By:
Edited by Algernon J. Pollock
DURING the course of special Gospel meetings which were held in a north country town, the attention of more than one of the evangelists was drawn to a woman, whose anxious features showed unmistakably that she was more than a mere listener.
She was one to whom the Word of Life was life indeed, and, like the woman in John 4, desired to drink in more of its depths.
But what of you, my reader? It may be, you have attended many Gospel meetings and yet are unmoved by the earnest appeals of the Lord’s servants, and though The Gospel Messenger comes regularly into your hands have tailed to realize the import of its printed messages! We desire the blessing of your never-dying soul! But great as such desires are, they are far outweighed by those of the Son of God who, in order to effect a righteous basis upon which God could righteously forgive and justify YOU―a guilty, lost sinner―gave up His life on Calvary’s hill. Love could not be expressed in a fuller way, and may you here and now be humbled before Him and cry, “God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:1313And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. (Luke 18:13)).
The subject of our narrative was made anxious on two accounts.
1St In regard to the question of her own eternal safety.
2nd The earnest desire for the blessing of her family.
As the meetings proceeded she was led to see that through the atoning death of Jesus Christ, God’s claims against sin had been fully met, and therefore, as one who rested only on the value of that precious blood as her title to glory, she had peace with God. What a relief to know that her sins were never, never to be brought up!! To realize for the first time the sublime truth of John 10:27-30: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them Me, is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”
Now that divine peace possessed the soul of this dear woman, little did she realize how soon God was going to bless in her family.
The husband was a man who cared nothing for the things of God: some years had elapsed since he had been to a religious service. He was, like many a poor dupe of Satan, being blinded from a vision of ETERNITY by the flimsy, unsatisfying and passing pleasures which appeal to the natural mind, and which the Word of God names “the pleasures of SIN” (Heb. 11:2525Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; (Hebrews 11:25)).
A visit was suggested to the home in order to engage in a conversation with her partner, to which ready consent was given. But Satan is not so willing to lose any of his followers, and on the matter being mentioned to the husband he was much displeased, and threatened rough usage to any who dare cross the threshold of his home to speak of Christ.
The salvation of her loved one was earnestly sought by the faithful wife, and greatly encouraged at a meeting for prayer at which special mention was made for unsaved relatives, this deal woman, on reaching home, dropped on her knees before her husband and entreated him to attend the Gospel meeting to be held the following night. His reply might well fill her with despair, but God who delights to hear and answer the, prayer of the righteous (Prov. 15:2929The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. (Proverbs 15:29)), and whose Word tells us that “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:1616Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)), had heard, and already the power of Satan over his captive was broken.
The hour of the Gospel preaching had just arrived when the wanderer entered the Hall and took his seat alongside his wife, who could not help but exclaim, “Thank God!” The story of God’s love in Christ was listened to, and our hitherto careless soul was made to feel that the day was surely approaching when guilty sinners must give an account of themselves to God (Rom. 14:11, 1211For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. 12So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11‑12)). Some anxious days followed in which his sinful past came before him, and he longed that deliverance from the righteous judgment, which such deserved, might be granted. It was effected in the following manner.
At the close of a subsequent Gospel meeting our friend realized that to delay longer was dangerous, God’s Word emphasizing the importance of the present moment, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor. 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)), so he decided to stay behind to converse with the preacher. Reader, if you are still unsaved―decide for Christ―! NOW!
Never shall I forget the events that followed. Truly the heavenly hosts were interested onlookers and great was their joy on hearing the confessions that came from the heart of this repentant soul (Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10)). Asked if he were a sinner, he replied, “Yes, a big one.” And did he believe that Jesus died for sinners and would he trust HIM? “Yes, from now to evermore,” was the reply. The work of God’s Spirit was complete! God’s grace had triumphed! Satan’s grip on yet another of Adam’s fallen sons had been broken! Another straying sheep was found and with rejoicing the Great Shepherd had laid it on his shoulder never to release His hold till safely landed in the bright courts of His eternal home.
Our two friends, along with a son converted shortly afterward, continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of their Saviour, and would not change places with you, dear unsaved reader, no matter how favorable your position is in the world. Only Christ can satisfy the craving of your dissatisfied heart I He only can make you fit to enter heaven. Delay no longer but TRUST HIM WITH YOUR SOUL NOW!
J. H. RUGG.