We often meet with people who say they have plenty of time to think about their souls when they get old, or upon their deathbeds. I scarcely ever thought of the future to which I was wending my way, and if ever I did, Satan would whisper,
“There is time enough for you to think of these things when you are older,” and for a while he was successful with his lie.
Until three years ago I was going on the broad road which leads to destruction, and was utterly unconcerned about my eternal welfare.
I had been taught by my parents from childhood to have a great respect for the Lord’s Day, and attend church services regularly, and to say my prayers morning and evening, so that it became a matter of duty to do so. Though I thus learned something of what is called religion, I did not know the Lord as my own personal Savior, and do not remember having God’s wonderful plan of salvation clearly explained to me. Although thus outwardly moral, I knew later that I was not at peace with God. The more efforts I made at turning over a new leaf, the more I realized I was not getting better.
What a great blessing it is to know that the seeking Savior never gives up searching for His lost sheep; and “when He hath found it, He layeth it on His shoulders, rejoicing.” The Savior knocked loudly at my heart’s dark door during a recent illness, which led me to think more seriously of the great future than ever I had done before. But Satan, who is ever ready to lull souls who are anxious, lest they should believe and be saved, succeeded in choking the good impression by the fascinating pleasures of sin.
Satan’s success was only temporary, thanks be to God! It was truly remarkable how the Lord prepared the way, and I was brought to the knowledge and love of Himself.
I was living in the town of R. and it was evidently the Lord’s will for me to leave my native town, where I was surrounded by many dear friends, and come and live in W. I had not been living in this town long, before I was invited by a friend to an open-air gospel meeting. Scarcely had we taken our stand to listen, when the little company commenced to sing a hymn—
“Room for pleasure, room for business;
But for Christ the crucified—
Not a place that He can enter,
In the heart for which He died!”
God’s Holy Spirit began to work within me, and then the preacher gave out the verse, “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)). He pointed out how the pleasures of this world will not satisfy, and though one may drink of its pleasures, it will only be to thirst again. It was then that the Holy Spirit revealed to me my wretched state as a guilty sinner in the sight of a holy God. My sins became such a burden, I sighed for deliverance, but pride of heart kept me from disclosing my state of soul to any human being.
I saw myself as I had never done before, a sinner in my sins, and my misery became too great to bear. I sought the quiet of my bedroom, and there I poured out my soul before God, and cried to Him for peace. I believed God’s own Word (John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24)), and then I knew the blessed reality of being saved by grace through faith.
When I had accepted Christ as my Savior, the next step I found from God’s Word, was to confess His name (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9); Mark 5:1919Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. (Mark 5:19)), and what a privilege it is to tell out what great things the Lord has done. Jesus says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:4545A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45)). How then can souls who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, and with hearts that have been filled with His grace, keep from telling others of His wonderful love?
When once we have stood out on the Lord’s side, a number of our fears and difficulties vanish, as I experienced when I first took a stand for Him, in confessing His name to my relatives and friends.
It is only when one has tasted the Lord’s love which alone can fill the heart, that the desire for worldly amusements fades away. The things I once enjoyed, such as theaters, dances, whist drives and the like, hold no attraction for me now. I know the blessed reality of putting my trust in the Lord, and He is enough the heart and mind to fill. There is no disappointment in Him. (John 4:13, 1413Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13‑14)).
It was indeed a great encouragement to me at this time, to find that a relative of mine had been praying for my conversion for years. Her prayers had at last been answered, and when I told her how I had been brought to the Savior, she was full of praise and thanks to God. This should be an encouragement to those who are praying for their unsaved relatives and friends.
It is so blessed to have everything arranged for us by infinite love, and daily to be learning more of its heights and depths. I have found that the Lord gives special comfort under special trials. Christ is a glorious reality.
Do come to Him, though you may have lived for the world up till this hour. Trust His Word, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)), and you will prove in having Christ that you have everlasting life and joy.
“O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him.”
If you would be saved, it must be by the precious blood of Christ that flowed on Calvary! Can you go on unheeding the blessed Savior who has done so much for sinners? O, come and trust Him, and may the Savior that I have found be your Savior, too!