IN a Surrey village I had a conversation with I an elderly woman as she stood in the doorway of her cottage home. It sprang from my having given her a tract entitled, "The Way to Heaven," and it all hinged upon the salvation of her soul.
She evidently followed a very common form of religion. "I have always tried to do my best, and follow what is right, and I hope to be saved in the end.”
I urged that in a matter of such magnitude it would never do to rest content with an "if," a "maybe," or a "hope.”
Her only answer was an uncertain shake of the head, with the words, "The older I grow the more doubtful I get.”
We were not discussing the trend of events in the political world, or the developments of scientific thought, or even the possibilities of to-morrow's weather. Had we been I should have applauded the old lady's remark to the echo. We young folk get inflated ideas as to our knowledge and capacity, and become cocksure about many things. We live a few years and are not so sure. We lose a little bounce and gain a little wisdom. Quite right, too Man is such an uncertain creature, and this world so full of changes, that he who feels SURE about most things possesses more credulity than cleverness.
No! As I have said, the conversation hinged upon God, upon Christ, upon the way to heaven, and the salvation of the soul. All was mist and uncertainty with her. How is it with you Possibly you, too, are prepared to speak with great assurance on a thousand and one points of every-day life, but I ask about your soul, and eternity, and you have nothing to say, save that you don't know, and that you strongly suspect that nobody can know!
With me, things are just reversed. I learned many things as facts when at school. Some have since turned out not to be facts, and I have had to unlearn them. The worst of it is I don't know how much more I may not yet have to unlearn. I am not sure.
I have taken up a newspaper now and again, and seen chronicled in its pages something about which I have personal knowledge. It has often been inaccurate, sometimes very much so. I read, but I am not sure.
But if you ask me about my soul and my destiny, then I am one of many, who are prepared to look you in the face, and say, "I KNOW.”
The fact of the matter is that my schoolbooks were written by a man; the newspapers are edited by 'men; but the gospel about Christ is A MESSAGE FROM GOD, and if God speaks then we may know, and no mistake!
Has God spoken? Indeed He has. Listen! "God ... hath ... spoken unto us by His Son." (Heb. 1:1, 2)
In the name of Jesus the apostles went out and preached. About their words, as recorded for us in the inspired pages of Holy Scripture, there is a ring of certainty. Let us take three examples.
People ask distractedly to-day, "Where is salvation to be found? To whom shall we go? Is it to priest, or pope, or preacher? Or does some place possess a monopoly of life and blessing?”
Let us hear God speak by His servant Peter: "Be it known unto you all.... that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him cloth this Man stand here before you whole.... Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:10-12.)
Where, then, is salvation to be found? In Jesus Christ alone.
Another inquiry is often made: "How is salvation to be obtained? Am I to work for it or pray for it, or am I simply to do my best, and trust all will come out right in the end? or what?”
Let us hear God speak by His servant Paul:
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." (Acts 13:38, 39.)
How, then, is salvation to be obtained? By faith. "All that believe" receive the blessing. Yet again it is asked, "For whom is salvation? Is it for a special class, who have reached a certain standard, or is it for anyone and everyone? Is it for ME?”
Let us hear God speak again by His servant Paul: "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it." (Acts 28:28.)
For whom is salvation? For Gentiles, for outcasts; for those who really need it. If you need it, for YOU.
Let these three rays of light from God's Word shine into that dark heart of yours, befogged though it may be with doubt and fear. God speaks that you may, not feel, or hope, or think, or conclude, but KNOW.