WHEN first visited, the subject of the following story was lying on what proved to be, as people say, his dying bed, and although he had made a profession of religion, and had constantly attended a place of worship, read his Bible regularly, and had even visited the sick, his mind was so dark and distressed, that for him there appeared no hope, and these works of his were now but poor props on which his never dying soul could rest.
Being visited, as above named, the Word of God was brought before him, several passages being read, one from John 5:24,24Verily, 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) “He that heareth My word,” etc., which was particularly pressed upon him, showing him that if all his works could give him no peace, the words of Christ might be rested on, as they were uttered by one who never failed to make good His word.
After a little more conversation his visitor left him, and on seeing him a few days after, found him fall of joy, and light, and peace.
He then told his own story.
When he was left alone after the first visit, his mind became darker than ever. Satan assailed him on all points; his profession and good works were but to him so many “filthy rags,” or they sunk into a terrible nothingness, giving him not the slightest foothold by which he could stand before God, and the future before him gave forth no light. For several hours this darkness, like a “gloomy cloud,” hung over his soul, when God in His grace brought His own truth before him, and that verse (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)) was the channel of blessing to his soul. He had heard the word, he did. believe on Him who had sent Christ, he knew from it he then and there possessed eternal life, and he should not come into condemnation, because he had 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) was now his constant joy. He spoke to his relatives and friends who visited him, telling them of the goodness of God, and of the peace he was a partaker of through Christ Jesus. He now rested upon the word and work of Another, and his own merits went to the winds.
So great was his confidence in the Word of God, that a few days before he passed away he expressed a desire that the verse above quoted from John might be cut out and fastened to his breast as he lay in his coffin, that others too might read and be brought to know God’s love to the sinner.
If one should read this simple story who is resting on his own works or his morality before God, for acceptance in His presence, just look for a moment at the words of the Lord to the Pharisees in Matt. 9:13,13But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Matthew 9:13) “But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice; for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Let not some say either “when I have a more convenient season” (a thing which may never come), but listen to that solemn word which God has caused to be written, “Now is the accepted time ; now is the day of salvation.” Tomorrow is the Devil’s day. “Today” is God’s. Sinner, which will you choose?
E. J. K.