In a country town there lived a half-witted man, who was a butt for the sport of the idle lads there.
“Billy," they would say, "prove if there be a God, if thee can: we know that there is none.”
“Shame on ye, lads," Billy would shout; “shame; ye should know better talk than that. No God; no food, no clothes! One lives up top, I know; yes, He does though.”
One day poor Billy, in common with several bother persons, heard a preacher telling of God's salvation for ruined sinners. After the sermon was over, a young fellow came swaggering up to half-witted Billy saying, ' Well, Billy, I don't believe a word that he says; he's only talking for pay; that's what `those fellows preach for, just to get a living.
`` No God! ‘that’s the religion for me.”
“You'll find out that there's a God when you're dead, though," said Billy in an instant; “you'll find it out when you are dead, won't you? No God, indeed! why, who gave you your work or your bread? No God! ah! you'll find it out when you're dead.”
Billy tried hard to convince the young man; he followed him to his home, and continued his simple reasoning, but to no avail; and at last left him for his own poor little room.
Early on the Monday morning he hastened to the young man's house; the shutters were closed, and the place was still. He went upstairs, and there stood the young man's wife, weeping bitterly. "He is dead, Billy, he is dead, "wept she." He died in the night; he went off to sleep, and never woke again, poor fellow "; and the poor young woman wept again, “He has found out that there is a God now then, mistress, has he not?" said Billy. And the frightened man hurried downstairs into the street, crying, “Yes, he's found out there is a God now he's dead.”
And so he had in all verity; he had discovered that there is an eternity, a place for bad spirits, and a place for good spirits. The solemn, simple truths of heaven and hell the skeptic had found out. Have you learned these things in the light of God's presence, dear friend? I do not ask you whether you have learned them from the traditions of your parents; doubtless you have. Doubtless you “know all about it"; you have heard all this sort of thing; you know it by heart; or are you an avowed infidel? "The fool hath said in his heart, ' No God.’”
Well, be you infidel, or one supposing yourself acquainted with the whole matter, you need salvation, for if you do not come to Jesus as a little child, you will never enter into the kingdom of God. That is a fact, unalterable; Christ has spoken it, and His words will never be changed.
Come as a little child, and all will be well.
You will find pardon and peace; you will be happy; you will have no fear of death, for Christ has conquered him that had the power of death, that is, the devil. Come as a simple child; give up opinions; learn of Jesus. Be content to BE saved, since you cannot save yourself. Let the Lord do it all, as you can do nothing. He has died, been buried, and is risen again. All is complete; all that you have to do is to believe in Him, Let alone hard questions of every sort; you are a sinner; one who deserves death, for "the wages of sin is death." See, then, Jesus under the weight, and bearing the penalty, of sin.
See Him dying at Calvary; hear Him cry, “It is finished." The debt is paid. God has accepted the ransom. This is the simple gospel, and it is for you to believe it.