A BOLD infidel once interrupted a gospel preacher as he was addressing a large open-air meeting, with the impious and startling assertion: — “I will prove to you that Jesus Christ, Whom you preach, told a lie.”
Alas, what will the temerity of the alienated mind and heart of man not dare to utter! A dead silence pervaded the audience, and all seemed riveted to the spot where they stood.
The suspense was extreme. Every ear was on the stretch. No one moved.
“Well,” rejoined the atheist, “Jesus said, ‘Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ Is it not greater love for a man to lay down his life for his enemies?”
The crowd held their breath. Perfect stillness reigned, and all eyes were turned to the preacher.
“Ah! yes,” calmly answered the Lord’s servant, “but it does not say, ‘Greater love hath no God than this.’ It says, ‘Greater love hath no man.’ Man’s love never went further, and it never will; but I am authorized to proclaim to you, and to all who hear me, that ‘God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8))— nay, more, enemies, for the believer can say, ‘When we were enemies, we were recoiled to God by the death of His Son.’ From what you have said, my friend, it is evident you are God’s enemy; still He commends His love even to you, and, if you only knew it, the very breath you spend in blaspheming Him, you owe to that love. How base your ingratitude!”
A sigh of relief passed over the company, and not a whisper more was heard from the poor crest-fallen infidel. One would fain hope that the telling utterances from the speaker’s lips made him ashamed, and led him to the feet of the Lord Jesus; but, anyhow, they went home to many hearts in the crowd.
One was heard to say to his neighbor, “It cuts deep.” Another, “Does God really love me?” A third, “That is surely good news!” Tears were seen to roll down many a cheek it was a solemn time. Not a few had reason to praise God for that open-air preaching. That striking episode the Lord used for blessing, and graciously overruled it to render the word spoken exceptionally effective, and once more to demonstrate that the gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.”