THOUGH conforming to religious observances, Jenny was not happy. She knew she must be born again, and that outward appearances were useless, and religious observances unsatisfying, unless Jesus was her own Saviour. One evening she was listening to a preacher of the gospel speaking from these words, "Adam, where art thou'?" and the answer, “I went and hid myself." The serpent's insinuation, “Hath God said?” and the lie, "Ye shall not surely die," believed, and God set aside. His truth counted as nothing, and the result of the disobedience, that Adam could not any longer be happy in God's presence.
Jenny went home to her place and was asked by her master how she liked the sermon. "Not at all," was her reply; "it made me feel perfectly miserable. I never want to hear that man again. Why, he pictures one so black, and then to think of having to meet God! "
However, in spite of her declaration, she went again to hear the same evangelist. At the close of the service he asked her, “Are you on the road to meet the Lord Jesus when He comes?”
Perplexed and angry, Jenny made no reply, but hurried away. Again she was asked on reaching the house how she liked the sermon. “I was so afraid," she replied,” that I ran all the way home."
Weeks went on, and much prayer was made to God for Jenny's soul. God delights to hear and answer prayer; He would have all men to be saved. Mark, the scripture does not say hope to be saved, but speaks of God " who hath saved us,' and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace." (2 Tim. 1:99Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, (2 Timothy 1:9).)
After awhile, Mr. B.-the evangelist of this story—called to see Jenny. She was busy ironing. Sitting by the ironing-board he began to read a few passages of scripture, while she kept busily to her work.
“Do you know, Jenny, the word of God says, 'Through this Man (Jesus) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.' Have you got that, Jenny?" “No," she said, " I have not."
“Would you like to have your sins forgiven”
“I would."
“The Lord Jesus, the Son of God, the spotless One, went to the cross, and there paid with His own blood the mighty debt, that sinners such as you and I could never pay. Hence God, in His grace, comes out to us where we are, and offers a full and free salvation to the soul that believes in Jesus."
The iron was still going, but Jenny's heart was aching. Mr. B. said, “Jenny, do you want to be saved?"
Her answer expressed the sorrow of her soul: "Oh, Mr. B., it is no good, I cannot be saved, for I have prayed, and prayed, and prayed, and God will not answer my prayer and save me."
Seeing she was putting her prayers as a reason why God should save her, Mr. B. said, “Jenny, God cannot answer that prayer."
Surprised, she asked, “Why not?”
"Because if anyone asked you after you were saved how you got salvation, you would be able to say, `Why, I prayed, and prayed, and prayed, then God saved me.' This would be putting God's Son out of the question as a Saviour. But your thoughts and my thoughts will not do in this matter, for it is a question of eternity. Let us hear God speak, and then we shall be sure to be right." By this time the iron had ceased, and Jenny was seated. “Now I will read a verse from Rom. 4, not as God has had it written, but as you understand it.’ But to him that worketh not, but prayeth t o Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.' That is how you understand it—is it not? "
“Yes," she said.
“Ah! but, thank God, this is not what God says. We should not know if we had prayed enough, and our prayers could not save our souls. These are the words of God, To him that worketh not but beliveth: It is believing, not praying. Now we will turn to chap. 10. ver. 8, The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart.' Jenny, you ' often speak of it, you often think of it. God says, ' If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Let God be true, and Satan a liar, for he was that from the beginning. Good-bye."
Mr. B. left, believing that God was about to finish the work in Jenny's soul. As soon as he had gone, she went to her room, and there before God, owned herself a guilty sinner. What a blessed thing it is to be alone in the presence of God, who, while the light of that holy presence makes manifest every action of darkness, reveals Himself as Love. Half an hour was spent thus alone, then she came running downstairs into the presence of the others in the house, exclaiming “I have found Him! I have found Him I”
“Found whom?” was the astonished question.
“Jesus, as my Saviour," she cried.
There was gladness in the house that day; another soul had learned that Jesus was the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
And now, happy in His salvation, she is learning, too, that the grace of God which has saved her, teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. (Titus 2:11-1211For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (Titus 2:11‑12)).
Will you let me ask you, Do you still believe Satan's lie, which casts a doubt upon the perfect goodness and truth of God? God has said, "The soul that sinneth it shall die." And His word—yea, every jot and tittle of His word, shall stand forever. But He has also said, “They that hear (the voice of the Son of God) shall live." Have you ever heard it, dear reader? If you have, not death, but eternal life is the portion He gives you.
E. J.