A young lady who is an earnest Christian recently told us a little of her experience that we thought would be of interest and encouragement to other young Christians. With this in mind we will try to give you her words:
“Last Lord's day morning while on the way to remember the Lord in death with other Christians, I took along with me, as usual, a little package of gospel tracts; for I often have opportunities to give them to fellow passengers on the cars, and also to some who may stand near me while waiting at transfer points. On this particular morning there were three different people who in turn sat beside me, and to whom I gave tracts.
“The first was an elderly man carrying a Bible. As soon as he had settled himself beside me, I handed one of my tracts to him. He readily accepted it, and after reading it carefully said,
“'It is well to be aware of these things. It is now over forty-one years since I saw that I was a lost sinner and found the Lord Jesus as my own Savior.'
“Next, a woman of about middle age sat beside me, and also accepted a tract. After reading it, she turned to me and said,
“'I am so glad to see you giving these out. There is nothing like knowing the Lord Jesus. I have known Him a long time, and He has been a great help to me. I have had lots of sorrow and trouble in my life. During the last world war, we were still living in Europe, and both my husband and brother were killed in the war. I was also imprisoned and suffered much. Now another world war is raging and my son is in it.' She paused and then added,
“‘People ask me how I stand all that has happened, but they don't know what the Lord is to me. He has sustained me.’
“Later on, a modern young woman came to sit beside me. I felt that this was another opportunity to bring the gospel to a never-dying soul, and so handed her a tract. She accepted it, but made no comment whatever. Her manner and expression revealed her feelings and she sneeringly put the tract into her purse. It was plainly evident that she was a stranger to God and His grace, and had no interest in these things. This, however, did not discourage me; for no one can tell whether or not that very tract may yet be used to reach her conscience. At any rate, it was in her purse, and would of necessity be handled again. I could look to the Lord about it and leave the results with Him, remembering that we may plant and water, but He alone can give the increase (1 Cor. 3:66I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6)).
“When I first became exercised about giving out the gospel as and where a young woman might, I was very timid. It seemed to require almost more courage than I could ever acquire to hand a tract to someone. But I looked to the Lord, and He gave me the grace to do it. It was difficult at first; but it soon became easier, and now I can thank the Lord for this means of spreading the good news. Since then the Lord has given me some very definite encouragement in meeting real Christians who seem to value and appreciate the tracts, and encouragement in seeing those who are apparently unsaved reading them slowly and carefully, and putting them away for further reference. Eternity will declare the results. It is a happy service and one that I can do quietly, and as unto the Lord.”
We might add that in the same city with this young Christian, lives an aged Christian woman who has long known and served the Lord. She lives a great distance from the place where she goes to remember the Lord each Lord's day, but she has steadfastly refused to accept rides in automobiles with those living near to her house who drive. Her reason is that she cannot hand out tracts while rushing through the traffic in an automobile. She, therefore, prefers to walk, ride on a bus and a street car to have an opportunity to distribute the gospel in tract form on the way. The Lord will not forget her labor and sacrifice in her effort to tell poor sinners that God loves them.
He sees those things that are done for Him, that the eye of man does not see; and He also knows the motives of the heart—whether it is done for Him or for the praise of men.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 1 Cor. 15:5858Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58).