THE above words were spoken to a servant of Christ by, a miner. His past history had been so full of misdemeanor, his life was so disfigured with dark blots, and his character so notoriously bad, that he had come to this conclusion concerning himself, he was too far gone for God to have anything whatever to do with, unless it were to punish him for his sins, therefore he said, “I’m too wicked to be saved.”
A work of divine grace was proceeding in the district where Bob lived―for that is the familiar name by which his friends called him. Some of these had been won from the paths of sin and folly to trust in and follow the Saviour. They had forsaken the broad road which leads to destruction, and were now treading the narrow road which leads to life eternal. One of these said to the preacher, “Speak to our Bob tomorrow night. He has promised to come to the meeting, and we are praying to God to save him. You’ll see him sitting beside me.”
It was very easy to distinguish Bob from the others, although the hall was crowded with eager listeners. He sat with his head bowed during the address, and tears started from his eyes at the close when he heard some of his friends singing so heartily and so happily,
“Jesus is mine, Jesus is mine.”
As he was leaving, he held out his hand to the speaker and said, “I’ve enjoyed the meeting, Mister. It was good to be here, and I’ll come again, but I’m too wicked to be saved.”
“Then you are the first I have met,” responded the Lord’s servant. “I have never found one before too bad to be saved, and the Bible tells us in Acts 10, through the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.”
Moving away as he was speaking, Bob exclaimed, “Thank you I thank you for your words I but you don’t know me, I’m too wicked to be saved.”
Among the earliest corners Bob took his seat in the gathering the next night. He listened very intently, and his eyes were fixed on the preacher this time. The address showed from the Word of God that He had sent His Son into the world to save sinners, and that His saving grace over-abounded where sin abounded, also that He could now righteously forgive and save the sinner who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, because Christ had died for his sins upon the cross, and had been raised again from among the dead for his justification; therefore, the grace of God could justly bless anyone who came to the Saviour.
After the meeting was over, Bob lingered behind. He was waiting for an opportunity to speak to the servant of Christ, and when he saw him disengaged he walked up to him and said, “I see the light now, thank God.” Then, bursting into tears, he put his big hands upon the preacher’s shoulder and, resting his head upon his hands, he sobbed out, “God’s grace is greater than my wickedness!”
“That is true,” said the preacher: “and it is to the praise of His saving grace when one who has sinned against Him is forgiven through the atoning blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Looking up at the preacher he exclaimed, “It is wonderful! ‘Jesus is mine, Jesus is mine.’”
He then shook hands with his dear friends who had prayed for him, a few of whom were waiting to accompany him home. They were anxious as to his wife. She was an industrious, handsome woman, bitt he had treated her far from well. She received the news of her husband’s conversion coldly, and said in effect, “He has had his innings. It will be my turn now.” It did not last long, however. Bob bore everything meekly, and prayed earnestly that God would save her.
One evening, when the meeting was going on, a strong and striking female figure came quickly into the hall. There were only a few vacant seats and they were near the front, so she walked firmly forward and sat in one of them. A smile of pleasure, which she could not see, passed across several faces, and a low whisper, which she could not hear, said, “It’s Bob’s wife. May God save her tonight.” He did so, and she became a greater help than ever to her changed husband.
As for Bob, he continued to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Both his enemies and his friends were at peace with him. A great love for the truth led him to read the inspired Book of God with increasing zest and interest. Some feared he would become too “booky,” but the wholesome teaching of God’s Word produced a practical believer as well as an intelligent one. It was good to talk with him and his dear wife about the work of the Lord and the Word of God.
Bob was not too wicked to be saved after all! and he became a living witness to the fact that God’s grace is greater than our wickedness I Has that grace saved the reader yet? Through the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, those who believe on Him are forgiven and saved righteously.
V.