LINDA’S favorite hymn is: “Tell me the Old, Old Story of Unseen Things Above.” It was this hymn that brought light and joy to her heart the night she was saved, and she sang it over and over again most of the night. The last verse says:
“And if this simple message has now brought peace to you,
Make known the old, old story, for others need it too.
Let everybody see it, that Christ has made you free,
And if it sets them longing, say, ‘Jesus died for thee!’ "
Next morning Linda ran off across the fields to tell an aged neighbor lady of her newfound joy. Old Granny lived in a little house all alone, and Linda found her sitting at her cottage door knitting as usual.
“What brings you here so early, Linda, my girl? I hope you have good news with you,” said the old lady.
“It’s the very best, Granny,” returned Linda with a smile, as she seated herself on a stool by her side. “I was saved yesterday, and I couldn’t rest until I came and told you the old, old story too. It has made me so happy. Have you believed it yet, Granny?”
The old woman looked bewildered and shook her head. She had been religious all her days; she went to church as often as she was able, she was only “hoping to be saved,” and that chiefly by her own efforts by her own good works, with “God’s help,” of course. Linda’s heart, now filled with Jesus’ love, yearned to see her old friend saved and happy but the difficulty was to get her to see the simplicity of the gospel, “I’ll sing you my favorite hymn, she said, and seating herself by the old lady’s side, she sang the verses of “The Old, Old Story” from first to last. As she finished, she saw the tears roll down the wrinkled cheeks, and in the simplicity of her heart she said, “And have you taken it in too, Granny?”
And so it came about. The Spirit of God brought light and conviction to the soul of Granny, and showed her too that Jesus loved her and died for her. The message that had won the tender heart of Linda the day before, had entered the citadel in which so long darkness had reigned, and old Granny’s heart was won for Christ.
“To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Rom. 4:5.
“Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:17.
“Ye must be born again.” John 3:7
ML-11/06/1966