While giving a gospel message one Sunday evening, a servant of Christ likened faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary's cross to a golden chain which, as it were, God holds to us from His throne on high. "If we." said he, "by simple faith lay hold of that chain. He will save us for time and eternity.”
Time rolled on. The preacher had almost forgotten the address. One day as he was passing through the town in which he had spoken of God's chain, a poorly clad woman stood and looked very hard at him. It was as if she would first be certain of his identity before addressing him. Presently she came to him and eagerly inquired his name. When she heard it her countenance lit up with joy and her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh, sir, I have long wished to see you," she exclaimed. "I have a dying message to give you. Do you remember preaching a certain sermon here in which you spoke of the sinner sunken in sin taking hold of the golden chain of the love of God? You said it was shown in the gift of His Son and that by taking hold of it one would be saved 'for time and eternity.'”
"I remember something of it," he replied.
"Well, sir, my son was present that night. He has since died; but before he passed away he called out for you. As we did not know your whereabouts, his wish to see you could not be gratified. These were his last words: `Mother, tell that preacher I have got hold of the golden chain. I am saved.'”