Among those who professed conversion at the Evangelistic services in W— was Miss R., a maiden of sixteen or seventeen summers, whose mother did not look upon the preaching or the preachers with kindly feelings. Though a professor of religion, like most respectable people in W—, Mrs. R. had never been saved, and, in fact, ridiculed the idea that anyone could be certain of salvation while "down here." She attended church, took the communion, said her prayers, and helped on the "good cause" by subscribing to this, that, and the other scheme of her denomination. But "one thing needful" was lacking in her case—conversion to God, through Christ.
Mrs. R. heard her daughter's testimony, but maintained that it was the height of presumption for anyone to say that he was saved until he came to die or reached the glory. Multitudes of persons who pass muster as Christians, when asked how long it is since they were saved assert that "no one can tell.”
If the reader is one of this class, and carefully reads the New Testament Scriptures, he will see that the early Christians were "saved," "converted," and knew it. It is a very popular doctrine with unbelievers that "no one can know that he is saved;" but God's Word completely refutes such a theory.
When Miss R. accepted Christ, she became deeply anxious about her mother's conversion. Again and again she asked her to go with her to the meetings.
"Mother, I don't like to go alone," she used to say; "come with me, and keep me company tonight.”
Her earnestness and perseverance were ultimately rewarded by having the joy of her dear one's presence at one of the Gospel services. After a hymn and prayer, the evangelist read a portion of the third chapter of the Gospel of John, basing his remarks on verse eighteen, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already; because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.”
In the course of his address he showed that the congregation was divided into two classes—believers and unbelievers; that all who really believed on Christ were "not condemned;" and that those who did not believe on Him were "condemned already." There was no middle position, and each one present belonged to one or the other.
In searching, burning words, he spoke of the happy position of the believer, and of the terrible condition of the unbeliever. He also urged those who intended to retire to rest that night unconverted, to take a pen and write on a slip of notepaper the awful words, "Condemned already," and place it over the head of their beds, so that if they died before the morning, their friends would know where they were, and would put no lying epitaph on their tombstones, stating that they had gone to heaven.
Mrs. R. left the meeting place very much in the condition that Naaman the Syrian left Elisha's servant when told to "wash and be clean"—in a rage. She had not been accustomed to hear such pointed preaching.
On retiring to rest that night, she could not sleep. The Holy Spirit was striving with her, desirous that she should renounce her religious profession and take the place of a "lost" sinner. Again and again the words rang in her ears, and laid hold of her heart and conscience,—
"Condemned already!" "Condemned already!”
Her eyes were opened, and she accepted God's verdict as to her state. Having believed what God said against her, she believed on Christ who died to save her from eternal woe. Then she knew that by believing on Him who bore sin's penalty, and paid sin's ransom, she was "not condemned," but "justified from all things.”
If you are unconverted, even now you are "condemned already." Don't believe Satan, or your own heart; condemn yourself, and justify God at once.
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," and you will be saved on the spot; for God justifies ungodly sinners who believe in the finished work of His beloved Son.