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; for, knowing a little of the sign language, I just gave him the simple message, "God loves you."
He looked at me with a vacant stare, and shaking his head, he replied by signs: "No, no, I don't believe it; I know He hates me."
"However can you say so?" I asked.
"I went to a church, and the preacher gave an address. It 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; and 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 wore drawn by an unseen Person, that you might know that 'God loves you.' " "I wish that I did know it."
Taking up a Bible, I turned him 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. 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 him to. When saying "good-by" he added: "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 are your ears open 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. Make no mistake about it: God loves you. Own yourself as a lost sinner, and let that love draw you to His heart.