An old man was very ill. I went to see him and said to him: "You are very ill. Perhaps you are going to meet God. What about your soul? Are you ready?”
With unmistakable earnestness, the poor man replied; "I am trying to be ready. I am praying and doing my best.”
Shocked at his reply, I said: "My friend, there is no salvation upon these terms. You are setting the death of the Lord Jesus aside. If a person can be saved upon the ground that you are now acting on, then there was no need for Christ to die. I urge you to stop.”
I said this very quietly; but no sooner had I spoken than the sick man threw up both his arms and his whole body seemed convulsed. He raised himself upon his bed, crying aloud with intense earnestness: "Oh, God, I do believe in the death of Thy dear Son Jesus as a sacrifice for my sins!”
Shortly after this I left him, having first knelt down and prayed for him.
Calling again the next morning, I found the man in an entirely different state of soul. He seemed calmly happy and his handclasp was firm, though clinging. Holding his hand in mine I said: "You are better in body, too. Yes, my friend, God has made Christ your Savior and your mind is at peace.”
Presently the doctor arrived. To his astonishment he found that his patient, whom he had given up for death, was in a fair way to recover.
The man got well, and lived to tell others that by Christ all who believe are justified from all things, from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses; that grace is grace, and works are works, and that by grace are ye saved through faith, not by works.
Reader, is it by doing your best that you are trying to get to heaven? We urge you to stop: you are deceiving yourself and denying Christ. Give up your fatal endeavors; you will never reach glory by that road.
Death is the pit at the end of the road called works, and thousands fall into the pit and are forever lost. Do not set aside the work of Christ, for if you could be saved by doing your best, then the suffering of Christ in the stead of sinners was utterly useless. Beware of trying to save yourself; it is a fatal mistake. Will you not use the old man's words so earnestly uttered?
"Oh, God, I do believe in the death of Thy dear Son Jesus as a sacrifice for my sins.”