Not long ago a man opened the door of a book store. In the windows he had seen displayed copies of the Scriptures and books relating to them. He walked to the rear of the store where the proprietor sat at his desk, and announced: "I am from out of town, and was told that you might know where one may obtain a Bible free. Is this the place"?
"What do you want to do with a Bible?" asked the bookseller.
"I want to read it," quietly replied the man. "I have never owned anything but a New Testament, and now I want the whole Bible."
"When you read your Testament, do you pray over it?" the bookseller continued. "Do you realize it is the Word of God, and that you need the Holy Spirit to lead you to the right understanding of it?"
The man felt at once that the bookseller was interested in his soul. To explain and assure him that he had not read his New Testament in vain, he said: "I have been a professor of religion for some time."
"Ah, but that is not necessarily being a child of God," the salesman urged. "I am anxious to know if you are a child of God."
"Well, I hope so," was the hesitating reply, "but you know none of us can be sure of that."
"Are you sure of the judgment?"
"Oh, yes, I am sure of that," and the man began to look very serious.
"Then do sit down here," continued the salesman, "and tell me on which side of you is the judgment—before or behind?"
"Oh," he replied, "it is before me, of course. The judgment is only at the end of the world, and that hasn't come yet."
"How do you expect to escape it?"
"Well, I am trying earnestly to live a Christian life. I am trying to do what good I can in my poor way, and I do hope in that way to be found worthy to escape and to have eternal life."
"Now, let me tell you my story," said the bookseller; "I also believe that judgment is at the end of the world. Though the end has not come yet, I can tell you that judgment is behind me. Being sure that it is coming, I have anticipated it in my mind. I have found that, being a sinner, I was 'condemned already.' As my sins came out there in the light of the 'great white throne,' I could not but see that all hope for me was over—I was lost; and so, instead of trying to escape, I pleaded guilty. At the same time, however, I saw that it was for these very sins of mine that Jesus had suffered judgment upon the cross. He, 'the Just,' had there suffered 'for the unjust.'
"But I knew He was no more on the cross, but up there in the glory! Thus I could say, 'Thank God, the judgment is past for me. Jesus has passed through it in my stead!'
"Therefore is it written in John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24): 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but is passed from death unto life.' "
Instantly the man's eyes brightened, and taking hold of the bookseller's hand in both of his, he exclaimed with intense earnestness: "I see it! I see it!"
With his free gift of a "whole Bible," soon off he went, as one who has found a new treasure.
Death and judgment are behind us,
Grace and glory are before;
All the billows rolled o'er Jesus,
There they spent their utmost power.
Jesus died, and we died with Him,
"Buried" in His grave we lay;
One with Him in resurrection,
Now "in Him" in heaven's bright day.