"I'll go to the theater and enjoy myself in spite of you both. Why should a young fellow be so cramped and hindered by two girls from having a little fun?"
These words were almost shouted in an angry outburst. This was so unusual in that quiet home that, as soon as Harry had closed the door, leaving his two sisters alone, they burst into tears. It was the first jarring note that had marred the harmony of the trio who, since the mother's death, had lived happily together in the old home.
The two sisters were earnest Christians, never ashamed to let their light shine, or to tell others of the Savior whom they loved. The younger was a delicate girl, not able to get about much; but she gathered together a class of little girls on the Sunday afternoons, and had much joy in telling them the way of life through Jesus.
Harry was a student at the college in a nearby city. On the weekends he came out to their country home to spend Sunday with his sisters. He had "professed" conversion when quite a boy, and during his mother's lifetime maintained his profession, outwardly at least. Indeed, he could scarce do otherwise, for under her ever-watchful eye, he could not go far astray. Now that she, his spiritual prop, was gone, Harry had found new companions in the city, and it was becoming painfully evident to his sisters that he was either a "backslider," or that he had never been really "born again."
His determination to go to the theater that evening, so soon after his coming from the city, and expressing the bitter words of defiance he had spoken to his affectionate sisters, had finally convinced the girls that Harry was not the Lord's. If he had ever been truly converted, how could he find satisfaction in the theater? Could a Christian enjoy the company of such as frequent the shows?
Distressed by the untoward altercation with their brother, the two girls could only look to God. As they knelt together, an earnest, tearful prayer was wafted from that lone room to the throne of grace. Surely it must have entered the open ear of God the Almighty. Miracles, such as were performed in the early days, exist no more; but the "Lord's hand is not shortened." Isa. 59:11Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (Isaiah 59:1). In answer to prayer it is yet made bare.
At the very moment the sisters were praying, Harry was stopped as if by an unseen hand. He cannot describe what he felt, but the words rang in his ear: "Prepare to meet thy God!"
They were God's message to arrest the wanderer and bring him to Himself. For a long time, Harry wandered in the dark night, in real mental agony. He had not wanted to hurt his sisters nor to dim his testimony of being a Christian. Also, he had promised his mother in his boyhood that he would never indulge in worldly pleasures. Now he was on the way to break that promise. Harry knew that one step would likely lead to another, and that, once on the downward path, he would in all probability be plunged into the vortex of worldliness and utter ungodliness. Once the restraints of home and Christian upbringing are cast aside, how easy for one to sink deeper into the slough of sin than any other!
Wandering to and fro, the conscience-stricken youth was uncertain what to do or where to go. Ashamed to return to his sisters and confess his faults, he was goaded by the devil to make the plunge. What restrained him? Was it only his conscience? Was the remembrance of his mother's counsels and warnings now being brought before him—in answer to his sisters' prayers? He wandered into a quiet street and there—not by "chance," as men say, but by the appointment of that God who "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will"—he stood in front of a brightly lit hall. At the door a number of young men were standing, singing the hymn, "Jesus is mighty to save."
One of the circle seeing a stranger, evidently not "on business bent," went up to him with a cheery greeting. He invited Harry to spend an hour at their gospel meeting. It was to be addressed that evening by a band of converted students.
Harry needed no second invitation: he entered and sat down. To his surprise, a few of the speakers were his own classmates, and as one after another told simply but definitely how he had been awakened, convicted and converted, Harry was fully convinced that his former "profession" had been a sham. He now knew that he had never been truly converted at all.
God spoke to the troubled lad during that meeting. At the close he had a long, close, personal talk with two of the students. To them he opened his heart, expressed his difficulties, and was pointed to a personal and present Savior. One said: "If you missed the mark before, and did not have Christ, you need not fear to trust Him now. He is able and willing to save. And you will know that you have not a profession, but a possession of eternal life, the moment you cast yourself upon Him."
Harry did surrender himself as a sinner to the Savior, and He—as He ever does—received him. He ran without stopping till he reached his home. Opening the door, he hurried to his sisters and, locking them in his arms, he burst into tears. Then came the joyful confession: "NOW I AM SAVED!"
"I'm saved now, thank God!"
There was great joy and many thanksgivings as he told the story of haw the Lord had met him. At last he knew Jesus, who is "mighty to save."