Some of our American coins still carry the inscription, “In God we trust,” and we can thank God that this is so. This story is about an English officer who had in his pocket some coins, one of which bore the inscription in Latin, “Dei Gratia,” meaning “By the grace of God.”
On the battlefield one day Henry was struck in the chest by a bullet. He expected to find himself seriously wounded, but to his surprise he was not injured at all. The lead had struck against the silver coin which, like a piece of armor, prevented it going any further. The coin, in the mercy of God, had saved his life.
Henry had a Christian sister at home who had taken care that he should not altogether be ignorant of the gospel, and no doubt she had often prayed for him. Perhaps he thought so; at any rate he felt that it was to God’s mercy he owed his safety.
Examining the coin more closely he observed that it was dented at the words, “Dei Gratia,” as if the bullet would teach him that it was “by the grace of God” that his life had been spared.
This aroused serious thoughts in Henry’s mind, and he remembered that before leaving home his sister had given him a gospel booklet. He had never cared to read it before, but now he got it out of his knapsack and read it. “By the grace of God” he was led to Christ; he became a believer in Him; his soul was saved. Now he was twice saved.
May you never look at a silver coin, dear unsaved reader, without thinking of those precious words, “By the grace of God.” No tongue can tell; no heart can fully appreciate all that is contained in them. Jesus has died upon the cross; God can now pardon the sinner that believes in Him and make him His child and an heir of glory. Eternity will never exhaust the blessed theme for what has been done for sinners “by the grace of God.”
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:11-13.
ML-01/28/1979