ONCE on a long summer’s evening, after the busy day had closed, and the sun was setting in all its beauty and splendor, showing the sky as only it can be seen in the east, my ship was lying in a lonely bay; and having had a hot day, I was glad to retire, as was my usual custom, up into the netting, or sides of the ship, and there to pour out my heart unhindered to the Lord, and gather grace and strength to go on again. I had just heard about the coming of the Lord in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and was looking with joy to meet Him, knowing it was the same Jesus who died for me, and had washed me from all my sins in His own blood.
I earnestly longed to be changed, and made like Him, and with rapturous emotion I yearned to cast my crown at His feet, to worship and adore Him unceasingly. While looking on the horizon, clothed with gold and radiant colors, wondering what the coming of Jesus would be like, a young man, a boat mate of mine, jumped up, and found me looking intently into space, and said abruptly,
“A penny for your thoughts.”
His name was James, he was rather a reserved young man, yet he always tried to enjoy himself, as he said, “because it can’t last.”
I drew him towards me, and said, “Jimmy, I will tell you my thoughts without the penny;” and pointing to the rays of the departing sun, said, “Do you know that Jesus is coming quickly, perhaps before the morrow’s sun rises? He will come and take all who love Him to Himself, and then, if you are not saved, you will be left behind for judgment.”
James did not like this kind of talk, he wanted to get away at once, so I said, “You may never hear it again; may the Lord give you the hearing ear now,” and I told him, of Jesus, “mighty to save.”
He had heard of God as a great God, and a righteous God, but never as a God of love. The story of His love broke him down, and he was very unhappy; he soon ran away, on another Christian man making his appearance, so I prayed earnestly to the Lord for him.
The next morning I found him in no mood to talk, but faith looked up for him, and he became wretched, and I rejoiced to see him so. Do you wonder at this? Ah! dear little ones, God had touched his heart, and he was looking at himself in all his sins; he might well be cast down.
The time soon came when light began to dawn on his soul. I pointed him to the words in the Bible, “He hath made peace by the blood of His cross.” Ah! this did it; the darkness soon vanished, and he exclaimed, “I see it now, it is not me, but the blood.” And ofttimes when speaking to a dear doubting Christian he would say,
“John, if you want to be happy, as you turn into your hammock, and cover your blanket over you, believe in the blood as sufficient to cover you,” then he would look up into his face, and repeat, “God looks at the blood, you know.” James delighted to tell of this Jesus, who loved him so, and called himself a stranger to anyone who did not bow to His name.
One day a gentleman addressed him, saying, “Have I not seen you somewhere?” With a sweet smile, he said,
“I don’t know! do you know Jesus?” The gentleman, surprised, said,
“No, I do not; I wish I did.” He then heard what the Lord had done for sinners.
Now, dear ones, in conclusion, I ask you James’s question:
“Do you know Jesus?” It is eternal life to know Him! as it is written, “and this is life eternal, that they might know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent.” Then bow your knee now, believe the word now, accept His salvation now, for to you is the word of this salvation sent:
ML 10/04/1925