THESE words were uttered in my hearing a few years ago, whilst I was staying for a short time in the little town of Deal. I was asked by a friend to visit a young fisherman who was dangerously ill, and having been shown into his room, I found lying upon the bed a fine young man of about twenty-five, apparently in the last stage of consumption. He fixed his bright eyes with a suspicious gaze upon me, and after a brief inquiry as to his health, answered by him in a constrained manner, he said abruptly, “I believe in Jesus; I s’pose you believe in Christ.”
Surprised at such ignorance in a place where the gospel was known, intellectually at least, to so many, I explained that these were two names of the same blessed Person—the Son of God. Upon further conversation I found that he could not read, and had never in his life had the gospel, in its divine simplicity, placed before him. He had been visited by some who had prayed with him, he said, and he had prayed for himself. “And I know,” he continued, “that God will hear my prayers, and save my soul, for I prayed for more breath last night, and He heard my prayers, and sent me some.”
A blessed sign it is that God’s Spirit is working when it can be said of any one, as the Lord said of Saul of Tarsus, “Behold, he prayeth.” But God’s way of saving is by faith, and so, in answer to prayer, He sent a messenger to this young man, as of old He had sent Ananias to Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:11, 1211And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. (Acts 9:11‑12)).
This divine way of salvation, through faith (Rom. 10:8-108But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:8‑10)), I endeavored to explain to the young fisherman, repeating to him several passages which set forth this gospel, and on my reading to him 1 Timothy 1:15,15This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15) “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief,” he exclaimed, in terms of wonderment which I cannot forget, “Only think of that! Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners! Only think of that!”
As I went on to tell him of the finished work of that One of whom he was so ignorant, he listened attentively, drinking in the truth, and resting his soul for time and eternity on that One who is willing to save you too, reader, if you will trust Him.
The next time I called a change was apparent in the young fisherman. His very face reflected the joy which filled his heart, and he told me he was longing to be with the One who was now his Saviour. My stay at Deal was ended, so we had to say farewell, to meet no more till Jesus comes; but I had news informing me that he died soon after, very happy, and rejoicing in his Saviour.
Often since then have I thought of the words of that young man on hearing for the first time the simple gospel― “Only think of that!” How different to the answer one often gets, “Oh, we know all that!” Reader! careless, thoughtless of anything save the passing pleasures of the moment, I pray that these words, “Only think of that!” may ring in your ears till you have accepted the gospel message. Alas! how few “think of that.” How many are like a man who told me once of a clock in his room which he never noticed, however loudly it ticked, until it stopped? What a picture of a thoughtless sinner, who has become so used to the sound of the gospel, that he is heedless of its oft-repeated calls until one day the sound ceases, and he awakes to the fact that the day of grace is over, and there is nothing then for him but judgment. Reader, God grant that may not be your experience, but, may you now accept Jesus as your Saviour.
“Haste! haste! haste!
Tomorrow too late may be;
Oh, wherefore the moments in madness waste,
When Jesus is calling thee.”
Or perhaps, my reader, you think, as the young fisherman thought, that the way to be saved is to pray. Now prayer is asking, but Revelation 22:17,17And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. (Revelation 22:17) says, “Whosoever will let him TAKE the water of life freely.” What a difference between your way and God’s way of salvation. But you may say, Do we not read, “Ask, and ye shall receive; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Yes, but these words were addressed to disciples (Matt. 5:1, 2, 7:7), and encourage believers to seek blessings for themselves and others; but the gospel to the sinner is thus described by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:20,20Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20) “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us; we pray you, in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” So you see it is God asking the sinner; and so also in Revelation 3:20,20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20) it is Christ knocking. Will you not then, dear reader, take instead of asking? and an eternal salvation is yours. “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)).
“To God be the glory, great things He hath done!
So loved He the world, that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,
And opened the Life-gate that all may go in.
Praise the Lord! praise the Lord! let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord! praise the Lord! let the people rejoice:
Oh, come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!”
E. R.