I had called on this woman one afternoon and after a brief salutation she said: "Oh, I must tell you my joy this week. Something has so cheered me up. What good may not a little word do!”
This aroused in him a volley of abuse on Christians and "religion," as he called it. With scorn he said, "Ah, I see you are one of them.”
"Thank God, I am," she answered, adding, "I hope, my friend, if I ever see you again, God will have changed your wicked heart. Remember, His Word says: `He that believeth... shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.'" Mark 16:1616He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:16).
This only made him more angry. He went off uttering fresh oaths and imprecations against her whom the Lord had used as an instrument of mercy for the salvation of his precious soul, although he knew it not.
Years passed on. The episode had almost been forgotten by the Christian woman. But a few days before my visit to her a nicely dressed man had called upon her.
"Don't you remember me? Years ago I abused you about your religion," he said. "Now," he continued, "God has used your plain words in blessing to my soul. Where's your text on the wall? (It had been removed because of its soiled and torn condition.) 'As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.'
"And don't you remember the solemn word you said to me in parting? 'He that believeth... shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned.' Oh, how that plain speaking rang in my ears afterward!”
For some little time they sat talking and weeping together for joy while he told her how the Lord had saved him.
It was in a small town one Sunday afternoon. He had wandered into an open-air preaching, and the preacher's text recalled to him more vividly than ever the words the woman had spoken.
He left the meeting condemned in his heart. He could not sleep that night, and for weeks he fought against the Spirit's pleadings.
At last he cried to God for mercy; but unbelief, as he expressed it, hindered him from getting peace, though all the time his mind re-echoed: "He that believeth... shall be saved.”
Finally he cast himself upon the perfect sacrifice of Jesus and peace and joy entered his soul. Now he could happily speak of "Him who loves me and gave Himself for me.”
When his Christian friend spoke of the contrast of his present appearance to his former ragged state, he replied, "Oh, it's that blessed One who has done it all.”
On parting with her he urged upon her the solemn responsibility of speaking earnestly and plainly to anyone who might visit her thereafter.