IN a miner's cottage there hangs on the wall a framed text card bearing the words, "Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:66For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6). People who come in look at it, and many read it. The owner of the cottage never fails to seek to interest those of his friends and visitors who give their attention to that framed text on the wall, by telling them the story of God's saving grace and power, of which it is the memorial. Here is his story.
"It was on a Sunday afternoon that Bessie, my eldest daughter, came home from Sunday school carrying under her cloak a pretty card, which in her glee she held up to her mother, who was standing by the fire, saying:
" 'Look, Mother, what my teacher has given me as a gift. She asked me to hang it right on the wall and learn to repeat it. My wife took the card from her and after looking al: it and admiring it, she was about to hang above the fireplace, when I interrupted her by saying,
" 'There is to be none of these things in this house; take it away at once.'
"I was well pleased that Bessie had received the card from her teacher, and her prided myself in her ability to repeat scriptures and learn pieces of poetry which she got at school from time to time – buy wicked heart rose up in rebellion against the Word of God being displayed upon the wall of my house.
"No more was said about it then, but that evening when Bessie took up the card to learn the text, and kept repeating, 'Christ died for the ungodly"— 'Christ died for the ungodly'—it went in my heart like a sword. That the word `ungodly' described me, I knew too well. That 'Christ died' for me, I never knew before. That was the beginning of God's dealings with me in grace. I went to Bessie's meeting in the schoolhouse at night and there God saved me. That text I now love. It is my title deed to salvation for it was not the righteous but sinners for whom Christ died."
Blessed title deed! It may be yours also, dear reader. Why not accept it as such NOW?
Messages of the Love of God 6/15/1952