A short time ago a repairman was called to a residence to do some work. He was shown to an upstairs room where he found the lady of the house absorbed in reading a newspaper. His business was of such a character as not to interfere with her, and she continued her reading.
When the workman had finished, the thought suddenly occurred to him: "If my Savior were here, He would not leave this room without first setting forth the way of eternal life. I am His ambassador. Should I not speak?”
As he stood considering in what way he could open a conversation, he caught sight of a very large Bible on a table. Going up to it, he opened it and said to the lady: "You have a very old and valuable Book.”
She answered politely: "Yes; that book has been in our family many years.”
"Indeed! Then I should judge you understand something of its contents?”
"I ought to," she replied.
"I have in mind a very serious question. How glad I would be if you could answer it," he remarked.
“Well, tell me what it is! I will try to answer, if I can.”
"Some time ago I was troubled with the thought of appearing before God. Now, were I to die today, can you tell me how I could stand before God justified and saved?”
Having thought the question over for a few seconds, she replied: "I don't know of any way but to keep the Ten Commandments.”
Quickly he answered: "But I remember reading in the Bible, 'By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight.'”
"Oh, but wait," she said. "Doesn't that mean the ceremonial law?”
"Well, I don't think so," the Christian answered.
"But if it does, I'd be afraid to say that either moral or ceremonial law could be the ground of a sinner's justification before God.”
"Well, I am afraid you are wrong," she said seriously. Anxious to hold her attention, the repairman continued: "I remember reading in the Bible, 'Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.' Now I have wondered why the Son of God came into this world!”
"He came to die for sinners; and, if you believe on Him, and keep the commandments, I believe you will be all right.”
"But," he responded, "I remember also reading in the Bible, 'By Him (Jesus) all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the Law of Moses.' I think that was Acts 13:39.”
On hearing this scripture she seemed unable to find an answer. But he proceeded: "I am just asking as to the way of eternal life. Are you sure you are not directing me wrong? First, you said to keep the Ten Commandments. Then you told me to believe in Jesus and keep the Ten Commandments. But here in Acts 13:39 I find that it says that if I believe in Jesus, I am justified from all things, from which I could not be justified by the Law of Moses. Now what shall I believe? What you said or what God says?”
"Believe God's Word," she answered timidly.
"Oh," said he, "I will believe God's Word. They are words of life. I can be saved only through believing them, and that is the way to go to heaven. God says so! Wouldn't you be happy if you knew you were now pardoned and saved?”
"Yes, I would," she answered anxiously.
"Then, take the place of a sinner before God right now. Take Him at His word. Believe on Jesus, and be saved. God says so. But remember, it must be Jesus only.”
As the workman gathered up his tools to leave, the newly enlightened lady gave him cause to believe that she was saved. She said that she had attended Word of God, the Bible, in her possession or within her reach from childhood. Yet, with all these advantages, she had failed to grasp that one great truth: that "a man is not justified by the works of the law," nor by works and Christ; but that, if saved at all, the sinner must be saved by Jesus only. "And," she said, "how dear that makes Him to me!” preaching for many years, and had the
"The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God," cut down every prop, removed every difficulty, settled every question, and pointed this un-established soul to Jesus only!
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." Acts 4:12.