Some years ago John and his wife went to live in a little village where he opened a grocery store. John soon became prosperous and was much liked by all his neighbors. He was genial and kind, as well as honest and straightforward in all his business transactions. But for all this, John was a man who scoffed at all religion, and openly avowed his disbelief in the existence of God.
After some years John's old Christian father died. In his will he bequeathed him, amongst other things, a large and much-read family Bible. "What a fool was my father," said John to his wife, "to leave me a book which is absolutely worthless to me! It must have cost quite ten dollars, too. Yet if I sell it, it will only bring a few cents. How can I make any profit out of it? Let me see—yes, I shall use the pages as wrapping paper in my store." In spite of his wife's remonstrance, he placed the book on his counter and tore out the pages one by one to wrap his customers' purchases.
For some time this godless man continued thus recklessly to tear to pieces his father's Bible. If some of his customers felt a little shocked, they did not trouble to give expression to their feelings.
One day a farmer living at some distance came into the shop to buy some nutmegs. John proceeded as usual to tear a leaf from the Bible and place it on the scales; but, just as he was about to weigh the nutmegs, his customer called out: "Wait a bit, John! That page you have taken to wrap my nutmegs in is sacred to me. You have torn it out of God's blessed Book. You shall never make use of it for any purchase of mine! Give me the nutmegs as they are." Putting them loosely into the pocket of his coat, the farmer walked out of the shop, leaving John feeling very uncomfortable.
"Is this book really so different from other books?" he asked himself. "I must see if this page contains anything extraordinary." He folded it up and put it into his pocket.
That evening when business was over he seated himself by the fire. Drawing the page from his pocket, he unfolded it and began to read. It was the last chapter of the book of Daniel. Slowly and carefully he read the solemn words, and a feeling of awe crept over him as he thought of resurrection and judgment, of the portion of the wicked and of the just.
When he came to the last verse, the voice of God whom he had hitherto despised and ignored, spoke. loudly: "But go thou thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.”
He was filled with alarm. "That is just what I am doing," said he. "I am going my way 'until the end'; and there is no doubt I shall then rest in my grave. But must I too 'stand in my lot at the end of the days'? Then in which lot shall I stand? Mine will assuredly be the lot of the wicked!”
The arrow of conviction had entered the conscience of the careless scoffer. He saw himself a guilty sinner in the presence of a holy God. Filled with misery and unable to rest by day or night, he at length spoke of his trouble to his wife.
"Oh, John!" she exclaimed, "I always knew it was very wrong to tear up that Bible. Let us get what is left of it and see if it will help you.”
The dilapidated Book was brought from its place on the counter, and together they began to read. This time it was in the book of Revelation. Every word his wife read seemed only to increase John's fear; and when she came to the words, "their works do follow them," he groaned. "Oh, wife, I wonder if my works will also follow me? I don't want them to, for they have been so wicked.”
The blessed Spirit of God had thus aroused this sleeping sinner. Having first shown him his great need, He guided him to other portions of the blessed Book. With delight he read of the great salvation which had been accomplished for him by Another. He saw that the Christ of God whom he had once despised and ignored was his only Deliverer from the judgment which he so feared. With joy he learned that the precious blood of God's holy Son could cleanse all his sins; and in simple faith he rested his soul upon the value of that blood to God, so that his misery and fear soon gave place to peace and joy.
He now longed to read the whole of God's precious book. The remains of his father's Bible he placed on a table, and by its side a new Bible of a similar edition which he had bought. Reading it was now his greatest joy.
If any wondered why the two large Bibles were thus placed side by side, John delighted to tell them how the torn one recalled to him the time when, in his lost and sinful condition, he had scorned a God of love and abused His message of grace. The new one spoke to him of that wonderful day when Christ became his joy and treasure. He now "goes his way" with a glad heart, no longer fearing to "stand in his lot at the end of the days.”
But where will YOU stand at the end? Ask yourself: "Where, and how do I stand now?" Where will the end find you? In eternity, where will your lot be? Is the inquiry worth an answer? Then never rest again until a satisfactory one can be given.