The husband of Mrs. Barnes was a self-avowed infidel. He became dangerously ill but remained deaf to every appeal and refused to turn to the Savior. His Christian Wife prayed to God continually for him, but had little to encourage her. One day a servant of the Lord visited him and quoted these, words of the Lord Jesus to him: "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?" John 11:4040Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God? (John 11:40).
The wife's heart laid hold of this declaration, and she wrote later to the one who had called her attention to the verse: "The glory of God! I have seen it. My dear husband is dead, but reconciled to God— saved as brand from the fire.
"His condition was so grave that the doctor never gave us hope for his recovery. Morphine was administered to spare him suffering but all in vain. Sleep would not come, and his agony of body increased as he saw death approaching. Notwithstanding all this he would not listen to a word about the Lord Jesus.
"One evening he was in such torture that I thought the end must be near. Oh, what grief to know that the end of this life meant endless torment for him I so loved! Then Satan whispered in my ear: 'You have believed in vain; it is useless for you to pray.' What could I say? What could I now believe?
Where were the promises? Then these words came again to my mind: 'If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God.' Oh,' I cried, 'he cannot die now. Lord, show him what he is in Thy sight!'
"My husband opened his eyes, and shortly afterward he cried out: 'I am lost! I am lost!' Then I could give thanks with a heart overflowing with gratitude. I knew he would be saved, for 'He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.' Phil. 1:66Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6). That was two o'clock in the morning. Until the evening of the following day he cried out often from grief and anguish; but the Lord gave me help in what I should say to him, and he found peace and joy in seeing that the Son of God had submitted to judgment in his place.
"His features, distorted by his intense suffering, relaxed, and with his last remaining strength he murmured: 'My Savior!'
Together we gave thanks to God for his salvation just as his eyes finally closed. A gentle sigh, and he fell asleep in Jesus."
Yes, she had indeed seen the glory of God shining in its grace towards the sinner. And again had been proved the word: "He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25).