Years ago we pitched our gospel tent on the edge of a little village. Many came to hear the good news of God's salvation and some, through His mercy, received blessing.
Among others was an old man, Tom Norton. He had been a Marine, but was now retired on his pension and purposed to spend his last days in his native village. God was pleased to reach him at one of the earliest meetings. The sharp, barbed arrow of conviction entered his soul. Years of sin rose up before him with all their eternal consequences. He faced his past without God, and his heart was sorely troubled.
We visited him at his cottage several times and presented the blessed gospel to him. Still he had no peace. Often at the close of our interviews he would say: "But God is just, sir—God is just." He had yet to learn that, though God is just, He is also "the justifier of every one that believeth in Jesus.”
Weeks rolled by. Others were brought into blessing, but Tom Norton's trouble deepened. The last Lord's Day for the meetings came, and on Monday morning the tent was coming down. It was a solemn time, this last message. The subject was: "When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and He shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are." Luke 13:2525When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: (Luke 13:25). Tom Norton sat just inside the tent door with a look which seemed to say: "If I do not get salvation tonight, whenever shall I get it?”
At the close of the meeting we invited any who would to stay for prayer. To our surprise Tom Norton was the first to leave. He went home to have the after-meeting with God.
Walking through the village on Monday morning, I met him. As he drew near, his face told the story of this, after-meeting. Holding up his hand, with a look of peace and joy on his face, he said: "It is all right with me now.”
"Tell me," I said, "how it happened.”
Tom answered: "Last night I went home to my house to have it out with God. I fell before Him on the floor, and the sweat poured off me as I cried to Him, 'O God, have mercy on a poor old sinner like me!' While I wept because of the load of my sins, the blessed God let me see His dear Son Jesus on the cross, and there bearing all for a poor old sinner like me! Then I saw Him in the glory:—no sin upon Him there! Now it is all clear from there," pointing upward, "to here," smiting his breast. All clear from there to here. Tom Norton had peace.
How is it with you, dear one? Have you acknowledged the claims of God? Do you know the One who has met those claims? Look to Jesus on the cross, bearing the penalty for you; and then by faith behold Him in the glory of God. There "He liveth to make intercession" for you. Will you not say with Tom Norton: "All clear from there to here!”