MR. PRICE, a Christian business man, owned a fruit store. One evening after work, as he hurried home, he stopped to look at the new billboards put up near the station. One of the signs carried his own ad: “Eat More Fruit.”
Suddenly he felt an overwhelming desire to write in the space bow his ad a message from God, which might arrest some passers-by and cause them to think of eternal things and of the need of their souls.
For some time he paused wondering what to write, and then suddenly the words flashed into his mind: “GET RIGHT WITH GOD.” Mr. Price loved the Lord and he longed that others might come to know and love Him too. Quickly he got out his pen and wrote in large letters: “GET RIGHT WITH GOD.” Then he went on home, and prayed that night that the Lord would use his message to turn someone to Himself.
The next morning as he passed the sign on his way to work he noticed initials and an address had been written beside his message: “E. L. S., 19 Edmore Road.”
“This can only have one meaning,” he thought; “I must call there soon as possible.”
So he did that same evening. It was a cheap little restaurant and the manager told him no one with those initials was there. At first Mr. Price thought it must be a mistake, but then a waitress ventured the information that a young policeman had rented a room upstairs.
Mr. Price was not long ascending the stairs and knocking at the door.
It opened smartly and there stood a tall, handsome young police officer.
“I beg your pardon for intruding,” began Mr. Price in his usual cheery voice, “but I am anxious to find a man whose initials are E. L. S.”
The young officer grasped his visitor’s hand eagerly. “Oh,” he ex-
claimed, “did you see my initials on the billboard? Did you write those words there, “GET RIGHT WITH GOD"?
“Yes, my friend,” continued Mr. Price, “and I have come to ask if I could be any help to you. Are you right with God?”
“No, I’m not," confessed the young fellow. “But I want to know how I can be. What must I do?”
“Do, friend? There is nothing for you to do. It is all done. It was all done when the Lord Jesus died upon the cross for sinners 1900 years ago. You can’t do anything for salvation. Christ has done it all. All you can do is to own your guilt as a sinner and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation; trust Him as your own personal Saviour. That’s God’s way of getting right with Himself.”
“But that sounds almost too simple,” said the young man. “I thought I must turn over a new leaf and do my best to get right with God. Yet I have tried so many times and I’m never any better. In fact I seem to be getting worse. I’m all wrong.”
“Of course you are,” replied his friend, “and so was I once. But God knows how helpless we are, and He has made the way so simple, that even the youngest child can understand.”
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8,98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9). “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Tit. 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5). “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6).
Quietly and lovingly Mr. Price talked with the young fellow and explained more fully to him the way of salvation. Then they knelt down together, and the young fellow opened his heart and received Christ as his Saviour. So it was that night he “got right with God,” and went on his way a happy Christian.
ML-11/14/1971