ONE Lord’s Day, a few weeks ago, after a brother and myself had been preaching the Gospel in a little room in the country I addressed an aged woman, who seemed to be much interested during the meeting, and said to her, “Have you got thin eternal life?”
“Well,” she replied, “I keep asking Him for it.”
“But have I not to keep praying for it?” she asked.
“Well, now,” I said, “suppose I ask you for a drink of water, which you draw and offer to me but still I keeping asking you for it in spite of the fact that you are inviting me to drink, what would you think of me?”
“I should think you did not want it,” she replied, “Yes, so you would, but that is just the way you are treating the blessed Lord Jesus. He has thrown open the door wide, and is saying ‘Come unto me,’ but still you are shivering without the door, and asking for admittance.”
Alas! how many people do we find who are seeking salvation in the same way. Ah! if you only knew His heart, poor sinner, and knew how He wants, yea, how He yearns to bless you, you would no longer stand outside praying and knocking for admittance. Hear His gracious words when He says, “He that believeth on the Son (not he that prayeth), hath everlasting life.” How blessed! Accept then God’s gift.
“Hark the voice of Jesus calling;
Come, ye laden, come to Me,
I have rest and peace to offer,
Rest, thou laboring one, for thee;
Take salvation―
Take it Now, and happy be.”
L.