Sometime ago I went to call on an old lady—bedridden and without Christ. She received me very pleasantly, and we had a long conversation.
Yes, she said, she knew she was a sinner—a lost sinner—and owned it. She desired most fervently to be saved. She knew that no works of her own could avail before God. She believed the Lord Jesus to be the only Savior of sinners. She had often cried to Him to save her, but no answer had come to her cries as yet.
After finding out that she was a truly seeking soul, ripe for salvation, I asked: "Now what is the hindrance? Why do you not know that you are saved? You tell me that you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is able and willing to save you, and that you are most willing to let Him save you. Yet you are not sure of salvation. Do you think He has anything more to do for your salvation?”
"Oh, no! I'm sure His work is all finished. He said so on the cross.”
"Quite true; only I suppose you think there must be something wrought in you, before you can be sure you are saved?”
"Yes, that's just it," she replied.
"And what, pray, is lacking in you?”
"Well, sir, I don't think I'm thankful enough for all He has done for me. I think if I felt more thankful, I should know I was saved.”
"Oh, I see where you are," I replied. "Now tell me, suppose I were to send you a basket of grapes tomorrow morning. What is the first thing you would do?”
"Oh, of course I would thank you," replied the old lady most energetically.
"Well, suppose on the other hand you sent me a basket of grapes. What do you think is the first thing I would do?" I replied.
"You would thank me, wouldn't you?”
"Not first.”
"Why, what would you do?" she asked most eagerly.
"I would take them. Then I would send you a hearty message of thanks.”
"I see it! I see it!" exclaimed my old friend, as the tears of joy welled down over her wrinkled features. "I've just got to take salvation first, and then thank the Lord for what He has given me.”
"Exactly so. The gift of God is eternal life.' What He gives we have only simply to accept, and then thank Him for time and eternity.”
"Dear me, how simple it is!" she exclaimed, falling back on her pillows. "I always thought I must feel something within-something I never have felt. Now, thank God, I see it all clearly. It is so simple, I wonder I didn't see it before." Thus she entered into sweet peace, and rest in the Lord.
What GOD is
Determines what GOD does;
What GOD does
Proves what GOD is—LOVE.