In the midst of a large village of the midland counties stood an old-fashioned house. The family who occupied the house was what would be called religious; but only one member of it, the eldest daughter, had been truly brought "from darkness to light" through faith in the Son of God.
The father and mother were going away for a brief vacation, and left the young people in charge of the house. They enjoined upon them that they should take an interest in, and show a care for, the temporal needs of any who might be sick in the surrounding village.
Just at this time a man named Joseph Lang, well-known throughout the district, had broken his leg. He had been a dreadful character, and had become the terror of the village through his rough, drunken ways. Many a time the young girl already mentioned, and her brothers and sisters, had run to get out of his way.
Joe was generally believed by the villagers to have "sinned away his day of grace," as they expressed it. No one dreamed that he could ever expect to be brought to the Lord. But the eye of God was upon this poor sinner for blessing, and the love of God had marked him out as a vessel of mercy, a trophy of His everlasting grace. "That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory." Rom. 9:2323And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, (Romans 9:23).
While Joe was laid up because of his broken leg, his wife and children had to work hard in the hayfields to earn a scant livelihood. Thus Joe was often left many hours alone, a prey to his own thoughts. He had nothing to reflect upon in his past but a godless, misspent life.
“Remember to send poor Joe some dinner every day," the mother had told her daughter before she left home. This was carefully attended to, and it was deeply impressed upon the daughter what a blessing it would be for him to be brought to a knowledge of Christ as his Savior.
But how was this to be brought about? She was young in the things of the Lord. Furthermore, she never yet had made a bold and open confession of Christ in her own family circle, often times the most difficult place of all in which to begin. She longed to visit and speak to this man of his lost condition, to tell him of the Savior of sinners; but she feared, among other things, the ridicule of her own brothers.
However, God uses the weak to confound the mighty, and the responsibility of speaking to Joe about his soul was heavy upon her. She felt she must go at all cost. One afternoon, concealing her Bible beneath the folds of her dress, she stole out of the garden and along the path to the little cottage where Joseph lived. Knocking timidly at the door, she heard him invite her to enter. After inquiring about his health, and referring to the dinners that had been sent in, she at last ventured to speak to him of eternity. To her surprise she found him ready to listen! Producing her Bible, she read to him that precious portion in Isa. 53:5, 65But 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. 6All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5‑6): "But 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. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us The Lord had prepared the ground for the good seed, His own Word, so that it was not difficult to impress upon Joe that he was a lost sinner. But he could not grasp the truth that Christ had died for him. His visitor sat some time with him and he lay patiently listening to all that she said. She urged him to accept as fact that Christ had done all the work upon the cross, and that God must be satisfied with it. Now by believing it, he would be saved.
Finally she rose to go. Lingering at the door, she added, "Well, Joseph, do you believe that I am going to send you some meat tomorrow for dinner?”
“Why of course, Miss Stowe," he replied.
“But I might forget, or tell a lie and deceive you; but you believe it because I said it. Now when God says that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, and that He gives salvation to all who believe His Word, cannot you trust Him? He is a God of truth, and is faithful and just to forgive sins. He can make no mistake; His Word is true. Why can you not trust Him?”
Not too long after this, Miss Stowe left the village; but a year or two later she returned. Meanwhile poor Joseph had died. One Sunday evening she was watching by the bedside of a very sick girl when an elderly woman, one among the few known as Christians in the village, came in to see the invalid. After a little conversation she said, "Oh, Miss Stowe I have a message for you.”
“For me?”
“Yes; from old Joseph. I went to see him the day after you left, and found him alone. 'Why, Joseph,' I said, 'are you alone?'
“'No,' he replied, 'I am not alone.'
“'Oh, is Kitty your wife, at home?”
“'No.'
“'Your daughter?'
“'No, but I have Jesus with me.'
"'What!' said I, filled with astonishment; 'how did this come about?'
“'Well, when Miss Stowe was here in the summer she said she was going to send me some dinner and told me all about Jesus, and how He died for sinners on the cross, and about His precious blood shed for me. And then she said, "Now you believe me, why will you not believe God?" So I thought about it again and again, and I FOUND HIM TRUE! Now He is with me.”
Dear reader, have you believed God? Have you taken Him at His word? If not, think about it again and again. You will find Him true!
“Look to Jesus, look and live;
Mercy at His hands receive;
He has died upon the tree,
And His words are, 'Look to Me.'”