Echoes of Grace: 1988

Yoga, meditation, Eastern religions—Steve was deeply involved with them all. Although still a student himself, he was organizing and teaching classes in meditation and yoga to other college students. Still, there was something missing.

Finally he decided to leave school to give all his time to studying the Eastern writings, as well as going more and more into yoga and "deep meditation." A year later he still had to admit that something was missing. "I realized I still didn't know God personally," lie said. "I believed in Him deeply, but I didn't really know Him."

Just then he received a letter from a former classmate, saying, "Jesus is the only Way!" How different this was! Steve spent the whole day praying that, if that were true, God would show him.

When he went out that evening he stood by the roadside with his thumb out for a ride, still praying for God to show him if he should turn to Jesus. A van pulled over. Steve climbed in and was barely seated when the driver turned to him and said, "Have you accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior?"

Steve didn't even hesitate. "No," he answered, "but I'm ready to!” Right then and there he asked the Lord Jesus to come into his heart.

Steve says now that "the experience has proved the reality —with Him living in my heart, I know He is the Way."

Back to his yoga classes he went and told all his students that, Mohammed didn't die for our sins; Buddha never got out of the grave, but Jesus is the living Savior who as crucified for us."

No longer is "something missing" in Steve's life. The Lord Jesus has filled that emptiness, and his time is spent in telling others of the One who said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

What Shall I Do?

Have you tried everything and yet failed to find the peace you long for? Have you wept and prayed, and afflicted yourself in various ways, and still peace seems as far away as ever?

Perhaps you have been told to pray and wait, and so you have prayed and waited until your burden has become unbearable, and it seems as if it will crush you.

Do you sometimes say in your heart: "No one could ever feel as I feel"?

You may have wondered why God made you, and have said: "Oh! I wish that I had never been born! There is happiness for others, but not for me. I am afraid to live, and I am afraid to die. Oh! what shall I do?"

The cause of this long and continuous distress of mind is found in the very question, "What shall I do?" If we realized our need as a sinner, and our complete helplessness to satisfy God, we would cease from our own efforts to obtain peace with God.

The question, "What shall I do?" was asked of the Lord when He was here on earth. "Then said they [the Jews] unto Him [Christ], What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?" John 6:28. He answered: "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." John 6:29.

"What shall I do?" Thank God! There is nothing to do, for the work of salvation is all done. I can have peace by simply believing and accepting what Christ has done for me.

Christ on the cross has so fully done the work, and so fully atoned for sins, that there is nothing to do. It is all done.

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His [Jesus'] name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43.

Her Eighteenth Birthday

It was Alice's eighteenth birthday. She enjoyed slowly opening her presents and looking them over one by one, so time slipped away and it was late when she went upstairs to prepare for the gospel meeting. She was sorry to be late on her birthday, but when she caught sight of the town clock, she saw that it was already ten minutes past eight.

Very quietly she opened the door of the meeting room and decided to wait till they started singing before she went in. A verse of Scripture was being read, and, as she stood inside the door, closing it noiselessly, the first words she heard were, "Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond?" Luke 13:16.

God by the Holy Spirit sent those words of the Savior right home to the heart of Alice standing at the door. "Whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years," she said to herself; "that is me. I am eighteen today, and I know that I am not serving God, and they say that if I am not, I must be serving Satan. If that's true, I am his slave."

The words of God kept going through her mind. She realized that she had spent her life—all those eighteen years, in which God had given her health and comfort and countless other blessings—in forgetfulness of Him. She remembered that He had often called her. Yes, she saw it all now; she had been bound by Satan for eighteen years. She was bound still. How could she be "loosed"?

The meeting ended, and Alice returned home. Still those words filled her mind. She went to her room, but not now to spend her time at the mirror, or looking at her presents. Now she was on her knees before God. Earnestly she prayed: "Lord, I am bound I'm all wrong oh, show me what to do!"

Even as she prayed a ray of light from God's Word shone into her soul: "Ought not this woman... to be loosed?"

"That woman was loosed," she said to herself; "Oh, that I might be!" God's light shone into her repentant heart, showing her that though she was a captive to sin bound by sin for eighteen years yet One "mighty to save" had come "to preach deliverance to the captives... to set at liberty them that are bruised." Luke 4:18.

When Jesus was on earth, He said to that poor woman, "Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity." Luke 13:12. He laid His hands on her and she was made straight, and glorified God.

How very simple and natural it all was, Alice thought, and why should He not do the same for her? So right there and then she put her trust in Him. Though she had been bound by Satan for eighteen years, she too, was loosed that very day.

Can you imagine her joy when she realized she was really free? The Lord Himself had said, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." The Lord Jesus is the only One who can loose those chains of sin that bind us, and He is waiting to do so for all who will come to Him and own that they are sinners and accept Him as their Savior.

"Through His [Jesus'] name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43.

For Us Both

Mrs. Moore was getting ready to go to a prayer meeting. She picked up her Bible and went to find her husband.He was seated at his desk working on his accounts. She bent to kiss him goodbye as he said, "Yes, yes, Margaret! You go and pray for us both," while hardly raising his eyes from his books.

It was not the first time that she had heard the same request. Her husband had gotten into the habit of never going with her, but he quieted his conscience by the thought that he sent his wife to pray for them both.

When he was alone he again began to check and verify his addition, but his eyes became heavy, his eyelids kept closing and the figures on the pages seemed to twist and turn in a senseless dance. At last his pen dropped from his fingers, his hands and his head settled down on the cushions of his chair and he was fast asleep.

Soon he was dreaming that he had died and was walking with his faithful Margaret towards the gate of heaven. "Now we will go in together," he said as he took his wife's hand.

Suddenly an angel appeared before them. He opened the gate before which the couple was standing and, turning affectionately towards the wife, he invited her to enter. He said, "You may enter for both, for this has always been your husband's thought."

The gate closed behind her, and the poor man was left standing outside.

Waking, he soon had a Bible in his hands and began searching for some assurance that his wife's prayers would be enough for both, but what did he find?

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezek. 18:20.

"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God." Rom. 14:12.

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Cor. 5:10.

He then came to the conclusion, and rightly so, that the prayers of a wife can never put away the sins of a husband, and that if salvation is good for women, it must also be good for men! Careful reading led him also to the conclusion that the same Jesus Christ who in the future will be the judge, is now the Savior of sinners. He lost no time in seeking and finding pardon and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Anxious Questions With Wonderful Answers

Do you think I am properly converted? I am not as happy as I thought I would be when I came to Christ, and I sometimes wonder if I have made a mistake.

Well, God in His great goodness gives us something better to rest upon than our happiness.

What is that?

His own Word in the Scriptures. Remember, He cannot lie. He means what He says and says what He means, and He has spoken for our assurance. Better still, He has written to us: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1 John 5:13. Do you believe on the Son of God?

Oh, yes! I do! But my feelings change. One day I think I am all right because I am happy, but the next day I think that I am all wrong because my happy feelings are gone.

Look at the verse carefully then. It is not: "This happiness I have given unto you that ye may know," but, "These things have I written... that ye may know." The Word of God has been given to us. It never changes. Happy feelings and joyful experiences come and go, and will continue to come and go while we are here on earth. But the written Word of God remains unaltered. It is put before us in black and white so that we may have absolute assurance.

Then I am to trust in what God says in His written Word, and not depend on my feelings?

Yes! The tide ebbs and flows unceasingly around the shores, but the land remains unmoved. So our condition varies from day to day but the truth of God is still the same. It will abide forever, firmer than the firmest piece of land.

Then, can I know that I have eternal life regardless of whether the tide of my feelings is high or low?

Of course! Everyone who believes on the name of the Son of God is entitled to know that. "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life." 1 John 5:20.

"I Just Came"

I said one night to an old man who had come several times to the gospel meetings, "Isn't it time you turned to Christ for salvation?"

"I did tonight," he replied. "I'm a saved man, now."

I asked him how he knew this; was it because he had determined to give up his sinful habits and live a decent life?

He said, "No, it was not that. While you were preaching I thought I saw God holding out His hands to me and saying, 'I will receive you just as you are,' And I just came."

The old man came to God who is stretching out His hands to men all the day long. He commends His love to sinners; He beseeches them to be reconciled to Him; He "will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

Are you sick of the world's deceptions and sins? Come to the Savior. Above the noise of this restless world His voice calls to you. He says: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Let these words enter your ears and heart; they bring a great peace and a priceless blessing.

Do not close your ears to His words. Thousands have come; thousands are still coming. Do not stay away! You may find everlasting rest in His eternal love. Come now. Come just as you are. Just come!

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing." Rom. 15:13.

”I Don’t Want to Be Sad”

Some people think that a Christian is a sad person who goes through life without much joy or pleasure and whose life is filled with many "don'ts." "Don't do this " or "Don't do that" he always seems to be saying. This is not true. It is a lie of Satan. A Christian can and should be full of peace and joy. Real and lasting happiness is the portion of every believer.

"Sad!" What is there about God's good news calculated to make one sad? Does it make a man "sad" to know that all of his sins are forgiven? Does it make a person sad to know that he will spend eternity with the Lord Jesus in heaven?

In the Bible, King David said, "Happy is that people, whose God is the Lord." Psa. 144:15. "In Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Psa. 16:11.

"'Tis Jesus only that can give
Sweetest pleasures while we live;
`Tis Jesus only can supply
Solid comfort should we die."

The Christian, being delivered from the bondage of sin, death, and judgment, is the only one who can have peace of heart now and the hope of eternal joy. "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing." Rom. 15:13.

The Joy of Salvation

The only people on earth who know lasting happiness or have an entrance into the joys of salvation are true "born again" Christians. Knowing that their sins have been forgiven and washed away by the precious blood of Christ, and that they are saved for all eternity, what could result but a flood of thanksgiving, for "believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable." 1 Peter 1:8.

Some people believe that conversion to God puts a damper on happiness, not understanding at all what it is about. If one has never tasted the pure waters of redeeming love, how can he compare it to the polluted pleasure streams of this world? The Word tells us to "taste and see that the Lord is good." Psa. 34:8.

Have you believed the glad tidings? Are you rejoicing in eternal life? If not, you have missed the greatest, the only true and abiding joy to be found on earth.

"Yea, happy is that people, whose God is the Lord." Psa. 144:15.

The Blessed Hope

The world in which we live today is frightening! Politically, there is unrest and tension—there are wars and rumors of wars. Religiously, there is confusion—false leaders and false teachers seem to increase and abound. Economically, there is uncertainty—talk of prosperity is offset by the actuality of unemployment and decreased spending. Physically, there is much suffering in spite of improved medical skills and medication. Mentally, there are increasing problems in spite of excellent educational advantages. Morally, there is a rapid decline. Crime and lawlessness are on the increase!

The combination of all these things is more than many hearts and minds can bear. However, there is a bright lining to this dark cloud. The coming of the Lord is near. He says, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up... for your redemption draweth nigh." This is the blessed hope of every believer in Jesus, the coming Savior. It makes it possible for the child of God to live victoriously in an evil day. It brings joy in the midst of sorrow. It gives comfort in the time of trial.

We want YOU to be sure that this "blessed hope" is yours. Those who have put faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, know that their sins are forgiven; they know that they have passed from death unto life; they know that they have eternal life; they rejoice in the blessed hope of His soon coming. Is this your hope? If not, accept Christ today!

Collision Course

There was terror on Interstate 70. A panic-stricken woman, driving at speeds up to 100 miles an hour, was being pursued by two police cars trying to bring her under control. They radioed for help: "She's crossed the median strip—airborne—she's headed east in the westbound lane."

Eastbound—in the westbound lane—on the interstate!

Sergeant Kenneth Pollock was not with the traffic division. He had had years as a trooper on the road, and had seen more than enough of traffic accidents. At the last, his son had died in his arms, a victim of a motorcycle accident. Shaken and grief-stricken, Pollock transferred to the narcotics division and became an undercover agent. Now, in an unmarked police car in the westbound lane of 1-70, he heard his radio crackling with the officers' frantic call.

Breaking his cover as an agent, he jumped from his car and held up his badge as he waved cars to a stop. Running between the cars, he shouted to people to get out and get away—get away from the road as far as possible.

One couple did not understand, or, with their newborn baby girl in their van, may have been too unfamiliar with the infant's safety seat to get her out quickly. Pollock could see them still in their van at the very head of the line of parked cars.

Only seconds to go! Pollock ran to his car and raced to the front of the line. He looked ahead and "there she was!" The runaway car was heading straight for the van. Gunning his motor, he came up on the van's left, swerved sharply to the right and stopped directly in front of the speeding car.

Just in time! His car was hit instantly, ("It sounded like a cannon going off!") followed by a second crash as the maverick car plowed into a parked Cadillac and stopped.

Eager hands helped a dazed Pollock from his smashed car, injured but alive. Three cars were totaled, several people were injured, but no one was killed, not even the woman whose deep depression had sent her racing down the road at suicidal speed.

Kenneth Pollock, no longer a trooper, did not have to risk his life. He did not have to "blow his cover," to sacrifice years of experience in the narcotics division. The man whose life and family were saved by Pollock's heroism saw the hand of God in the sergeant's action: "God knew exactly where to put him," he said.

And we could say that God knew "exactly where to put" the Lord Jesus to stand between us and destruction. We have an appointment to keep, an appointment inexorably drawing nearer—how fast we do not know. We are "appointed... once to die, but after this the judgment." But— "Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many."

Yes, the Lord Jesus came between us and the judgment, came willingly. There was "no cause of death in Him," but "Christ suffered for us... Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth... but His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree."

The sergeant survived, but his injuries were such that he will probably have to take early retirement. In spite of that, he says, "I'm just so pleased that these people didn't have to suffer the horror that I went through by losing a child."

The Lord Jesus was "wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes were are healed." Isa. 53:5. Still, it says of Him, "He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied."

He was wounded, He was bruised for us—for you—for me. Have you ever realized that the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave His life to save your soul? Believe it! Receive it! And thank God that He "knew exactly where to put Him" between you and destruction.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Whosoever

A large group of children gathered around me. I had them repeat over and over some verses of God's Word, each with the word "whosoever" in it. I asked them what it meant, and they replied unanimously, "ANYONE."

As I continued speaking, I placed a quarter on the ground and my Bible over it. Then I said, "Now, whosoever picks up that quarter may have it."

At first none seemed to understand, then suddenly one little boy, who had been eyeing the Bible closely, picked it up and grabbed the quarter. Immediately a pile of others were on top of him, and when I pulled him out from underneath, I said "What is your name?"

"Jimmy McIntosh," he replied.

"Well, I didn't say Jimmy McIntosh could have the quarter, did I?"

"No," he answered, "but you said whosoever and that meant me."

I need not emphasize the point! It is so simple that all must see it. Keep in mind that "whosoever" means you.

Now notice what God says to you in His Book: "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. Who would dare to tell God he had kept every point in His holy law? Who has fulfilled the law by loving God with all his heart, mind and strength, and his neighbor as himself?

We have all loved things that we know God hates, and forgotten Him many, MANY times, so we can only say as we examine the law: "We are truly guilty before God."

What is to be done if we are all "guilty before God"? Well, we come to our second "whosoever."

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

What a contrast we find between the gospel and the law. Under the law I had to love God; now, in the gospel, I find that HE loves me, a sinner in my sins!

So we have found that "God loved"; "God gave," and the question comes to us, why? "That WHOSOEVER believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

We should be like the fellow who, after reading this verse, said this: "God loved—God gave—I believe—and I'm saved."

"To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His [Jesus'] name WHOSOEVER believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43.

What Is a True Christian?

Being a true Christian means far more than living in a Christian land. In Rev. 3:1 we read of those who have a claim to life, but are dead. They are mere pretenders. They are counterfeits. They are not genuine. As a bad coin is a worthless imitation of a real one, so those who are Christian in name only are of no value as Christians. They will be judged and banished from God's holy presence at the judgment seat of Christ.

What, then, is a true Christian?

He is cleansed! "The blood of Jesus Christ... cleanseth us from all sin." Having come as a sinner to the Savior, he is made whiter than snow in God's holy sight (Isa. 1:18).

He is redeemed! "Christ hath redeemed us." He has bought us back from our slavery to sin and brought us back to God (Gal. 3:13).

He is enlightened! He was in darkness. He did not know what he was as a sinner. He did not know Christ the Savior. Now he has light and can see clearly. (Acts 26:18).

He is sanctified! He is set apart from all his former associations. He no longer belongs to the world. He belongs to Christ, and is called to walk so as to glorify Him (2 Cor. 6:16-18).

He is trusting! He confides in Christ, and depends upon Him day by day for needed grace, strength, and wisdom (Heb. 13:6).

He is accepted! God has put him in Christ's place before His face, and so God's thoughts of Him are measured by God's thoughts of Christ (Eph. 1:3-6).

He is made new! "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature." He has been born again—born of God. He now has new desires—different from those he had when unconverted. (2 Cor. 5:17).

Are you then a true, born again Christian? If not, you are only a pretender. You need to come to Christ for salvation. Then you will have the joy and peace which belong to the true Christian. You will know that when He comes you will be caught up to meet Him in the air, and be forever with Him in heaven.

"What must I do to be saved?... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31.

The Debt Is Paid

Many really desire to know Jesus as their Savior, but find it hard to realize that the work is finished without any help from themselves. This true story illustrates how a poor woman learned this important lesson.

Betty was poor, very poor. She was sick, and confined to her bed as well. (Sickness is a great trial, and a still greater one when poverty comes with it.)

But Betty carried an even heavier burden. She was filled with doubts and fears about her soul's salvation. She had heard over and over again that Christ had died on the cross, and that He had borne the punishment for her.

She believed, but still, her mind was dark and sad when she thought of the future. She felt a distance between her and a holy God. Mrs. Pax, a kind friend, often visited her. Again and again, she sought to put the simple plan of salvation before her, showing that when Christ died on the cross, He finished the work, paid the debt in full, and, "being justified by faith, we have peace with God." But no matter how simply the truth was put before her, she found no relief.

One day as Mrs. Pax entered, she found Betty in great distress. She had pulled the sheet over her head, and was sobbing violently, just as if her heart would break; the very bed shook under her.

"Dear Betty," said Mrs. Pax, "what has happened to make you so unhappy?"

"Oh, Mrs. Pax, I can't pay my rent, and the landlord is going to take my bed from under me. I shall die! I shall die!"

Her distress was so great and all that her friend could say seemed useless. She had not a cent, and the debt must be paid, or her bed taken.

Just at this moment they heard a violent knock on the door. This brought on a fresh outbreak of grief.

"There they are! There they are!" she cried.

Deeply touched at her sorrow, Mrs. Pax descended the stairs softly, and found the two men at the door, expecting to take the furniture.

"Well," she said, after they had explained their errand, "you know this poor woman cannot pay her rent."

"Of course, ma'am, but we can't help that. If she has not the money we must take the furniture."

"But it is terribly cruel; she is dying!"

"Ma'am, that is not our business; we must have the money or the furniture."

"Well, tell me, how much it is."

The men told her, and taking the money from her purse, she said: "Give me the change and a receipt."

This they did, and Mrs. Pax put the receipt between the pages of her Bible, and went upstairs to reassure Betty that all was settled as to her bed, not realizing that God was going to use this act of kindness for a far greater blessing to the troubled soul of this poor woman.

She found her in despair, expecting every moment to be pulled out of bed, and laid on the floor. Her friend sat down by her, saying quickly, "Betty, don't worry!"

"But, I must worry. I shall die!"

"But the debt is paid, Betty." The poor woman threw the sheet off her face, and looked round in wonder. What had she heard? She could not believe her ears.

Mrs. Pax repeated again those comforting words, "I assure you, Betty, you don't need to worry any more. The debt is paid," and opening her Bible, she showed her the receipt, saying, "Here, Betty, this is the receipt. Read it for yourself and be convinced!"

The poor old woman slowly read it as well as she could. Suddenly, a very happy expression came into her face, and the sadness was gone. Her expression was bright, as if the cloud was lifted. She raised her hands and cried, "I understand! I understand! Jesus has paid my debt of sin."

And, now, do you understand? Do you know Him of whom it is said, "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins"? Do you think He needs any of your help? Did He not say, "Come unto Me,"?

"We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." Eph. 1:7. Do not think your works can help you. The words of Jesus on the cross were, "It is finished." John 19:30.

Only One Church

John Wesley once, in a dream, found himself at the gates of hell. He knocked, and asked who were within. "Are there any Roman Catholics here?" he asked.

"Yes," was the answer.

"Any Presbyterians?" he asked, and again the answer was, "Yes."

"Are there any Welseyans here?"

"Yes, we have some of those, too," came the answer.

Disappointed and dismayed, especially by the last reply, he turned his step upward and at last came to the gates of heaven. Here he repeated the same questions.

"Any Wesleyans here?" he anxiously inquired. The answer was, "No."

And as he named the other denominations, to his dismay, each time the answer was, "No."

"Then whom do you have here?" he asked in desperation.

"We know nothing here of any of those names you have mentioned," said the angel. "They are all Christians here—born again people. Of these we have a great multitude which no man can number, gathered out of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues."

Down through the centuries there have been bitter arguments over religion, and especially the question: which church is right? Nothing is more irritating than to hear someone insist that only members of his church or denomination will get to heaven. How foolish that is, when the Bible makes it so plain that Christ is the way to heaven, and not the church.

Be sure that God will not ask the sinner: "What church did you join?" But He will inquire, "What have you done with Christ?" The only members of any church or denomination who will be in heaven will be those who as lost sinners have trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior.

But there is a church of which every member, according to the Bible, will be in heaven. It is called "the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:28. According to the New Testament, a person does not become a member of this Church until he knows the Lord Jesus Christ as his own Savior.

The Church began at Jerusalem after the Lord Jesus was taken back to heaven. Universally it includes all the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world. At the second coming of Christ this universal Church will be taken up to heaven to be forever with the Lord. In that day, "The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain [all Christians, both the dead and living] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:16, 17.

Are you a member of this one true Church?

God's Way

Many well-meaning persons think they will get to heaven by doing good, by going to church, or by being religious. They hope to merit heaven by something they can do or be, but that is not God's way.

Good as these things may be in their place, they are not the way to heaven. The way to heaven is Jesus. He said: "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

?Lie Still! Lie Still!?

The rotating lights of the squad car flashed on and its shrill siren cut through the quiet of the Chicago inner-city neighborhood.

A taxi which had been weaving from side to side of the street came to a halt. In plain view of the officers in the squad car, the taxi driver opened his door, poured out the contents of a liquor bottle, and started running.

The policemen raced after him and caught him. There was a scuffle, a grappling of hands and arms. The cab driver tore one of his arms free in the fray, reached under his jacket and pulled from a shoulder holster a handgun. He leveled it towards one of the police officers. Both their weapons were still holstered.

"No! Hold it! Don't do it," they shouted.

Before they could react further, the cab driver shot. Officer Matura's gun hand was hit. The driver fired again, and Officer Duffy crumpled to the pavement, his bullet-proof vest pierced by a bullet.

Officer Matura stepped backwards, drew his own revolver and fired every cartridge at the cab driver, but shooting with his left hand, his shots went wild and missed. Out of ammunition, he retreated down the street to reload.

The cab driver turned and shot Officer Duffy again as he lay in the street, then went in pursuit of Officer Matura, following him down the street for half a block.

Duffy wasn't dead. He had been shot twice but he still was conscious. When he saw his assailant leave he struggled to his hands and knees and started crawling. He crawled twenty feet to behind a parked van and collapsed. He was trying vainly to raise himself to crawl further when he heard the voice of a young woman whisper to him, "Lie still!"

The woman saw he was dazed and didn't understand. "Lie still!" she repeated urgently.

The gunman returned to his cab and saw that the police officer's body was missing. He began looking for him. "Where is that guy? I'm going to kill him," he shouted.

The young woman, Anne Claxton, quietly slipped into a position between the would-be murderer and the wounded policeman, blocking his view of Duffy lying on the pavement.

The taxi driver made a futile search for him for a few seconds, then jumped back into his cab and sped away. There was a car chase and another gun battle before police were able to take him into custody.

Anne Claxton, standing bravely between the wounded officer and his foe, reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ who has stood between us and our foe—Satan. To shield us from the judgment our sins deserve, the Lord Jesus went to the cross and died for us. He, the just one, suffered for us, the unjust to bring us to God. Now, all who believe on Him shall never come into condemnation but have passed from death to life. Rom. 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."

If it had not been for the intervention of Anne Claxton the policeman would have likely been killed; if it were not for the Lord Jesus' death on the cross, not a single member of the human race could ever have been saved from their sins.

Anne whispered into the ear of the wounded officer, "Lie still! Lie still!" If you have realized your own danger, if you know that you need the Savior, won't you stop trying to help yourself and simply receive salvation as a free gift from Him who intervened between you and the enemy of your soul and died on your behalf?

"The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Gal. 2:20.

Dead Weight

A young man asked a preacher, "You say that unsaved people carry a weight of sin. How heavy is sin? Is it ten pounds? Eighty pounds? I don't feel any weight!"

The preacher replied by asking: "If you laid a four hundred pound weight on a corpse, would it feel the load?"

The youth replied, "It would feel nothing, because it is dead."

The preacher concluded, "He, too, is dead indeed who feels no load of sin or is indifferent to its burden and flippant about its presence."

The young man was silenced.

"And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Eph. 2:1.

Our Living Souls

Scientists tell us that we renew our bodies every seven years; old cells are thrown off and new cells are formed. Yet our individuality remains. Unlike the body, the soul is not composed of parts which dissolve or disintegrate, but it lives on—on into eternity.

Looking into Scripture we find out how this came about. "And God said, Let Us [God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit] make man in Our image, after Our likeness." Gen. 1:26. Then further in Gen. 2:7, "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul."

How solemn then to think that the soul of each one of us will soon be in one of two places: either heaven or hell. Sin has come in, and "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." Ezek. 18:4. God is a holy God, and cannot pass by sin. "It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." Heb. 9:27.

Is there an escape then from this judgment? Yes, "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15. "Jesus... who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame." Heb. 12:2. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:1.

Time is short; the day of grace will soon be over. If you are not saved when the Lord comes back, you will be lost forever.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

A Nurse's Story

As a Christian nurse I had been longing for some special message to carry for Jesus, when I was ordered to a new ward.

Passing along by the bedsides, I observed a young girl who had, along with other ailments, a very bad heart condition. She was reading a book, but seeing a new nurse approaching, she laid it down upon the bed. I picked it up and read: "Food for the Children of God." I expressed pleasure in seeing her read such a book, and she said it was very good.

"Are you one of God's children?" I asked.

"Oh, no!" she replied. "I am not able to say that; I wish I were."

I had time for only a few words, but I tried to encourage her to come to Christ as her Savior, for then she could fully enjoy the "food" as her own.

Later on I had to give her her medicine. When she had taken it I said: "If you could take Christ as easily as you have taken this medicine, would you not do it?"

"Oh yes," she said, "I wish I could."

"You can," I said. " 'The gift of God is eternal life.' He will give it to you; He longs to bless and save you."

Many days later I had an opportunity to visit that ward again. My sick friend was much weaker. I slipped in, and approached her bed. She at once recognized me, and putting her arms around my neck as I bent over her, she said: "Oh, nurse, I've got it! I am not afraid to die now!"

"What have you got?" I asked.

"Eternal life! And I shall never perish. No one can pluck me out of His hands." Then she added: "Nurse, I have you to thank."

I stopped her by saying: "Both you and I have to thank God, for it is He who loved us, and gave His only begotten and well-beloved Son, that we might have eternal life through Him."

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Two Doors

There are two doors—one open, the other closed. The open door is the door of salvation which is thrown wide open for everyone to enter in—it cannot be more widely opened. It is for "whosoever will" to approach and enter. Christ says, "I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9.

At present it has no bolt, no bar, no lock, and no hindrance. The road to it is clear, the way is plain. Everyone may come. Mercy is now free to all.

But there is another door—a closed one. That is the sinner's heart—barred, bolted and locked. At this door Christ is knocking! "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." Revelation 3:20. What a picture!

The Savior of sinners is waiting outside entreating to be let in! Now, while Christ is knocking outside your heart, you are the one that must open the door and let Him in.

Christ is willing to come and save you, but on you rests the responsibility of receiving salvation for yourself. Christ does not force His way in. If you refuse to admit Him, the blame of your eternal punishment rests upon you. You have to open your door, or you must bear the future consequences.

Soon the open door will be closed, the Master of the house having shut it. Then, "Too late!" "Too late!" The day of free grace offered to you will then have expired.

Remember, you are either saved or lost. There is no middle ground. You should face that fact at once. Delays are dangerous. Have you received the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36.

Be Not Afraid

I stood one day on some cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean while a man pointed out a rocky reef a little way off shore. Waves were crashing and foaming over it, and he told me that was the spot where an Austrian sailing ship had once struck on the rocks. Through a fierce storm the lifeguards struggled with their rocket apparatus, and as soon as it was on the spot nearest the sinking ship they fired the rocket with its lifeline.

Their aim was perfect; they could see that the rope was caught fast in the rigging, but instantly every sailor on the ship rushed below and not a man was to be seen. There was the rope attached, and there hung the board with the directions as to its use—directions in half-a-dozen languages—but no one even looked at it.

The lifeguards knew that the rough seas would break the ship to pieces very soon, and they would not be able to save any. At last one man could stand it no longer and, getting into the buoy, he went down the line to the ship. Through the hatch he flung the painted board. A score of frightened faces looked up in terror at him. They took the board and read it; hastily they explained it to one another, and scrambled out to the life line. First one, then another, availed himself of the apparatus until all were safely on the shore.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, they hugged and kissed their deliverers joyfully. "We heard—we saw —the shout; we thought you wanted to kill us," they explained in broken English.

How sad it would have been if they had drowned because they were afraid of the only ones who could save them, if they died because they did not believe in the rescue that was offered. And how many people are like them today—afraid of God—unbelieving as to the salvation He wants them to have.

"The Lord... is long-suffering... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9. He is "a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness." Neh. 9:17.

Then why be afraid? Why doubt His love and mercy? Why wait until it is too late to be saved? The Lord Jesus says to you now, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"—rest for time and for eternity. If you are afraid to come, if you do not believe His promise, if you wait until your ship of life breaks up and sinks into the waters of death, your chance will have gone forever.

Now it is "he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life." Then it will be "he that believeth not the Son shall not see life." John 3:36.

"Be not afraid, only believe." Mark 5:36.

They Put It in Writing

Once Mr. Spurgeon, in the course of a sermon, suggested that every one of his hearers when they got home should write a truthful description of himself, in the fewest possible words—either, "Thomas Jones, lost," or, "Henry Williams, saved."

"If you see it in writing, it may startle and impress you," he said.

A Christian woman, who was present, determined to act upon his advice.

When she and her family were seated around the table in their home, she brought out a pen and notepaper, and said, "I want to tell you what Mr. Spurgeon said in his sermon today."

The father, who was reading his Sunday newspaper, looked up for a moment to watch the preparation, but when he heard Mr. Spurgeon's name mentioned, he went on reading.

"Mr. Spurgeon asked us all," continued his wife bravely, although with a beating heart, "to write our names on a sheet of paper, and to put 'saved' or 'lost' after them, and to be quite truthful about it."

Mr. Mitchell took hold of the poker, and with a good deal of unnecessary noise, banged the coals around in the fireplace.

Meanwhile, his wife was writing. She wrote at the top of the page, "Sarah Mitchell, saved."

Then she handed the paper to her eldest daughter, who had been with her to hear Mr. Spurgeon.

She took the paper, and wrote under her mother's name, "Lucy Mitchell, saved."

It was now Harry's turn.

Mother was anxious about Harry. She longed that he might be a Christian, but she did not know whether or not he had accepted Christ as his Savior. How her heart trembled when he took up the pen!

With a steady hand, and without a moment's hesitation, he wrote, "Harry Mitchell, saved." Her heart was filled with joy. The good woman wiped her eyes, and looked as only a mother can look at her eldest son, who had thus boldly taken his stand on the side of the Lord.

Tiny, as they called the youngest, had learned to love Jesus at the Sunday school. She could make capital letters, and wanted to add her name. Some of the letters were large and some small, and she made a blot on the paper, but when it was handed to the mother, she read, "Alice Mitchell, saved."

That was the whole family, except the father, who was reading the paper.

George Mitchell was at least an honest man, and a kind father. The children were not in the least afraid of him, even when he somewhat gruffly said, "Pass the paper to me."

"Hand me the pen, Harry," he added, a moment later. "It's all trash, but I might as well join in the game."

So he wrote under the other names, "George Mitchell, 1 "

Before he could add another letter to that "l," his wife seized his arm, and cried out, "George! You shall never write that."

Then the children all joined in, shouting out, "No, no, dear Father, you must not write that. You shall not write that!"

Father tried in a good-humored way to shake himself free. He tried to laugh, in a nervous, forced way, at the whole thing. But as they all stood and cried, and pleaded, he broke down and fell on his knees beside his wife and children, confessing his sins, and accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior, and was able to write, "George Mitchell, saved."

What joy there was in the family that night—all of them loving the Savior, and on the way to heaven!

"But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." John 20:31.

A Rare Find

An Australian farmer, digging post-holes on his farm, unearthed a single chunk of gold worth 77,000 dollars. He promptly named it his "Mortgage Stone," sold it, and paid off his mortgage.

A nugget of gold that size is rare and valuable, but covered with mud it looked like any other ordinary stone in the same dirty condition. The farmer could have pushed it aside and continued with his digging in the dirt, but the nugget caught his attention. He looked, and he tested, and he proved its value.

The gospel of God's grace is like that piece of gold in some ways. The farmer was busy with the common duties of his life when he discovered it, and we too may be busy in the ordinary course of our lives when the gospel is presented to us and we discover the Christ of Calvary.

Finding the gold made the farmer far richer. Now let a person genuinely believe the happy news: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life," and he will have received true riches—riches that will last forever—because the moment he believed he passed from "death" to "life."

It would have been a large loss indeed, if the farmer had failed to recognize the gold as he pulled it out of the hole, but it is a tragedy when someone fails to recognize the truth of the gospel and never submits to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The farmer might have lost his farm to the loan company, but the person who fails to find the Savior loses far more; he loses his soul. "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Mark 8:36.

The person who finds Jesus Christ the Savior makes the happiest, most valuable find possible in his or her lifetime.

While You’re Young

How wonderful of our God to warn us while we are still young of the foolishness of seeking all our joy and pleasure here in this world.

For a happy and fruitful life, go to Him. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10. Everything this world has to offer is "Vanity of vanities."

"Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." Eccl. 12:1.

Yes! While it is the bright, fresh springtime of your life, remember your Creator. Give God your early days, your best days. Many have regretted in middle life that they did not obey His call and turn to Him for salvation earlier. "He saith unto them, Follow Me.... And they straightway left their nets, and followed Him." Matt. 4:19, 20.

You who are young in this world today

Have you heard that ringing call?

Are you ready to heed? Will you walk the way

That is bravest and best of all?

It is sounding down from the heights above;

It is Christ's word, "Follow Me!"

Ah, straightway answer the mighty love,

His servants and soldiers to be.

Just as You Are

How many there are who think that they must feel differently, or that they must improve their condition before they come to Jesus! That is a mistake.

Jesus invites you to come to Him just where you are, and just as you are, and just now; and:

"If you linger till you're better,
You will never come at all."

Are you conscious that you are a sinner? Do you find that the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me, a sinner" suits you? Then that is your recommendation. Come to the Savior, and be assured that He is waiting to welcome you. Only come to Him just as you are.

Neglect

There was a great fire some years ago in Minneapolis, and one of the newspaper buildings was wrapped in flames. The man in charge of the Associated Press dispatches sat in the ninth story and sent out a message all over America: "The building is burning. The fire is in the sixth story, and I am in the ninth."

A little later he sent out a second message, "The fire is in the seventh story and I am in the ninth."

Then he sent a third message: "The fire is in the eighth story and I am in the ninth."

When he could hear the crackling of the flames near him he started to escape. Other men in the building had escaped. They had made their way quickly down the ladders and fire escapes. But now when the announcer attempted to use them, they were too hot to hold him. When he went to the stairway, the fire blocked him. He rushed to the window. He stood for a moment on the window casing, then leaped out to lay hold of a guy rope—and missed his footing.

The rest of the story I need not tell you. With the abundant provision for his safety, that man was killed.

Why?

Neglect! He neglected to escape while there was time.

And—"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3.

God has provided a way of perfect salvation for us, salvation from all the horrors of a lost eternity, but if we neglect to escape before it is too late there will never be a second chance.

"NOW is the day of salvation!" 2 Cor. 6:2.

The True Friend

How much we need true friendship in this world! But how little of it is to be found! Friendship needs to be shown most of all in the day of adversity, when the clouds are heavy and there is none to help. How often under such circumstances our hopes are disappointed! How seldom do we meet real sympathy and real understanding.

There is One who perfectly meets this great need of humanity, One who is a Friend for adversity, One who "sticketh closer than a brother"—Jesus, the true Friend.

"Doctor, what shall I do?" asked a patient. "My friends are all out of town."

The doctor answered, "There is one Friend who is never away, but is always near and always true. Jesus is the best friend for earth and heaven."

The last words of one great man when he came to die were, after bidding his friends good-by, "Now I'm going to be with Jesus of Nazareth, my true and never-failing Friend."

Do you know Jesus as your friend? Make Him your Friend by faith. He will never fail you.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

Freely, to the Thirsty

How simple, and how encouraging, are these final invitations to the thirsty in the closing pages of God's Word.

"I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Rev. 21:6.

"And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." Rev. 22:17.

Freely, for nothing, through no effort of yours, God will give. Freely, you may receive, whoever you may be, forgiveness of sins, life everlasting and a home in heaven with Him. Oh, accept this wonderful invitation now, before it is forever too late!

Just Plain Facts

DO YOU REALIZE THAT:

You came into this world through no choice of your own? You must likewise leave it, but where you will spend eternity is yours to choose.

To fail to choose is to accept the road that leads to destruction.

If you are running away from God, you are sentencing yourself to eternal separation from Him.

God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

All this being true, WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE TODAY?

A Better World

"I don't wish for any better world than this," a friend said to me the other day.

Yet he had to leave this world!

And you and I must leave it too.

As surely as the leaves will one day fall, so surely must we one day leave this world.

And when this happens, what then?

If you were told that within the year you would have to leave your home, and your country, and relocate in a foreign land to spend the rest of your life there, how anxious you would be to know where you were going and what that country would be like.

And yet, knowing that one day death will take you by the hand and lead you into eternity, have you ever faced the question, "Where am I going, and what will become of me?"

There are two places to spend eternity, only two, and their names are heaven and hell.

Heaven is where God is, the One before whom angels bow proclaiming Him, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty."

Hell is to be the place of the devil and of all who die in their sins.

Have you ever sinned? God knows man well, and He says, "All have sinned." Rom. 3:23. Every sin you commit—that is, each wrong thought, wrong word, wrong act—is written down in the Book of God, and all sin demands judgment, for God is a just God.

But you do not need to die in your sins. There is a way in which God can be just and yet forgive you and take you to heaven.

God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world. He lived a perfect life; there was not the least taint of sin in Him, and then He went to the cross where He "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." 1 Peter 3:18.

He "offered Himself without spot to God" that sin might be judged in His own holy person. On that cross He shed His precious blood, and now we can know that "the blood of Jesus Christ His [God's] Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

When Jesus had been in the grave three days, God raised Him from the dead and now sends this wonderful message to the world: "Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: and by Him all that believe are justified from all things." Acts 13:38,39.

This is God's message to you, and this is the way to heaven.

Something for Nothing

"Something for nothing"—that is almost the motto of our generation. Something for nothing—a super bargain, a "steal" to get as much as you can while giving as little as possible—how pleased we are!

But to give "something" and receive "nothing," well, now, that's another matter.

A surprising illustration of that occurred when a radio announcer asked his listeners to send twenty-dollar checks to the station without saying what he would do with the money.

The next day, 4,000 checks for twenty dollars each arrived in the mail. Another 5,000 checks followed. The stunned announcer, Ron Chapman, said, "We never promised anybody anything! We're flabbergasted!"

Even when he went on the air to say, "Don't send any more checks!" the checks still came in. The total received by the radio station came to nearly a quarter of a million dollars.

$250,000 for what? For nothing. Nothing was promised, nothing was given. The check senders did not get something for nothing, they gave something for nothing. That's a very different matter, isn't it?

They are not the only ones!

The question is asked in God's Word, the Bible: "Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not?" Isa. 55:2.

That is, why are you throwing away your time on "pleasures... for a season," giving your life, the only life you have, for things that cannot last. When that life is gone, what will you have left? Nothing? Will you have given something everything for nothing?

There is a better way! That same chapter in Isaiah says, "Come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."

That is truly getting something for nothing!

In fact, the salvation God offers you cannot be bought. It is free, all free! It is a gift: "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

You do not buy a gift; you only receive it thankfully receive it. "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15.

"How Am I to Come to Christ?"

A Scottish shepherd, in great anxiety of soul, asked a preacher if he could tell him what was meant by "coming to Christ." "I have been hearing," he said, "a most touching sermon; we have been urged to ‘Come to Christ.’ I feel as if I am sitting on nettles, for he has never told us HOW to come to Him. Can you tell me?"

"Can you fly to Him?"

"No, I cannot do that."

"Can you walk on your feet to Christ?"

"No."

The preacher then told him that Christ, though in heaven, was beside him on earth, loving him with a deep, strong, and tender love, eagerly anxious to save him.

He was shown that with his mind and heart, and not with his body, he was to go to Jesus. In other words, he was to believe on Him who died that he might live.

"Is that it? Is it so simple? I see it now," he said and went on his way rejoicing.

"I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him."

Have you come to Jesus yet? If not, come to Him now. Believe in His love and death for you, and you will know, on the authority of Him who cannot lie, that you are saved and have eternal life.

"What must I do to be saved?... Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:30, 31.

Lost on Mount Seymour

David Deaveau stood on a cliff on the side of Mount Seymour overlooking a valley of tall pines whose ice and snow encrusted boughs sparkled like a trillion diamonds in the sunlight. Silvery streamlets laced the forest; it was an enchanting view.

"How beautiful!" David thought as he stood there by himself, "A few minutes looking at this was more than worth a couple of hours hiking to get here."

He turned to leave, striking out down a different path from the one he had taken as he came up. As he was descending, a daypack containing oranges, bread and juices slipped from his shoulders and tumbled down the mountainside. "No, it makes no sense to look for it; I'll never find it," he reflected, and went on his way.

As the path went down the forest became denser. Soon he lost his bearings, and night arrived finding David tired, cold, hungry and lost. He curled up against the trunk of a fallen tree and tried to sleep.

Next morning at daybreak, as soon as there was light enough, he began walking again. The forest which he had previously admired appeared to him now like a maze, a labyrinth of narrow passages through a dark world in which he could not figure out his direction. The sunshine which had sparkled and gleamed on top of the forest barely penetrated the branches, leaving David wandering in the shade deep shade, where the warmth of the sun would have been so welcome to him.

David kept walking all day, telling himself that help couldn't be far off. Amid growing hunger pains he thought longingly of food. Pictures of food floated through his mind, and he kept them as long as possible. They were only illusions; they couldn't supply energy to his body, but they did sustain his hope. The second day ended like the first, with David lost, hungry, tired and cold.

Nine days passed with David wandering through the forests surrounding Mount Seymour. Nine days of walking, nine days without food or shelter. Each day left David weaker than the day before and a day closer to the end of his endurance.

On the tenth day David's frost-bitten, blistered feet gave out and he could no longer walk or stand. He could only crawl, and crawl he did, over rocks and creeks and snow banks. He realized his end was near as he found his strength failing. When the tenth night came David, believing he would never wake up if he let himself fall asleep, forced himself to keep crawling.

The beautiful forest at the foot of Mt. Seymour was claiming David's life. Ten days before it had spread out before him as a lovely picture; now its harsh reality was claiming his life.

On the tenth night at 3:15 a.m., David found a house—an inhabited house. Crawling to the front door, he was able to touch the doorbell and obtain help. His wandering was ended, just in time to save his life.

Most people could not physically endure ten days in a harsh and cold environment with no food. David's case is remarkable because he lasted so long. Yet, as I look out over this world I marvel at how people can endure, how they can go on living in its harsh and cold environment without the Lord Jesus Christ.

I know very well how enchantingly beautiful this world appears to the young person, because it appeared that way to me. "How wonderful to be alive!" and, "Life, how I love every minute of it!" are the exclamations of many young souls as they view their lives spread out before them. But as they step forward into their futures and seek a path for themselves through this world—a path not of God's choosing but of their own choice—how quickly they lose their way. The world which had stretched before them in such illusory beauty becomes like a maze in which it is easy to become hopelessly entangled and lost.

Shadows overspread their lives. Love, which is as necessary to our souls as warmth is to our bodies, becomes scarce or vanishes altogether. The soul begins to hunger, and finds nothing in this world to appease its hunger. Illusions are entertained that if only they could obtain a certain degree of wealth, if only they could enjoy such and such a pleasure, then their soul would be satisfied. Every new day leaves them hungrier and emptier than the day before. Lost, cold and starving are words which describe their state. They are words which described my life before I came to Christ.

How long can people live like that? How long till their hearts fail them because of the emptiness?

Everything this lost, cold, starving world needs is found in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is salvation for the lost! There is food for the hungry soul! And there is love so wonderful, full and free, that it is a shame not to bask in its warmth.

Just think of these wonderful verses in each of the three categories: Salvation for the Lost "The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

"For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." Luke 9:56.

Food for the Soul "I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst." John 6:35.

Love "As the Father Hath loved Me, so have I loved you: continue ye in My love." John 15:9.

"God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him." 1 John 4:8, 9.

All these things can be yours just by receiving Christ as your Lord and Savior. Haven't you wandered, cold, hungry and lost, through the maze of this world long enough without Him?

"Not of Works"

Man's heart rebels against the need of the grace of God. He thinks that, in some way or other, his own arm can bring salvation to him.

But how clear is the Word of God! Salvation is "Not of works, lest any man should boast," Eph. 2:9.

If by our own reformation, or goodness, or merit we could earn salvation, then we might well boast of what we had done.

But this can never be. "To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." Rom. 4:4, 5.

Good works, which follow salvation, do have a most important place. But they cannot earn salvation. Salvation comes first, as a gift, by the free grace of God. Then, and not until then, good works will flow from that salvation, and be known and enjoyed. The tree of salvation comes first then the fruit of good works will grow on that tree. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Titus 3:5.

The Astrologer

From earliest childhood Enrico had known he was on this earth for a purpose. There was, he felt sure, something special that he was to do. When he became acquainted with astrology it seemed to be the answer. Eagerly he plunged into the study of stars and planets and horoscopes, and he was soon recognized as an authority on the subject.

From all over the country people brought their questions to him: Should I start this new business? Is it a good time to take that trip? Should I marry so-and-so?

Skillfully he drew his charts, plotted his horoscopes, made his calculations and sent back answers to all their questions.

But—what happens when the "Answer Man" has no answers for himself? The people seemed satisfied with the answers he gave—they willingly made their plans according to what he said—but he could never satisfy himself. In his own life there was an emptiness that nothing filled; his most intricately drawn chart gave him no answer for himself.

Once he went to hear the gospel of the grace of God. It was appealing, but he decided it was not for him. He was the authority on astrology! People depended on him to direct their lives. Besides, it was his livelihood. How could he give it up?

Against his will he was drawn again to hear of salvation "without money and without price." Again he said, "No, no, NO!"

Still the questions ran back and forth in his mind, and where could he go for answers? He was the authority. Nearly distracted, his head began to ache. Worse and worse it hurt, and for ten days the pain was excruciating. Nothing gave relief, and he came near to suicide.

At last in desperation he turned from everything else and simply committed himself and his life to the Lord Jesus Christ to do with it as He would. He had learned the truth of Matt. 11:28: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

Now his soul was at rest; the questions in his mind were answered; the emptiness in his heart was filled, and—even the pain in his head vanished! He no longer draws his charts and horoscopes, no longer studies the stars to find answers to problems. He has met the One who really can answer every question. His joy is to tell worried, troubled people of the love God has for them, love so great that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for them, and that that same Jesus has risen from the dead and now He is able to "save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him."

Far better than turning to the stars for wisdom is to turn to the One who made the stars! "Seek the Lord, and ye shall live... Seek Him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night... the Lord is His name." Amos 5:6, 8.

Have you sought—and found?

Peace

Someone has said that we take twenty-five to thirty thousand breaths in a day. That may be true or it may not be; I cannot say. But of one thing I am certain: there is a time when we shall take our last breath. Happy is the man who can say as General Taylor, one of the heroes of Waterloo, said as he passed away:

In peace let me resign my breath,

And Thy salvation see;

My sins deserve eternal death,

But Jesus died for me.

Rescue

A department store building has collapsed in heavy rain. People are known to be trapped under the piles of cement. Everyone in reach rushes to help, frantically digging in the rubble for survivors. For each one brought out alive there are shouts and cheers and redoubled efforts to save another. The dazed survivors can only murmur: "It's a miracle I got out," or "If it hadn't been for that fireman—," or just, "Thank God! Thank God!"

An oil rig explodes and burns in the North Sea. More than 150 workers are suffocated or killed when the huge derrick falls across the platform. A few men escape by leaping into the icy water below where eager rescuers pick them up. Again we hear, "It was a miracle to escape—I thanked God!"

When little Andrew Byrd fell into a back yard swimming pool, only his eleven-year-old brother Allen saw the accident. Without hesitating, he dove in after Andy and brought him out safely. Toddler Andy had no words to express his feelings, but a picture of him snuggled trustingly in his brother's arms said it all.

Rescued! Thankful! Grateful to all who risked so much to save them! How normal. How natural. How right. If any one of the rescued had had a choice, would he have said, "Go away! I don't want to be rescued"?

It can happen. When a small ship struck the rocks in Moray Firth, the coast guard rushed to its aid. One by one the half-frozen sailors were lowered to the waiting boats. At last only the captain was left on the fast-sinking ship. Flatly he refused to leave, insisting that he could still bring his ship in to the harbor. Arguments failed to move him, and when they would have removed him by force, he suddenly produced a gun and threatened to shoot "dead on the spot" anyone who tried to take him.

Reluctantly the coast-guards-men had to leave. The rescued sailors were taken to shore, and the determined captain was left on his sinking ship in the on-coming darkness.

When morning dawned, there were the rocks, and there were the waves dashing against them, but the ship—where was it? And the captain, where was he? Only a little wreckage washed ashore.

How strange! How unnatural! How altogether wrong! Would normal people act like that?

Yes, they would. "Normal" people, average, everyday people are insisting that they can bring their ship of life to shore by themselves, they can reach the desired haven by their own efforts. They insist that they do not need the hand of love the Lord Jesus is holding out to them. If pressed too far, they may echo the thought, if not the words, of those who cried, "We will not have this man [Jesus] to reign over us!"

If not "this Man," the man Christ Jesus, then who? The Bible tells us that, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

God has offered rescue to a poor, perishing world; can He be blamed if His salvation is refused, if the ones He would so willingly have saved, refuse His offer? God is "not willing that any should perish," but still people insist that, "I can do it myself!" "I can climb up to heaven my own way."

What way is that? Oh, kindness and honesty and working for good causes and any other thing that seems good to them. But in the Bible, God's Word, we read that "all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Rags, filthy or clean, will not make a very good ladder to heaven!

But there is rescue—there is salvation—and it is already accomplished. The Savior has come down where we are, has given His life on the cross of Calvary, has risen again and gone back to heaven where He is able "to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him." Heb. 7:25.

How strange and unnatural it is for anyone to refuse His salvation!

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3.

"In the Twinkling of an Eye"

What a night that was, never to be forgotten, when these solemn words took firm hold of my soul, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." 1 Cor. 15:52.

My thoughts were not with the preacher, but with the solemn truth he spoke, "The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back, and He will come in the twinkling of an eye!" I can thank God now, for disturbing the complacency in which I rested.

The Holy Spirit applied the Word of God in power to my soul, and I began to realize the awfulness of my unconverted, unprepared condition. In my distress I cried to Him, and before long I was able to rejoice in Christ as my Savior and Deliverer from the wrath to come.

How is it with you? Are you ready for His coming? Perhaps you have Christian friends as I had. What a terrible thing if the Lord were to come today and take them to glory, but leave you behind! Remember, it will be "in the twinkling of an eye."

These words are true! He is coming sooner than you think. "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Rom. 13:11.

There will be no time to prepare then. If you are not ready, you will be left behind to undergo the awful judgments that shall then fall upon the earth.

Do not turn a deaf ear. The Lord is at hand! He will come "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye."

Cyclone

Rain—seventeen inches of rain—and the rivers were all raging torrents. Wind—roaring wind— uprooting trees and unroofing buildings. And darkness, without moon or stars or electric lights. A night to seek strong shelter and wait for day. Cyclone "Bola" was striking the north coast of New Zealand, and it was all one swirl after another of wind and water.

In the midst of the turmoil Colin Devitt heard a message on his radio telephone. There were people out there, five people stranded in a small truck which was about to be swept away. Colin had a school bus, a big, bulky, lumbering school bus—an unlikely rescue vehicle! But, with his father, Alan, he set out through the rising waters.

He reached the place where the truck could be seen out in the middle of the rushing water, and the first thought was that they would have to turn back. Water was running through the cab of the truck now; it looked too deep for the bus.

But over the radio telephone they could still hear the voices of the men in the truck, pleading for their lives. To stay there would be certain death for all five.

Gingerly Colin eased his big bus into the water, struggling against the water and the broken trees and debris that raced along with it. There were now no lights in the bus; their only light came from the headlights of a land cruiser that shone out across the darkness. Finally pulling up alongside the truck, they had a hard job to get the five people in it into the bus. A frightened woman and a small boy were too terrified to climb across to the bus, an elderly man was in the midst of an asthma attack, and the other two men in the truck had been battling the flood in rescue work until they were exhausted. Somehow they made it, even though by now water was splashing up as high as their windshield and the road was completely hidden.

Safely out of the storm one of the men told reporters, "Mr. Devitt saved all of us. We owe our lives to him. That guy is more than just a hero!"

Colin Devitt faced tremendous peril to himself when he went into the flood. His life might have been the price he paid for his mission of mercy. If he had been swept away, the five people in the truck would have had no hope, no chance for life.

We too were once without God and without hope in the world. But the Lord Jesus Christ came down where we were and at the cost of His own life made a way of escape from the flood of judgment that is surely coming on this world. "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." 1 Tim. 1:15. Now the way of escape is open to all who will believe and receive the salvation He offers.

Secure, Now and Forever

What would it be like to come into the instant possession of forty million dollars? Mike Wittowski knows. In September of 1984 the numbers on his Illinois lottery ticket matched up with those of the Grand Prize drawing. The result: two million a year for the next twenty years. A stupendous sum of money.

In the four years since he won, Mike has married and started a family. Recently he was asked, "Mike, what was the most important thing about winning all that money?"

"Security," Mike replied. "It has given me plenty of security, and you can't beat that. Security is the most important thing, and I have it for my whole family. My family is what means most to me."

Security is a most important thing. It's wonderful to have it for ourselves and also our loved ones. But money, even millions, cannot really make us secure.

One reason is that, "Our times are in Thy hands"—that is, God chose the time we were brought into this world, and He will choose the time we leave it. "This night thy soul shall be required of thee," are the words God spoke to a certain rich man in Luke 12, and all the wealth that man possessed was powerless to extend his life one day longer.

Another reason is that, even if you could take a fortune with you when you died (which is impossible) it wouldn't be enough to buy an exit from a lost eternity. Die without Christ, and money—even millions— will not buy your way out of hell.

Soul security, eternal security, is the possession only of those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Of such believers the Lord Jesus said, "I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand."

Forty million dollars is a tremendous amount of money, but it cannot buy eternal security. That costs far more: it cost the life of the Son of God! At the cross of Jesus Christ, God in His infinite love made a way for souls to be saved from their sins—and from hell.

How did He do this? "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 10:9 tells us the way to be saved: "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Are you seeking security in money and possessions, while ignoring God, the only true source of security? Don't do it! Only through the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, can you be secure—secure now and forever.

Jesus the Messiah"

A series of gospel meetings was being held, and on several occasions a Jewess was seen in attendance. The husband of the Jewess was in the habit of spending his evenings with his friends, while his wife, who was more serious-minded, remained at home.

To relieve the monotony of an evening alone, she had slipped out and, led by curiosity, came to one of the services. The first evening's message left no particular impression. However, in a casual way, a question simply arose in her mind, "Suppose that Jesus was the Messiah!"

The next night Jesus again was preached. Before the gospel meeting was over, the question became more than a casual question. She said to herself, "Perhaps Jesus was the Messiah," and the thought greatly distressed her.

On the third night the thought, "Jesus was the Messiah," seized her soul and shook it through and through.

Of course there came with it—inevitable to a Jewess—the conviction, "I am lost forever, for my people killed Him!"

That night her husband returned at midnight. She met him in tears and said at once, "Go to some Christian neighbor and borrow a New Testament for me."

He tried to laugh her out of her depression, then to argue her out of it, but it was of no use. So, because of his love for her, he went out at half past twelve in the morning and knocked on a Christian neighbor's door. When he came to the door, the caller said, "I beg your pardon for disturbing you, but will you be so kind as to lend me a New Testament?"

The request was cheerfully granted. The neighbor thought, "There is a work to do for Jesus in that house tonight." As soon as he could get dressed, he hurried to the home of a Christian brother and together they went to the Jewish home.

The door was instantly opened, and the mistress of the house met them with a welcoming smile. Her greeting was, "I have found Jesus!"

She said that when her husband gave her the New Testament, she could not speak. But she went into her room, and kneeling, lifted up her face toward heaven, crying, "O LORD GOD of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, give me light! Give me light!"

Keeping her eyes closed, she opened the Testament. When she opened her eyes, the Scripture before her was the beginning of the Epistle to the Romans.

She read slowly, and the verses went tearing through her soul like hot thunderbolts, until she came to the sixteenth verse: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first"—there she stopped. Her flowing tears blinded her. She looked again.

"To the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

As she read these words, she believed them and she knew her Messiah must be Christ Jesus, the Lord.

When the Christians came to her door, she was rejoicing in her new-found hope, and ready to confess Him before men.

"For there is no difference between the Jew and Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Rom. 10:12,13.

A Lighthouse in the Desert?

Most lighthouses are on the shore near rocks or dangerous places in the water. Practically all lighthouses seem to say, "Stay away from here. Danger!"

There is a lighthouse that says just the opposite, for it says, "Come!" This lighthouse is in the middle of the Arizona desert. There is no water to be had for over thirty miles in every direction, but just where that lighthouse stands there is a well. So there is a light there at night, to let thirsty people know where the well of water is. The tower in the daytime and the light at night say, "Here is water."

Isn't that just like the Lord Jesus who, in the midst of the desert of this world, would stand and cry, "If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink."

Where else can you go for living water but to the Lord Jesus? The gospel is still offering to all, "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

Have you come to that life-giving water? Nothing else can satisfy soul-thirst, both now and forever.

The Danger of Delay

Three young women who had been to a gospel preaching were telling one another what they thought of it.

Said one, "I never heard anything like it before; if what they say is true, it's a sure thing that we are not saved."

"No," responded the second, "indeed we are not; what shall we do?"

"Let's go back again," said the first speaker, "there is an inquiry-meeting; perhaps we could be saved tonight."

Here the third one remarked, "I say let's go for a walk and forget it." After a little more consultation her voice prevailed. They had not gone far, however, before the first one stopped, saying, "I'll go back; I know they are there praying for us. If the blessing they tell of is for real, I would like it; will you come with me?"

The girl who had suggested the walk refused, but the other two went back to the meeting, and through the mercy of God believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, and were saved that night.

Let me warn you not to neglect this important matter. "To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." Heb. 4:7,

Your True Place

If you do not take the place of being a sinner, and that under sentence of death and judgment, you step out of the place where God's mercy alone meets you, and where Christ has answered for you before God.

There is only one way out of that judgment; that is owning its justice, and accepting God's remedy through the death of His Son. Nothing else will do.

Some think their morality and religion will do. The answer for that is—for whom did Christ die? Do you find your remedy there? And how much are you going to add to God's remedy to make it complete? His remedy is, Christ has died for our sins and risen for our justification—nothing more or less. This changes everything when it is really believed.

"For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:17, 18.

"For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10.

”Because He First Loved"

William Tyndale, who printed the first New Testament in the English language, said once: "I used to think that salvation was not for me, since I did not love God, but those precious words, 'We love Him, because He first loved us' (1 John 4:19) showed me that God does not love us because we first loved Him. No, no! 'We love Him because He first loved us.' This makes all the difference."

These precious words, he said, "were the pearly gate by which I entered into the kingdom of God."

How many today, we wonder, are making the same mistake as Tyndale? How many believe they must work up some love for God before they can be assured of His forgiveness and love? This is not God's way of salvation!

Salvation is by grace through faith, and not by works of law nor deeds of love. Grace, free grace, and the boundless love of God are the source of all blessing for poor, perishing sinners.

"God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

God's love was shown toward us when we had not so much as one thought or movement toward Him, for the Word again says: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)." Eph. 2:4,5.

Christ Alone Can Save

Reformation will not save you.

Religiousness will not save you.

Repetition of prayers will not save you.

Rivers of tears will not save you.

Rules and regulations for your life will not save you.

If any of these, or all of these combined, could have saved you, Christ need not have died. But "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

Still Waiting

I went to visit a fisherman who was deeply concerned as to his soul's salvation. "I am lost!" he said. "There is no grace for me. I did not open my heart when the Savior stood before its door, knocking. Now He has gone away."

The man had neglected to decide for Christ when some of his friends had opened their hearts to the gospel. Since then he had been in fear and sorrow, constantly saying, "I did not open to Him when He knocked, and now He has gone away."

"What you are saying is not so," I responded, "for if you would open unto Him now, you would find Him still standing there, waiting, for it is still the day of salvation."

He looked at me intently, but said nothing, and with this I left him. The next day the man came to me with a face beaming with joy, saying, "Oh, you were right! When I opened to Him, then I found Jesus standing there, still waiting. Now I have received Him and He is my Savior and Lord, and I am happy and at rest."

This man is still a happy Christian, walking with the other believers of the village in the narrow path of life which leads to eternal glory.

Behold the Savior at the door!

He gently knocks—has knocked before;

Has waited long—is waiting still;

You use no other friend so ill.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20.

Disintegrating Promises

A man using a fictitious name opened an account at Chicago's Northern Trust Bank and a few days later deposited a $4,000 check drawn on an out-of-state bank.

According to common practice, the Northern Trust would not allow a withdrawal on the check until a sufficient number of days had passed to make certain the check would not be returned because of insufficient funds.

Nine days after depositing the check the man returned and withdrew the entire amount from the bank. The bank, never having received a notice of insufficient funds, assumed the check was good and allowed the man to make the withdrawal.

What the Northern Trust didn't realize was that the $4,000 check had been coated with a chemical which had caused it to disintegrate. Several hours after being deposited the check would have shown signs of deterioration, and within a few days it was nothing more than tiny, indistinguishable bits of confetti. The Northern Trust had never received notice of insufficient funds because the out-of-state bank had never received the check; it had disintegrated in transit. The trick-check passer with a knack for chemistry stole $4,000 from the bank.

The check was a written promise to pay a certain amount. At a cursory glance it looked good, but only a short time later it had disintegrated.

Every promise this world makes concerning life, and it makes many, must, like the check, be a disintegrating promise. Why? Because sin and death have entered the world. Rom. 5:12 reads, "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned."

Apart from God's Word you can not have any enduring promise of life; the fact of death being present has made it impossible.

This world promises life but never keeps its promises.

God promises life and, "All the promises of God in Him [Christ] are yea, and in Him Amen." 2 Cor. 1:20.

Consider, won't you, some of these wonderful promises of life found in God's Word.

"Verily, 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.

"I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10.

"For with Thee is the fountain of life." Psa. 36:9.

"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die." John 11:25, 26.

Unlike the promises this world makes, God's promise of life will endure forever. Although God's promise of life shall never end, His offer of the gift of eternal life to us shall end. If you die without receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life, or should the Lord Jesus come to take those who are saved home with Him to heaven while you are yet unsaved, then there will be no further possibility of your receiving God's gift of eternal life. No more will you be able to flee to Christ as the only Savior of sinners, but your eternity will be spent in the place "Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched" forever.

By passing the disintegrating check, the culprit cheated the bank out of $4,000. Don't let this world, so influenced by the master-culprit Satan, cheat you out of eternal life. The devil is a master-deceiver and a master-cheater. He knows that if a soul dies indifferent and unbelieving in God's eternal Son then that soul will spend eternity with him in hell.

Oh, be wise; don't be foolish. Take hold of God's promise of life, offered through the Prince of Life, recorded for us in the Word of Life, the Bible.

"Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live." Isa. 55:3.

"It's Bad News"

The funeral began with the tape-recorded voice of the lifeless body lying in the casket: "I can't think... can't think... can't think..."

The nineteen-year-old had taped his own farewell message, then driven to a remote area and ended his life by shooting himself.

The recorded voice continued: "You will hear about this sooner or later, Mom, Dad.... I'm sorry that your boy has turned into an addict."

"It's bad news... it really is. I didn't think it was when I was taking it, but I've been getting pretty stoned lately, and you just don't know what's real and what isn't real. All I can say is, I had to find out for myself... a poor excuse... I really shouldn't have taken any. You can really get messed up on that stuff!"

The voice, now stilled in death, continued electronically: "I had enough problems without taking drugs; it bent my mind and only intensified everything. Now I am in a fix... it says in the Bible that he who sins will be punished. From what I've read, I'm going to be suffering eternally for this... but there is nothing to live for."

After completing the recording he drove to Wyoming and entered eternity.

It's bad news to be "hooked" to be addicted. Are you addicted? Addicted to drugs? alcohol? pleasure? thrills? or some of the "legitimate" addictions, such as education? career? family?

Every year in North America an increasing number of disillusioned individuals decide to end their earthly existence by suicide, expressing their failure to find the real life! To alleviate the monotony of a dull, routine, meaningless life, people try to "turn on" with drugs, fast cars, the pursuit of possessions or involvements in "causes"—anything at all to fill the emptiness they feel in their hearts. This young man found his experiment with drugs destructive and empty. He ended his life KNOWING he would begin an eternity of judgment.

Are you tired of merely existing? Do you really want to know LIFE?

If you honestly do, confess JESUS CHRIST AS LORD.

Jesus said of Himself, "I am come that they might have LIFE, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10.

He also said, "I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE." John 14:6.

"This is LIFE eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent." John 17:3.

Stop testing this and trying that, and just trust Christ!

What Are You Waiting For?

"Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of SALVATION."

Perhaps you mean to be a real Christian some day. But when is this to be? Are you waiting UNTIL YOU ARE SICK? Surely you will not tell me that is a convenient season. Your body is racked with pain; your mind is distracted with all kinds of anxious thoughts and calm reflection is almost impossible. Is this a convenient time for getting acquainted with God? Certainly not.

Are you waiting UNTIL YOU HAVE LEISURE? And when do you expect to have more time than you have now? Every year you live seems shorter than the last. You find more to do and less power and opportunity to do it. And after all, you do not know whether you may live to see another year. Boast not yourself of tomorrow—now is the time.

Are you waiting UNTIL YOU ARE OLD? Surely you have not considered what you say. Will you go to Him when your mind is weak and your memory failing. Will you give up the world when you cannot keep it? Is this your plan? If so, it is an insult to God.

Are you waiting UNTIL YOUR HEART IS PERFECTLY FIT AND READY? That will never be. It will always be corrupt and sinful—a bubbling fountain, full of evil. You will never make it like a pure white sheet of paper, that you can take to Jesus Christ, and say, "Here I am Lord, ready to have Thy law written on my heart." Do not delay. Begin as you are.

Be honest; confess the truth. You have NO GOOD REASON for waiting. Do not delay any longer. Receive Christ as your Savior today. You may never have another chance.

"Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." Isa. 55:6.

A Musician's Story

I was born and raised in an orthodox Jewish home. Every Friday night my mother would light the candles and say the Jewish prayers. We also had three sets of dishes: one for dairy products, one for meat and one for Passover use according to the custom in most Jewish homes, I received my religious instruction from a rabbi.

My brother suggested my taking up the saxophone while I was attending high school. The instrument seemed to be fitted for me; often I spent six and seven hours a day in practice, even on the hottest days, and I dreamed of being a great musician.

When I graduated from high school I played with several bands; in them were all kinds of nationalities and religions. One had nothing better than the other. We were all in the same boat—hopeless and lost. With the others, I drank and gambled and thought of nothing but to have a good time.

All the while, however, I felt that something was lacking, but I did not know what it was. I tried philosophy. I read James, Plato and Schopenhauer, seeking satisfaction but finding none.

About this time I came home to Brooklyn after a New Jersey engagement. One evening I noticed a small crowd on a street corner. I went over to the gathering and saw a man holding a saxophone. Another man was speaking. What he was saying meant nothing to me, but the saxophone did. I wanted to see how well he could play it.

I had to stand there fifteen minutes before the man picked up the saxophone. Then he only played a simple note to start the singing! I did not particularly enjoy the singing but I wanted to hear the man play a saxophone solo. So I waited still longer. In the meantime I became more and more interested in what the speaker was saying. It was twenty minutes before the man picked up the saxophone again, and this time he only picked it up to pack it up—and the meeting was over!

However, by this time I had become really interested. At the close of the meeting one of the singers came to me and invited me to come to the mission the next evening. Then he did something else for which I will be grateful as long as I live—he gave me a New Testament.

After we parted I went straight home. I began to read the Book, and continued to read on and on—hour after hour until I had read most of the New Testament through before dawn the next morning.

Within twenty-four hours after I received that copy of the New Testament on a street corner in Brooklyn—through the simple reading of the Word of God—I saw that I was a sinner and that the Lord Jesus was Israel's true Messiah. Then I did the only reasonable thing that one could do under the circumstances: I believed in my heart that He bore my sins in His own body on the tree.

The following night I went back to the mission and publicly confessed my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now I am a saved Jew because I believe in the true Messiah of Israel.

When Christ came into my life He made me a new creature! Old things have passed away and all things have become new. The wonderful joy and peace that have come into my life far surpass all the so-called pleasures of my former life. Today I have the blessed hope of being with my Lord for all eternity.

"If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink." John 7:37.

"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14.

God's Way

Many well-meaning persons think they will get to heaven by doing good, by going to church, or by being religious. They hope to merit heaven by something they can do or be, but that is not God's way.

The Slide

Neglect is a deadly thing. A heartbreaking story to illustrate this truth is the story of Aberfan, Wales, which some will remember. For one hundred years a coal slag heap piled up behind the village of Aberfan. The people of the area knew the danger it imposed, yet no one paid much attention to it as it mounted up to five hundred feet. Everyone neglected it until one day rain loosened the mass and, unseen in the fog, it slid into the village and crushed the village school. A whole generation of children was wiped out.

Just neglect—doing nothing about the little growing pile of slag—caused the deaths of hundreds of precious Welsh children. The adults of Aberfan worked frantically around the clock to dig out the children; people around the world sent help, but it was too late.

In the things of God, neglect is even more deadly because it deals with eternal things. Neglect of spiritual decisions can mean eternal separation from God.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

Sincerity

How often people say, "It doesn't matter what a person believes, so long as he is sincere."

Not true! We may be sincerely mistaken, sincerely deceived. Sincerity, without being intelligently directed and guided, is useless. And when God has acted and spoken, it surely does matter how we react to His approach to us. If He asks us to believe something, can we afford to believe something else, even sincerely?

He tells us we have all sinned, and our consciences agree with Him. He tells us that He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Can we afford not to believe this? He tells us that we may be cleared of our sins and their damning consequence through accepting Christ as our Savior, and that we will be eternally lost if we refuse to do so. Can we risk doubting this, however sincerely?

No, the issues are too great. We must believe what God asks us to believe, and only that. To prefer some other belief is to slight the God who has acted for us and who speaks to us in such grace. His word says, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?" Heb. 2:3.

Certainty is better than sincerity. As soon as you yield in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, you can have the divine certainty that your sins have been forgiven you for His Name's sake. This is the unvarying promise to every believer in Jesus. May you prove it yours by faith in the only Name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.

Raking It In

The carnival was in full swing. Rides and games and music and shows were offering fun for all, and John Summers had been "raking in" the money at the crooked game he ran. His game was "rigged... so there was no way the suckers could win" and he had just won a man's whole paycheck.

Suddenly the man's wife pushed her way through the noisy crowd and lifted her two small children onto his counter. "Here... now you take care of them," she cried, and ran out into the night.

Two tired, hungry little faces were lifted to John, and he stared back in dismay. The money he had "won" from their father grew heavy in his pocket and, hastily closing his booth, he rushed out in search of the parents. Soon the money was restored to them. They gathered up their children and left the carnival, and John sighed with relief.

He felt he was well out of that situation. He had given the money back, and for a short time he felt better. But his conscience had been awakened, and he couldn't forget all the people he had cheated in the past. It had seemed smart to take their money with crooked games, and he had been successful at it, making $20,000 to $30,000 a year. Now he could only feel that it had been stolen money, and he was just a thief.

One man's paycheck had been returned, but it was impossible to restore the rest, as it had been taken over many years and from so many different people. The burden grew heavier and heavier. A debt that he could never pay seemed to be dragging him down to destruction. Was there no hope for a thief?

At last he could only see himself as he was, a sinner, and how he welcomed the news that Jesus came to save sinners! Even sinners such as the thief on the cross and the "chief of sinners," the Apostle Paul, had received forgiveness of their sins. Jesus said, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32.

Gladly he accepted God's offer of salvation; gladly he took his place as a sinner; gladly he could join in saying, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

"This man [Christ Jesus] receiveth sinners." Luke 15:2.

"Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth!" Luke 15:7.

The Opera Door

Sarah stared at her front door in blank dismay. Somewhere on her round of errands her house key had disappeared. Now, with still more that must be done that afternoon, she frantically searched through her handbag again. No key.

Hurrying to her neighbors, she borrowed as many keys as she could in the hope that one would fit her door. Not one of them did.

Finally someone asked if she had tried the door handle. In a spiritless voice she replied, "No, but I will." She did, and found that the door had been unlocked all the time, and walked in.

What a good illustration this is of the anxious soul that wants to approach God. He stands outside with his mind full of doubts and fears as to his welcome. He believes there are many things in the way before he may see the Savior, but the door is not only unlocked but stands wide open, with a warm invitation to enter.

Jesus said, "I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." John 10:9.

God Answers Your Questions

Shouldn't we work for our salvation?

God says, "To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, 1 his faith is counted for righteousness." Rom. 4:5.

To be saved just by believing seems too simple.

"If the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith unto thee, Wash, and be clean?" 2 Kings 5:13.

Does God really love me?

"God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

I often think I am too great a sinner to be saved.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1:18.

But I should have to make so many sacrifices if I became a Christian.

"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" Matt. 16:26.

Yourself or Himself?

A young girl, in the house of a friend, glanced at an open Bible on a table. These words attracted her attention: "Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord."

"Oh," she thought, "that shuts me out from blessing, for my heart is not pure. It has been full of vanity all my life."

She mourned over her condition as a guilty sinner before a holy God.

"I could not get away from that scripture," she said later, "and for seven weeks I was so miserable." But God, who had made His voice heard in her soul, did not leave her in that condition. "For God speaketh once, yea twice." Job 33:14.

In due time, God spoke to her again. This time He directed her eyes away from herself to Himself. The verse that brought peace to her heart is in Isa. 55:3. "Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live." She did listen to His voice; she rested in His Word, and she went on her way with joy in her heart.

Her own vanity and sinfulness were no longer before her, but the love of the Savior who had borne them away, and whose love had drawn her to Himself.

Wonderful love in the heart of my God, Wonderful care, too, for me on the road, Wonderful love in my Savior I see Accepting sin's judgment, He bore it for me.

Is your heart in the enjoyment of this "wonderful love" or is your life still full of vanity? I urge you to consider the fact that everything "under the sun" is vanity, and that by your devotion to the things of time you are shutting yourself out from His blessing.

There is hope for you not in yourself, but in Himself. Oh, look to Him! Rest your soul in simple faith on His unfailing Word, and rejoice in His everlasting love.

"Hear, and your soul shall live." Isa. 55:3.

Just Plain Facts

DO YOU REALIZE THAT:

You came into this world through no choice of your own. You must likewise leave it, but where you will spend eternity is yours to choose.

To fail to choose is to accept the road that leads to destruction.

If you are running away from God, you are sentencing yourself to eternal separation from Him.

God is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

All this being true, WHAT IS KEEPING YOU FROM RECEIVING ETERNAL LIFE TODAY?

He Never Said Goodbye

It was as if a boiling, seething caldron of foul, menacing weather had tipped oner and had spilled its contents on the Great Lakes in one furious storm. In gale winds, towering waves and blinding snow, the Plymouth, towing an old schooner which had been converted into a barge, could make no headway. The captain of the Plymouth, in order to save himself and his ship, ordered the tow rope cut, leaving the barge and the men on it to their own devices. John Turner was one of the men on board the barge. After watching the Plymouth disappear from view, he scribbled this last message to his wife, stuffed it in a bottle, and threw it overboard. The letter read, Dear Christine, The snow is falling so fast I can barely see into the distance. At times the waves so high over the barge, I am surprised we haven't been swallowed up. The captain, without telling us what he was doing, has just cut the tow rope and left us; he never even said goodbye. Tell our girls their father loved them. My Darling, I have loved you too. I hope to see you in heaven.

Your Husband,

John Turner.

The Plymouth made it safe to harbor. After the storm abated it went out in a fruitless search for the barge.

Several days later the bottle with the note was discovered and delivered to John's wife. I wish I could tell you how she understood the one part of the letter which said "I hope to see you in heaven." Was the husband sure he was going to heaven because he had trusted in the Lord Jesus and the blood He shed? And was he expressing the hope that his wife might also come to know the Savior that they might meet again? That is one possible explanation of the sentence.

Another possibility was that John was not sure of his salvation. Yet God had made the way to be saved, and also the truth that we can know we are saved, abundantly clear to us in the Bible. It is not necessary for any one to pass into eternity without being absolutely certain of his soul's salvation. If salvation were of works, then it would be natural for us to wonder if what we had done were acceptable to God. But it is not; salvation is not of works, it is of grace.

Eph. 2:8 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." At Calvary's cross the Lord Jesus completed the work of redemption, and now all who trust Him as their Savior are saved and can know they possess eternal life beyond any shadow of doubt. 1 John 5:13 reads, "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."

If you are not saved you can receive the free gift of salvation by receiving the Lord Jesus as your Savior this very moment. You need not "hope" to go to heaven as though the final outcome must remain in question. By coming to the Savior you may have the absolute knowledge that you will go there. Then your hope of being in heaven will be a sure thing. It will be like the hope we read about in Heb. 6:19, 20, "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus."

Just as You Are

How many there are who think that they must feel differently, or that they must improve their condition before they come to Jesus! That is a mistake.

Jesus invites you to come to Him just where you are, and just as you are, and just now; and:

"If you linger till you're better,
You will never come at all."

Are you conscious that you are a sinner? Do you find that the publican's prayer, "God be merciful to me a sinner" suits you? Then that is your recommendation. Come to the Savior, and be assured that He is waiting to welcome you. Only come to Him just as you are.

The Russian Dancer

Born in Siberia, of Russian parents, at an early age I was brought to Montreal, Canada. Shortly after arriving in Canada I was placed in a convent, so you see I had quite a religious background. Then at the age of ten I was taken out and brought home with my mother to at last see the world.

Soon I was forgetting God. My mother, living only for this world, did not think much about religion. I started to go to shows, and began to like that, for all these things seen in the shows were never seen done in a convent. Very rapidly I forgot the convent too.

Then one day I was told we were to leave Montreal. So we came to Chicago and oh, I do remember how I longed to go back to Canada again. It was a real heartache for me, but quickly I got accustomed to American ways.

My mother used to go to work and leave me alone and tell me to go to school, but I didn't do that. I thought I was too big for that now, for I was almost sixteen. By now I was considered quite a good dancer, and I began to think that some day I would dance for money.

I began to enter tavern life. Surely, I thought, here I'll have a good time. When I was 21 years old I became a night club hostess: this meant I had to dance and drink with all kinds of men and to let them kiss me if they felt like it. This was most horrible to me, but I saw the others do that and I thought I was no better than they.

So here, little by little, I began to drink every night and men would leave me money as they left the night club.

Yes! I got my desire in a small way to dance before the public, and with all kinds of men. Night after night I drank whiskey, wine, beer, and mixed drinks. I didn't care if I ate so I just drank. And then many times I wished I had something to eat, but the men who frequent those places do not come there for food.

The Word of God says, "Wine is a mocker... and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise," but I didn't know God's Word, so I went from one tavern to another for nine long years.

Many, many times I wanted to kill myself and end that rotten life. One time when I had gone through a very bitter disappointment over a man who had let me down, I turned on the gas, but something seemed to stop me.

So I drank and cursed and swore at men, for I at last saw their lies and deceit and I hated every one whom I drank with. I cared for no one, nor had any fear of anyone, nor regarded God. I prayed now and then with a cold, hard feeling in my heart against everyone. I thought that if there were any real pity, real love and joy, it couldn't be on this earth.

I heard the gospel story. I didn't think it was for me, but this was the love I was hungry for; this was the truth I was seeking to know. Then I heard that blessed song: "No one ever cared for me like Jesus," and I heard the Word of God preached. For the first time I was made to see how far away from God I had wandered. Still Jesus was waiting to save my soul from sin and from the shame I had gotten into.

So I called upon God with all my heart to forgive my sins for Jesus' sake, and He did!

And I pray that those who read this testimony of God's love and mercy to me will also turn to the Lord, for only Jesus can bring joy to the troubled soul. Only the Lord can heal the broken heart. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.

Yes! I have tried all kinds of sins, only to find out that sin is a poor paymaster. But I thank God that, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

He will forgive you and Jesus will make you a new creature in Him.

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

Who Cares?

Who cares? Nobody cares! He couldn't care less!

Over and over we hear it, a refrain that runs through all our lives daily. The despairing cry goes up continually from the old, the poor, the ill, the forgotten, in nursing homes and hospitals and prisons and tenements and refugee camps, from our very streets where the homeless live. Nobody cares!

No one is immune. A loving family, friends, money, health all fail to protect us from sometimes feeling, "Nobody understands me. Nobody cares!"

Is it really true?

No!

Who cares?

God cares!

"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

Who cares?

Jesus cares!

"While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Rom. 5:8.

Who cares?

The Holy Spirit!

"The Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." Rom. 8:26.

So much love and care are freely offered to you. Why go on alone or lonely any longer? Why not accept this salvation that Jesus died to give you, that cost God His only beloved Son, and know the comforting presence of His Spirit with you all the days of your life. He promises never to leave nor forsake those who are His.

He will be with you always, "even unto the end of the world."

"He careth for you." 1 Peter 5:7.

Only Believe

John was dying. A visitor came to see him. She had religion but was a stranger to Christ. She looked at him sadly, and said, "Oh, John, there is a great work to be done, and you have so little time to do it."

John sighed. His days were numbered and he was too weak to do anything.

A Christian came to visit him, one who knew God's simple way of salvation. She said, "John, all the work needed for your salvation was done by Jesus on the cross, and you have nothing to do but believe and accept it."

John trusted that finished work, and was saved. How is it with you? Are you doing something yourself to obtain salvation, or are you trusting the One who has done all that work?

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Titus 3:5.

?Run for the Gate?

The quiet English lane was a picture of perfect peace. Between the thick hedgerows Sarah walked dreamily, her thoughts far away. Suddenly the quiet was shattered by a shout: "Run for the gate! Run for the gate!"

Startled back to the present, she looked around. There was no one in sight. But the shout rang out again: "Run for the gate!"

Who had shouted? What gate? Did they mean her? Questions raced through her mind, but immediately she heard again, louder and more commandingly, "Run for the gate!"

Now she could hear a thud-thud of running footsteps and, in sudden panic, she did run to the nearest gate—a small entrance in the thick-set hedge, slipped through and slammed it behind her.

Hardly was she safely inside when an infuriated bull dashed past, followed by several panting drovers. In safety, but only just in time (for the bull badly gored someone else before it was captured), she watched them go by. When all was quiet again she went on her way with deep thankfulness for her escape from danger.

Everything round you may seem as fair and as peaceful as that country road on the Sunday afternoon, but if you are still on the broad way that leads to destruction, the voice of an unseen Speaker is calling to you, "Run for the gate!"

"Enter ye in at the strait gate!" It is the voice of pleading as well as of command—the voice of One who knows your danger and who has provided one way, one only way of escape. "I am the door," declares the Lord Jesus, and that door stands wide open.

You need no prayers, no tears, no goodness of your own to open heaven's gate. Divine love and divine justice have already swung it wide open—the love that sent the Son to die, and the justice that accepted His sacrifice—wide enough to admit any sinner, however great, who comes just as he is to take refuge within.

Come then in all your need, bowing to God's Word that tells us we have all sinned and come short of His glory. God "looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light." Job 33:27, 28.

A ransom has been found—Jesus gave Himself a ransom for all. "For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21.

Won't you accept the way of escape that God offers to you today?

Three Weeks to Live

"The doctor says I have only three weeks to live," said a tall, thin young woman about twenty years old.

"I suppose you are thinking a great deal of where you are going after death?" said her visitor.

"Oh, no! I try not to think of that at all! I've enjoyed life, and it's no use my thinking of anything else now. Besides, no less than five people have been here to see me.

"Each one of them has told me that I must prepare for heaven by being good. I can't do that, and I don't even want to try. Anyway, I have only three weeks to live, and that isn't enough time to do all that they tell me, so why should I make myself unhappy with the thought of it now?"

"My dear girl! I've only fifteen minutes before I have to leave, but I assure you that in that fifteen minutes you can be made fit for the presence of God."

"Excuse me! I don't mean to be rude, but I can't help laughing at the idea of me—me—being fit to meet God in fifteen minutes!"

"Let me show you what God says in His book, the Bible. Listen: 'But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved).' Aren't you 'dead in sins'?"

"Yes, I know I am."

"Then hear what God says: ‘For His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins.' You say that is you. Don't you see that God loves you just as you are? It is true you cannot make yourself good—not in thirty years, much less in three weeks. "But God'—He meets you with His great love just where you are."

As the knowledge of God's love reached her heart this young woman, apparently so careless as to eternal things, burst into tears.

"Oh, why did the others not tell me this?" she exclaimed. "To think of God loving me!"

Have you believed this great love of God?

"God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:10.

?I Thought He Would Knock Again?

In Northern Ontario there lived a man with his wife and family. Often he had come home late at night drunk. His keys were always lost, and his sorely tried wife had to get out of bed to let him in when he knocked at the door.

One cold winter night, when the temperature was below zero, he came home at a late hour very drunk. His wife, who was in bed, heard him knock, but being very tired, thought, "I will let him knock again," and she turned over in the warm bed and went soundly back to sleep.

At daybreak she awoke. She saw at once that he was not in the house. Then she recalled the knock she had heard at the door the night before. Catching up her robe, she ran downstairs, unlocked the front door, and was horrified to see her husband's body on the doorstep—frozen to death.

As she saw what had happened she wailed out in her grief, "I thought he would knock again!"

In this case, it was the person knocking who needed mercy, whereas in the case of God and man, the gracious One knocking is offering mercy. But will not the same words be the wail of many when they find out that the Lord Jesus has been knocking at their heart's door, and they have kept Him out until it is too late?

The Lord Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:20.

Perhaps you have been conscious of the Lord Jesus knocking at your heart's door in one way and another, but you are still saying: "I think He will knock again."

"Give me just a little longer,
For the world looks now so bright.
When I feel that I am dying
I'll be saved—but not tonight."

Remember that His knocking may stop sooner than you expect. He says, "My Spirit shall not always strive with man."

Now, He waits to save you. He is not willing that any should perish. Listen to His knocking and receive Him now as your Savior, for any day now He may come and close the door of salvation. Then you too will wail as you find that God's people are gone and the door is shut: "I thought He would knock again."

Room for Jesus, Lord of glory!

Hasten now, His word obey.

Swing your heart's door widely open,

Let Him enter while you may.

Feelings

"Faith" comes before "feelings" in the dictionary, and so it does in the matter of our spiritual blessing.

Many would like to reverse it. They would like to feel happy before in simple faith they have taken God at His word, but God would not have our assurance of salvation to rest on such a flimsy foundation as our feelings. He would have us rest on Christ and His atoning sacrifice.

Feelings ebb and flow and come and go like the tides that wash the shore. Christ's work is abiding. God's way is unchanging. It has been put something like this: The Lord Jesus did it—the holy God says it—I, the sinner, believe it.

The Lord Jesus did what? Suffered for sins upon Calvary's cross. He finished the mighty work of eternal redemption.

The holy God says what? That "Whosoever believeth in Him (the Lord Jesus) shall receive remission of sins."

I, the sinner, believe what? I believe what God says about His Son and what He has done, and I know that forgiveness of sins is mine.

Why did the Lord Jesus do it? Because there was no other way in which we could be blessed.

Why does God say it? Because the Lord Jesus did it all at Calvary.

Why do I believe it? Because God says it. Not because I feel anything this way or that, simply and only because God says it.

Happy feelings depend upon our faith in Christ's sacrifice and in God's Word about it.

Wonder-Working Books

In Burma, as two men were looking over Bible seller's stock of Gospels, one warned the other not to buy them.

"What harm can there be?" asked the first man.

"There is certainly great harm," replied his friend. "I know a large number of Burmans and Karens who have bought these books, and they nearly always end by becoming Christians."

"Well, that is true," answered the first, "but I have some friends who were once notoriously bad men, and since they became Christians they are honest and good. This is why I want to read these books." Then he chose and paid for the Gospels in Burmese.

God's Salvation: a Free Gift

People seem to expect to receive salvation in exchange for something they can offer to God. One brings an earnest prayer; a second brings a vow or a promise to improve his life; a third brings an inwardly made resolution to live a better and purer life; a fourth thinks that before he can receive salvation, he must produce some evidence of his sincerity; a fifth imagines that he can obtain it by rigid adherence to an orthodox creed.

Now, the truth is that God's salvation can only be had as a free gift. Why should there be any difficulty in understanding this? The words of Scripture are very plain: "I will give unto him that, is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." Rev. 21:6.

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

Pride objects to such terms. It would rather pay, however small the price. But God is too great to sell His blessing, and however long he might try, man cannot earn salvation by his own efforts.

God meets the sinner with His hands full of the richest blessings, if only the sinner, will come with empty hands to receive it as a free gift. Will you?

"By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 9.

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us." Titus 3:5.

My Eyes

My eyes are priceless! They are marvelous examples of a delicate and intricate mechanism. They are constant reminders of the Creator's wisdom and power. Through them I look out upon the world in which I live.

My eyes have been fair to me under the most exacting conditions. They have stood the test time and again. I use them constantly from waking until bedtime. In all that I have attempted, my eyes have had their part.

My eyes have enabled me to enjoy the work of artists, authors and poets. My eyes have enjoyed the wonders of God's creation: the birds, flowers, trees, seas, mountains and plains.

My eyes have seen my loved ones: parents, sisters, relatives and friends. My eyes have looked on multitudes of people, among whom were some of earth's notables.

But the most marvelous sight of all is yet future! For my eyes will one day see the Lord Himself. The unfailing Word of God says: "Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." Rev. 1:7.

The eyes of those who believed upon Him here will see Him as Savior. Yes, my eyes shall "behold the King in His beauty." They will see the One "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree." 1 Peter 2:24.

But the eyes of the unbelievers will see Him as JUDGE. To meet Him as judge will mean to perish. For as judge He will have to say, "Depart from Me." "Ye will not come to Me, that ye might have life." John 5:40.

The greatest of all sights is still ahead of me. "We know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."

Face to face, oh blissful moment!

Face to face—to see and know.

Face to face with my Redeemer,

Jesus Christ, who loves me so.

Will you see Him as Savior—or as judge? Three things you will certainly do:

1. Every eye (including yours) will see Christ. (Rev. 1:7.)

2. Every knee (yours too) will bow to Christ. (Phil. 2:10.)

3. Every tongue will "confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Phil. 2:11.

Do it now! Make Him your Savior and friend, now!

For Thirty Dollars

It was 7:30 Friday morning, and the city was beginning to wake and stir and prepare for another day of business as usual. Buses discharged their passengers at office and shop, cars and drivers passed on in search of parking spaces, workers paused for a moment before punching time clocks and starting the day's work.

Outside the Healthplan offices two women stood talking. A young man walked up to them and asked for directions to the Boulevard. As they explained, he suddenly grabbed a pocketbook and bolted.

Screams! Yells! "Catch that guy!"

Jake Geathers, driving past on his way to work at the United Parcel Service heard the cries, saw the purse-snatcher, and jumped from his car. Racing after the fleeing man for three blocks, he was stopped abruptly by the seawall on the river. The thief hesitated briefly, then dived into the murky water. Still clutching the purse, he tried to tread water.

Geathers shouted at him, asking if he could swim, but there was no response. He said later, "He just looked at me with fright on his face, and went under."

Once the man bobbed to the surface and yelled for help, then sank again.

Geathers tore off his shirt and tie and jumped in, but the water was too dark, the current too strong, and the man was swept to his death.

"He wouldn't let go of the purse. He just wouldn't let go. He lost his life for nothing, man!" And the tears came into Geather's eyes as he added, "Why didn't he just let go of the purse?"

There was thirty dollars in the purse.

For thirty dollars he sold his life, if not his immortal soul—thirty dollars that did him no good whatsoever.

Can you hear the echo from two thousand years ago? For thirty pieces of silver, Judas Iscariot sold his soul and threw away his life—thirty pieces of silver that he neither spent nor enjoyed. He took them back to the temple and threw them at the feet of the priests before he went out and killed himself.

"He makes an awful bargain who sells Christ and his own soul at the same time!" But men have sold their souls for far less than thirty pieces of silver—or thirty dollars—or even thirty cents. Men—women even children today are selling their souls for drugs or drink or the "pleasures of sin for a season"—and a dreadful bargain they are making with the devil.

What are they gaining in return? Little enough in this life, but oh, the afterward! Short or long, life ends on this earth, but the soul does not die. It will exist forever, shut out from life, and light, and love, for all eternity. God is light, and away from Him there will be only the blackness of darkness—forever! Thirty million dollars—thirty billion dollars—would be a poor exchange.

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mark 8:36, 37.

Roadmaps

Since the 1930's the roadmaps in the Soviet Union have been purposely falsified. Mapmakers, under the auspices of the security police, have misplaced rivers and streets, distorted boundaries, and omitted geographical features. The object, of course, is to make an invasion from a foreign power more difficult or to prevent infiltration by any enemy. It must cause problems for legitimate travelers though.

It is important to know exactly where you are and how to get where you are going, so the maps in most of the world are as accurate as the printers can make them. But in spiritual matters it is another story. Each of us is a traveler, traveling to eternity and to heaven or hell, and there are false maps without number. Don't lose your soul by following the wrong map!

The Bible is God's roadmap to heaven for us. It is 100 percent accurate. Nothing in it has been distorted. Nothing necessary for the happiness of our souls has been omitted. It tells us that the only way to be saved is to accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of our souls.

"I am the way, the truth, and the life." The Savior said, and the Bible makes it plain that the only way to be saved is through Him and the precious blood He shed. "No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

Are We Going up or Down?

How strange to see the world making so much progress in science and industry and making none at all in righteousness and morality! Some men persuade themselves that the world is growing better, but when brought face to face with the actual facts, they are forced to admit that evil men and seducers are becoming worse and worse. (2 Tim. 3:13.)

The records of jails, prisons, courts, and the plain proofs of increasing crime in spite of all man's learning and education, fully confirm the truth of the Word of God. Sad to say, the world's progress is not in or toward goodness. The wonderful advances and scientific discoveries of this day cannot bring a soul nearer to God or blot out a single sin.

The world's only progress is down, always down, in casting off the fear of God and in rejecting His precious Word. In these things men are making swift and sure progress. The world is converting the church to its own infidel views of worship of nature and scoffing at the Bible. God and His grace in Christ are being thrown aside by the fables of progressive theology, liberal views, and the teaching of the "modern school."

Where do you find yourself today? Are you going on to eternity with the great multitude, through the wide gate and down the broad road?

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: for wide is the gate, gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Matt. 7:13, 14.

The Lord Jesus Christ warns us about the end of this broad, easy way in which the world is traveling. It's the easiest road in the world to find. You need only to follow the crowd, take the easy way, and be "broad minded" and liberal in your views. The unerring word of the Son of God tells you where it will end: "destruction."

The narrow path, entered through the strait gate, leads to life. Eternal life is the portion of those who follow it, for Jesus is the way. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

In this path there is a life of joy, peace, love, hope, and daily blessing. In this path is found real progress—not the downward progress of the world, but progress in love, in faith, and in the knowledge of God and of His grace. It is not the progress that ends in destruction, but progress that ends in the blessed presence of the Son of God in glory.

All this rests on God's work of redemption finished on the cross.

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Eph. 1:7.

It is offered to you now, "without money and without price."

What About Him?

You know how you treat your relatives and your friends, but how do you treat your best Friend the Lord Jesus Christ?

Yes, what about Him?

You can speak about religion, church, or creed of some kind, but it is a Person who saves. For "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." John 1:12.

The great question then is: Have you received HIM?

Resurrection

How can a body be resurrected? Part of a body may be buried in one place and part in another! A man may die at sea and be thrown overboard. Fish may eat the remains. Another may be cremated, and his ashes widely scattered. Is this a problem to the Creator?

A chemist was once showing a visitor to his laboratory a silver cup he had received as a prize. Accidentally the cup dropped from his hand into a vat of acid, and it melted away like a snowflake. The chemist went to a shelf and picked up a test tube of a certain chemical and dropped it into the acid. The silver immediately began to settle to the bottom of the vat where it could be collected. "I will send it back to the manufacturers," he said, "and have it recast."

If the chemist can do this, cannot our Creator resurrect our bodies in a fashion suitable for His Spirit to dwell in?

"Some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?... Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Cor. 15:35, 51, 52.

Who will be changed? Who will be raised?

The same chapter (verse 23) tells us it is "they that are Christ's at His coming."

Are you His? Are you sure?

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." 1 John 5:13.

Light in the Valley

A blind Hindu boy, when dying, said joyfully: "I see! I see! I have light now. I see the King in His beauty. Tell the missionary the blind boy sees!"

A wounded soldier, asked if he were ready to die, said, "Oh yes: my Savior in whom I have long trusted is with me now. The dark valley is lighted up by His smile."

A young man who had recently found Jesus was dying. A friend who stood near him asked, "Is it dark?"

"No, no," he exclaimed, "it's light, it's light, it's all light!" And in the joy which this light gives, he entered into heaven.

"Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." Luke 2:30-32.

A Single Page

Crossing through north India a Christian missionary met an old man. Overcome by the heat and the strain of travel, he sank down dying by the side of the road. The missionary saw him and, kneeling down at his side, whispered into his ear: "Brother, what is your hope?"

The dying man raised himself a little to reply, and with a great effort succeeded in answering: "The blood of Jesus Christ... cleanseth us from all sin." A moment later he died.

The answer and the calm and peaceful assurance of the man astonished the missionary; he felt assured he had died in Christ. How, or when, he thought, could this man have obtained the knowledge of salvation? As he thought of it, he saw a piece of paper grasped tightly in the hand of the dead man. Surprised and delighted, he found it was a single page of the Bible containing the first chapter of the first epistle of John. On that one page the man had found the Word of Life.

Many of us have Bibles of our own, but do you value the Word of God as this poor man did? Have you ever put your trust in the Lord Jesus and His shed blood on Calvary? If you haven't, why delay longer? Come to Him now and know with assurance that He has washed your sins all away in His own precious blood.

"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.

Wrong Thoughts About God

What wrong thoughts some people have of God! Like the man, spoken of in the Word of God in the gospel of Luke, they only know Him as "an austere man," demanding every penny, a hard exacter of His rights and of every letter of the law. They think of Him as one seeking to crush everyone into the dust, having a stern frown and a hidden face.

Now this is not the way that those who have come to Him have found Him, nor is it the aspect in which He presents Himself in the Scriptures, the Word of God. No! It is: "God is love." "God so loved the world." "God gave."

We find that God is full of grace, mercy, pity and compassion. He has an eye of love, a heart of tenderness, a hand open to give, and He is one who does not desire the death of the sinner. He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

He wants to be our Savior and Friend, and the way is always open for access to Him! There is no mediator but Christ, no advocate but Christ, whose yearning heart of love longs and seeks for every lost one.

Come to Him now, the One who died for you. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Acts 16:31.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.

He Is Happy

"There is a man who works in the same shop with me, and he says the same thing you say. He says he has eternal life, and, what's more, he not only says so, but everything he does proves it. He has no fear of death at all, and if he has any sorrow or trouble, this having 'eternal life' gives him such quiet and peace that I cannot help feeling that he has something that I lack.

"Do you see? And no matter how we razz him in the shop, we can't rile him. He is happy in claiming he has eternal life, and he tells us he found eternal life by reading what God says about it in the Bible."

Yes, it is all there in the Word of God. "These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." John 20:31. "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10.

Do you have desires and longings that cannot be satisfied here on earth? "For He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." Psa. 107:9.

Are you burdened under a heavy load, with no relief in sight? Take it all to Him. "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matt. 11:28, 29, 30.

But what about our sins? Are we worthy to stand in His presence, or to have His help? "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7. He came into this world in order to put them away, and to reveal His heart of love to us. Turn to Him now!

Dead Weight

A young man asked a preacher, "You say that unsaved people carry a weight of sin. How heavy is sin? Is it ten pounds? Eighty pounds? I don't feel any weight!"

The preacher replied: "If you laid a four hundred pound weight on a corpse, would it feel the load?"

The man replied, "It would feel nothing, because it is dead."

The preacher concluded, "He, too, is dead indeed who feels no load of sin or is indifferent to its burden and flippant about its presence."

The young man was silenced.

"And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." Eph. 2:1.

Shark Attack

"Watch me!" Adam McGuire shouted to his two companion surfers. The three boys were floating a hundred yards from shore. Lying on their stomachs on their surfboards, they were watching the incoming waves and selecting what looked like the best to ride. Over their heads the sun shone in all its brilliance. The yellow strands of the Australian beach stretched out in either direction as far as their eyes could see. Occasionally they would catch glimpses of the brightly colored sails of windsurfers racing along with the wind. Farther out, near the watery horizon where the gently curved line of the blue ocean met the deeper blue of the sky, fishing vessels were dragging their nets along.

With a thrust of his hands into the water, Adam propelled himself in front of the wave he selected to ride. He waited for the prime moment which would give him the most momentum, and stood his tall, lanky, seventeen-year-old body upright on his surfboard. With knees bent and arms outstretched for balance, he rode in front of the crest of the wave. By shifting his weight on the board he zigzagged up and down the height of the wave. At the end of his ride, he skillfully turned the front of his board into the wave and kept his balance as the wave passed. In the trough which followed he lay down and propelled himself back to his friends.

"Adam," one of his companions shouted, pointing, "look at what's coming towards you!" His friends dug their arms into the water and paddled frantically away from Adam toward the shore.

Adam turned to look in the direction his friend had pointed and froze. Swimming directly for him was a shark whose large dorsal fin projected out of the water. There wasn't time to flee. Within moments he could see the shark's cold unfeeling eyes and he recognized it as a tiger shark. He had seen many of them hanging on wharves, caught by fishermen. There was a mad rush of water as the shark, swimming swiftly, neared him. The whole length of its body broke the surface and the great jaws opened, revealing rows of massive, triangular teeth. Adam didn't have time to think; he only had time to react. At the last second Adam rolled off his board into the water. The teeth of the shark clamped down on the board with a loud crunch. The board snapped in its bite.

The slow-witted shark realized that it wasn't the board it wanted, and began to circle around Adam in the water. "It's twelve feet at least," Adam thought to himself as he watched it circle him. With a flick of its tail, the shark turned and darted towards its prey. Adam felt a deep pain in his side as a piece of his flesh was torn away. Wounded, Adam knew he didn't have the strength to resist another attack. Hopeless and helpless to defend himself, he watched the circling shark.

Suddenly, from somewhere out of the vast expanse of ocean, a school of dolphins came darting around it. They began thrashing about the shark. They darted in the beast's face. They swam over it and under it and around it and behind it. The shark became so distracted by the dolphins that it forgot about Adam. Adam found his broken board, pulled himself up on what was left of it, and paddled to safety while the dolphins kept the shark occupied. He required extensive surgery for the bite in his side, but he lived to tell the tale.

On a beautiful day, while doing something he loved, Adam McGuire came within a hair's breadth of losing his life. If it had not been for the timely help of his unusual rescuers, he would have been torn to pieces by the shark.

Life may be beautiful to you, and you may be doing exactly what you like doing and enjoying it very much. However, if you are living your life without a personal relationship with Christ as Lord and Savior, no matter how beautiful and lovely your situation appears, beneath the surface there is trouble—even terror—ahead. You may not see it, and you may not recognize it, and you may not expect it; nonetheless it is there and it is coming your way.

You and I, and all other people with us, have inherited a fallen nature from our first father, Adam. Because of this fallen nature man likes to choose his own way and never choose God's way; this makes him a rebel in the eyes of his Creator. And because he is a rebel, there is certain trouble ahead.

You may never have thought of yourself as a rebel before God, but it is true. Read what God says about us all: "There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable.... Destruction and misery are in their ways: and the way of peace have they not known: there is no fear of God before their eyes."

This is God's estimate of the entire human race, His estimate of the rich—the poor—the educated—the ignorant—ALL. You may have prosperity, health, everything you desire, and because of your comfortable circumstances find it hard to believe that God could possibly be displeased with you. But these verses are as true of you as of the derelict in the gutter. "There is no difference: for all have sinned."

Because of sin, death, that event dreaded above all others, has entered the world. Death in all its unpredictable and varied forms, whether it be by shark attack or heart attack, is in the world because of sin. And after death comes the judgment. "It is appointed unto men once to die, and after this the judgment."

God in grace has made a way that man can be delivered from death and judgment: "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners." The gospel tells us what God has done in a day of grace so that we might not have to meet Him in the judgment.

You may never have even considered looking to Christ to save your soul, but it is the only way to be delivered from the power and consequences of sin. If you would escape from death and the judgment to come, you must come to Christ. "There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Going With the Crowd

"Don't worry about me! I'll slip into heaven with the crowd someday," a thoughtless young man said to me one day.

I replied: "Friend, you have mistaken the place—the crowd is on the way to hell. If you 'slip in with the crowd' you will slip into hell. The Bible says: `For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.' "Matt. 7:13, 14.

He had not thought of that. Have you?

Salvation is an individual thing. Each soul must receive it for himself alone. Before your soul can enter the gates of heaven, you must pass through the strait (narrow) gate of conversion.

Yes, it must be conversion, not reformation. You must turn to God and trust in Christ to save your soul.

Beware of the crowd! Single yourself out, and take the "gift of God," which is "eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

Christ Got Hold of Me

A young Christian was often bothered by people telling him that he might be lost after all. "If you don't hold on you will be lost," they would say.

"You are mistaken," the Christian would answer.

"I mean to hold on, but I have learned that when I was saved, two got hold of each other. I got hold of Christ, and Christ got hold of me. I am sure of one thing—if I let Him go, He will never let me go! He loves me so much that He died for me. I cost Him too much for Him to give me up."

The sinner who believes on Christ becomes one of the sheep of Christ, the Good Shepherd, and He says seven things about them in John 10:27-29.

1. "My sheep hear My voice."

2. "I know them."

3. "They follow Me."

4. "I give unto them eternal life."

5. "They shall never perish."

6. "Neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand."

7. "My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand."

He'll not let my soul be lost;

He will hold me fast;

Bought by Him at such a cost,

He will hold me fast!

A Divine Necessity

"Ye must be born again." So said the Lord of glory in John 3:7.

This truth can be explained in this way: you can take a vessel of any metal, and reform it, change its shape and design. You can melt and mold it into quite a variety of forms. But you cannot change its essential nature. If it is of iron, or brass, or silver, it will remain the same metal.

Not until you can change the iron into brass, the brass into silver, the silver into gold, can you change by your own effort your sinful nature and be a partaker of the divine nature.

The outward life may be reformed, but the soul remains the same in essential quality, in the sight of God.

"That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:6, 7.

Have you been born again?

Sure of Heaven

I was raised on a farm near Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. Sunday School, memory verses, and bedtime prayers were an important part of my early years. I remember receiving a reward plaque which said "I will come again and receive you." This often caught my eye, as Mother had hung it over the piano, and I wondered: Would it be possible for me to be in heaven?

Although I was brought up to be moral, upright and careful with my speech, I sometimes grew careless. Once as I was showing cattle at the county fair a neighbor heard me say something that startled him as I was watering the calves. He exclaimed: "I thought the Peck boys didn't swear!"

I realized that my moral upbringing had not been enough to save me from sinning. After evening chores, when no one was looking I would pick up the Bible from the living room library table. The commandments, "Thou shalt," and "Thou shalt not," convinced me that I was indeed a wicked sinner in the sight of the Lord. I became discouraged and began to think that God hated me and was angry because of my sins. As these thoughts overwhelmed my soul, I fell to my knees and cried to God to forgive me for my sins.

Two evangelists stopped by the farm and invited us to gospel meetings at a neighbor's house. I went out of curiosity. The third night the preacher said, "Unless you know Christ as your personal Savior, you are far off from heaven tonight!"

Driving home, I felt I was a stranger to God and without hope, but at home I read a little booklet called, "God's Way of Salvation." It explained 1 John 4:10, "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." There I understood that, instead of God hating me, He really loved me and had given His Son to die for my sins upon the cross at Calvary. There I rested my sin-burdened soul and found peace with God and became sure of heaven. Why don't you, too, trust Him for eternity?

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." 1 Tim. 1:15.

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36.

"I Have Done Nothing to Deserve God's Mercy,”

True, perfectly true, but God bestows forgiveness upon sinners as a free gift. "The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

Eternal life, forgiveness, and salvation are obtained through simple faith in Christ: "not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:9.

"Mercy, Jesus"

A gangster was dying. He did not want to hear about God. The sweet story of God's love in sending the Lord Jesus to die for sinners meant nothing to him. He did not want to hear it. Even though he was so very sick—even though he was such a sinner—he would not listen to it.

Yet "the Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." Psa. 103:8. He is "long-suffering... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9.

Someone cared enough to ask a Christian to visit him in the hospital. Each day the Christian went to the hospital. He said little, but stayed with the sick man for a while and then left.

When it was evident that he would not live much longer, the Christian leaned over and spoke in the ear of the dying man. He said, "I want you to say two words: 'Mercy, Jesus.' " Then he left.

The next day, arriving at the hospital, he discovered that the man had died. He inquired of the nurses, "Did you notice any change in him before he died?"

"Yes," they said, "he seemed to get some strength and he kept repeating two words."

"What were they?"

"Mercy, Jesus!"

Have you ever asked God for His mercy on your soul? Jesus said, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." John 6:37. Don't wait until you are dying to receive Him. Come to Him today and be saved. Then you too can live for the Lord Jesus while we wait together for Him to come and take us to be with Him in heaven.

The Pearl

A splash was followed by many ripples and then the water below was still. An American man crouched low, his eyes riveted on the place where a stream of little bubbles rose to the surface from deep under the water. Suddenly a black head appeared and a pair of bright eyes looked up. Then the old Indian pearl diver was clambering up, grinning and shaking the water from his shining oiled body.

"As nice a dive as I've ever seen, Rambhau!" cried David Morse, the American missionary.

"Look at this one," said Rambhau, taking a big oyster from between his teeth. "I think it'll be good."

Morse took it and while he was prying it open with his pocket knife Rambhau was pulling smaller oysters from his loincloth. "Rambhau! Look!" exclaimed Morse, "Why, it's a treasure!"

"Yes, a good one," shrugged the diver.

"Good! Have you ever seen a better pearl? It's perfect, isn't it?" Morse had been turning the big pearl over and over in his hand.

"Oh, yes," Rambhau responded, "there are better pearls, much better. Why I have one...." His voice trailed off. "See this one—the imperfections—the black speck here, this tiny dent; even in shape it is a bit oblong, but good as pearls go. It is just as you say of your God: to themselves people look perfect, but God sees them as they actually are."

"You're right, Rambhau. And God offers perfect righteousness to all who will simply believe and accept His free offer of salvation through His beloved Son."

"But Sahib, I have told you so many times, it's too easy. I cannot accept that. Perhaps I am too proud. I must work for my place in heaven."

"Oh, Rambhau! Don't you see, you'll never get to heaven that way. You are getting older now. Perhaps this is your last season of diving for pearls. If you ever want to see heaven's gates of pearl, you must accept the new life God offers you in His Son."

"My last season! Yes, you are right. Today was my last day of diving. This is the last month of the year, and I have preparations to make."

"You should prepare for the life to come."

"That's just what I'm going to do. Do you see that man over there? He is a pilgrim, perhaps to Bombay or Calcutta. He walks barefooted and picks the sharpest stones—and see—every few steps he kneels down and kisses the road. That is good. The first day of the new year I begin my pilgrimage. All my life I have planned it. I shall make sure of heaven. I am going to Delhi on my knees."

"Man! You're crazy! It's nine hundred miles to Delhi. The skin will break on your knees and you'll have blood poisoning and die before you can get to Bombay."

"No, I must get to Delhi. And then the immortals will reward me. The suffering will be sweet, for it will purchase heaven for me."

"Rambhau! My friend! You can't! How can I let you do this when Jesus Christ has died to purchase heaven for you?"

But the old man could not be moved. "You are my dearest friend on earth, Sahib Morse. Through all these years you have stood beside me. In sickness and want you have been sometimes my only friend. But even you cannot turn me from this great desire to purchase eternal bliss. I must go to Delhi." It was useless. The old pearl diver could not understand, could not accept the free salvation of Christ.

One afternoon Morse answered a knock at the door to find Rambhau there. "My good friend!" cried Morse. "Come in, Rambhau."

"No," said the diver, "I want you to come to my house, Sahib, for a short time. I have something to show you. Please come."

The missionary's heart leapt. Perhaps God was answering his prayer at last. "Of course, I'll come." he said.

"I leave for Delhi just one week from today, you know," said Rambhau as they neared the house. The missionary's heart sank. Inside, Morse sat on the chair his friend had built specially for him, where many times he had sat explaining to the diver God's way to heaven. Rambhau left the room to return soon with a small English strongbox. "I have had this box for years," he said. "I keep only one thing in it. Now I will tell you about it. Sahib Morse, I once had a son."

"A son! Why, Rambhau, you have never said a word about him."

"No Sahib, I couldn't. Now I must tell you for soon I will leave, and who knows whether I shall ever return? My son was a diver too, the best pearl diver on the coasts of India. He had the swiftest dive, the keenest eye, the strongest arm, the longest breath of any man who sought for pearls. What joy he brought me! He always dreamed of finding a pearl beyond all others.
One day he found it, but when he found it he had already been underwater too long. He died soon after."

The old pearl diver bowed his head and for a moment his whole body shook. "All these years I have kept the pearl," he continued, "but now I am going, not to return... and to you, my best friend, I am giving my pearl." The old man drew from the box a carefully wrapped package. Gently opening the cotton, he picked up a mammoth pearl and placed it in the hand of the missionary. It was one of the largest pearls ever found off the coast of India, and it glowed with a luster and brilliance never seen in cultured pearls. It would have brought a fabulous sum in any market.

For a moment the missionary was speechless. "Rambhau," he said, "this is a wonderful pearl, an amazing pearl. Let me buy it. I will give you ten thousand rupees for it."

Rambhau stiffened his whole body. "Sahib! This pearl is beyond all price. A million rupees could not buy it from me. I will not sell it. You may only have it as a gift.

"No, Rambhau, I cannot accept that. As much as I want the pearl, I cannot accept it that way. Perhaps I am proud, but that is too easy. I must pay for it, or work for it."

The old pearl diver was stunned. "You don't understand at all, Sahib. Don't you see? My only son gave his life to get this pearl, and I wouldn't sell it for any amount of money. It's worth is in the life blood of my son. I cannot sell this; I can only give it to you in token of the love I bear you."

The missionary could not speak for a moment; then he gripped the hand of the old man. "Rambhau, don't you see? That is just what you have been saying to God." The diver looked searchingly at the missionary, and slowly he began to understand. "God is offering to you eternal life as a free gift. It cost God the life blood of His only Son to make the entrance for you into heaven. In a hundred pilgrimages you could not earn that entrance. All you can do is to receive it as a token of God's love for you. Rambhau, of course I will accept the pearl in deep humility. Won't you too accept God's great gift of eternal life, in deep humility, knowing it cost Him the death of His Son to offer it to you?"

Great tears were rolling down the cheeks of the old man. He understood at last. "Sahib, I see it now. I believe Jesus gave Himself for me. I accept Him."

"The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:23.

"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift." 2 Cor. 9:15.

Faith Alone

We cherish such a plan of reform and good works in our minds, such an idea of a merit-badge system in our hearts, that it is difficult for us to believe justification fully and clearly. We say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved," but we have a notion that faith is something so wonderful, so mysterious, that it is quite impossible ever to get it without doing something else.

Faith is an instantaneous gift of God, and he who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is that moment saved without anything else whatsoever.

The Katia

Many times the steel hull of The Katia had plowed the waves of the Atlantic carrying her heavy freight to various ports. One wintry November morning she sprung a leak in her port side. In the high waves the cold Atlantic water gushed through the steel sides of the ship mercilessly. The twenty-seven member crew couldn't stop the flood of water which poured in; the ship's pumps were not equal to the task. The weight of water in the ship soon caused it to lean heavily to one side, to "list" as seamen call it. The crew began to fear the ship would roll at any minute.

They saw the hopelessness of the situation and called for help. They realized that if they were to be saved it could only be by help from someone else.

The same is true of all men in a spiritual sense. Until men realize the hopelessness of self-reform, or of earning the favor of God by good works, until they learn the extreme danger they are in of passing into a Christless eternity, they will not understand the importance of coming to Christ as the only one who can save.

For those of you who read this and haven't yet felt any serious conviction for the sins you have committed, you need to be warned: God holds you personally responsible for your sins. Sin is incompatible with God's holy nature. Should anyone die in his sins without Christ, God will put that person away from Himself forever—far away in dark regions where all is misery.

But there is good news; it is God's good news for you and all people. What is it? It is God sending His Son into this world and going to the cross to die in the sinner's place. Through the death of His Son, God has made a way by which He can put away the sins of everyone who simply believes on the name of Jesus.

The twenty-seven men from The Katia were rescued, by a helicopter, from the deck of the sinking ship. As they set foot once more on solid ground in Halifax, Nova Scotia, they were all grinning widely— happy to be saved. If you receive Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life, you will be saved too—saved for eternity.

Sometimes people complain that they "don't feel any different," "they don't feel saved." God's Word doesn't say, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt feel saved." No, it says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved." The Bible doesn't promise us instant happiness when we are saved. Our salvation depends on faith, not feelings.

What it does promise is life everlasting with Him in heaven, where the joy of those who have received Christ will be perfect and eternal. The effect of seeing Him face to face will call from their hearts "one eternal burst of praise" because of the joy they feel when they see their Savior at last.

Yes, the seamen smiled brightly when they reached safety, but their joy can't begin to compare with the joy of a believer when he is taken home to glory and sees his Savior face to face!

Don't miss heaven because your eyes and heart are glued to the things of this world. Turn your eyes away and look toward the cross of Calvary—look toward eternity—lift up your eyes and look toward the glory where Christ is sitting on the right hand of God.

Time will end, but eternity—NEVER.

Opportunities

A botanist in Scotland used to go out on fine days among the heather. Taking out his microscope, he would lie among the purple blooms and examine them for hours at a time. A shepherd who tended his sheep close by watched him, wondering what was so interesting about the common heather.

Finally, he came to the botanist and asked what he found so interesting. Without a word, the botanist handed him the glass and the bloom. The shepherd gazed intently at the perfection and the beauty revealed by the microscope, and presently tears trickled down his brown cheeks.

"Why those tears?" asked the botanist.

"Oh," replied the shepherd, "they are so bonnie, and to think I have trampled so many of them under my feet!"

Like the shepherd, many people are now trampling beautiful opportunities under their feet. You may be one of them, but you still have an opportunity, a golden NOW. Do not despise it or neglect it, or you will look back with longing desire that can never be realized: "If only I had another opportunity, what good use I would make of it!"

Opportunities neglected and gone forever will only be a torment to remember. "To think I could have been saved—I would have been saved—if only I had not wasted all my opportunities."

Thank God that you still have time to decide for Christ, still time to turn to Him who "will in no wise cast out." This opportunity now is yours. Use it wisely, for it is the most precious possession you have.

Who knows if you will ever have another? Make Christ and His salvation your choice now, lest you awake in a lost eternity to find opportunities gone forever. You will have left only the tormenting memory, never to be erased, that you carelessly let them slip by.

"I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored [helped] thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 2 Cor. 6:2.

The Question Answered

What is life? How did it begin? Where can one find the answers? They still escape students, philosophers and scientists today as they did yesterday—as they have done for generations past. In Christ, and Christ alone, is the answer.

A newspaper correspondent sat on a bench in a park. Next to him was a woman reading a New Testament. "An interesting book?" he asked.

Startled, she answered: "It is a holy book!"

She went on to explain that she had once been a member of the "Young Communists." She had wanted to learn all about the origin and meaning of life, why we live, and where we go. From her communist leaders she could get no satisfaction. Her questions were usually ignored, but eventually she learned that everything was material. She absorbed the teaching that LIFE was only matter—matter pulsing with electrical vibrations.

"It was horrible!" she exclaimed, with a shudder of disgust.

The questioner sneered, "And now from that Book you know the origin of everything?"

She replied, "Yes, now I know. Everything is vanity except the gospel of God. It is like a cool well, full of stillness. In it I find all the right answers, and it gives rest from the desires of the world."

What a contrast to a young man who suddenly came into the possession of a great deal of money! Throwing his money right and left, he sampled all the "pleasures of sin" and extravagance. Did it bring him real joy or peace? No. He ended his life, a suicide. Before killing himself he wrote his own obituary: "Died of old age at 21."

Jesus Christ is the source of life. Indeed, He supports the life which He brings. Through His death alone His life is available to all who will make it their own by faith in the once-crucified but now risen and glorified Son of God.

He has said: "I am the way, the truth, and the LIFE: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." John 14:6.

The Joke

One summer Sunday morning in a town in northern England, a tract distributor saw a group of men standing at a street corner, and he gave to each of them one of his booklets. One of them, the joker of the party, said, "What's good for the soul must be good for the body," and he wadded up his tract and popped it into his mouth and began to chew it.

Of course, all his friends laughed, which was what he wanted, but they also insisted that he should not only chew it but swallow it so that he might get all the good that was in it. Not to spoil the joke, he did swallow it, saying that was nearly "opening time" at the pub, and he would be able to "wash it down with a pint of the best."

Now that tract upset the man most terribly. Not his digestion—that was all right—but his conscience. He could not help thinking that he had done a silly thing and had been rude to the man who had given him the tract. Worst of all, he had despised God's gospel and made a joke of it. He worried about it, and wished he had not done it.

The evening, came, and he thought he would atone for it by going to the gospel service that the tract distributor had told the men he was going to hold. He went, and was brought to Christ, and was given another tract. This one he took home, not to eat, but to read to the blessing of his soul.

He had an entertaining way of telling his story, and more than once I have laughed at his account of how the tract in his stomach led to the conversion of his soul. I have laughed, not because of the silly joke it was in the beginning, but because of the way God used it in the end.

"The word of our God shall stand forever." Isa. 40:8.

Courtesy of BibleTruthPublishers.com. Most likely this text has not been proofread. Any suggestions for spelling or punctuation corrections would be warmly received. Please email them to: BTPmail@bibletruthpublishers.com.

Echoes of Grace: 1988

Echoes of Grace: "Under the Blood" [Paperback]

Table of Contents

Something Missing

What Shall I Do?

Her Eighteenth Birthday

For Us Both

Anxious Questions With Wonderful Answers

"I Just Came"

”I Don’t Want to Be Sad”

The Joy of Salvation

The Blessed Hope

Collision Course

Whosoever

What Is a True Christian?

The Debt Is Paid

Only One Church

God's Way

?Lie Still! Lie Still!?

Dead Weight

Our Living Souls

A Nurse's Story

Two Doors

Be Not Afraid

They Put It in Writing

A Rare Find

While You’re Young

Just as You Are

Neglect

The True Friend

Just Plain Facts

A Better World

Something for Nothing

"How Am I to Come to Christ?"

Lost on Mount Seymour

"Not of Works"

The Astrologer

Peace

Rescue

"In the Twinkling of an Eye"

Cyclone

Secure, Now and Forever

Jesus the Messiah"

A Lighthouse in the Desert?

The Danger of Delay

Your True Place

”Because He First Loved"

Christ Alone Can Save

Still Waiting

Disintegrating Promises

"It's Bad News"

What Are You Waiting For?

A Musician's Story

God's Way

The Slide

Sincerity

Raking It In

The Opera Door

God Answers Your Questions

Yourself or Himself?

Just Plain Facts

He Never Said Goodbye

Just as You Are

The Russian Dancer

Who Cares?

Only Believe

?Run for the Gate?

Three Weeks to Live

?I Thought He Would Knock Again?

Feelings

Wonder-Working Books

God's Salvation: a Free Gift

My Eyes

For Thirty Dollars

Roadmaps

Are We Going up or Down?

What About Him?

Resurrection

Light in the Valley

A Single Page