IN the neighborhood of the home of a lad of whom I am about to tell you, there had been from time to time special religious gatherings for the young. Several of his acquaintances were in some way changed; but how that change was brought about this lad could not understand.
One winter's evening he set out with the determination to go and see for himself what these services were like, and what had made his young companions so different.
My young friend was a lad who, from his infancy, had been trained religiously, and, who was naturally amiable—so comparing himself with many lads whom he knew, he reasoned thus "It is a good thing for them to be changed; it is very well for them to begin to lead a new life, but with me it is very different. I always read my Bible, and pray every day. I have no need of this change. I am as good as anybody.”
With these self-righteous thoughts filling his mind, he arrived at his destination. He listened attentively to the preaching of the word, and sang the hymns with the rest, and then returned to his home with the confirmed idea that he needed no new birth.
The next night he went again, and presently something was said, which seemed as if aimed directly at him. The word of God, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God," struck into this self-righteous lad's soul. The Holy Spirit revealed to him his lost condition, and he saw himself to be," though as good as anybody," still, after all, nothing but a poor lost sinner. His heart was broken, and in his shame and grief he besought the Lord to speak peace to his sin-burdened soul.
Henceforth that lad no longer boasted of his own goodness. He looked to Christ for pardon, and is now living to tell others of his Saviour.
Dear young friends, are you saying, "I am as good as anybody"; or, have you cried to God," I have sinned," and found mercy? C. E. A.