A man said he had tried nine religions but none helped him. He had been baptized three times: by the Church of England, the Baptists, and then the Mormons. Now he was a materialist.
I took a box of safety matches out of my pocket, put a match in his hand, and told him to light it.
“Lend me the box,” he said.
“Oh, no; do it without the box,” I replied.
“Strike it on a brick or stone or anywhere else you like.”
He tried to light it, but failed. I gave him more matches to try to light on anything but the proper composition on the box.
Again he failed.
Then I said, “Just like that match and its box, God has ordained and made known His one way of salvation. By a fixed and unalterable law our precious souls can never be converted by coming into contact merely with religions, whether nine or ninety. Nothing can set the soul on fire with lasting life and light and love unless it come in contact with the Lord Jesus Christ. It is vain to touch anything else for salvation but the Son of God: Of course those nine religions were no good to you. Here, take this box and strike the match on it.”
He did so and instantly the match was ablaze.
“Even so,” I said, “The Son of God alone can quicken us into life, forgive us our sins and cleanse us from our iniquities.”
Oh, friend, are you trying “religion” or church membership to give life to your soul?
They can’t do it. Let the Son of God set your soul ablaze with the light of life eternal!
“All the fitness He requireth
Is to feel your need of Him.”
“COME UNTO ME
ALL YE THAT LABOR
AND ARE HEAVY LADEN,
AND I WILL GIVE YOU
REST.”
“HIM THAT COMETH
TO ME I WILL
IN ‘NO WISE CAST OUT.”