For a long time I had known my natural state before God—that I was lost, condemned already, dead in trespasses and sins, without hope and without God in the world. I knew that I justly deserved God's judgment, and that I had not a rag to wear in the presence of a holy God, who will have nothing less than a robe of spotless righteousness. The question of eternity gave me much uneasiness whenever I thought of it, and that was very often.
One night I went with my brother to a meeting where he was to preach. I shall never forget how he spoke; it seemed as if every word was addressed to me. He said that however much he, or anyone, might love us, or desire our salvation, "none can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." Psa. 49:77None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (Psalm 49:7). "Powerless, dear friends," he continued, "am I myself to help you. If your salvation depended upon any fellow creature, you would perish." Again he quoted his text, and his face grew paler than usual. I felt that he was yearning over my soul. Then he lovingly set forth the truth as expressed by the latter part of the verse: "Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom." Job 33:2424Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. (Job 33:24).
Much as I felt the power of that address, I still remained in darkness. I lingered in the building, and several of the Lord's people came and spoke to me about my soul. I did feel the need of salvation; but how could I obtain it?
One old gentleman, seeing various ones in conversation with me, asked what was going on. Someone answered, "A soul seeking Christ.”
"Oh," said he, "the seeking sinner and the seeking Savior will not be long apart.”
"But," said I to him, "suppose I were to die tonight?" He looked very straight at me through his spectacles. "Seek, and ye shall find," (Luke 11:99And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (Luke 11:9)) he said, and turned away without another word.
As we left the building, my brother walked ahead with a friend. I followed them with my puzzled thoughts as company. After the two men had entered the house, I stood outside, looking up into the clear, starlit sky. As though spoken to me by the Son of God by whom those stars were made and held in their places, His words came into my heart: "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life." John 6:4747Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47).
"Yes," I exclaimed, "I do believe on Thee, Lord Jesus; but I have not everlasting life." Again the passage came to my mind. "But I am not converted," I argued in my unbelief. A third time the glorious statement was pressed upon me. Then, to put it from me as being too unlikely, I reasoned, "I don't feel any different from what I did this morning, or last week, so I cannot have everlasting life." The Holy Spirit once more brought home the words of Jesus: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life." 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).
Still in my miserable unbelief I continued to reason that it was impossible. At last I was brought to this: "God made me, and He knows better about me than even I know about myself. He says if I believe on the Lord Jesus I have everlasting life. I do indeed believe, therefore I must have it if He says so. Lord, I believe! Help Thou mine unbelief.”
I managed somehow to tell my story to my brother later that night, and he did rejoice with and over me. My joy the next day was increased; and as some of the beautiful passages in Rom. 8 came to me, I found myself striking the table with my fist, as though I were repeating them emphatically to an audience. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.”
Reader, I would urge you to accept now the same precious Savior, and to rejoice in His word: "He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life," because God, the Son, says it.