THIS is the night of our Annual Treat and distribution of Prizes, and I am remembering it was on an evening such as this, that I was brought to the Lord Jesus. Shall I tell you how? The little school I attended in the country was not often favored with visitors, but at our Annual Meeting there were several strangers to address us, and some boys who had been converted in a neighboring school, came to give their testimony. One of them was Bob the baker boy who called at our house every morning with the “rolls,” I wondered what he would say. Well Bob told us how he was saved by believing in Jesus, and that John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) was his “anchorage.” I did not understand what “anchorage” meant, but as I was acquainted with Bob, I asked him when he came out of the school. He stood in the moonlight with his Bible in his hand, and told me “it was there in that grand verse, I cast my anchor and found rest.”
He explained to me that God loved me gave His Son for me; and that if I, as one of the “whosoevers,” believed in Him, that is, trusted myself to Him as my only Saviour, I would not perish; but have everlasting life. I remember, I went along the road with my brother and sisters, saying over and over to myself—
“I will believe, I do believe
That Jesus died for me,
That on the cross He shed His blood,
From sin to set me free.”
I have no doubt that it was on that snowy road in the moonlight, that I passed from death to life. But I did not tell any of the others about it till next day, when I suppose they saw I was happy, and asked the cause.
“O,” I said, “I am saved, just like Bob, the baker, for I have trusted myself to Jesus, and He says I shall not perish.”
Years have come and gone, and many changes have occurred since then, but my anchorage in John 3:1010Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (John 3:10) is as firm and sure as ever, and so is my salvation. You need not fear to rest your soul upon it, for it will not deceive you. I was anxious to be saved many a time before that night, but somehow, I always looked within my own heart for rest and peace. That was very foolish, for you know a ship’s anchor is always cast out, to fix its hold on something outside of itself altogether. That was what Bob the baker had done, and what he showed me to do that night.
If you would have rest amid the storms of life; peace amid its troubles, and a home in glory beyond it all, cast your anchor on John 3:1010Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (John 3:10) and claim the Lord Jesus as your own personal Saviour.
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
ML 11/21/1937