Some years ago there lived in a town two men who had become neighbors. One of them who had been living some years there, invited his neighbor to tea in order to make his acquaintance. He was a Christian and desired to lead others into blessing.
During the meal the conversation ran on in different subjects. As they arose from tea the Christian asked his neighbor if he believed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. The neighbor replied, "Why yes, certainly I believe in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. You do not take me to be a heathen, do you?”
"Well, you can rejoice in the knowledge of your salvation; you are saved?”
At this question the neighbor answered, rather indignant,
"No one can tell that while in this world—not till we pass out of it shall we know. I have heard of people who said they knew, which I look upon as the height of presumption, and downright cant. All we have to do is the best we can, and God will do the rest.”
"O, then you make God a liar!" the Christian answered.
"Where do you get that?" asked his neighbor in astonishment.
The Christian, taking his Bible, read 1 John 5:1010He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1 John 5:10), "He that believeth not God, hath made Him a liar." Then on down to the 13th verse, when he came to these words, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God," (stretching out his hand toward his friend as identifying him with the confession he had made, he read on), "that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
The neighbor stood for a little apparently amazed, and then replied, very deliberately and with much earnestness: "Well, I am saved!”
Thus in a moment God's Word sent light into his soul, and he passed from death unto life.
"The entrance of Thy Word giveth Light.”
"Born again by the incorruptible Word of God.”
"I feel," he afterward said, "that these words bring me into the very presence of God—enclose me, so to express it, within a ring fence of pure and unadulterated truth from which there is no escape—God's own words. I will not, I dare not, withdraw my confession which I have made, of believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and now I dare not say I have not eternal life, for I would thus 'make God a liar' as declared in 1 John 5:1010He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1 John 5:10), which I surely fear to do, therefore there is no alternative but to accept of God's gracious gift, eternal life, the assurance of which He has placed on record in that wonderful 11th verse of this wonderful chapter. Throughout it, self is set aside, withered up in that bright light, and God's wondrous character of love stands out in marvelous relief. In its contemplation I can only rapturously exclaim, how wonderful!
And now that blessed Book has changed to me entirely in its aspect.—As the bright light from the excellent glory shines out to me individually through its pages, a wondrous revelation of God's infinite love; and myself, a poor, lost sinner, saved by grace, on whom that love and grace was and is displayed, I am thus brought into His immediate presence by the light and power of the Word, applied by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Reader, do you believe God?