A scientist who believed in neither heaven nor hell was constantly irritated by his Christian housekeeper. Continually reading and praying for herself and quoting the Bible and singing hymns in his hearing as she went about her work, she annoyed him greatly.
The scientist tried to argue her out of her belief by telling her of the tremendous power of the human mind. He claimed that man’s intellect and ingenuity could satisfy every human need.
The woman wondered how she could answer his arguments, and prayed for wisdom. At last a scripture came to her mind that she felt sure the Lord had given her for him. Reverently she quoted it: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5.)
Not long after this, the scientist was reading the biography of a well-known atheist. It told the story of how this man, while joking about the faith of a Christian friend, was accidentally struck by a falling brick and lost his reason. A woman who witnessed the scene cried out: “Poor man! Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” As the scientist read the story, he remembered that those were the very words which had been quoted by his own housekeeper.
Restless and uneasy, the scientist went to visit a friend. On a table lay an open Bible. He picked it up, and his eyes fell on that same passage: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Startled, he said to himself: “Three times these same words have come before me. Is it a voice from God? Yes, it must be! Oh God, it is Thy voice speaking to me—a sinner. I confess my dreadful error and sin. Oh, most righteous and holy God, forgive this fool!”
Earnestly he pleaded for mercy, and the Lord graciously pardoned him. What joy there is in the presence of the angels over one sinner who repents!
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared. (Psalm 130:3,4.)
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7.)