“IF that’s true, then I’m saved.” So said a young woman, who had long been anxious about her soul, when a passage of Scripture was pointed out to her by one of the Lord’s servants.
Mrs. M.’s husband was a believer, and had constantly prayed for her conversion. About three months before she was enabled to rest on God’s testimony concerning His Son, a Christian called and found her under deep conviction of sin, and longing to know whether eternal life and forgiveness were for her. She said, “I am longing and hoping that God will soon give me the assurance that others have. Oh! I want to feel a change!” and she burst into tears, saying, “Oh, that I knew it was for me!”
A lady, when calling upon her, pointed out that God was satisfied with the death of His Son, and that the invitation was, “Whosoever will may take of the water of life freely,” and that that word shuts out none; but it was all of no avail, she still said, “Oh, that it were for me!”
Some time afterward, an evangelist was staying in the little town where she resided, and, on being told of her case, called to see her, and tried to help her. He said, “You say you believe every word of the Bible—you have believed for years that the Lord Jesus died for sinners: now listen to His message, ‘He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death unto life.’” The Spirit had done His work with the word, for she looked up, saying, “If that’s true, then I’m saved, for I do believe on Him.” He then turned to other passages which show how repeatedly God assures those who believe on His Son that they have eternal life, but she would look at this one which had brought peace to her troubled soul. She needed no other, and her eyes now filled with tears of joy.
The next evening, the lady, who had been much interested in her, asked if she had any doubts left. “Oh, no, miss. To think that I could not see it before; it is all so plain. God has taken all the doubts away, and now I want Him to take away the fears, that I may not be ashamed to confess Him before men. All the glory and all the praise belongs to the Lord.”
“Then you have no doubts now?”
“No. Satan sometimes says, ‘How do you know you believe aright?’ and I send him away with God’s word, and he can’t stand that.”
Dear reader! do you, too, say, “I have believed in Jesus for years, but still I am not saved. I want to feel a change. I want to know that my sins are forgiven”? God says if you believe on the Son you have eternal life. (1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13).) Now, which is right—which is to be trusted, God’s word, or your feelings? Rest on His word at once, and you will be filled with “joy and peace in believing.”
Cease from looking for inward evidences, and believe God’s testimony concerning the finished work of His Son. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.”
“And doubt not thy welcome, since God has declared
There remaineth no more to be done;
That once in the end of the world He appeared,
And completed the work He begun.”
M. W.