In a beautiful house, surrounded with grounds, and furnished with every luxury, lived a young lady called Alice. She was an only child, idolized by her parents, and engaged to be married. Life seemed filled with brightness for her. Every wish was gratified, and the fond parents would have given their all to increase her happiness. But, in spite of all this human love and care, a visitor entered that stately mansion, a visitor that made his presence known. Alice’s beautiful cheek grew flushed, and the constant cough proclaimed that the seeds of consumption had been sown in her frame. The eyes of affection beheld these signs of illness. The family physician was sent for. He came, and after a careful examination he had to tell the broken-hearted parents that she must die. It seemed so hard to her to have to die. But Alice gradually sank. One day, as she lay on her luxurious couch, looking out on the beautiful world around her, she thought of all she would have to leave―the comfortable home, the love of her parents, and the love of the one to whom she had pledged her troth. It was sad, sad, to have to leave all and to go — where? She could not tell.
She sent for the priest. He came. All the family stood with him around the bed. He produced his missal, and all knelt while he intoned the service for the sick. Then he received her confession and pronounced absolution. After this he administered the sacrament, then placed his hands on her and blessed her, calling her a dutiful child of the Church. He left perfectly satisfied with her condition, and what he had done for her, assuring her that all was well. He had gone through the ritual of his Church on her behalf, and there was nothing more to be done.
Was Alice satisfied? No; she had submitted to all, she had joined in the responses; but she felt the blank within, she felt she was a lost sinner, and she knew that none of these things could save her soul. She wanted rest and peace.
Her father, mother, and her betrothed were standing around her as she lay. She glanced from one to the other with eager eyes, and then she spoke.
“Father, I am going to die. Where am I going?”
There was no answer.
“Mother, darling, can you tell me what 1 am to do to get to heaven?”
The only answer is a flood of tears.
“William, you who were to be the guide of my life, can you tell me anything of the future?”
There is no response.
“I’m lost! lost!” she exclaimed. “Am I not, father? Is there anyone who can tell me what I must do to be saved? “
The father spoke at last.
“You have always been a good child. You have regularly attended church, and, helped in the services, and the minister has performed the rites of the Church, and he says he is satisfied with your condition.”
“My father, I feel it is not enough. It gives no rest to my soul. It is hollow — it is not real. Oh, I am going to die, and I don’t know where I am going. Oh, the blackness of the darkness! Can anyone teach me what I can do to be saved?”
Everyone was in despair. It was indeed a sorrowful scene. Death had come into the house. Eternity seemed near at hand. None could give answer to that troubled soul; none can help her in her agony on account of sin.
There was a little girl in the house who waited on Alice. She was accustomed to attend a meeting held in a barn in the village. She said to her young mistress at last, “There is a preacher in the village who proclaims salvation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“Oh, that I could see him!” exclaimed Alice.
The preacher was invited to the house. He entered the room where the dying girl lay. The family assembled tether. Alice raised herself in bed, and said to the man of God, “Can you tell me what I must do to obtain rest for my soul, and die at peace with God?
“I fear I cannot.”
Alice fell back. “Alas!” she said, “is there no hope for me?”
“Stay,” he continued, “though I cannot tell you what you can do to be saved, I can tell you what has been done for you.”
And he told her the blessed story of redeeming love: how Christ has died that she might live — had borne her sins on the cross, and was risen from among the dead to whisper peace to her soul, that she might be saved there and then, by faith in the risen Jesus.
“And have I nothing to do?”
“Nothing but to believe. No doing, working, praying, or abstaining can give relief to the conscience burdened with sin, or rest to the troubled heart. It is not a work done in you by yourself, but a work done for you by Another. Jesus has said, ‘It is finished.’ By faith in Him you are pardoned; it is impossible for a sinner to do aught to save himself. Doing is not God’s way of salvation, but ceasing from doing, and believing what, God in Christ, has already done for you.”
“I do believe that Jesus died on the cross for sinners; but bow am I to know that God has accepted me?”
“Jesus, the God-man, has ascended into heaven. He has presented His blood before God, and has been accepted for us; and when you believe, you are accepted in Him.”
Alice heard those glorious words, she received their truth into her heart. Her face lit up with joy. Looking upwards, she exclaimed, “Oh, what love! What grace!” and a few days afterward she passed into the presence of Christ.
I have told you this at length to show you how the risen Jesus saves, and how the sinner finds the Saviour. Are you resting on the everlasting word of the Lord Jesus? Heaven is open for the sinner, and Christ is there. Oh! now rest, Forever rest, upon His finished work.