A YOUNG man of London went late one night to a revival meeting, and reached the place just in time to hear the last words: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This was all he heard. He left the room.
On his way home he began to think about the words he had heard. He knew that text. His mother had taught it to him in his childhood, but it had been a mere tinkle of sound. Now the Holy Spirit was pressing the words upon his heart. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.”
“Why, that was wonderful love!” he thought. How could his ears have been dead to their meaning all his life? “Why did God give Jesus to die?”
Memory replied: “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish.”
“Why did I never think of that before? ‘Should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ I have no everlasting life; I must perish—if I were to die now, I should be lost!”
Again and again the words circled about in his mind. The dulled hearing of his soul was waking up. “God so loved the world,” he repeated. ,”I am one of the world; then God loved me. He gave His only begotten Son for me, so that if I believe in Him I shall not perish. Believe what? That God gave His Son to die for my sins on the Cross. Whosoever believes in Jesus shall not perish—I do believe in Him!—and God says I have everlasting life! I am saved!” Thus the truth of eternity burst upon his soul.
On reaching home, he told his mother he had gone to hear the evangelist.
“And how did you like him?”
“I was too late to hear his sermon, but I was not too late to be saved! I am saved and my sins are forgiven.”
“How do you know that?”
“But there is nothing new in that. I’ve known it all my life, and taught it to you.”
“But mother, do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ?”
“Of course. I have always believed on Him.”
“Then, mother you are saved.”
“I cannot say that.”
“If you believe in Jesus, mother, you have everlasting life.”
“I cannot say I have it.”
“Then, dear mother, you do not believe in Jesus. See—read!” He pointed to the verse, and his mother read aloud slowly:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
All at once the glorious truth burst upon her that Christ had borne her sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2: 24); and the dulled ears of her soul were opened. Mother and son praised God that night for a common salvation.
Thousands of people who call themselves “professing Christians” have never opened their ears to the meaning of those simple words. They are struggling toward heaven with the vain idea that they are going to win it some way by their struggles.
“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:S, 9.
Messages of God’s Love 10/7/1923