A gospel tent was pitched in a country district. Attending its services was a young woman, who lived with the minister of the place. As she listened night after night she became more and more anxious to be saved. At last the night of her decision came.
John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), that well-known text that has brought blessing to untold thousands, was the means of her blessing. Why not yours, dear anxious friend? The Lord Jesus says, "Verily, verily I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
The news of her conversion soon reached the ears of the minister. One day she was in his study, and he said to her "Mary, I hear you have been to that tent.”
"Yes, sir," she replied.
"Well, Mary, you can get all the Bible teaching that you want from my ministration, and you surely don't need to go to a tent to hear an un-ordained preacher. I have been trained for the ministry. See all my books of reference. If you have any question to ask, come to me, and I will give you a right answer.”
"Well, sir," said Mary, "there is one question I would like to ask.”
"What is that?" said the minister.
"Well, sir, I would like to ask you the meaning of the word, hath.”
It was not with the idea of being bold or impudent that Mary asked this question. The fact was she was so rejoicing in the assurance of salvation, that this was her way of testifying to it. It would have been out of place, both because of her position in the house, and because of her youth, for her to have thought of instructing the minister. So this was her simple artless way of confessing. So the minister replied,
"Well, Mary, hath means...! Well the meaning is so simple that anyone can understand what hath means. Hath, hath, well it means hath—it means that you have it.”
"Yes," said Mary, "that is just what I believe. I heard a text from God's word in the tent, `He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life' John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36). I do believe on the Lord Jesus, and I have everlasting life.”
What could the minister say? Mary's faith was in the Savior, and her assurance was founded on the unshakeable foundation of God's own Word. Her position was unassailable.
"He that believeth hath.”
Do you believe this, dear anxious friend? You may well believe it. If you can believe anyone, surely you can believe God.
Life, whether natural or spiritual, must ever be a gift.
You cannot pay for a gift. You cannot work for a gift. You must receive a gift.
If you were offered $100 on condition that you walked across the road, and posted a letter, it would not be a gift. It would be very, very easily earned, but it would not be a gift.
Will you receive this gift? It comes "through Jesus Christ our Lord." The Son of God had to become Man, and die on the cross of shame to atone for sin, to satisfy God's righteous claims, so that grace might "reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 5:2121That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:21)). It is all so wonderful and simple, "He that believeth hath.”
The reader may say, How simple! Yes, surely the way of salvation is very simple, but it is also profound.
The poorest can have it, for it is "without money and without price." The richest can have it, but only as a gift. Their riches are not of the kind that can purchase such a priceless treasure. Their currency, let it run into millions, is as worthless as refuse, in a matter of this kind. The most wicked can have it, for the Savior says, "Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out" John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37). The most upright and religious need it for "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23).
"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life," John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36), and with everlasting life you get all the blessings of the gospel, forgiveness of sins, salvation, justification and all else.
"He that believeth hath."
Why not take God at His word? It will never fail. The greatest possible blessing is now within your grasp as an unmerited gift.
"The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). There is no mistake about "the wages.”
You must either have "the wages"—"the wages of sin"—or "the gift"—"the gift of God." Which shall it be?
"He that believeth hath.”
Make your choice. Heaven or hell is the alternative, "wages" or "gift"—
"He that believeth hath.”