At the close of a gospel address I spoke to a young man who, I thought, seemed to be impressed by the Word; but I soon found out that he had not heard anything that was said, for he was a deaf-mute. However, I was not hindered by that difficulty; for, knowing a little of their language, I just told him the words at the head of this paper—"God loves you.”
He looked at me with a vacant stare, and, shaking his head, replied flatly, "No, no, I can't believe it; I know He hates me.”
"However can you say so?" I asked.
"I went to a church, and the minister gave an address, which was interpreted to us. He told us that 'God would forever cast us into hell if we did not live holy lives, and keep His holy commandments.' Ever since I heard that I have not opened a Bible—I was so afraid. Of course, I never went to that church again.”
"What did you come here for? You could not hear anything.”
"I don't know why I came.”
"Shall I tell you?" I asked.
"If you know, you can.”
"Well dear fellow, you were drawn by an unseen influence, that you might know that `God loves you'.”
"I wish that I did know it.”
Taking up a Bible, I turned to John 3:1616For 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), that grand old verse, which has brought peace to thousands: "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.”
The light seemed to shine in little by little; but still there was a kind of dread. So, turning to many other scriptures which speak of God's love, I at last pointed out to him 1 John 4:17,1917Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)
19We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:19). "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.”
"We love Him, because He first loved us.”
Again and again he read them, and the change in his countenance was wonderful.
Taking his note book out, he wrote down all the passages I had shown him, and after saying "good bye" he said, "I see it all now; and, although dumb, I can praise God for the gift of Jesus.”
Reader, are you deaf, spiritually deaf?
Or have your ears been unstopped to hear the voice of the Son of God? God loves you, and has shown that love in giving His Son" to die for you. He delights not in the death of a sinner. Nay, nay; if He did, there would have been no need for the Lord Jesus to die. I want you to understand this, and to make no mistake about it, that God loves you. Now give Him credit for it by just owning yourself a sinner, and let that love draw you to Himself.
Oh, 'twas love, 'twas wondrous love!
The love of God to me;
It brought my Savior from above,
To die on Calvary.
“WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED
"WHOSOEVER LET 'HIM. TAKE WATER OF LIFE FREELY."
"WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE.”