OR,
HOW A GREAT SINNER OBTAINED "GREAT PEACE" IN THE MIDST OF A GREAT STORM
“I had had a sharp spin, and was nearing my place of abode in a northern town, where I was holding some meetings, not without manifest tokens of blessing.”
I WAS taking my usual “constitutional” after breakfast. It was snowing heavily; but the walk through the “feathery fall” and the crisp air was delightful. I had a sharp spin, and was nearing my place of abode in a northern town where I was holding some meetings, not without manifest tokens of blessing.
Absorbed with thought and partially blinded by the driving snow, I was very nearly run over by a sleigh. In a moment I heard my name called out—"Is that Dr. Pentecost?" "Yes, I am Dr. Pentecost. Did you wish to speak to me?" "I don't know that I ought to detain you, especially in such a storm but if you could spare me a minute I would be very grateful to you." "Certainly," I replied, and extended my hand to the man.
After the common greeting I put my usual question to him: "Are you a Christian?’ To which he replied:" No, sir but I have been in to several of your meetings with my wife; and last night I wanted to ' confess Christ,' as you explained it; but something seemed to hold me back and I could not; and my wife is much distressed in her mind also, and I don't think she slept an hour last night.”
This was most interesting, and I got a little nearer to the man by putting my foot on the step of his sleigh. "Well, friend," I continued, "I am very glad indeed to hear that you are interested about your soul; but why don't you accept Christ at once? Nothing in earth or hell can prevent you from accepting Christ, if you desire Him and are ready to take Him and yield yourself wholly up to Him. You may do it right here as you sit in your sleigh.”
To this challenge he made answer: "I could not do that, you know; I have been a very hard case; but I do want to know how to be saved, and if you can tell me anything that will make it plain to me, so that I can get hold of it, I will thank you very much; and you will excuse me for stopping you in the snow, won't you, for I am really distressed in my mind?" "Certainly, friend; don't think about me or the snowstorm, for the next greatest joy, after being saved one's self, is to be the means of salvation to someone else. Will you answer me a few questions just as frankly as you can?" "Yes, I will answer any question." "Well, then, first: Are you a sinner?" "I be; and a great one. I tell you I have been a hard case.”
I did not know exactly what he meant by saying he was a hard case, but did not inquire into his meaning. I pushed on, and inquired: "Do you accept this testimony of God against yourself?" "Yes, sir; God is just saying to me all the time: You are a sinner, and unless you are saved you will lose your soul '." "But," I said, "God tells us something more than that we are sinners. The same Bible tells us that 'God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)). Do you not believe that?" "Oh, yes, sir; but I am a hard case, and I am very ignorant.”
"My friend, don't you see that your ignorance and your sinfulness are the very reasons why God sent His Son into the world to die for us? If you were wise and good you would not need a Savior; but since you are ignorant and sinful you do need one. Now, for whom did Christ die?" "Why, for sinners." "Yes, you are quite right; for the Son of Man came not to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance' (Matthew 9:1313But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13)). And this is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' Now, this being true, do you believe that, great sinner as you believe yourself to be, Jesus Christ is able to save you?" "Yes, I believe He is." "Do you believe that He is willing to save you?" "Yes; He must be willing, or He would not have come, and that is what you keep saying to us every night, and you read it out of the Bible. Yes, I believe He is willing to save me." "When do you think He is able and willing to save you?" After a moment's hesitation, in which, with downcast eyes, he seemed to be pondering this question, he looked up and said: "Why, if He died for me, and put away my sin,' and is able to save me, He must be willing to do it right away—now—if I am willing to give up to Him." "Well, my friend, are you not willing? Could you have a more loving and gentle Master than One who has died for you? Ought you not to surrender to Him, and at once?”
His hand tightened over mine—for all this time I had been standing there by his side, with my foot on the step of his sleigh, and I thought the surrender was to be made there and then; but one difficulty, and an old and common one, suggested itself to him as a last refuge for his will to entrench itself behind. "But how shall I know that I am saved?" "My friend, had you done me an injury and I had forgiven you it, how would you know that I had so forgiven it?" "Why, I suppose if you should tell me so, or even send me word that you had forgiven me, I would know it." "Exactly. Then why should you accept my word for the forgiveness of an injury, and refuse to accept God's Word? Why not take God's word for forgiveness? Be it known unto you, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins.' For He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him' (2 Cor. 5:19, 2019To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 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 5:19‑20)).”
This seemed to clear up his difficulties, or, at least, it showed him that we must know God's mind towards us by what He has done for us, in Christ, and by what He says to us in His Word. In other words, he saw that he was saved by the work of Christ, and must be assured by the word of Christ.
He asked just one more question: "How am I to take Jesus Christ for my Savior? If I will come to-night, will you tell me how?”
“Friend," I said, "you need not wait till the meeting to-night; you may take Him here and now, just where we are, in this snowstorm. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.' Listen to what God's Word says to you, in 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): What saith it (the Gospel). The word is nigh thee, even in thy heart and in thy mouth: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that 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.' It only remains for you to decide here and now. Will you have Him, and will you confess Him?”
Tears came into his eyes; his chin quivered, and then, looking me full in the face, and tightening his grip of my hand again, he said: "I confess Him, Jesus Christ, as my Savior, and I take Him with all my heart.”
"Thank God," I replied, and then and there in the snowstorm we lifted our hearts up to God in thanksgiving as I prayed aloud for him that God would keep him steadfast. His distinct and firm response testified that “the great transaction" was completed. G. F. P.