It was after the battle of Murfreesboro, D. L. Moody was stationed in the hospital. For two nights he had been unable to get any rest, and on the third night had laid down to sleep.
But about midnight he was called to see a wounded soldier who was very low. At first he tried to put the messenger off, but was told that if he waited till morning it might be too late.
So he went to the ward where he had been directed and found the man who had sent for him. Asking what he could do for him, the soldier replied that he wanted him "to help him die."
Moody told him he would bear him in his arms into the Kingdom of God if he could, but he couldn't. Then he tried to preach the gospel to him; but he only shook his head and said: "He can't save me; I have sinned all my life."
"My thoughts, “wrote Mr. Moody afterward, "went back to his loved ones in the North, and I thought that even then his mother might be praying for her boy. I repeated promise after promise and prayed with the dying man, but nothing seemed to help.
"Then I said that I wanted to read him an account of an interview that Christ had one night while here on earth— interview with a man who was anxious about his eternal welfare.
I read him the third chapter of John, how Nicodemus came to Jesus. As I read on, his eyes became riveted upon me, and he seemed to drink in every syllable. When I came to the words, " 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.' he stopped me.
"Is that there?" he asked.
"Yes."
“‘Well, I never knew that was in the Bible. Read it again.' Leaning on his elbow on the side of the cot, he brought his hands together tightly, and when I finished he exclaimed:
“’That's good! Won't you read it again?'
"Slowly I repeated the passage the third time. When I finished I saw that his eyes were closed, and the troubled expression on his face had given way to a peaceful smile. His lips moved, and I bent over him to catch what he was saying, and heard in a faint whisper:
" 'As Moses lifted up— the serpent— in the wilderness— even so— must the Son of Man be lifted up— that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish— but have eternal life.'
"He opened his eyes and said:
“‘That’s enough; don't read any more.'
Early next morning I came to his cot, but it was empty. The attendant in charge told me that the young man had died peacefully, and said that after my visit he had rested quietly repeating to himself, now and then, that glorious proclamation: " 'Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.’” John 3:1515That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:15).
"It is wonderful," said a man to a preacher, "it is wonderful to see a whole congregation moved to tears by the preaching of the gospel."
"Yes," said the evangelist, "it is wonderful, but I know a wonder ten times greater than that: the wonder is, that those people should so soon wipe away their tears and forget what they have heard."