IT was Sunday morning, a bright cloudless morning in the spring of 1890. The winter, which had been unusually severe, had vanished, and spring, the harbinger of new life, new hopes, new joys, had really come.
The cheering rays of the sun streamed in through the window of the bedroom occupied by a young man of twenty. Instinctively his thoughts turned to Him who is the Sun of Righteousness, who will one day rise with healing in His wings, and who, even today, shines in at the window of the poor benighted soul, scattering the darkness and filling it with a light above the brightness of the sun.
As he knelt that morning by his bed-side a deep yearning took possession of him to be used in blessing to sinners, and he prayed that God would make him an instrument in His hands that day of leading some soul out of nature’s darkness into His most marvelous light. This prayer was very graciously answered.
About ten miles away, in a quiet country village, lived his grandparents, who had for sixty-five years trodden life’s journey together. The grandmother, who was eighty-nine years of age, for nearly seventy years of that, time had rejoiced in the knowledge of Christ as her Saviour, endeavoring all the while to “adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things” (Titus 2:1010Not purloining, but showing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. (Titus 2:10)).
This, however, could not be said of the grandfather. It was his proud boast that he had lived to the last decade of the nineteenth century (for he was born during the closing moments of the eighteenth), and had not felt it necessary to be a Christian. Much earnest prayer had been offered up on his behalf, that, ere it were too late, he might find out that he was a lost sinner, and turn to the Saviour.
To visit his aged grandfather was the determination of the young Christian as he rose from his knees, for he felt that this was the Lord’s will for him that day. Many times during that ten-mile walk he knelt down in some secluded spot and pleaded with God to go before him and open the heart of the old sinner for the reception of the gospel.
On his arrival he found his grandfather in bed, but he expressed pleasure at seeing his grandson, and said, “I know quite well what you have come for. You have come to speak to me about my soul, but I fear it is no use. I realize that my end is near. I have had a long innings, and if I could live my life over again I would act differently. I would try to love and serve the God of your grandmother, but I have spent my life in the service of the devil, and I feel that it would be mean to ask God to take the dregs of a wasted life.”
“But, grandfather, ‘God is love,’ and so forgiving is He and so anxious is He to save, that He is willing to take even the devil’s castaways.”
“I know God is love, but I cannot think that He can pardon ninety years of sin.”
“God can and will save all who come to Him by the Lord Jesus Christ, so there is a chance even for an old man who has spent all his life in sin and the devil’s service.”
“Are you quite sure of that?”
“Yes, listen, grandfather, to these words, ‘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” (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 you are included in that ‘whosoever.’”
“But, my boy,” he replied, as he burst into tears, “I can’t get away from the fact that I have done nothing to merit His favor and His love.”
“All He asks is confession for the past and a simple trust in Jesus and His atoning blood shed at Calvary.”
“I see all that, but it is so dark.”
“You believe that Jesus died to save sinners?”
“Yes.”
“And you are willing that He should save you?”
“I am if He will.”
“Why, He says, ‘Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out,’ and, if He does not cast you out, what does He do?”
“Why, He takes me in, to be sure!”
“And you believe that He takes you in?”
“Yes, I see it all now, I just throw myself upon His mercy, and trusting Him for pardon He forgives me and takes me in. I see it all now, I believe He died for me and takes me in.”
“Now, grandfather, you must just go on trusting in Jesus”
He then repeated those well-known lines: ―
“I do believe, I will believe
That Jesus died for me,
That on the cross He shed Hib blood
From sin to set me free.”
He was a feeble old man, very near the portals of eternity when he thus turned to the Saviour of sinners, but he discovered, as do all who turn to that Saviour, that where sin abounded grace cloth much more abound, and the few weeks on earth which remained to him were filled with rejoicing in hope of the glory of God, which is the destiny of all who rest in Him who died for sinners and casts none out who come to Him.
One word more, my reader. You, like the subject of this narrative, may have lived your life in the service of the devil, and like him may feel you do not deserve mercy, but be assured there is full and free forgiveness for every poor sinner, even “the devil’s cast-offs.” Do not hesitate. Turn at once to the Saviour. “Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)).
“Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God. I come.
Just as I am, Thy love alone
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come.”