Up to the age of sixteen, I was quite heathen as far as the Gospel was concerned. I never went to a place of worship, and thought all who did go were hypocrites. I was never made to read the Bible. I knew there was a God, but nothing more. I could not have told you who Jesus Christ was. You marvel at this, but it was true of many girls who were situated as myself.
One Sunday night, however, I had such a longing to go to a place of worship. I said to my brother: "O! Sid, I feel as if I would like to go to chapel; do come with me.”
My brother laughed at the request.
"Why Edith," he said, "what has put that in your head?" and my family were immensely amused that I, of all persons, should want to go, as I was such a wild girl, and the leader in all the fun.
After a deal of persuasion my brother came with me. We went to a large chapel, and sat in the back seat. My brother thought the preacher was never going to leave off; it was all new to him; and during the service he said: "If this is coming to church, I will never come again. I was silly to come." At last the service ended.
"O! Sid," I said, "that man did make me feel uncomfortable.”
"Now, Edith, don't you begin, for I have had quite enough; never do I come again.”
"Nor will I," I said.
I thought no more about it till the next Sunday came, when I felt I must go, so again I pleaded with my brother to come with me. It never dawned on me to go by myself. So I pleaded with him to come with me.
At last he put his best clothes on and came. We went to the same chapel, sat in the same seat. The same thing happened again. I felt so uncomfortable; my brother annoyed with himself for coming.
When the service was over I said to him: "I will never, never come again.”
"You said that last week," he said. "I know that nothing or nobody will get me to come again.”
So home we both went. I forgot to mention that my father was practically an atheist.
I never thought about it all the next week till the time for evening service came on. Again I felt I must go. And, O! how I pleaded for Sid to come with me. He did, but very unwillingly, as you can imagine.
We went to the same chapel, sat in the same seat. And as I sat there I knew I was a lost soul. Now nobody had spoken to me, but I knew if I had died that night I should have gone straight to hell. I think the text must have been: "Ye must be born again," from what followed. I knew I was a sinner, but as yet I knew nothing of Christ's salvation.
As soon as we got outside, I said to my brother:
"O, Sid, if we die tonight we shall both go straight to hell." He looked at me and said,
"O! whatever is the matter with you?”
"Don't talk to me," I said, "we are both sinners. Why, think we have done more than one sin, and he said that whoever had done one sin could not enter. What shall we do?”
We went home. My brother hung up his hat and coat, but I paced up and down our large kitchen with my things on. At last my brother came out and said; "Edie, take your things off and come in.”
"Sid," I said despairingly, "I am going to see that man who preached tonight." My brother looked at me and said: "All right, Edie, I will go with you." I never felt such love for him in all my life as I did at that moment.
So together we proceeded to the chapel, and as it happened, the preacher was then coming out. I went up to him and said: "O! sir, I want to be baptized.”
I thought baptism would save me. The good minister looked at me, and then, O! how can I write it, for the first time in my life I heard with understanding the story of Calvary. He spoke to me of the Savior, and told me of His love, how He loved me! I said, "O! sir, but I have not given Him a thought all my life; I have cared nothing for Him.”
Very tenderly and lovingly He said, "My child, the Lord loves you, and died for you.”
For me! for me! O, I could not tell you how I felt. In my joy I shook my brother and said: "O, Sir, listen to the Good News! O! what must I do?”
"O! sir," I said, "I will come this moment," and my first prayer was: "Lord, save me, a sinner; and save my brother too.”
I rose from my knees, and the minister said to me; "Have you trusted Him? Do you believe that you are saved?”
"Why, of course!" I replied, "did He not say 'Him that cometh?' and I have come.”
In my joy I ran all the way home with my brother, burst in upon our astounded family circle, and said: "I am saved; I have found Jesus Christ." I went everywhere telling them. I thought nobody knew the Good News. I believe today as I believed then: if only they knew Christ they must love Him.
Someone reading the foregoing might say, "But does it last?”
Well, it is nine years since I came to Christ. I can say from the depths of my being that ever since I heard the wonderful message of God's redeeming love, it has been the joy of my life to tell it to others. There is no joy in the world like watching and seeing its power to transform lives as it transformed mine. I have seen drunkards, gamblers, swearers—men and women of all kinds and conditions come—under its influence, and the result has been wonderful. A new creature in Christ!
The Lord Jesus Christ does not reform them merely, but makes them anew, pardoning and forgetting their past. Wonderful message—saving and raising all—all who will accept it. I have seen these things.