Having to make a short journey recently, I took a bus. There were six of us in it. I felt in my pocket for some tracts but only found four, these I distributed among my fellow passengers, and then began to read a little book.
The man who was seated at the end of the bench on which I was sitting, and who seemed a person of some social rank, received one of the tracts. Taking out his gold pencil case, he read several lines until he came to the word "Satan," this he underlined, and wrote in the margin, "I do not believe that there is a devil," and handed me back the tract. I said nothing, but taking out a piece of India rubber I effaced what he had written, and put the tract back in my pocket, then I went on with my reading.
This was too much for my traveling companion. He started up quickly, and cried out: "I do not believe that there is a devil.”
Then he launched out in a torrent of abuse against those who believed in an evil spirit.
"Sir," said he to me, "I defy you before these persons," who were looking at him with astonishment; "I defy you to prove that there is a devil. Which way would you begin?”
"Nothing is easier, Sir," I said, raising my eyes from my book. "Nothing is easier, I will begin with yourself. Your impassioned language, your conduct which is not that of a Christian is sufficient proof that you are at this moment under the power of the devil.”
"Well, well, I was a little excited," he replied, seating himself, but he still continued ridiculing the idea of a wicked spirit.
"If the devil has no existence what is it that has led you to manifest so much anger?”
"It is the evil principle within me; you cannot prove that there is any other devil.”
Taking my Bible from my pocket, I said: "Now, Sir, will you be good enough to take this book in your hands?”
He took it very unwillingly; I continued: "With that Bible in your hands I ask you, do you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God?”
"Yes, certainly, I believe it.”
"Do you believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of the eternal God?”
"No, I do not believe that," he replied angrily. "Show me where that is said.”
A lady near me said, "There are many passages which prove it in almost identical terms.”
I then repeated several passages from the word of God: "In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.... All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.... And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." John 1:1, 3, 141In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14).
"I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do, and now, O Father glorify thou Me... with the glory I had with Thee before the world was." John 17:4, 54I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:4‑5). After his resurrection, Jesus saith unto Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold My hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto Him: My Lord and my God.... These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name." John 20:27, 28, 3127Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. (John 20:27‑28)
31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. (John 20:31).
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 1 Tim. 5:1616If any man or woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and let not the church be charged; that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. (1 Timothy 5:16).
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." 1 John 5:2020And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20). Then I added: "I see what you are, Sir, you are a Unitarian, and as such you shut out from yourself every hope of salvation, which only is through Jesus and His blood. Tell me, what sort of a person is Jesus to you?”
"The best of men," he replied.
"No, Sir, according to your belief, He is a sinner and a deceiver; the Jesus in whom I believe is the eternal Son of the eternal God.”
Opening the Bible again to the fourth chapter of Matthew's gospel I read, “Then was Jesus led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil." Was it an evil principle in Him, or was it not rather evil in person?”
For a moment the mouth of the contradictor was closed. I continued, "You have no blood in your religion; you hate the blood; you hate expiation by blood.”
"I thank God that I have not a drop of blood in my religion; I hate it," he replied.
"Yes, I know that you deny the Person and the work of the Son of God. But before we separate you must hear what God has said as to the blood;”
"He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses; of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace." Heb. 10:28, 2928He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:28‑29).
The bus stopped and we separated, not to meet again in all probability until we should find ourselves in the holy presence of Him whose Person and work are all that the poor sinner has of any value for his eternal salvation.
Reader, the devil exists and desires your destruction; Jesus the eternal Son of the eternal God, came to save you; His blood cleanses from all sin, the one who believes in Him.