Not long since, I was asked to visit a young girl about seventeen years of age, who had injured herself, and was thought to be dying. I had known her for some time, and was aware that she was very delicate, but, on calling, learned that she had fallen out of bed, and had received an injury to the back of her head which, it was judged, would eventually prove fatal. Being under the care of another surgeon, I had nothing to do with her treatment; so after making a few inquiries as to her bodily suffering, which was great (especially when moved by others, for she was almost completely paralyzed), I began to speak to her about the state of her soul.
" Are you quite happy? " I said.
" No, sir."
" Why? Are you not saved? "
" I am not sure."
" But why are you not sure? Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ? "
" Yes, but I don't feel saved."
Do you feel lost? "
" Yes, I do," and she now began to weep. " Why do you know you are lost? "
" Because I am a sinner, and God's Word says so."
" Then you believe His Word, do you? " " Oh! yes, sir; indeed I do."
" Well, then, His Word says, ' Look unto Me, and be ye saved' (Isa. 45. 22). Do you believe that? "
" Yes."
" But are you looking to Jesus? in other words, trusting in, or believing on Jesus? "
" Yes, sir; but I don't FEEL as I should like to."
" Granted; but does it say, ' Look unto Me, and FEEL saved? ' "
" No."
" What then? "
" Be ye saved."
" What? "
" Be ye saved."
" When is that, to-day or to-morrow? " " When I LOOK."
" But are you looking? "
" Yes, I am really looking to Jesus."
Then, are you saved? "
She paused a moment, and then firmly replied, " I don't FEEL it, but GOD SAYS I AM SAVED. I see it now."
The next moment her eyes lit up, and her pallid face told the tale of a new spring of joy having been opened to her.
" Well," I said, " if any one were to come in and ask you now if you were saved, what would you say? "
" I would say ' Yes.' "
" And if they asked you how you knew it and were sure of it, what would you say? "
" I would say that I do believe in Jesus, and God says in His Word that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but HAVE everlasting life; and though I don't FEEL it, I do believe what God says."
" Then you rest your soul on Jesus and on God's Word? "
" Yes, sir, I do; and I could die happy now. I'd like to go at once to Jesus."
" You have no fears? "
" No, none."
" No doubts? "
" No; why should I? I see it all clearly. I'm only a poor sinner-and JESUS DIED FOR ME-and I BELIEVE in Him-AND GOD SAYS I AM SAVED, and SO I KNOW I am."
Reader, what about you? Do you know that you are saved?