WALTER was a young fellow with a dear Christian mother, but of late he had been wandering from the good way he had been brought up in. No longer did he go to Sunday school, and in the summer time he generally spent his Sundays sailing on the river with his gay companions.
One Sunday morning the boat upset. Poor Walter could not swim and he went down in the deep water. As he rose to the surface for the last time, one of his friends seized hold of him and his cold, apparently lifeless body was brought ashore. He was carried home. Everything possible was done for his recovery, but for a long time it seemed uncertain whether he would live or not. There was a feeble heartbeat, just enough to keep hope alive.
His mother knelt by his bedside and prayed in her agony that her son might be spared at least until he could seek the Lord and find pardon. As she thus prayed, the cold hand she held in hers gave a feeble squeeze. The eyelids quivered a little but did not open. But after a while Walter gazed at his mother and said in a low whisper, “Mother, I’m saved.”
She supposed that he meant he was saved from drowning and so she responded, “Yes, dear, thank God you are saved.” Then in broken sentences, with long intervals between, Walter gave this remarkable experience: “Mother, I heard you praying. If I died you would have thought me lost; but I am saved. When I let go my hold on that boat, a thought flashed across my mind, ‘I am lost. I’m going into eternity with all my sins unpardoned.’ I lifted up my heart to heaven and said, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner! Lord, save me!’ I seemed to hear a voice distinctly say, ‘I will save you, trust Me.’ I’m sure it was the voice of Jesus. Then all my fear was gone. After that I knew nothing until I heard you praying for me. You would have mourned for me as lost: but, Mother, I’m saved.”
Time proved he was right. He recovered his health and strength, he gave up all his disobedient evil ways, and lived the life of an earnest and devoted Christian. How wonderful is the power of Jesus to save!
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Eph. 2:8.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.” Titus 3:5.
ML-09/30/1973