FOR many weeks poor Mrs. Dunn had suffered much through a painful disease, that was slowly and surely wasting away her strength. She was a poor old widow, with none of the comforts of this life to alleviate the sufferings of her closing days on earth. Her bed was upon the floor, in a corner of a cheerless room, where she passed long, weary days, and still more weary nights.
She was miserable—yes, truly miserable, no gleam of hope cheering her heart, as day by day she drew nearer to eternity. Her early life had been spent in brighter surroundings, but she was now reaping the bitter fruits of long years spent in the forgetfulness of God; and her anguish was great at the thought of eternity.
The visits of some of God’s children were gladly welcomed by her, and she would eagerly listen when they pointed her to the Lord Jesus, as the One able and willing to save her; she had not, however, faith to trust Him, and remained in darkness of soul, though very anxious to be “properly born again,” as she once expressed it.
One afternoon, a friend, who often read God’s word to Mrs. Dunn, found her with an unusual look of brightness on her wasted face. In a joyful tone she greeted her visitor, saying, “Mr. T. has been here today, and he gave me such a beautiful verse, it is this: ‘Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.’ He saves the vilest: He has saved me!”
No wonder the old woman’s face beamed with joy, as she told this glad news. Her fears were gone; she knew she was saved. Having at length taken her place among the vilest, the good news, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, was as living water to her thirsty soul. She was a sinner; Jesus came to save sinners, therefore He came to save her! Just as she was, she trusted herself to the Lord Jesus, who received her according to His own word, “Him that cometh unto Me I will in no wise cast out.”
For a few weeks after this happy day, our old friend lingered in increasing suffering of body, but she enjoyed much peace in her soul, always, rejoicing in the hope of soon entering the presence of the Lord, who had died to save her. When the hour of her departure came, her thoughts were centered on the Lord Jesus.
It was the privilege of two of God’s children to be with her, just before she fell asleep. As they knelt at her bedside, and commended her to the Lord in prayer, the dear aged one burst forth into rapturous thanksgiving, saying repeatedly, “Oh, praise Him, praise Him; let me praise Him, let me praise Him,” then her voice ceased; she had gone home, to continue in the courts of heaven the song she had begun on earth.
Will you join in this song, dear reader? Have you already begun its joyful strains on earth? None but forgiven sinners can sing the praise of the Lord Jesus, and it may be, as you read these lines, that you are inwardly conscious of the fact that you have never tasted the wondrous blessing of God’s forgiveness. If this should be so, the wrath of God abides upon you, and to you I would repeat the message that brought peace to the troubled soul of my poor friend: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
R. E.