"Will you come and see my husband?" This question came from a woman just recently converted. "I am very anxious about his soul.”
My wife and I promised to pray for the husband, Mr. C—, and on the following evening, accompanied by a friend, I went to his home. He was sitting by the fire with his wife and son, and appeared glad to see us. I took the proffered seat next to Mr. C—, and listened quietly to his voluble conversation. He talked of his trials, of his work, how long he had held his present position, of his club, of his many friends. At last I asked: "Do you read much?”
"Oh, yes," he said; "I always keep the Bible handy." And reaching around, he took a large-print Bible off a table. As he turned' over the leaves, he said, admiringly, "Some pretty stories there are in it, too. Now what could be prettier than the tale of Joseph and his brethren, or of Daniel in the lion's den?”
"Let us leave both Joseph and Daniel," I said, "and hear what God has to say about ourselves. In the third chapter of Romans it is written, 'ALL have sinned and come short of the glory of God.' Each of us in this room is included in that word 'all.' There is a difference, however. Some of us can say that, by God's mercy and grace, we are going to be in the glory with the Lord Jesus Christ. Your wife will be there. Will you?”
Great beads of perspiration stood on his brow, but not a word did he speak. I opened my Bible and read Matt. 7:13, 1413Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13‑14). " 'Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.'
"Now, C—, there are two ways spoken of in the verses I have read. Can you tell me which 'way' you are in?”
"I am in the broad way," he slowly answered.
"And where does that way lead?”
A solemn silence followed my question. In that little room God, by His Spirit, was working, opening the blind eyes. At last the answer came: "It leads to hell!”
"My poor husband," cried the wife. "God grant that you may never go there!”
My companion and I silently thanked God for giving another sinner to see his lost condition. "'All things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light' (Eph. 5:1313But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. (Ephesians 5:13)). But God is love as well as light," I continued. "'God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' Now will you rest your soul upon the Word of God, and accept His offer of rich, boundless mercy?”
But James C—had been spiritually dead for nearly sixty years, and was now just beginning to be aroused to the fact that he was a sinner, lost and guilty before a holy God. For the first time he saw God's valuation of his righteousnesses as filthy rags. Well then might he be afraid and reiterate:
"I'm going to hell!”
We repeated the "good news" of accomplished redemption; of peace made through the blood of the cross; of God's satisfaction in the work of His Son; of a risen and glorified Savior at God's right hand. But he sat stolidly silent, seemingly alive only to the thought that he was in the broad way that leads to destruction. Committing him in prayer to God, we left him with this verse: "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:3737All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)).
Various hindrances prevented me from seeing him again for about three weeks, though we heard that his agony of soul appeared to increase. "Surely," said his wife, "the Lord will have mercy upon him. He prays sometimes all night, calling upon God to save him from going down into the pit. Can't you come and see him again?”
"Let us wait upon God to use His Word, whether by one of us or through any other channel," I replied. But soon an opportunity opened of itself, and I was glad to visit him.
"My friend," I asked, "is it well with your soul?”
"Oh, that it were!" he replied.
"You know that you are a sinner?"
"Indeed I do; lost—guilty.”
"'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners' (1st Tim. 1:15). It is also written that 'he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.' Surely it is worthy of your ACCEPTANCE to believe that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
A moment of deep meditation followed, as this blessed truth entered his soul. Then a bright look came over his face as he said, "I'm, glad to accept it.”
"And do you really believe on the Son of God?”
He looked at me then, nor did I question the words he uttered: "I believe from the very depths of my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, and now I know I have everlasting life.”
"And what has the blood of Christ done for you?”
While tears rolled down his cheeks, he smiled happily and said, "Cleansed me from all sin.”
"And what have you to do?”
"To thank Him for what He has done. Oh, I thank Him now!”
While the praises of this new-born soul went upward, his wife came in. She saw the change in him, and a joyful "Praise the Lord" came from her lips.
Sinner-friend, have you learned that you are in the "broad way"? It can lead only to destruction. Will you not turn to the Savior who is THE WAY to life everlasting?