on the banker’s mind and heart, and he was in deep distress.
The evangelist was found, and taking his Bible with him, he was escorted to the bank and ushered into the banker’s private office. The following conversation then took place:
B. “Are you the man that spoke on the square last night, and said something about ‘God’ and ‘eternal life’?”
E. “Yes, sir.”
B. “As I sat on my porch last night, I heard what I supposed to be a voice out of the sky. It proves to have been your voice, but that does not matter. I have passed a restless night, and am now in great distress of mind. My life has been an upright one as men see it; my business is honorably conducted; but I am not a Christian. I now want you to point out to me the steps necessary for me to secure peace of mind, and eternal life. Will you do this?”
E. “With pleasure, sir. Shall we go apart to some private room?”
B. “That is not necessary. We are as quiet here as anywhere, and will not be interrupted.”
E. “God’s Word makes very plain and very simple the conditions of salvation. It is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and to confess Him as our Lord and Master. I will open my Bible and let you read for yourself.” And the banker read:
E. “Now, my friend, you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that through His work on the cross you may have your sins forgiven?”
B. “Yes, sir.”
E. “Now it remains for you to accept Jesus as your Savior, and to confess Him as your Lord and Master. Are you willing to do this?”
B. “I am.”
E. “I wish we were where we could kneel and pray.”
B. “Let us do so right here.”
Together they knelt and after a few words by the evangelist, thanking God for His goodness in leading this man to see the error of his ways, the banker opened his lips in humble confession of his sin in the neglect of God’s salvation. He then and there accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and to be the Master of his life. The Holy Spirit sealed with His testimony the efficacy of the blood of Christ. The banker was saved, and in tears of joy he arose thanking God for His great goodness in sending His servant with His message.
They stepped out into the bank, where the banker rapped upon the counter. Securing the attention of all in the bank, he stated the experience he had passed through from the previous night until he had found peace a few minutes before. He said that although his life before them had been one of rectitude, he had lived in neglect of God’s salvation, but from that time forth Jesus was to be His Master. Having said that, he allowed them to proceed with their business.
Reader, you may or may not be a banker; but if you are unsaved, the same message is adapted to you, and the use of the same means will bring to you the same salvation. God is no respecter of persons.