We were sitting around the fire, half a dozen of us, during the interval between an afternoon meeting and one in the evening when the gospel would be preached. The moment was precious to each of us, because in a spirit of true and happy Christian intercourse we spoke to one another of the things of the Lord things made clear to our hearts by His grace.
Reference was made to meetings of a similar kind held in the same city many years before, the memory of which filled some of us with joy and thankfulness.
"I have a verse of yours," said one of the company, "which I think you will remember."
Going to her desk, she brought a slip of paper for my perusal. I wondered what saying of mine could have been of such importance as to warrant preservation for such a number of years as had elapsed since it had been uttered. My curiosity was certainly aroused.
On taking the paper I quickly glanced at the words, and in a moment admitted that they were worthy to have been kept. This may seem that I was proud of my preserved words. Well, I felt thankful, anyhow, that such a thought had been cherished. The words were:
"Shall I tell you what induced me
For the better land to start?
`Twas the Savior's loving-kindness
Overcame and won my heart."
Ah, but these words, though quoted during my preaching, were no words of mine. The writer was a poet of high Christian character. His verse is well known, and is ofttimes sung, and deservedly. Right glad I was to have the fine old sentiment brought back to my recollection. What sentiment? That my heart had been won by the loving-kindness of the Savior.
The verse is brimful of moral beauty. First, it speaks of a Savior. What is more charming to a soul that has felt and owned its utterly lost, guilty, and helpless condition? Most charming when terror hardens and law condemns and conscience smites and judgment hastens. A lovely word, then, is "Savior." Second, we have a big compound word "loving-kindness" but none too big. It falls sweetly on the ear. David, the psalmist, says in Psalm 103: "Who forgiveth all thine iniquities"; and then he adds, "Who crowneth thee with loving-kindness and tender mercies." Never did diadem shine more bright!
Next, the couplet mentions the heart. Now the heart of man is really an awful thing; it is a sin-creating and sin-loving and sin-committing machine, a factory of fearful abominations, a spring of infinite moral pollution— "desperately wicked." Then how can it be broken, how can such a heart be won to God? That is just the fourth statement in our verse. It speaks of a "heart won."
Thank God, myriads of wicked hearts have been won. And how? One passage of Holy Scripture should give the key: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." John 12:3232And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32).
A lifted up, crucified Christ is the mighty magnet of attraction for lost men; and if the gracious magnetism of Calvary fail to draw, then all the terrors of wrath would fail to drive. What attracted the dying malefactor? What turned him from hell and drew him to paradise? The suffering, crucified Christ. Friend, take your place in spirit beside the cross of Jesus; drink in the river of His loving-kindness toward a poor sinner like yourself, and you too will become a worshiper of the Son of God.