IT is very sad to find so many in these so-called Christian lands who, whilst calling themselves Christians, and being members of some one of the many denominations, yet know not their sins forgiven, and have not peace with God. Such was the case with the one of whom I am going to write.
Whilst preaching the gospel some five or six years ago in the north of Scotland there was an aged woman who used to come very regularly, and as she listened to the story of the love of God and of the cross of Christ, the big tears would roll down her wrinkled cheeks. On my getting acquainted with her, I found that she had been a widow a great many years, had brought up several children most respectably, and had been long a member of the Established Church of Scotland.
But, alas! she knew not the Savior. Her sins were not forgiven. She had not peace with God.
She kept on coming to the preachings, but never seemed to get any comfort or blessing. Well do I remember visiting her in her humble abode, and after pointing her to the finished work of Christ, and setting forth the gospel in every way I could think of, she replied, “Well, I must be more earnest and do my best." My heart sank within me, and the thought passed through my mind, It is no use; she cannot understand it. I will not come again." Such were my thoughts as I walked towards my lodgings, pondering her case, when, just as if someone were speaking to me, there came the words, “You are not treating that old woman rightly. You are speaking to her intellect speak to her heart.”
The following day I called again, and taking a chair I said, " Was it not a wonderful thing, Mrs.—, that God, whom we had sinned against, should send His own beloved Son for the very purpose of putting away your sins and mine?”
“Yes," she replied," that was a wonderful thing.”
“Now, tell me," I said," did Jesus fail, or did He succeed?”
“Oh," she replied," He never failed!”
“Well, then, what about your sins?”
There was a moment's pause, and then came the words, “Oh, I see it now! Jesus came for the very purpose of putting them away, and He has done it.”
The darkness of years was gone in a moment.
The light of the gospel shone into her soul, and she was saved and had peace with God about all her sins.
Since that eventful moment how often have we conversed together about that precious Savior— “Who came from heaven's highest glory To Calvary's depth of woe,” in order to put away our sins, and make us His very own. How sweet and precious those words, “His own"!
Now, my reader, let me ask: Are you a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ? If so, allow me to ask another question, viz., What has Jesus done for you? "Oh," you say, "He has died for me.”
Then your sins are forgiven, and you are saved.
“Ah! but I cannot say that," you reply. Now let me suppose a case. A man has committed a crime for which He is righteously condemned to die.
One who loves him takes his place and dies for him. What, then, would this do for him? If he really believed that to be so, would it not set him free? You say, "Yes." And so we may say with the apostle Paul, “The Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)). Believest thou this? Then, thank God for His unspeakable gift, and live henceforth to Him who died for thee. G. R.