While I was laboring in the gospel in a little village in Ontario, my hostess and I planned some visits. On our way, she pointed to a cottage by the side of the road, and said, "An aged Scotsman lives in that cottage. He loves the children of God, and I am sure he would enjoy a visit from you."
We alighted at his door. Deep furrows in his face revealed his more than eighty years. I said to him: "The Scriptures say, 'We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.' As I am one of the brethren, I have come in to see you."
His face fairly beamed with joy, and he expressed himself as thankful for a visit on such a principle.
"Have you known the Lord very long?" we asked.
"Well, there is a story to that," he replied. "I belonged to the kirk from quite a lad. But whether I belonged to the Lord, He alone knows. I cannot tell. But I came to Canada, and was steward in a gentleman's house in Kingston, when a poor convict killed his guard in trying to escape. He was sentenced to be hanged, and during his days of grace he was converted through the ministry of an evangelist then preaching in Kingston. This evangelist wrote a book telling of the conversion of this prisoner, Daniel Mann. I read the book and ever since then, I have known I BELONG TO THE LORD. I tell ye, there is no doubt about it! It's a mighty different thing to belonging to a kirk."
"I am very glad to hear that my little book has helped you!" I replied.
"NA!" he cried.
"Yes, I wrote the book."
"Na, it canna be!" he cried again in much amazement.
"Yes! It was I who was preaching then in Kingston, and ministered to that poor convict and wrote the booklet," I said.
Convinced at last, he rushed to me, grasped me in his arms, and for a long time sobbed aloud.
Reader, does it mean as much to you to know whether you belong to the Lord as it did to this dear old Scotsman? You may not be as deep in sin as the convict whose story brought him peace. But remember the words of Scripture: "ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD." Rom. 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). ALL ALIKE need the Savior, whose precious blood we read, "Cleanseth from ALL SIN." 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).
Will you now, at this moment, if still unsaved, unforgiven, own your lost and helpless condition, and trust the only Savior, while the day of God's grace is still present? Soon, how soon we know not, the door of mercy will close, and the gospel day will end!
Listen to the Savior's call: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I WILL GIVE YOU REST." Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).