One day as the late Queen Victoria was walking in the grounds of Windsor Castle, she met a young soldier who was on duty near a door.
Her majesty stopped to speak to him and after a brief conversation, she put to him these questions: "Young man, do you know if your sins are forgiven? Can you say that you have passed from death unto life?"
The soldier confessed to his royal questioner that he could not say that he had passed from death unto life.
The Queen then told the young soldier the story of the wonderful grace of God that has provided, in the death of Jesus Christ, a way of salvation for poor sinners who are in danger of perishing forever.
"Do you know," she continued, that your precious soul is worth more than my imperial crown, and all the possessions over which I reign? When you are free from duty will you read the words of Jesus: 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation [judgment], but is passed from death unto life.' " John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).
Deeply touched by the care thus shown for his well-being by the Queen, the young soldier gave the required promise and took the first opportunity to fulfill it. He read and re-read the verse. God made it a blessing to his soul, for after some time he could rejoice in the knowledge of the forgiveness of his sins.
Some days after this the Queen met him again and said: "Well, young man, what do you think now of the subject of which we were speaking a little while ago, Is it a settled thing? Can you say now, `I have passed from death unto life'?
"Yes, your Majesty, I can say, I have passed from death unto life."
Reader, can you say the same? Whoever you may be, noble or peasant, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, young or old, Jesus waits to save you. His blood avails to wash away all your sins. Come to Him now, just as you are; for He says: