In Black and White

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 4
 
While visiting one of the large hospitals the following conversation took place between a Christian worker and one of the patients: "Well, my friend, I believe you have been quite a sick man. I suppose you hope soon to be able to go back to your home."
"Yes, thank you. I don't think I shall be here much longer. I have suffered a lot, but am better. I do hope soon to go home."
"May I ask where you expect to go after you leave this world? It matters little where we come from, but where we are going is the important thing to be clear about."
"You have asked the right man that question, and I will give you a plain answer. I am going to heaven."
"Have you always been a good man?"
"O no, sir; I am a sinner."
"Well, I am glad to hear that, and you seem to be quite sure that you are going to heaven; but may I ask what authority you have for what you say?"
"Well, sir, it was hardly two years ago that I had a vision. I was caught up into Paradise and saw Jesus. He spoke so kindly to me, and His face was so bright and happy. He told me I was not to stay there just yet, but that my sins were all forgiven, and that I was a child of God and would soon be called to be with Him, to be there forever."
"I am glad to hear all you say, my friend," said the visitor, "but that would not be enough to satisfy me."
"Nat enough to satisfy you? What more would you want than to hear the Lord Jesus say your sins were forgiven, and to own you as a child of God?"
"I would want to have it dawn in black and white. Nothing less would satisfy me. It would not be enough to have a verbal agreement with a person about the purchase of a piece of land; I would want it in writing, no matter how true the person might be. The written words would settle all dispute for all time.
"Just suppose what you think was a vision was only a dream. Then what would you have to assure you that your sins are forgiven, and that you are a child of God?"
"O, sir, it was no dream, and you can't shake my confidence like that."
"My friend, I don't want to shake your confidence by any means, nor lessen your faith in what God has said, but only to give you a surer foundation upon which to build your hope."
"Have you anything better than that, sir?"
"Yes, I surely have. I have the Lord's own words in black and white, and without this I would never be certain."
"Then let me see them."
The visitor took from his pocket a Bible, and read to him these words: "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven, for His name's sake." 1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12), then—
"You surely have the best of it, sir," said the patient. "I can see now that only as we have the Word of God for everything that we believe, can we be fully persuaded that we are right."