Friend, do you know where you will spend eternity? Have you made sure of your final destiny? Must the question of eternal blessedness or misery, heaven or hell, remain a torturing uncertainty until it is too late to make any change?
A true incident in the life of Queen Victoria is worth remembering. It has been published and is unquestionably authentic. The Queen had attended a service in St. Paul's Cathedral and had listened to a sermon that interested her greatly. Then she asked her chaplain: "How can one be absolutely sure in this life of eternal safety?"
Sad to say, the chaplain's answer was that he "knew of no way that one could be absolutely sure."
This momentous question and answer was published in the Court News. It fell under the eye of a humble minister of the gospel, John Townsend. This preacher was an intimate friend of George Mueller, founder of his well-known orphanages. This John Townsend was also the father of the "Sister Abigail," another Christian of extraordinary faith and of service to the Lord.
After reading Queen Victoria's question and the answer she received, John Townsend thought and prayed much about the matter. Then he sent the following note to the Queen: "To her gracious Majesty, our beloved Queen Victoria, from one of her most humble subjects: "With trembling hands, but heartfelt love, and because I know that we can be absolutely sure now of our eternal life in the home that Jesus went to prepare, may I ask your Most Gracious Majesty to read the following passages of Scripture: John 3:16; Romans 10:9, 10?
"These passages prove there is full assurance of salvation by faith in our Lord Jesus Christ for those who believe and accept His finished work.
"I sign myself, your servant for Jesus' sake,"
John Townsend.
John Townsend was not alone in praying about this letter to the Queen. He took others into his confidence, and much prayer from many hearts went up to God. In about a fortnight he received a modest-looking envelope containing the following letter:
To John Townsend: "Your letter of recent date received and in reply would state that I have carefully and prayerfully read the portion of Scripture referred to. I believe in the finished work of Christ for me, and trust by God's grace to meet you in that Home of which He said, 'I go to prepare a place for you.'"
(Signed) Victoria Guelph Whether one is an earthly monarch or an inconspicuous, unknown person, the way of salvation and of eternal life is the same. The Scripture passages John Townsend commended to the reading of the gracious Queen were these two: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
"If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10: 9, 10.
Salvation by faith in Christ is repeatedly declared in the Scriptures to be a present possession, not merely future, for those who believe.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." John 5:24.