IT SPOKE to a young girl about the state of her soul. “Are you quite happy?” I said. “No sir.”
“Why? Are you not saved?” “I and 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.
“How do you know you are lost?” “Because I am a sinner, and God’s Word says so.”
“Then you believe His Word, do you?” “O, yes, sir; indeed I do.”
“But are you looking to 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.” “When is that, today or tomorrow?” “When I look.”
“But are you looking?” “Yes, I am really looking to Jesus.”
“Then, you are 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 eye lit up, and her 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 should not perish, but have everlasting life (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)); 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.”
“You have no fears?” “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’m saved—and so I know I am.”
I had a little more conversation, and called two days after to find her truly filled with joy and peace in believing. Her face shone with the joy the knowledge of God alone can impart.
You have nothing to do but take your true place as a lost sinner now before God. Acknowledge your sin. Justify Him—He’ll justify you. It is all summed up in the sweet confession of the girl. May you this day put your trust for salvation in the same Saviour, and be able to say with certainty, like her,
“I’m only a poor sinner—Jesus died for me—I believe in Him—God says I am saved, and so I know I am.”
ML-11/10/1963