At the close of a gospel address I spoke to a young man who, I thought, seemed to be impressed by the message. I soon found out that he had not heard a word, for he was deaf and dumb. However, I was not hindered by that difficulty. Knowing a little of the sign language, I just told him these words: "God loves you.”
He looked at me with a blank stare. Then, shaking his head, he replied in the same manner: "No, no, I don't believe it; I know He hates me." "How can you say that?" I asked.
"I went to a church, and the preacher gave an address which was interpreted to us. He told us that God would forever cast us into hell if we did not live perfect 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 may.”
"Well, dear fellow, you were drawn by an unseen Person, who desires that you may 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; and so, turning to many other scriptures which spoke of God's love, I at last pointed him to 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 notebook out, he wrote down all the passages I had pointed out. With an expression of gratitude he bade me goodbye as he gave the sign for the basis of a new-found joy.
"I see it all now; and although dumb, I can praise God in my heart 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. If He did, there would have been no need for the Lord Jesus to die. God wants you to understand this and to make no mistake about it: God loves you. Now thank Him for it as you own yourself a lost sinner. His love will draw you to Himself and hold you fast for all eternity.