When I was a little boy I was taught that there was an elect number who would be saved, and that no other had any chance. Of course, I hoped, along with all the rest of our people, that we were among the favored number; but nobody seemed to have any certainty about it.
When I grew older, I left my country home and came to the city where I got a job working in a warehouse. On Sundays I went where the gospel was preached, and I noticed the preaching was so different to what I had been accustomed to hearing. Another young fellow in the same warehouse told me he was sure of being saved. I wondered how he came to know that. Had he seen the Book of Life, for it says, “Whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire”? Rev. 20:1515And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15).
I asked my friend that question one day.
“No, not yet,” said he, “but I have seen the Book of Love, and read my name there.”
He saw the look of astonishment on my face, so he opened his Testent and read 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): “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.”
He pointed out to me that both he and I were included in “the world, and in “whosoever.” That completely solved my difficulty about election, I saw that I was included among those whom God loved. But then how could I be sure that I was one for whom Christ had died? I mentioned this difficulty to my friend in the warehouse.
“Does that satisfy you, Charlie?” asked my friend. “There need be no difficulty, surely, in the face of that. God says that Christ died for the ungodly, and for sinners. You are included there, sure enough.”
I saw in a moment that Christ died for me. I claimed my place as one of the “ungodly”; and as a “sinner” I believed as one of the “whosoever’s,” and was happily saved.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment); but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).
ML 10/01/1967