ON the deck of a great ocean liner far out upon the bosom of a tropical sea the passengers were in various ways trying to while away the time. The brilliant sun was shining overhead, reflected in dazzling brightness from a deep purple unruffled surface of the water beneath, while white awnings gave shelter from the burning rays. Many voices were ringing with jest and laughter; games of various kinds were in progress, and amusement reigned all around. In a quiet corner, somewhat apart from the rest, two passengers reclined on deck chairs, quietly reading. Presently one of them—a young lady—looked up, and addressing her fellow-passenger, asked, somewhat abruptly: "Have you ever read Arnold's 'Light of Asia'?”
“Yes, but I don't care for it," he replied.
“Don't you think that Buddha was a wonderful character?" she asked.
“Yes. If all that is written about him is true, he must have been a man far above the men of his time.”
“But surely," she said earnestly, "he must have been more than a man; his teachings are accepted by millions all over the world, and in the present day thousands are finding modernized Buddhism more acceptable than Christianity; and certainly it seems to appeal to intellectual minds more than Christian teachings do.”
“Ah, now, that's just where I differ from you," said her companion, rousing up; "Buddha was a man among men certainly, but Christ was the Son of God. Buddha offers men a system of morality at best, which, moreover, has proved utterly ineffective all over the world. Christ offers men pardon of sins, and peace with God, by virtue of the atonement He made for our sins. And the Bible tells us that on the ground of this great atonement, God who is holy and righteous, offers a full and free salvation to all without distinction of class, race, or moral condition. Now, how does this compare with what Buddha offers?”
"Oh," she said earnestly, a strange hunger coming into her eyes, "there is no comparison possible if what you say is right, but do you really believe it is true?”
"I not only believe but I know it to be true," he replied.
But how can you know it?" she asked with a puzzled look.
“Why, how do you know you are alive?" he asked.
“Oh," she said, smiling, "I know I am alive because I feel myself alive; I can think, and speak, and feel, and, for instance, enjoy this glorious sunshine.”
“That," he said, "is just exactly how I know that all that the Bible says about Christ is true. I read there that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,' and I feel it is true and I realize that I am a sinner. I read there is none righteous, no not one,' and, looking around me I can clearly see the truth of that, and I feel that I, like all others, am under condemnation. In fact, I feel that what the Bible says about sin and about myself is true; and my spirit cries out What shall I do to be saved?' Then I read in the Bible that all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him (Jesus) the iniquity of us all.' In fact, I read in the Bible of God's wonderful plan of salvation; how He gave His Son to be the propitiation for our sins, and now offers a free pardon to every one who will accept it through Jesus Christ. I did this eighteen years ago, and I found I not only received pardon but peace and joy, and I know Him, and am constantly in communion with Him, and find He is my very life.”
Then, looking into her flushed face, he said, “May I ask you a straight question? 'Does Buddha satisfy your soul?'”
“No," she said, "but I long for this peace and assurance of forgiveness you have been speaking about.”
“You may have it now," he said, "if you will only ask for it and take God at His word.”
“Ah," she said, sadly, "but you don't know my difficulties. My mother is a Jewess, but has really no religion; my father, who died some time ago, was a Roman Catholic, and as such I was baptized, and that is all I ever had to do with religion. I never read the Bible, nor was I ever taught to pray; but the teachings of Buddha seemed to me something grand but beyond my reach. I do wish I could believe in Christ as you do.”
Seeing her earnestness, her fellow passenger sought to show her, briefly but clearly, first the claims of the Bible to be the inspired word of God, then the claims of Christ to be the Son of God, the Lord from heaven, the Living Word; how "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," how those who saw Him beheld "His glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." Then he showed her how Christ was not only "the Light of the World," and incomparably beyond what Arnold calls "the Light of Asia," but also "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world"; who "His own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness," and how "there is therefore now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." Buddha, however great, was only a man, a blind leader of the blind, who could only point men to a "Nirvana" of utter obliviousness, and who now was dead—but Jesus Christ had risen again from the dead and ascended up on high, and sat on the right hand of God, a living Saviour to save all who come to Him, and give them also eternal life.
The sun had set in golden glory, hastening from the firmament with a rapidity only seen in tropical skies; the fresh salt breeze blew gently, and a deep silence fell upon the speakers, who gazed across the rapidly darkening expanse of ocean. The Spirit of the Lord who, long ago, moved upon the face of the deep, was breathing upon the measureless expanse of a human soul. Was it to be the "Light of Asia," or the "Light of the World"? For a few brief moments an immortal soul hung in the balances, a human will quivered upon the brink of an abyss—an abyss the height, length, depth and breadth whereof measures the love of Christ. Behind—the old life, with its unsatisfied yearnings and its hateful sins; before—the cross of Calvary. And Christ came near; and far out at sea, upon the throbbing deck of the ocean liner, one more soul was gathered into the gospel net; and there was joy in the presence of the angels of God over another sinner saved from death.
Reader, have you yet found the Saviour? Is not He even now yearning over you, pleading with you to turn to Him and live; to accept God's free gift of eternal life through Him who died and rose again?