A few years ago I was making a little evangelistic tour, preaching the gospel at various places, accompanied by two other servants of the Lord, whose hearts were deeply interested in the salvation of the lost. Passing from town to town we had frequent opportunities of conversation with our fellow-passengers in the train, and of handing to them little gospel booklets.
We were leaving a town on the coast when there entered the train a middle-aged man, who took his seat opposite to me. He was inclined to be sociable, and began to speak about the weather and the crops. On the rack, over my head, I had a good-sized flat leather case, such as commercial travelers often, use for their goods. I had specially designed it for carrying hymn-sheets and gospel booklets for use at my meetings. Descrying this case, he at once thought that I was a commercial traveler, and said:
“What line are you in?”
“Heavenly goods,” I replied.
“Get away with you,” was his surprised reply. “You do not expect me to believe that?”
“Indeed, I do,” I rejoined. “It is heavenly goods, and heavenly goods only that I am traveling in just now.”
“But what are they?” he rejoined.
“The proclamation to sinners of pardon and peace with God; telling of eternal life as His gift through faith in His blessed Son, and that whosoever will believe the gospel may now have the knowledge of salvation.”
My reply was evidently unsatisfactory to him. He said nothing, but looked very incredulous, and at this point my two companions chimed in: “O, it is quite true what he says that really is the line he is traveling in,” and, by way of confirmation of their words, produced a little hand-bill announcing some meetings I was to have a day or two afterward in A—. He had no more questions for me, so I thought I would put one or two to him.
“What about your own soul, my friend? Are you saved?”
“Ah, that is what no man can know.”
“I beg your pardon, it may be known. I know that I am saved, and you may know the same. You have heard the gospel many a time in your day, I expect?”
This evidently awoke in his mind old memories, and with a softened tone he said: “Yes, when I was a boy and live in this district. But that is long ago. You see, I have lived in the city most of my life. When I was a boy here I used to hear about those things, and think about them, too, but when I crossed the border, and got into the busy city, I flung all religion overboard, and I just set myself to make money.”
“And you have made it?” I replied.
“Yes, I have done well in that line, and I have come North now to see my old friends and the old places, and to enjoy myself.”
“And the money you have made has made you quite happy, I suppose; and you are all right for eternity.”
“Indeed, I am nothing of the kind. Money does not make a man happy, nor save his soul.”
“Quite true,” I replied, “and I think if you are a wise man, you will now seek to get the riches that are abiding, everlasting, and satisfying. In other words, you had better secure the ‘heavenly goods’ that I am speaking of. Would you not be the better of their possession?”
“I believe I would,” said he; “but how am I to get them?”
Then followed a plain conversation as to the gospel, up to the station at which he had to alight. He seemed much interested, took a gospel booklet or two with thankfulness, and a notice of the meetings, saying he would certainly attend them.
On the following Lord’s Day, both afternoon and evening, I observed him among my listeners in the Music Hall, where I was preaching the gospel. I had no opportunity of further personal conversation, but I trust what he heard in the train was clenched by what he heard in the gospel meeting. The coming day will declare.
It is a grand business to travel in the gospel. A man can earn his bread by some honest calling, and still do this. No happier service is known on earth.
Reader, do you travel with the gospel? Possibly you have not yet received it. If not, let me urge you to lose no time. Remember that the gospel—the glad tidings—is “the gospel of God concerning His Son Jesus Christ.” It does not tell you what you ought to be, or ought to do. The law told you that, and then only condemned you for not being what you ought to have been, and not doing what you should have done. The law can only condemn you. The gospel saves you.
Observe it is “the gospel of God,” and is “concerning His Son Jesus Christ;” it is all about Jesus. There is nothing about you in the gospel. It is all about Jesus. But it is all for you. The gospel tells you that God is love; that God has loved the world; that “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)).
It unfolds the worth and personal glory of the Lord Jesus, His moral beauty, His untold perfections, His holy life, His atoning death. It manifests Him as the Friend of sinners—such a Friend that He died even for His enemies What a Savior! When men cast Him out of this world and sent Him back to His Father, He seized the moment, when dying on the cross, to bear sins—to atone for them—yea, He died for those who cast Him out. He effected atonement; His blood was shed to blot out the sins of sinners; He wrought redemption by the sacrifice of Himself; He lay in the grave, and then, as the mighty Victor, He rose from the dead, triumphant over Satan, sin and death. And now, ascended on high, and crowned with glory, He dispenses forgiveness of sins to all who believe on Him.
All you have to do, my reader, is to believe on Him.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life,” but do not forget the last clause of the verse, “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.” (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)). This is the gospel—the old fashioned, Christ-glorifying, sinner saving gospel. You had better make Christ your own, and then go on your way, and tell others what a Savior you have in Jesus. This is the line I rejoice to travel in. Will you not do similarly?