A SHORT time ago the writer was a passenger in one of the carriages on the London and North Western Railway.
At one of the stations, while the train was stopping, he saw a man walking up and down the platform as though undecided which carriage to enter. At length, seeing that no one beside the writer was in the compartment, he entered, and occupied the seat immediately facing him.
There was a frankness in the man's countenance and general appearance which seemed to draw one towards him. In order to open the conversation, a remark was made upon the severity of the weather.
He replied, that “all these things were designed for some wise and good end; but,” said he,” we are never satisfied. Depend upon it, everything is for our good, sir.”
Judging from these, and a few other remarks, that he was a true Christian, the writer handed him a little tract, entitled, “Working for Jesus"; at the same time asking the question, "Do you understand that?”
“Yes, sir, I do; and it is a blessed thing to work for Jesus. I mean, to teach in. Sunday Schools, and that sort of thing, sir; because I've seen the good of it. In my own village, where years ago there was no school, we have a Sunday School, where some two hundred children are taught, and I have witnessed the improvement ever since.”
“Oh, yes I undoubtedly the Sunday School has been a blessing to many. But how sad it is that so many of the teachers so engaged are themselves unconverted, and some are perfectly ignorant and careless as to the way of salvation. How can such teaching be blessed to the good of souls?”
“No, sir, it can't; yet much good has been done in the Sunday School, and the work is increasing, which proves to me that there is blessing.”
The conversation upon this subject was continued for a little while, when, as we neared the junction where we must separate, the writer, in order to know what was his condition of soul, said, " Well, now, can you say positively that you are a believer in Jesus, and are saved everlastingly?”
“I trust so, I hope so, sir; for we live by hopes, you know; and I read my Bible, and find it most precious. Indeed, I don't know what I should have done without it in all the troubles which I have had in my lifetime.”
“Yes, but the word declares, ' He that hath the Son hath life ' (John 3:36). JOH 3:36 There is no doubt about it, but everlasting life is the present possession of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, in John 3:16, JOH 3:16 we have, 'God so loved the world, that He gave.
His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' And if you turn to Rom. 8:1 ROM 8:1 you may read, 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.'
“That is, Christ having ' borne our sins in His Own body on the tree,' the dreadful debt, as we may call it, was then paid.’ He put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.' Man is now simply called upon to' believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,' who gives, in unmistakable language, the blessed certainty, 'He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life.'”
While the conversation lasted, the dear man repeated the portions of Scripture quoted; and at length the writer again asked him, “Can you say now that you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and have everlasting life?”
“Yes," said he, taking the writer's hand;
“I have no other foundation. Ah! what a blessed thing to have Christ only for a foundation, since everything else avails naught. And I have proved Him, sir, in many ways, during sickness and poverty, to be my support; and when penniless He has sustained me: but had it not been for Him and my Bible I could not have got through as I did.”
“Then, dear friend, let me advise you, by.
reading the Word of God, and pondering over it, still to keep close to the Lord, bearing in mind what He has said, ' For without Me ye can do nothing '; and be assured that in Him alone is found that which we so much need as we journey onward through the world.”
We had now arrived at the junction, and as we parted he said, “Thank you, sir, for what you have said to me; I hope we may meet again some day.”
“We shall meet in heaven," was the reply.
The scriptures quoted prove how contrary to the mind of God is that miserable teaching by which many of His people are kept in a state of uncertainty as regards a question which He has forever settled in giving His beloved Son to die upon the cross.
R.
We have something like an explanation or definition of faith in John 3:33. JOH 3:33 “He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true." The testimony, or word of God, is the ground of faith. When the sinner receives God's word with the heart, as sure and certain truth, just because it is His word, he honors God with the confidence of his heart. He takes God at His word, and honors Him as the God of Truth.
“He sets to his seal that God is true." He has faith.