WHILE staying some months ago at a seaside place, I walked across the beach one lovely morning, to enjoy for a little the fresh sea-breeze that was then blowing, hoping the opportunity of giving away a few tracts, might be given me.
I took my seat beside two girls, the oldest of whom was about sixteen. After some few minutes I handed her a little tract, entitled, “I want salvation now.”
She looked at it and said, “Thank you.”
“Can you say salvation is yours?” I asked.
“No! I wish I could.” she answered.
I then spoke to her of the love of Jesus, and asked her if she believed He died for her and bore her sins.
“Yes, I believe all that,” she said. “My mother is a Christian and she often speaks to me of these things, but I don’t know how it is, I cannot feel that my sins are forgiven.”
I saw she was trusting to her feelings, and this kept her from being happy in the knowledge of the forgiveness of her sins. I sought to show her how she must first believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and what God says in His Word about believers, and that feelings follow faith. They come after, in their proper place, not preceding faith.
After repeating to her that well-known verse, “He that heareth My Word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life,” and asking her to read the little book very carefully, I left, looking to the Lord to use it in blessing to her soul.
How is it with you? Can you say, “I know my sins are forgiven,” or are you like that young girl, trusting to your feelings? Remember, if you are, you will never have peace and joy in the Lord. Our feelings are like the shifting wind; one day you may feel very happy, and think your sins are all gone; and the next day you may be miserable.
Just take God at His Word, and salvation will be yours forever. The Lord Jesus said,
“He that believeth on Me, hath everlasting life.” John 6:47.
ML 02/27/1927