I was nineteen years of age when brought before the criminal court on a charge of highway robbery, of which I was not guilty.
But being unable to prove my innocence, and having no friends to take up my case, I was sentenced to fifteen years confinement in a penitentiary.
This was the saddest hour of my life.
But though all seemed to be against me, there was One whose eye looked in grace and pity down upon me. God, against whom I had sinned all my life, had compassion with me, stretching out His hand in love and mercy to save me. It was indeed His own remarkable way to bring me behind the prison walls and there save my soul.
Five years I had spent behind the prison walls when one Lord's day, on arriving at the chapel, a great surprise awaited me.
Alongside the prison chaplain stood a man whom I knew too well from years past. It was one of my former pals, the "Terrible Gardener" as he was called by us.
How that man was changed! He addressed the prisoners after a few remarks by the chaplain. Every word sank deep into my heart. What power could that be which had changed this terrible man so remarkably? When his address was concluded, he came down, right among us, telling us with many tears how he, through the grace of God, had learned to know himself as a lost and guilty sinner and had found the Lord Jesus as his Savior. While relating this, the man looked so happy that one could but feel all he said was true.
And I felt so very, miserable and forsaken. Afterward the man prayed for us. We all wept, such was the power of his testimony. Concluding he read several passages from the Bible—that glorious book for which I had never cared, but through which a merciful God was now speaking words of love and compassion to me, a poor castaway.
Returning to my cell and while still occupied with what I. had heard, my eyes wandering around in the desolate room, I discovered suddenly in an opening, which served as a ventilator, an object which engaged my attention. I took it down, and, what surprise! It was a Bible. It was covered with a thick layer of dust, but otherwise well preserved, complete and readable. It was certainly the providence of God to discover the book only now, for had I found it before this memorable day, I would undoubtedly have torn it to pieces. How grateful I was for its possession! Gladly I would have looked up the verses which had been read to us, but not knowing where to find them, I began to read at the very beginning.' My interest began to increase with every moment. Not for the most fascinating romance would I exchange my new-found treasure. I read on until I had to go to bed. My interest did not slacken in the following days, but I read on and on until I came finally to the narration of the life and sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. This touched me so that on one evening, while meditating on the remarkable change in my friend Gardener, and while pacing up and down my little room, a real hunger for a new life took hold on me. Could such a change with me be possible as he had experienced? A voice seemed to suggest: "Pray! pray the prayer of the publican: 'O God, be merciful to me the sinner!’” I tried thus to pray but in vain. My sins stood before me, terrorizing and condemning me.
Then, suddenly, the word "whosoever" came to my mind. "That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish," I had read.
"That means you," whispered the sweet voice again.
"But I am so ungodly," I put in, "too bad to be forgiven.
"Thus the battle in my soul continued, raging for weeks. At times I was almost despairing; for what shall a poor sinner do when between himself and a holy God there is nothing but a life of black and awful sins? I prayed much, and my desire to be accepted of God was deep and sincere.
One evening I concluded not to cease praying until I had found peace. I might have to stay on my knees until the morning; but, behold, at midnight my prayers were answered! The sense of my great need seemed to have reached a climax, when suddenly, as it were, a hand was laid on my head and a voice spoke to me: "My son, thy sins are forgiven thee!”
I do not know whether I actually heard a voice thus speaking, but most certainly were these words spoken to my soul. It was Jesus, the blessed Savior, who had thus spoken to me by the Holy Spirit. Now I knew and believed that He had died for my sins on the cross. This fact took hold of me with such power that I sprang to my feet. A flood of heavenly light seemed to fill my being. I did not know at first whether I was still in this world or in the other.
Clapping my hands together, I shouted:
"Thanks be to God! Blessed be His name!”
One of the watchmen passed by my door, and, hearing me, asked what I wanted.
"I have found Christ," I called out to him.
"My sins are forgiven, thanks be to God!”
Of course, the man could not comprehend my joy. He told me to be still, threatening to report me next morning for disturbing the peace. But this could not dampen my joy; my happiness was too great and too deep. Oh, what a night was this; never shall I forget when the Lord Himself spoke peace to my soul. Jesus alone can save!