“INFIDEL HAL” was one of a rough band of cowboys that worked on one of the big ranches in Texas. Hal had a dear Christian mother in England, but her prayers and pleadings had seemed all in vain. Hal was indeed far gone in sin and wicked deeds. He went so far as to say there was no God, Christ, heaven, nor hell.
In the evenings Hal would amuse his companions by giving infidel lectures as they lay around the campfire. His reckless ways showed that there was no fear of God before his eyes (Rom. 3:1818There is no fear of God before their eyes. (Romans 3:18)). Much of his spare time he spent in drinking, gambling, and fighting, and his feet were fast hastening toward hell.
One day Hal picked up a torn newspaper which carried a gospel sermon, and the text in bold type at the beginning was, “After This The Judgment.” As he read them, the truth came home in mighty power to his heart that his infidelity was a lie, that there was a God before whom he must stand, and that coming into judgment as he was, there could only be for him the hell which he had so often scoffed at. Now Hal’s peace was broken in upon and gone forever. Thoroughly aroused to a sense of his danger, he now loathed his life of sin, and longed for the salvation of which he had so often heard from his dear mother.
Hal had seen a small Testament in the office of a ranch owner, and this he borrowed. Then while out on the prairie, he searched it immediately to find out the way of salvation. At last his eyes fell upon the glorious words: “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). Down he went on his knees, and with his hands clasped and eyes looking up to heaven, he cried from the depths of his soul, “Lord Jesus, I come! Don’t cast me out!”
Cast him out? No, indeed. The sinners’ Friend was waiting to receive him, and Hal found the burden of his sin gone. He knew Christ as the One that had met all his need and atoned for his sin by shedding His precious blood upon the cross.
Soon he began to tell the story of God’s grace to his cowboy companions. Some of them were very angry and even threatened him for the stand he took; but he remained faithful and grew in grace and the knowledge of his Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Will you claim the promise as Rai did? If you do, you will find the Saviour both willing and waiting receive you, and to make you a new creature in Christ Jesus. Prove Him now. “Now is the accepted time.”
ML-07/31/1966