THE instrument used to carry home to my heart the arrow of conviction of my sinful state and need of a Saviour, was a little girl, one of my own pupils. One day we were engaged as usual at the Bible lesson. The subject was, “The Brazen Serpent.” After the chapter had been read, I went on to explain it, as I was in the habit of doing to the girls. I noticed they were more interested than usual, but I thought the familiarity of the subject might account for that. I sought to explain to them, that the serpent of brass was a type of the uplifted Saviour, as He Himself said to Nicodemus. Imagine my surprise, when at the close of the lesson, one of the girls asked, “Will we be saved all at once by looking to Jesus on the cross, as the Israelites looked at the serpent, Miss C.—?” I felt rather confused at this kind of question. I had not been accustomed to anything of the sort before, and had never thought much about it, in that matter-of-fact way. Before I had time to collect my thoughts and give an answer, my pupil went on to say, “My sister Laura says we will, and that she had looked and been saved.” An opportunity was given me of speaking with Laura a few days after, in the play-ground. She was a bright, happy girl, open-minded and free. I told her what her sister had said, and asked if it were true.
“Yes, I have been converted for several years, and am happy in the knowledge that my sins are forgiven, and that Christ is mine.” I asked her how she knew.
“I looked away from myself to Jesus; I believed He died for me, and that by His death I had life. That was all, was her reply.” I was dumb. Never before had I heard an argument like that. It simply shut me up to one of two things. Either I must confess myself an unbeliever, and a rejector of Christ, or if a believer in Him, then a possessor of life everlasting. Light dawned upon me through that simple word, and I believe it was then I passed from death to life.
Dear Laura: it was not , long after, when I stood with my pupils around me, near the same spot, looking at the coffin that contained her body; but I know she is with the Lord.
Dear reader how will it be with you? If you were taken this moment, would you go to be with the Lord Jesus?
Messages of God’s Love 10/18/1908