IT was the birthday of a little servant girl, in a house where I was staying, and as several of the inmates had kindly given her presents, wishing her a happy day, and many happy returns of it. I purchased a Bible for her, and, in the afternoon, found an opportunity to present it. She was alone in the scullery, and giving her the book I wished her every happiness. She thanked me, and curtsied.
“How long is it since you were born?” I asked.
“Sixteen years today, sir,” she answered. “And how long since you were born again?” I continued.
The girl hung her head and gave no answer.
“You say it is sixteen years since you were born. Cannot you tell me how many have passed since you were born again?”
I could see her breast heaving, as she attempted to answer me, but words would not come, although she tried to speak; her feelings could not be restrained: she burst into loud convulsive sobs, which were followed by a flood of tears. Laying her head down on her arm upon the table, she gave full vent to her sorrow. When the girl had partly recovered from her emotion, I asked why she was so deeply affected by my question. In answer, she told me she was an orphan, that her father and mother had loved the Lord, and were now both in paradise, and that she was not born again, though she wished and had prayed to have her sins for given. She added, that since her mother died, no one had spoken to her about her soul.
“My child,” I said, “how glad I am that God has begun a good work in you.”
“Oh, sir, don’t imagine that, for I am very wicked, and seem to get worse.”
“But,” I asked, “did you not say that you longed to be born of God, and to be saved from sin?”
“Yes, indeed, I do,” she sobbed.
“And do you think Satan would give you that desire?”
“Oh no,” she answered, “I am sure he would not.”
“No,” I said; “neither would you yourself desire this, for the natural heart is enmity to God, and delights in sin. Depend upon it, God is graciously working in you by His Holy Spirit, convincing you of sin, and showing you your need of a Saviour, and now, I feel sure, you will be made heartily willing to accept Jesus, the Son of God, for your own Saviour.”
“I don’t know that,” she said, “but I do want to be saved.”
“Well,” I said, “may God help you to understand His way of salvation. I suppose you have been trying your own ways, in praying to be good, and to give up your sins, and in fighting against Satan.”
“Yes, I have been trying to be better.”
“But,” I continued, “my child, God does not expect you to save yourself, for He has declared that you cannot take away one stain of your sins, but He has provided His beloved Son to be your Saviour, and He now declares that the blood of Jesus cleanseth us from all sin.” “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Now, to make it simple to you, you know what a gift is; you have had several today, and you have been made happy by receiving them. I have just given you this Bible. When I held it out to you, you understood what I meant by saying, ‘This is a little birthday present,’ and you simply took it, and said, ‘Thank you, sir; it is very kind of you.’ You did not need to prepare yourself to take the gift, nor do you require to work for it, or to pay for it. You know that a gift means something for nothing―something given by one out of kindness, and that nothing is required from the person to whom it is given, but just to receive it. If there were anything more, it would not be a gift. Do you see?”
“Yes, I understand that.”
“Then,” I said, “God assures you that the salvation you desire, which includes the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, the new birth, and all spiritual blessings, is His gift through Jesus. If you desire these things, you must be willing to receive them from God, as a gift from a loving friend, for He will not sell them―they are too precious and have cost Him too much. You know He had to deliver to death His beloved Son in order that He might freely give us eternal life. Can you follow me in this?”
“Yes, I know it must be as you say. I cannot give Him anything; if I am to be saved, He must do it all.”
“But has He not done all? Yes, He has given His beloved Son for us, and Jesus has died, bearing our sins and their penalty. He has settled the whole question of sin and of our salvation; so that God can now offer to the poor, lost, undone, hell-deserving sinner life eternal as a gift, because of what Christ has done. I have gladly accepted His great gift myself, and received Jesus, as the Son of God and my Saviour, to my heart. And now, my dear child,” I said, “what say you to accepting Jesus, and eternal life, as a gift from God today―now―and making this a double birthday, for as many as receive Him become the children of God?”
“I am quite willing,” she answered.
“Yes, I believe you are, with all your heart, willing to receive Jesus. Suppose, now, you tell God what you have told me— that you are willing to receive His gift, or, better still, just tell Him you accept His gift, and thank Him for it.”
We knelt down together, and the little scullery maid thanked God for salvation through Jesus’ death and blood, accepting Him as her own Saviour.
I committed her to the Good Shepherd’s keeping, assured that He would not fail to take her as a new-found lamb on His almighty shoulders, and carry her home, where, with exceeding joy, He would present her as one of the trophies of His grace.
Some years after this, I was invited to preach to a large congregation of working people. On making inquiries as to why this door had been opened to me, I found that it was through a young woman’s desire, who witnessed a good confession, and was a diligent worker for the Master. In speaking with her, I found her to be the servant-maid of my story. She referred to the conversation in the scullery on her sixteenth birthday, and rejoiced in the anniversary of her two births.
Reader, have you considered this― “Born once, die twice; born twice, die once”?
Two things are absolutely necessary for your salvation―two “must be’s”―the first is accomplished: “The Son of Man must be lifted up”; the second, “Ye must be born again”―is that also an accomplished fact? J. S.