THE subject of thin narrative was engaged in country work as a farm servant, and happening one day to pass a fellow-servant at an unexpected time, was thus accosted, “Hallo! where are you going?” Being in a rather surly mood, only two words escaped his lips: “To hell.”
Two short words composed of only six letters, yet what a solemn truth was wrapped up in them, and had the Lord allowed that reckless young man to continue in the same course, he would sooner or later have realized the awful truth of the words he uttered. But that One who met the persecuting Saul of Tarsus, on his way to Damascus, had His eye on him too, although at the time there was the same bitter hatred in his heart toward His followers.
However, it was not long ere he began to reap the fruit of what he had sown, and find out to his bitter experience that he was serving a hard master. Loss of employment somewhat checked him in his downward course; and in the pleasures of sin he had so eagerly sought he found there was bitterness and a sting. But God had His eye on him, and in the ordering of His love brought him in contact with one of those people he so hated, who, though in humble life, witnessed for the One who loved him and gave Himself for him, and he, in a very simple way, was owned of God in awakening this young profligate.
It was the custom of this believer at breakfast-time in his little workshop, where he partook of his frugal fare, to read his New Testament and engage in prayer, although not in the most congenial circumstances, as may be imagined, being surrounded with roughs who were always ready to make sport of his devotions. Many a noisy conflict passed, in which this humble servant of Christ sought to bring before his ungodly workfellows the pardoning love and grace of a Saviour God, and they were often obliged to own that he stood his ground well. However, the subject of our narrative, in his conceit and hatred to all such, supposed it would be an easy matter to put him to silence, and soon found an opportunity of having his ability put to the test, only to find out, as many more have done, that the victory he thought so easily gained was to end in total defeat.
Giving full vent to his feelings on one occasion, he was surprised to find it all taken in patience by the one whom he persecuted; who meekly said that he could sympathize with him in his ignorance, as it was just what he was once like himself. A nail was fastened in a sure place, an arrow of conviction reached his conscience, and for the first time in his life he was convinced that he was face to face with one who possessed something to which he was an utter stranger.
Time passed on, but instead of giving up his old ways and receiving Christ into his heart, he was sometimes in the swine troughs, at other times passing sleepless nights, earnestly desiring that he might be the possessor of that which he now knew sonic were richly blest with. But if God had His eye on him, there was another who had his eye on him too, and would not let him slip out of his service so easily. One day, when engaged at work in a granite quarry with others, some of whom were splitting a large block of stone close behind where he was working, the man in charge, seeing his dangerous position, asked him to move away. Looking round to see if there was any danger, to his terror and alarm the stone gave way in a different direction from what was expected, and a large piece came rolling down upon him. It is impossible to describe the thoughts that flashed before his mind at that terrible moment, as owing to the position lie was in, he could see no alternative to his body being severed at the waist between two pieces of rock. His life of sin, the thought of meeting God in judgment and being forever consigned to his eternal doom, which he now well knew he justly deserved, flashed before him.
But the One who said to the sea, “Here shall thy proud waves be stayed,” also arrested that block of granite before it accomplished Satan’s purpose in hurling this young man into a Christless eternity. Did it strike him? It did; but instead of doing its deadly work, his body was spared, and although held tight as it were in the jaws of death, no internal injury was done. A thigh joint dislocated and bruised, and a bruised knee, was the extent of his injuries.
His fellow-workmen instantly gathered round him to extricate, as they thought, his mangled and lifeless body. “It’s all over,” passed his lips, and a swoon followed. After being extricated he was carried to his lodgings, where he was attended by a doctor as soon as he could be found. On examination, the doctor stated his injuries to be as above-mentioned. To the surprise of all, in three months he was able, although lame, to resume his work.
But what about his spiritual condition? Had the door of his heart now been opened to let the Saviour in? Alas, no. It is true he saw the hand of God coming in, almost by miracle, and saving his life, and exercises of soul were passed through and resolutions made to lead a different life, but once back among old companions, he was back to old ways, although with a conscience ill at ease.
Passing over twelve months from the time the accident occurred, we find him in a different situation, in another locality, but still serving the same master, viz., the god of this world. There tidings reached him of another accident that had occurred in the same neighborhood, and in which three men were buried alive. Their names were given; they were persons he well knew. One especially he had often sat side by side with in a small gospel meeting they sometimes attended, and listened with trembling, like Felix of old, as the preacher reasoned of temperance, righteousness, and judgment to come. But when they were made the subject of personal dealing, they laughed in the face of the one who sought their good.
But the moment was drawing near when Satan’s captive was to be set free. The tidings of his three old acquaintances being buried alive, his own narrow escape twelve months before, his present condition, without God and without hope, forced conviction upon him, and he judged himself a most ungrateful wretch. He determined, with one final effort, though every nerve should be strained, to quit the service of Satan, and come out on the Lord’s side.
But yet another lesson had to be learned; he was now quite willing to be Christ’s, but found out that he was without strength to do good, although many things were given up, and with all diligence he took to reading his Bible and religious books, although that had often to be done with a violin playing at each side. His companions saw there was a change, and told him he was turning revivalist, and a miserable one he was in every sense of the word, his face bearing witness to the truth of it; but, like Christian in the Slough of Despond, he determined he would hold on till he got to the other side.
Soon he began to question if this tension of mind and body could be kept up, and found himself guilty of things which he knew were wrong. Alas, it was still true of him, “One thing thou lackest.” The Saviour’s person and work had no part in his religion. What was to be done? The great enemy of souls was on his track and whispered in his ear, “Give it up.” Did he listen to him? He did, and thus he reasoned: — Would it not be the best thing to do? He had tried to be a Christian for the past two years and had utterly failed, and he could not be a hypocrite.
One evening, after work was over, and with conscience condemning him loudly, the resolve was made to give it all up. Then the consequences of that came before him, the lake of fire, which he justly deserved; so in despair he threw himself on his bed, in his mind consigning himself to “everlasting burnings.” It was not now merely saying this with the lips, but it became a terrible reality in his heart.
But blessed be God, the moment of deliverance had now come; he owned himself a guilty, helpless, hell-deserving sinner, and instead of meeting what he now judged himself worthy of, he fell into the arms of eternal love. Then and there the Lord revealed Himself to him, and the response came from his heart, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
A flood of joy now filled his soul; he had now got a Person. Up to this time it had been self, self, self, but now it was Christ. Although there was much to learn of the treasures that were in Him, he had got the Person. And now, after five-and-twenty years, the language of his heart is―
“Now none but Christ can satisfy,
None other name for me;
There’s life, and love, and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee.”
ANON.