I was much interested in a little tract, “How God Saved an Highlander,” now out of print, sent me by a friend, who stayed with the writer, W. M., and who has kindly given me permission to make use of a portion of his testimony for the “Message,” and I pray it may be used in blessing to some reader.
W.M. writes: — “I was brought up respectably and religiously. When I was three years old my father died, and the following year I was sent to a Sunday School, where I was taught, if I was a good boy I would get to heaven, and if I was a bad boy I would, without doubt, be banished to hell.
“When very young, I was troubled about my sins and anxious about the salvation of my soul. But, alas! I did not know God’s ways of salvation. I often resolved to be good, and do good ... ignorant of the corruption of my heart, and of the truth that ‘They that are in the flesh cannot please God.’ Looking back on my youthful days... the thought of meeting a holy God in my sins made me wretched and miserable.
Death, judgment and eternity were all very real to me.... As I grew older I became absorbed with the world’s amusements and pleasures, and tried to forget God. But His eye and heart were upon me, and He laid me on a sick bed ... As I thought of my guilt and peril, I became alarmed and resolved I would turn over a new leaf... I betook myself to saying prayers, and reading the scriptures, seeking to work out a righteousness of my own, in which to appear before God, forgetting Isaiah 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6). Had I then been asked, Are you a Christian? I would have replied, ‘I am trying to be one.’
“My outward behavior, being somewhat different from my companions, I was looked upon as a religious young man, and was asked to take part in Sunday school and church work. I gladly consented, but no inquiry was made whether I was saved, converted, or born again.
“I was brought to the gates of death by a severe illness, and as I was recovering my mother died somewhat suddenly. I remember that when her bad; was being taken from the house to be buried, I longed for something ‘or’ someone to fill the aching void of my troubled heart. How true it is that ‘None but Christ can satisfy”.
God, in His mercy, brought W.M. in contact with two whole-hearted Christian workers, who were possessors of God’s great salvation, and knew it, and he writes: —
“I made up my mind that I would not rest until I was certain that my soul was saved, and my sins forgiven... A letter from one of the Christian workers came, asking me if I could obtain our schoolroom for a Gospel meeting, and pray for him.... I replied that I could secure the school, but was unable to accede to the other request, and besought him to pray for me, a poor, lost sinner. When we met he expressed surprise... said he thought I was a Christian. I replied: I have been trying to be a Christian a long time, but have discovered that I am unconverted. ‘Why not accept Christ now?’ ‘I have always believed in Christ,’ was my reply. ‘My mother taught me that when I was a child.’
“I need not relate my subsequent efforts to merit God’s pardoning mercy. Day by day I pleaded with God for deeper conviction, for saving faith ... At last I rested my soul on the finished work of Christ, and could truthfully say:
‘God loved—God gave,
I believe, and I am saved.’”
W.M. Pleads: ―
“Where does the reader stand? Are you certain that you are saved? Salvation is obtained, not on the ground of what you do for Christ, but on the ground of what He did for you (Isaiah 53:55But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)). And what He did is enough.
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” Why not now? A. A. L.